To an observer, it looks as though international students socialize only among their own groups, avoiding major interaction with their American classmates. While this is understandable — people will naturally seek out others with similar backgrounds and tastes — it’s far short of MSU’s goal of total integration.

MSU needs to be aware that while it wants all students to be friends, it needs to be careful how it attempts to achieve that goal. Push a little too hard and it becomes reminiscent of moms setting up play dates. The school needs to recognize that several obstacles stand in its path.

Even though MSU has a large international student population — ranked 16th among U.S. schools — the larger overall population means international students can get lost in the sea of people.

Obviously, the language barrier is a major cause of the segregation. International students who do not meet the English proficiency standards are required to spend their first semester at the English Language Center and might bond with those in similar situations.

What everyone involved in the situation needs to understand is the road to integration is a two-way street. While American students might not make the effort to approach their foreign brethren, international students also are understandably stubborn to reach out.

U.S. study abroad programs demonstrate the problem isn’t isolated to just students visiting America. Very rarely do you find U.S. students coming home from study abroad saying they became good friends with someone from that country.

The same situation occurs with students from the same high schools or cities. When students with large groups of kids from their school come to the same college, they often do not make an effort to branch out to other students.

Away from home, students will naturally avoid leaving their comfort zone. However, students shouldn’t forget college is a chance to grow and learn, and should take it upon themselves to make friends with others.

Smaller schools with higher percentages of international students might make integration easier, but opportunities still exist at MSU. Although most MSU students know larger classes aren’t conducive to getting to know people, there are plenty of small classes that make bonding with new friends easier.

Forced integration can be a useful tool, but only when used judiciously. Just as American study abroad students have an easier time integrating when forced to live with host families, assigned groups can also push American and foreign students to interact and work together.

MSU can only do so much to integrate students. People are not going to be friends with everyone they ever meet.

What the university can do is ask students remain open and friendly when encountering others, especially foreign students dealing with a new culture. A little kindness and an open mind can easily grow diverse friendships.