SIU is recognized for being a culturally diverse university
WPSD Reporters  CARBONDALE, Ill. - This year, Southern Illinois
University is boasting its highest enrollment ever of
international students, and they are gaining national
recognition for it.  SIU has been named one of the country's
most culturally diverse campuses for the second year in a row.
Leo Makhdoom came to the states just over one year ago.  Now he
works as a secretary for the International Student Council on
campus.  "We have an international soccer tournament going on so
I've been getting a lot of emails from the captains and other
soccer teams," said Makhdoom.  He chose SIU because of the
international community.  He says they have become a family.
"Different languages, different cultures, sometimes we cook
together, share different recipes," said Makhdoom.  As
university president Glenn Poshard prepares to leave for a new
venture next year, he remembers when he set out to turn SIU into
a melting pot of culture.  "Right here is where