It was cold in the city but this year's refugee student was officially welcomed with warm hearts.

Sylvia Lole was introduced to the University of Calgary by the Students' Union and the World University Service of Canada Thu., Oct. 30.

WUSC is a Canadian non-profit non-governmental organization that, among other initiatives, helps send refugee students to Canadian universities to offer them a post-secondary education they would not ordinarily receive.

"We've had three [refugee] students in the past three years," said Naheed Gilani, co-chair of the U of C branch of WUSC. "Close to 10 since the beginning of the program."

The Student Refugee Program was created in 1977, in an effort to assist people whose education has been interrupted by war or persecution. It offers support to students when they arrive, including full financial support in their first year. The support decreases annually for the three following years, allowing the students to become independent.

This was not always the case.

Until 2000, there was only enough funding to support the student for one year. The result was the program was unable to keep students at the U of C, and a few left--to the detriment of local students.

Last year, a referendum asked for more financial aid to the program by increasing the levy. The result was a success, and now the program can offer financial support for four years.

WUSC is currently working on creating a committee specifically designed to fundraise for the program, due to the U of C's charitable status.

"This is all part of a plan to attempt to make the program not rely quite so heavily on the levy which could be a future problem regarding inflation and enrolment cap," said SU Vice-President Operations and Finance Gavin Preston.

The program also provides a culturally enriching experience for local students.

Citizenship and Immigration Canada gives the students permanent resident status, and, after three years, students are usually encouraged to apply for Canadian citizenship. However, the challenge of conquering the Canadian climate still remains for many students.

Thankfully, the warm welcome helps alleviate the cultural and climatic shock.

"I don't like the cold," admitted Lole. "But it's beautiful, as long as I'm inside and looking out."