"I don't match the school, the school matches me."

With that statement, Marco Lopez, a freshman at the Arizona International Campus of the University of Arizona, summed up his outlook as Arizona's fourth campus opened its doors yesterday.

Another AIC freshman, Chris Cabrera, agreed.

"This school can apply to everyone," he said. "Whoever you are, it's a good school for you."

Both graduates of southern Arizona high schools, Cabrera and Lopez were both attracted to AIC due both to the school's unconventional curriculum along with the flexibility of studies and activities that accompany it.

Cabrera cited the ability for students to create their own clubs and organize activities.

"They (students) are going to help us develop and design student activities and policies," said Celestino Fern'ndez, AIC executive vice president and provost. "Why should we assume that we know what they want?"

Cabrera, for example, is looking forward to forming a running club and establishing a photography lab at AIC.

"If you want something, you talk to the people, and things get done immediately," he said. "Here, you're an individual and will be heard."

Yan Yan Meng, a 25-year-old AIC freshman from Beijing, commented on cultural differences between the United States and China in light of student organizations.

"In China, people are very humble," she said. "I hope that clubs here will encourage people to develop their interests and try new things."

Students also stressed the faculty-student interactions as integral to AIC's success in further shaping not only its program, but its students as well.

"The relationships with our professors will be amazing," Lopez said, but he stressed the newness of the situation. "This will be up to us. There's nothing right now; it's a blank board."

AIC freshman Monica Holmer emphasized that the sense of community would extend beyond classroom walls.

"This is not just 9 to 5," she said.

Although Fern'ndez expects AIC to eventually operate independently of the UA, the new campus is now technically a part of the university.

Cabrera was pleased with this relationship and student access to the UA.

"It's the best of both worlds," he said. "When we want to learn, we're here. When we want to do other stuff, we can go there."

AIC students also seemed excited about their prospects for career internships.

"This bridges the gap between vocational and classical education," said AIC freshman Jake Dotson, from Los Angeles. "It's recognized as a part of education."

Meng was also pleased with the internship prospects.

"Career internships are very important for students because it gives us time to adjust," she said. "To have an internship will open your eyes to what you want in life, and you still have time to change it."

Edwin Clausen, AIC professor and director of academic programs, clearly has confidence in his students.

"I think our students will be able to beat out Harvard graduates," he said.

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