Nepalese Work to Organize Student Group at UW

March 3, 2008 — With a new population emerging at the University of Wyoming, 13 students from Nepal are petitioning to form a student organization.

"We are eager to share Nepalese culture with the UW community," says Arati Basnet, a junior majoring in accounting who was elected president of the group. "Anyone interested in our group is welcome to join. Nepal is also home to eight of the world's 10 highest mountains, and its mountain culture creates an evident connection to Wyoming."

Nepal is known in the United States primarily for Mt. Everest and for the legendary Yeti, but the small country encompasses a vibrant, diverse population of language speakers and ethnic groups, some dating back as far as 9,000 years, Basnet adds.

For more information or to pursue a membership, e-mail Basnet at abasnet1@uwyo.edu.

Photo

Karan Maskey (left), a freshman business major from Kathmandu, signs the petition to form a Nepalese student organization at the University of Wyoming with fellow Kathmandu native Sachit Bikram Thapa, a sophomore computer science major. (Courtesy photo)