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opinion
College
needs diversity
The events that took place in New York City, Washington, D.C.,
and in the skies over Pennsylvania on September 11th are, without
a doubt, a horror and an outrage.
No thinking and feeling people, no matter where they live, no
matter what their ethnic or religious background, can help but
be affected.
Each individual undoubtedly has feelings of profound sadness
and deep compassion for so many who lost loved ones in these
terrorists attacks, and even feelings of rage against the perpetrators
of these horrific acts.
While holding all of the above to be absolutely true, it is
also equally true that neither international students, nor Arabs,
nor Muslims as a whole, bear any responsibility for these acts
of terrorism against innocent civilians.
Indeed, international students, including Arabs and Muslims,
feel the same sense of horror and outrage that Americans feel.
Both World Trade Center towers, as well as the individual airplanes
which were used so terribly as missiles that day, had in them
citizens of many countries of the world.
These same international students must not now be made to suffer
the taunts of those who question their very presence on this
campus. I refer to Dwight Flenniken's article entitled "Varying
Thoughts on U.S. Issues" in the Sept. 18 issue of the On-line
Forty-Niner.
In contrast to his assertions, international students do most
definitely have a valued place on this campus. Whether
anyone likes it or not, we are living, and will continue to
live, in an increasingly globalized society.
Business is already internationalized, and has been for many
years, as are the arts and the sciences. Virtually every
discipline taught at this university is global to its very core.
Professors in every college on campus come from many different
countries. So to suggest that the university as a whole should
exclude everyone who is not an American citizen is not only
short-sighted in the extreme, but would in fact ultimately rebound
to harm the very students whom Flenniken seems to want to protect.
Many domestic students do go abroad to study, and come back
changed people, but many others for a myriad of reasons cannot.
These students, and many of the classes on this campus, benefit
greatly from the increased diversity and the varying points
of view brought by our international population.
Even if we were to take a purely selfish or utilitarian point
of view, it could be pointed out again and again how many world
leaders are former international students in the United States.
These individuals came and learned not just the content of their
academic disciplines, but also the core values of this country.
They then went home as friends and allies, and continue to be
so today.
So far from being a burden to this campus, or to any U.S. university,
international students are enormous assets to the educational
mission of these institutions. They bring with them insights,
ideas, and fresh points of view that benefit all the constituencies
of the academic community.
If this country is to remain a world leader, it must maintain
a global outlook that sees far beyond its borders, and work
with all other countries of the globe towards peace, and towards
economic and environmental stability.
And so should its universities. International students
are a valued and a vital part of that process.
-- Paul M. Lewis, Director
Center for International Education
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