The great philosopher Dave Barry once wrote, in reference to his college days, “. I was so full of energy that I was going to not only END WORLD HUNGER, but also STOP WAR and ELIMINATE RACISM. Whereas today my life goals, to judge from the notes I leave myself, tend to be along the lines of BUY DETERGENT.” The columnist’s words, while merely poking fun at the American tendency to become apathetic to the more difficult problems with the world, speak loads about the current state of affairs on college campuses across the country.
I think I just heard you say, “International issues? Sounds complicated!” They are! In fact, more complicated (get ready for some major mind wrapping!) than beating The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time WITHOUT cheat codes! It is therefore understandable why people, especially college students, would be disheartened when it comes to international problems.
Now, when I say international problems I am not talking about how Koreans eat cats or how annoying French poets are or how unfair it is that Kenya has so many rhinos and cheetahs and panda bears while the coolest animal Idaho has is Jeffery the Crazy Potato, mascot of the Idaho Farmer Adventurers Club. No, I’m talking about war, famine, and epidemics. I’m talking about issues that make the front pages but barely get any eye-lovin’. It’s easy to be swept into a bubble where one forgets that anything happens outside campus boundaries, with the exception of Fitz’s with their bottomless frosty mugs of various home-brewed beverages.
Alas, I was guilty of not paying attention to important international issues at one time. It took an entire course on the Israel-Palestine conflict (Jerusalem: City of Three Faiths) to realize that there was more going on in that part of the world than funny names and even funnier facial hair of major leaders. Now, I feel a strong urge to do what I can to make the global community a better place-and if this guy can change, you can too! I used to be a fat slob, wasting away my days watching Judge Mathis dispense his justice and eating garlic summer sausage. Now I’ve become politically and socially aware of the topics that have vast effects on our futures. You may say, “But all this international stuff is too hard to understand! Will there ever be an organization that can help me piece it all together in a way that appeals to my MTV-trained brain?”
Well, help is on the way, Betsy, and I’m here to plug it! A new organization is getting started up on SLU’s campus that should ease your transition into getting involved in international issues. While the group is yet to be named, its goals are to put out a monthly magazine (one this spring and then every month starting with next fall’s semester) that aims to raise awareness about tough situations around the globe. The magazine will present the material in a very approachable way, rather than giving you cryptic information with little background. Hell, even the drunk-girl-at-the-party type can get behind this sort of deal! So keep your eyes peeled for the upcoming issue and let us together annihilate ignorance!
If you are interested in helping in any way, you can reach Jesse Sullivan, who is heading the creation of the organization, at [email protected]. Also, there will be a meeting for the group tonight (Thursday April 6) at 9:30 in Quotations coffee shop, if you would like to attend. Get involved today to help people from El Salvador to Iraq, from Palestine to Sudan!
Rob Gartland is a junior in the College of Arts and Sciences
