COS Students: Ignorant of the Outside World

“Gaza death toll passes 1,000”
- Aljazeera News Headline, January 15th 2009.

For the past month headlines such as the one above have highlighted every news station, network and paper. One may think it hard to ignore such dramatic yet truthful news concerning the deaths of hundreds; however, COS students sadly proved otherwise.

While asking 40 random students on campus the location of Gaza we were shocked to discover that only 8 students knew the answer.

Alandra Nelson a student reporter from Modesto Junior College asked her fellow students this same question as well as others. On both campuses less than 25% of the students polled knew the population of the world or that Darfur, also widely discussed in the media, is a country in Africa.

Two campuses and rough statistics may not provide sufficient evidence to conclude that this apathy for international information is a common trend amongst junior college students; however, it is enough to cause great concern.

“We live in a global world,” said Don Mast, dean of counseling and matriculation. “Being unaware of international events and culture is being a bad citizen of the world, this nation, and this community.”

Harshini Perera, one of nineteen international students currently attending COS, shared her personal account of her COS experience. Though she rates it as being overall positive, she too expressed her concern for the general lack of knowledge the students at COS have of the outside world.

 “I started to tell people I was from India because no one knew where Sri Lanka was. But even then, I would still have many people ask me, ‘Where is India?’”

This is an embarrassment to our campus. It’s hard to imagine that our fellow students can be so unaware of a country whose population exceeds 1 billion and makes up 16% of the world’s total population.
   
Mona Freeman, the International Student Coordinator, offered her opinion as to why community college students may not be very internationally knowledgeable.

“A lot of these students are too busy working on their homework to stay caught up on world events,” she said. “Many are full time mothers as well as students. Many are married and working, this could be why the students do not know.”

Although this may prove to be a legitimate reason, we should not and cannot use it as an excuse.

America, being so economically important and socially powerful, has the ability to greatly effect and alter the world. We the citizens, through democracy, hold responsibility in this chain.

 The recent election of Barak Obama provides one such example. Overnight the international prospective of the United States seemed to change and modifications in international policies were underway.

With today’s plethora of technology constantly transporting and translating international news, there is no reason for one to not be informed. It is interesting that with this increase of availability of knowledge comes the seemingly increase of apathy.

Try making it a goal to expand your knowledge of this amazing world. Although your life may be hectic and busy, as Mona Freeman recognized, try to catch the news update before going to bed or spend a few minutes a day reading the newspaper. Make the world a priority.

We must educate ourselves now; especially those who hope to succeed in their transfer institutions or in the increasingly competitive job market. It proves beneficial on both a personal and global level. And to answer the unanswered question from above, the world’s population is over 6.5 billion.

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4 comments

Woodrow

Wed Apr 8 2009 02:46

I was speaking geographically. In that sense, Scotland is indeed, within the Scottish border. Thus making it a Scottish city.

Kris

Thu Apr 2 2009 18:58

Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland and therefore it is a part of the United Kingdom or England. I don't believe that is completely wrong. And I do know that many people are ignorant of the world away and in front of them. If people don't make the effort to learn about the world around themselves, then they are going to stay ignorant. I know I shouldn't talk since I, too, am ignorant. Most of the geography I know I merely look up online, but at least I know where India is. As Americans we hardly make the time for the worlds outside of our own. We just need to better educate ourselves. People have the right to their ignorance. As the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss". Most people would choose to ignore what is happening in another country because they don't want to be faced with the thought of war or negative events. Even if it is happening miles away, we avert our eyes.

Woodrow

Thu Mar 19 2009 21:51

As an American, I put my country first, and don't consider myself a "citizen of the world." That's actually kinda dumb. However, I do believe in staying informed on what's going on in the world. But it's not only the world. I've talked to a lot of people who don't know what's going on in America. Not even California. Some of them are even oblivious of local events!
And it's not just students. One teacher insisted that Edinburgh was in England!

Laurel May

Thu Mar 19 2009 12:30

I agree. We must educate ourselves now. I am talking for myself too. It seems no matter how much I learn and read about the world, there is so much more to learn. Always.
~Laurel May~

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