The Exponent - opinions


04-12-2005	Previous edition: 04-11-2005

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Students should explore cultural differences

International Awareness Week, which began Tuesday and runs through Saturday, recognizes Purdue’s diverse mix of students and faculty. Purdue has 4,921 students from 128 foreign countries. In fact, Purdue’s population of international students is the largest of any U. S. public institution. The main goal of this week is to bridge the cultural gap that can alienate students from one another.

International Fest 2005, held on Sunday, marked the beginning of Purdue’s International Awareness Week. More than 28 groups set up displays to educate others about diversity on campus.

A top priority of the week is to teach people about the differences that exist among cultures. It’s easy to come to college and see people who dress, act and think differently than ourselves, but it’s important that we keep an open mind and fight our tendencies to judge others unfairly. Ignorance of a culture’s tradition is no excuse to justify your prejudices against them.

People who refuse to venture outside their comfort zones and explore the world around them are not taking full advantage of the opportunities that lie in front of them. At the very least, you can learn a lot about different cultures simply by conversing with those who come from other countries.

When Americans travel abroad, they are sneered for seeking out the nearest McDonald’s rather than dining at an authentic café. We are stereotypically known for speaking English, even when traveling to foreign countries instead of attempting to speak the native tongue of that country. What’s worse is that we expect people to speak English, regardless of whether or not they are citizens of the United States.

Why should we study other cultures? When there are so many cultures integrated on one campus, it’s imperative that we at least attempt to acknowledge and understand others’ cultures. You’ll gain a better experience at Purdue if you explore the diversity around you.

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