Students need to explore the world beyond Utah

I was born in Utah, raised in Utah and am attending school in Utah. If I had my way, I’d never leave. Some of you might see nothing wrong with this, but unfortunately, you are mistaken.

Now don’t jump to any conclusions—I love Utah. I count myself lucky to have grown up in such a clean and pleasant state. However, the sentiment of not wanting to leave where you live simply because it is enjoyable is irresponsible.

We are in college with the hope of gaining a well-rounded education. Indeed, this is why I took Math 1030 as a history major. Or why some engineering majors will have to take history. But for most majors, the U leaves out a significant part of our education: internationalism.

We are living in an increasingly interconnected world.

“The current trend is toward more globalization,” said professor Paul Dowling, who focuses on international business. “It’s wise to be prepared for a changing world economy.”

Organizations such as the United Nations and the World Trade Organization are making the world an increasingly smaller place. The UN is working to overcome political differences between countries, and the WTO is helping bridge economic problems.

So where do simple Utah college students fit into all of this? Smack-dab in the middle. It’s our responsibility to educate ourselves on this front.

“Almost everybody will have international competition,” Dowling said. He said what we as students could do to integrate ourselves in globalism is to study abroad.

We are lucky that the U has a burgeoning study-abroad program—adding nine programs just this summer, ranging from Costa Rica to China. I learned more in two months in Spain than I have through much of my 15 years of education. For me, culture shock has not become a deterrent, but an attraction.

Dowling said, “You learn, you meet people and your perspectives will change.”
Getting news from different sources beyond the local news, such as the BBC, helps open our eyes to the world outside of our own.

Sure, we can try to live in our safe Utah bubble for our whole lives, but the world is shrinking and sooner or later, it’s going to be in our backyard. We need to embrace globalization before we are forced to. It’s a small world, after all, so get out there.
 

Comments

5 comments

Jeff

Wed Sep 23 2009 01:16

to the ghost of richard nixon,

Do you know what percentage of whittingham's salary comes out of the university purse and how much comes out of the boosters? Do some homework before you get excited about six figure salaries, make sure you know where the money actually comes from. Get rid of a good coach because you're not willing to pay him what he's worth? The football program suffers and then guess what? the school suffers, big time. Communists always fail to apply common sense, its the one thing that isn't common with communists.

theghostofrichardnixon

Tue Sep 22 2009 21:22

No better way to steal money than free enterprise.
U President Michael K. Young annual salary: $377,992

U Football Coach Kyle Whittimgham annual salary: $965,189

utahsright.com

Capitalism at its finest.

The New Original Journalist

Mon Sep 21 2009 16:12

"WTO is helping bridge economic problems" ? Perhaps that's what they say, but if you chose to get your well valued "international experience" in any 3rd world country that the WTO is currently exploiting I'm sure you'd have a different opinion.

The WTO has a long history of bias toward multinational corporations. This is why while on paper, the wealth in many 3rd world countries is increasing via free trade, it is only in the hands of an elite few. The poor get poorer and the rich further their exploitation of the working class so we can all have cheap sneakers and textiles here in the good ol' U.S of A. This is not progress via symbiotic free trade, it is economic imperialism. Have I burst your bubble yet?

Rob

Mon Sep 21 2009 11:58

You can become well-rounded without all this internationalism nonsense. We got 49 other states in the Union here that will help you pop your Utah bubble without assimilating you into the global community. It's not like you walk across the border of Utah and are suddenly in Europe.

I can vouch for the personal growth and horizon-expanding evolution that the author is talking about. Yes, it will come if you look where he's pointing. But it will also come even if you just move to another state.

Rob
(Moved to CO in '99)

juicybananas

Mon Sep 21 2009 02:30

The University of Utah is one of the most racially charged (mental) institutions in this state.

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