Bursting the Bubble
Vanderbilt's attempts at creating global citizens
Chris Sailer
Issue date: 10/2/07 Section: Opinion
Globalization profoundly influences the way in which our generation lives and works: we are all global citizens now. Global citizenship is more than just a catchphrase. Students from over 100 countries study at Vanderbilt. Our apples come from Turkey, our clothing from Indonesia, our fish from Chile, and our crude oil from the Middle East. We want to save Darfur and fight global terror. Although we live our lives locally, the choices of individuals across the world profoundly influence our preferences, purchases, and activities. Globalization reaches us almost everywhere, except here in our education.
Examine the literature promulgated by Vanderbilt's administration and see if you don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling. "Vanderbilt celebrates a rich diversity of thought and identity" (Admissions). "Independent, judicious thought, the primary goal of liberal education, can only flow from an informed and open mind" (Richard McCarty, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences). "One of the faculty's aims in developing the AXLE curriculum for undergraduates was to stimulate students' interest in other cultures and experiences" (A&S).
If the purpose of education is, as Thomas Jefferson suggests, to "teach Americans to judge for themselves what will endanger or secure their liberties," then it is the university's responsibility to ensure its students graduate with the experience to critically engage the world around them.
Although Vanderbilt, and A&S in particular, has affirmed strong writing, logical reasoning and creativity as integral to a liberal education, it must recognize global civic engagement as an equal dimension of judicious thought. The Global Education Office (GEO) is the department charged with creating a campus culture of study abroad. Yet to do so, it must combat administrative malaise and student apathy.
The GEO resolutely affirms it has the full support of the administration; yet the fact is that Vanderbilt has fallen behind because other administrative units have not made a culture of study abroad a priority. Despite an ambitious growth platform, GEO is constrained by the attitudes and demands of the student body it serves.
Examine the literature promulgated by Vanderbilt's administration and see if you don't get a warm and fuzzy feeling. "Vanderbilt celebrates a rich diversity of thought and identity" (Admissions). "Independent, judicious thought, the primary goal of liberal education, can only flow from an informed and open mind" (Richard McCarty, Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences). "One of the faculty's aims in developing the AXLE curriculum for undergraduates was to stimulate students' interest in other cultures and experiences" (A&S).
If the purpose of education is, as Thomas Jefferson suggests, to "teach Americans to judge for themselves what will endanger or secure their liberties," then it is the university's responsibility to ensure its students graduate with the experience to critically engage the world around them.
Although Vanderbilt, and A&S in particular, has affirmed strong writing, logical reasoning and creativity as integral to a liberal education, it must recognize global civic engagement as an equal dimension of judicious thought. The Global Education Office (GEO) is the department charged with creating a campus culture of study abroad. Yet to do so, it must combat administrative malaise and student apathy.
The GEO resolutely affirms it has the full support of the administration; yet the fact is that Vanderbilt has fallen behind because other administrative units have not made a culture of study abroad a priority. Despite an ambitious growth platform, GEO is constrained by the attitudes and demands of the student body it serves.
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