Shifting Focus to Issues Around the Globe

By Alexandra Tate
Rotunda ReporterThe week of Nov. 9-16 was designated as International Awareness Week at Longwood this year, in conjunction with the U.S. Departments of State and Education's International Education Week. The main focus of the week is to make more people aware of international concerns, geography and knowledge.

The week was kicked off on Monday, Nov. 10, with Dr. Lily Run Ren, assistant professor of management, speaking on "Chinese Companies Today & Tomorrow: Crouching Tiger or Hidden Dragon?" Lonnie Calhoun, director of multicultural affairs and international student services, introduced Ren by saying, "I don't know where to begin about why it is important that we not only come to events like this, or read the newspaper, and the airwaves. We are all interconnected no matter what you make about where you are or where you are from we are all inter-global." He also added that Longwood currently has 26 students from China and two professors from the country.

The Central Virginia chapter of the U.S.-China Peoples Friendship Association sponsored Ren's talk. The mission of the group is to develop and strengthen friendship and understanding between the peoples of the United States and China.

The auditorium was packed for "Energy Consumption and Conflict in the Developing World: Case Studies from Bolivia and Nigeria," presented in Wygal Auditorium on Nov. 11. Dr. Phillip Cantrell and Dr. William Holliday, both first-year assistant professors of history, presented the program. Cantrell started out by talking about the controversy surrounding oil profits in Nigeria, an area where the United States gets 13 percent of its oil. Then Holliday addressed the controversial issue of the export of natural gas in Bolivia.

The third International Coffee Hour of the semester, held in Java City on Nov. 13, was an opportunity for informal conversation and the building of friendships between international students and the Longwood community. Many students showed up to get a cup of coffee and to converse with fellow students. Participants also learned about Longwood's buddy system, which pairs an international student with an American student so they can share activities together and learn a little about each other's culture.

"Think Globally, Act Locally: Virginia's responsibilities and response in addressing climate change" was the last event for the International Awareness Week, taking place Nov. 13. Dr. Daniel Druckenbrod, assistant professor of environmental science, began by speaking about the effects of global warming. Then Glen Besa, chapter director of the Sierra Club-Virginia, spoke more in depth about what is going on to either help or harm effects of global warming. The Sierra Club is America's oldest, largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization. At the end, Kelly Martin, sustainability coordinator for Longwood, spoke about her job of making the campus more sustainable. Some efforts have included things like removing trays from the dining hall and using more eco-friendly products during picnics and at Outta Here.

Dorrill Dining Hall also supported International Awareness Week by preparing dishes from different countries throughout the week.

For more information about upcoming events about diversity and international awareness, visit the Office of Multicultural Affairs' Web site
http://www.longwood.edu/mcaffairs/