Page 30 - UD Magazine Vol. 31 No. 1

BOOK SMART
Travel opens one’s eyes to things you can’t learn from
a book—but the truism goes both ways. Standing in the shadow of a Japanese temple or walking through a nomadic yurt camp in Kyrgyzstan? Full-body, immersive experiences. But for a deep understanding of these places and—crucially—how we relate to them, the classroom matters. For this reason, UD’s internationalized curriculum requires cultural exploration from students across disciplines. “We’re not just teaching about other regions,” says Rachael Hutchinson, Australian citizen, professor of Japanese studies and interim director of UD’s Center for Global and Area Studies. “We’re helping students break free from ideological vacuums.” UD’s latest offering is
a global studies major, which equips Blue Hens to think critically about transnational trends and challenges—and the role they play in each.
HELLO, RSO!
Want to eat Italian biscotti? Learn an Irish jig? Study the water distribution systems of Cameroon? There’s a registered student organization (RSO) for that. UD boasts more than 300 of these special interest groups—around 50 with an international angle. “This allows students to travel beyond Delaware without getting on a plane or navigating that expense,” says Alex Keen, associate director of University Student Centers. “It’s a comfortable way to broaden
your perspective on the world.” The Anime and Manga group explores Japanese pop culture. The Indian Student Association brings the colors
of Holi and lights of Diwali to campus. And the Delaware African Student Association celebrates the rich heritage of a fantastically diverse continent. Meanwhile, an in-the-works RSO is collecting supplies for the people of Turkey, following February’s devastating earthquake. Through these efforts, Blue Hens from all over the world “become more to each other than pins on a map,” Keen says. “They become fellow students—fellow humans—to engage with and understand.”
RIGHT PAGE: International students Shubh Pahwa, EG22, left, and Gbenga Taiwo, EG23Phd.
300+ Middle Eastern and North African students have had leadership training at UD
11 European Union diplomats held discussions at UD during COVID-19
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20 African women are hosted by UD for empowerment training each year
50+ Foreign ambassadors visited UD in August