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November 12, 2007 —
What makes a university so special? What is it that makes it more than just a bunch of buildings full of teachers and students?
What makes a university so unique is all of the people that pass through its halls. I think a university's greatest asset is the people it allows us to come in contact with and all that we can learn from them. Let's look at how we can learn from each other in this setting.
When I studied abroad in Greece, I learned about the philosophy of Greek discussion. The basic idea is that there is no right or wrong, but only sides from which to argue a point.
The goal is not to be right, but to gain a new understanding of a topic through discussion. I think a university serves the same purpose. It is a forum of ideas and views where anyone can have their say without fear of persecution.
As an example, take a look two weeks back when the Christian evangelist Michael Venyah visited campus. Venyah shared his views in a very forceful manner, and Christian students responded in anger. Many students saw this as inappropriate and disrespectful.
But the discussion, and the dialog that came as a result it, is what the exchange of views is all about - sharing and discovering new ideas in a neutral environment.
A university also offers a chance to experience different cultures and nationalities - something that SVSU has worked hard to encourage. Various programs allow students to meet peers from other nations and to learn firsthand about their culture. Even something as simple as working on a group project in class can turn into an experience in intercultural relations.
Study abroad also offers students the chance to gain experience with different cultures and learn how the rest of the world operates. Borders are separating us less and less every day, and the intercultural experience gained in a university environment is invaluable.
Being at a university has opened my eyes to many different views and beliefs. Even though I'd like to think that I was an open-minded person when I came to SVSU, I wasn't. SVSU exposed me to people who thought differently than I did. I saw different views on religion, sex, education, and even sleeping habits.
Before long, I began to realize my biases. I realized that many of the views that I had considered to be wrong were merely different. I also realized that my views weren't necessarily the only right view simply because I believed it.
I learned that a university offers a place where we can come to appreciate the myriad collection of ideas that exist in the world, and to appreciate them and (more importantly) the people that hold them.
There is more to a university than Starbucks coffee, dorms, and not having class before three in the afternoon. It is more than an institution of learning that gives out very expensive sheets of paper. It is a gathering place of ideas, values, and cultures. It is where great minds are formed around the experiences of an entire student body. A university offers so much if we are willing to dig in and gain what we can from our time here. You only come through here once - what are you getting out of it?