Why aren't you asking yet?

It is comical, and yet, disturbingly, it is a reality that in my four years at Tufts the most common response I have received from my peers when I have told them that I am from Beirut has been: "Oh...you mean like the game?"

Now, what is scary is that I can never be sure whether this question is intended as a joke, or not. So here is a question for any of you Tuftonians out there who upon hearing or reading the word Beirut immediately think of beer rather than a city with international significance: When is the last time you really looked at a world map or a globe? I am asking with utter seriousness.

The unfortunate truth is that our University administration is currently deluded in its assumption that the large majority of Tufts students are well read, well informed and/or have a strong comprehension of the global events of the last few decades. Do not get me wrong; I have had plenty of intriguing conversations with some students (mostly international students or History/IR majors mind you) about the Middle East and what kind of chaos a war with Iraq may cause in the region. But sadly, many more conversations are brought to a close shortly after the beer comment has been made.

By now we are all aware that the current headlines in the news are constantly mentioning Iraq in one-way or another. But to be frank, how many of you non-Political Science, non-IR and non-Middle Eastern Studies majors know exactly where Iraq is located? Do you know why we attacked it during the Gulf War? Do you know why the US government wants to attack that country now? How many of you have a clear understanding of why so many people and countries around the world do not want the US to attack Iraq?

For those of you who do not know, I have a serious request to make: PLEASE ASK! It is time for every student who does not know answers to those questions to make it their duty to start finding out. If you do not agree that our generation of American University students has a crucial responsibility to be well informed about the world we live in, then I ask you: What are you doing here at Tufts?

On this campus professors, scholars, published authors, lecture series and film series are at our disposal, ready to provide facts, stories, ideas and opinions about what is happening in our international community. Every one of us is privileged enough to have on-campus access to the Internet, television, newspapers and radio for free. And please, not one of us who has the time to sit and watch Joe Millionaire or TheBachelorette and discuss with friends who was eliminated every week should be giving the excuse that they are too busy to read, watch or listen to the news.

So here are some of my suggestions as to how anyone (even busy people) can easily make time to learn about current events:

_Sign up to receive regular emails from an online newspaper such as newyorktimes.com or independent.co.uk.

_At the gym, instead of reading Cosmo or Glamour while on the bike or the elliptical machine, read the newspaper (try the opinion-editorials section of the New York Times).

_While procrastinating in your room, rather than playing snood or solitaire for the millionth time, check out: worldatlas.com/webimage/countrys/me.htm.

_In the car, rather than listening to a radio station that will play the same songs that you have already heard over and over and over again, listen to a discussion on AM talk radio or National Public Radio (WBUR 90.9 FM in Boston).

_Next semester, take a history class or political science class pass/fail, even if you are an engineer, an artist or a science major.

_Attend one of the many engaging, informative, and often controversial lectures, film screenings and discussions happening every week on and around campus (and the George H.W. Bush lecture does not really count because nothing he has to say will surprise anyone).

I personally make it my business to do all of these things as often as I can, and I promise that if you take any or all of those six suggestions listed above, you will learn some things that will surprise and interest you. It will be well worth your time.

Look, I am not even going so far as to ask you to "get involved" or assert an opinion; I am only asking you to seek answers to the questions looming in the back of your head. Ask those questions, even the "dumb" ones... especially the "dumb" one. (And keep asking them.) This way, when we meet, I can tell you I am from Beirut and know you will respond with something other than a comment about how much you love the game. Maybe we can even talk politics.

Mona Damluji is a senior majoring in Architectural Studies and minoring in Communication and Media Studies.