It is common for Tufts students to participate in programs that aim to help people in other countries. While I think that it is important to be aware of different people, cultures and events outside the United States, it seems that we are neglecting current problems in our country and even in our own community here at Tufts.
In order to graduate, we must fulfill the world civilizations requirement, which gives the illusion of a global focus. But all too often, it only teaches us how to dance samba and identify African flutes. Why is priority given to a world civilizations requirement while on the other hand, it is not necessary for students to learn about the history and current social systems of the United States?
In fact, it is common for Tufts graduates to leave school without an understanding of their privilege or surroundings. I find this strange and disheartening, especially at a liberal arts university where we have access to so many monetary resources and influential people. Why is it not required that we be more aware of and accountable for our privileges?
The number of people who graduate from Tufts having read important texts about racism and other systems of oppression in the United States is lower than it should be. Requiring students to learn more about this history is not about indoctrination or pushing a liberal agenda, it's about critically thinking about the ways that we live and why society is set up the way that it is.
Tufts' global focus goes beyond the world civilization requirement — it extends to the general mindset of the majority of our student body. After listening to many students tell stories about numerous grants and stipends that they received to do "research" in various places around the globe, I must admit that I have begun to question the motivations of some. It is becoming more difficult to differentiate between some of the global citizens on our campus who boast about their experiences and ordinary tourists.
True, some Tufts students travel to other countries with the best intentions, whether for the purposes of volunteering, environmental studies or working with nongovernmental organizations, but what are the results? I challenge you to consider the environmental and cultural impact of a two weeklong volunteer trip to Haiti. Consider the plane fuel expenditure, cost of transportation, your place in the tourist infrastructure and the effect of your visit on communities. To go into other countries, help a little and then leave again perpetuates a paternalistic, post-colonial white savior mentality.
I'm not negating the validity or value of experiences that many students have had abroad. There is value in travel for pleasure, as well as in volunteering.
But where is the desire to help others and our philanthropic spirit when those others happen to be Americans? We are quick to talk about the disparities between our country and others' but fail to look inward in a constructive way. Wanderlust has made us neglect to focus our energies on local communities; instead we use our access to money and privilege for travel and resume building "experiences." We prefer jet setting for brief sojourns into exotic new places to fostering relationships with the people whom we actually see and interact with everyday.
We need to focus inward and really think about what is going on in our own society.
There is poverty in the United States. There is hunger, a financial crisis, a disgustingly unequal distribution of power, a failing democracy and environmental crises. Some of these problems exist in our own community, even on our own campus. We are so focused on other people's problems that we cannot see what is in front of us.
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Paige Fulton is a senior majoring in English.
