To the Editor:

In response to Frannie Boyle’s column “Welcome to America” in the Sept. 7 edition of The Hustler, we have a few comments. As we all know, Vanderbilt is an internationally renowned university with an amazing academic reputation that draws students from different regions of the U.S. as well as all parts of the world.

We are glad Boyle reached out to our international students and revealed some of the “regional customs” practiced at Vanderbilt as only a student could. However, instead of looking at it as a chance to share, she chose to focus on what these students didn’t know rather than the fact that they came here to learn. Certainly attempts at humor are frequently lost in translation, but the column mostly demonstrates that Boyle took a great learning opportunity and didn’t take full advantage of its educational potential. On a college campus in an increasingly global society, it’s critical that students embrace cultural differences and learn from them instead of mocking them.

On that note, we’d like to invite Boyle to participate in events, projects and programs with a global focus sponsored by a variety of offices at Vanderbilt. Boyle is welcome to attend one or more of the fantastic international films showcased in the International Lens film series, have lunch at World on Wednesday or volunteer to be a First Friend, study abroad for a semester, academic year, Maymester or summer term, get involved with a student cultural organization, or participate in any number of discussions, formal talks, cultural presentations and so on offered on campus nearly every day that showcase a global issue or another culture.

Ara Pachmayer
Director, Global Education Office