Thursday, October 18, 2001

Letter to the Editor
International students vital to educational experience

Congratulations Skiff on your Oct. 17 editorial “Small World.” Your comments and insight regarding Sen. Feinstein’s proposal are on target.

I was pleased to read your support of the need for more international students at TCU. Many of our students study abroad — almost 25 percent — but for those who can’t, our international students provide a wonderful window into other cultures while assisting us in reconsidering our own values and customs. If the bombing of the World Trade Center teaches us nothing else, it should teach us that isolation is not an option.

For TCU and other universities, the first step in fighting terrorism and isolationism is the export of democracy and compatible ideals. It is one thing to prop up other governments with military presence and financial support; it is another thing, and the right one, to bring their children here to educate them in the values of an open exchange of ideas. The first step in that worthy process would’ve been eradicated with Feinstein’s moratorium on student visas.

It is important to remember that once these students arrive, our obligations are not over. We also have the responsibility to be certain they have the same opportunities to participate as everyone else, and that they’re included not only in our admissions brochures but also when Texas Christian University is developing policy.

— John Singleton,
International Student Services Director