A PRODUCTION OF THE O F F I C E O F INTERNATIONAL STUDENT S E R V I C E S The Global Griffin

THE GLOBAL GRIFFIN SPRING 2012

INSIDE THIS ISSUE: The Global Griffin is a publication of the Office of International Student Services that seeks to promote global awareness at Chestnut Hill College in the context of today’s international society.

Taste the Nations 1 International Society Presents: Taste the Nations The Kony Conundrum 2

Is the Intercultural Founda- tions Certificate for You? 3

Khader Adnan: Hero or Terrorist? 4

The Powder Keg known as Iran 4

The Economy Shifts to the Pacific 5

Editor in Chief Aizaz Gill ‘14

Contributing Writers David Forster ‘12 Evan Rodenhausen ‘15 Zander Tippett ‘14 On April 24th at 5:00, Priscila Reis ‘13 sebollado con Tostones (stewed International Society), and Mary Tia Noelle Pratt, the Rotunda in St. Joseph’s Hall steak featuring fried plantains), Hagenbach (Admissions Coun- Ph.D. will be playing host to one of the Empadao (traditional Brazilian selor) will all be contributing to the

most diverse and interesting chicken pie), Jambalaya (a New menu at Taste the Nations. Advisor events at Chestnut Hill College: Jim McLaughlin Orleans staple with andouille sau- Attendees will also be Taste the Nations. Hosted by the sage, chicken, crawfish and regaled by the various styles of International Society, Taste the shrimp, in a spicy piquant stew of music enjoyed by our global breth- Nations is intended to celebrate tomatoes, trinity and dirty rice) and ren. The best part of Taste the the various cultures that build up many more. Nations is the fact that all proceeds our entire globe. However, along Volunteer chefs for the will be donated to the Afghan Book with celebrating diversity, it is event include students, staff mem- Drive, intended to assist university also an evening of fun and festiv- bers and faculty alike. For instance, students in their pursuits of mental ity. Nancy Dachille, Director of Career health education in Afghanistan, For a suggested dona- Development will be making a spe- started last fall. The campus com- tion of $3 or $5, CHC students, cial Vegetarian Lasagna, which has munity donated roughly 150 books faculty and staff can enjoy deli- been handed down generation to last fall to the International Society. cious cuisine from various nations generation. Nancy’s ancestors are The funds raised at Taste the Na- around the world including Italy, from the Abbruzzi and Sicilian re- tions will be used to defray the cost Nepal, Bhutan, Brazil, Trinidad gions of Italy. Furthermore, Dr. of shipping the books. and Poland. The dishes include Joseph Kulkosky (Biology Profes- delicacies, such as Bisteque En- sor), Priscila Reis (Chair of the Aizaz Gill ‘14

THE GLOBAL GRIFFIN P A G E 2

The Kony Conundrum

If you have been on a social media site in track Kony down, the Ugandan government The next solution would be the past month or so, there is a good chance would have to invade a foreign land, mean- for the to ignore the you have seen or heard something about the ing that either it would have to draw up countries all together and instead campaign to “Make Kony Famous”. People agreements with the Democratic Republic of support an independent warlord or across the world have joined together to rid the Congo (DRC), where Kony is believed to resistance force. This is a method world of Joseph Kony, head of the Lord’s Resis- be, or support a warlord whose sole inten- that has been used many times tance Army, LRA, which is known best for its use tion would be bringing Kony down. Border throughout history and across the of children as soldiers. Invisible Children, the relations are tight between many African world. To be fair, this method has had organization responsible for popularizing the nations, including those between the DRC a high rate of immediate effectiveness subject, has spent years attempting to get more and Uganda. The ’ interven- in many cases. Such instances re- and more people to join its cause to free the tion in the Second Congolese War has also sulted in keeping the USSR out of Ugandans and their children from the shackles hurt the image of America in the DRC, Afghanistan and helping the United of fear that have been placed upon them. Its where we hold very little sway. Uganda and States to keep some semblance of members have petitioned the White House to the United States invading to track down peace in the Middle East as well as send troops to Uganda to fight the LRA, and Kony could very well be the beginning of a fighting against communistic ideals President Barack Obama has responded by regional armed conflict. across South America. However, sending a hundred troops. The hunt begins. there is considerable risk as well. Fighters such as the Nicaraguan Contras and Afghans Matiullah Khan and Osama bin Laden have either come back to fight the United States or left such a bad taste in the mouths of the people that the original opera- tions have severely damaged Amer- ica’s image in these countries. The greatest killer in the world right now is malaria, especially in countries across sub-Saharan Af- There is no denying that Joseph Kony Still, there remains a chance of rica. Right now the best thing the is one of the worst people in the world. However, negotiating terms between the two countries United States can do for any African there are hundreds of different ways to improve as Kony poses a threat to both. It’s foresee- nation would be to attempt to protect life in Africa, none of which involves sending able that both countries could set aside their the people from a distance through money and guns to find a man who’s disap- differences to take down an evil man for foreign aid to provide the basic neces- peared in the last three years. If life is improved mutual benefits. Nevertheless, they would sities for education and healthcare. If through things as simple as mosquito nets and require United States’ aid, both through the United States were to directly in- proper medical attention, there is a very good funding and arms. The United States would tervene in Uganda’s domestic policies chance Uganda and its surrounding nations will have to hand deliver guns to the Ugandan today, Uganda’s long-term growth as realize the need to take him out themselves. As Government, one known for being corrupt a nation could be stunted. War for history has proven time and time again, throwing even by African standards. In a survey by peace is a contradiction, an impossi- AK-47s at problems in a developing country Transparency International designed to bility. Throwing guns to the people never solves anything. evaluate corruption levels, Uganda was can only lead to more problems. And Right now, the international community rated a 2.4 out of 10 (10 is the least cor- Africa is a continent with way too has no idea where Kony is. He is said to have rupt). We cannot take the guns back once many problems already. left Uganda, and many believe he fled to regain we have given them, and there is no way of strength and bide some time before he brings knowing what the Ugandan government will David Forster ‘12 the war back to the Ugandan people. In order to do with the guns once Kony is killed.

Did you know that Chestnut Hill College has hosted students from the following countries?

Australia - Afghanistan - Belarus - Brazil - Burkina Faso - - - Congo - Croatia - Dominican Republic El Salvador - France - Germany - Ghana - India - Jamaica - - Kazakhstan - Kenya - Liberia - Mexico - Nepal Montenegro - Peru - Saudi Arabia - Serbia - Spain - St. Lucia - Taiwan - Tanzania - Turkey - United Arab Emirates - Vietnam - Zimbabwe

THE GLOBAL GRIFFIN P A G E 3

The Intercultural Foundations Certificate

verse and globally interconnected world. Furthermore, the student must The program is designed to challenge demonstrate the integration of fieldwork students to significantly engage in a vari- experiences into their development of ety of educational and service activities. themselves as persons able to deal These activities invite the students to creatively, compassionately and compe- immerse themselves in both cultural re- tently in an increasingly multicultural alities and interpersonal interactions that world. compel students to step out of their com- The Spring ICF Workshop was fort zones and broaden their intellectual held on Monday, April 16, 2012 at 7:00 Do you anticipate pursuing a career and personal perspectives. p.m. in the East Parlor. The title of the in which you will be working with, for, workshop was "You Just Don't Under- or among individuals that have a ra- stand: Why Men Don't Ask for Direc- cial, ethnic, or religious background tions and Other Issues About Male- other than your own? Female Communication!" and was pre- sented by Dr. Andrea Mitnick from Kutz- Would you like to show potential em- town University and CHC’s Dr. John ployers that you not only have the Kovach. skills to work in such an environ- For more information on the ment, but also the academic creden- Intercultural Foundations Certificate, tials? To earn the Intercultural Foundations please email Dr. Tia Noelle Pratt, Direc- Certificate a student must tor of the Intercultural Foundations Cer- If you answered "Yes" to Complete the six courses (three tificate Program at: [email protected]. these questions, the Intercultural Foun- required courses and three elective Detailed information on the components dations Certificate may be for you! courses) that form the program with of the program can be found in the SUS The Intercultural Foundations, a grade of C- (1.70) or better; course catalog. or ICF, Certificate is available to stu- Attend two workshops; dents in any major. This program fosters an understanding and appreciation of Engage in five fieldwork experi-

cultural difference in both domestic and ences; Complete a self-assessment project international contexts. The ICF Certifi- cate responds to the growing need to charting one’s progress and growth prepare Chestnut Hill College students in intercultural awareness. Tia Noelle Pratt, Ph.D. to live and work in an increasingly di- Requirements for Completion I. REQUIRED RLST 104: The Reli- I. COMM 210: Interpersonal Commu- I. Intercultural Communica- gious Imagination nication tion II. REQUIRED GLST 201: Global II. SOCI 127: Ethnicity II. Diversity and Conflict Studies/any topic III. SOCI 201: Social Inequality III. Religion and Cultural Di- III. REQUIRED SOCI 255: Culture & IV. PSCI 130: Rule of Law versity Society V. PSCI 230: Introduction to Com- parative Politics/Government Sys- tems VI. PSCI 232: Comparative Democ- racy VII. PSCI 330: Government and Poli- tics of the Middle East VIII. MGMT 304: Culture in International Business

*Select three from the above listed *Select two from the above *All three are mandatory. courses. listed workshops.

THE GLOBAL GRIFFIN P A G E 4 Khader Adnan: Hero or Terrorist? tion, along with budding interest by main- Turning a terrorist-affiliated spokesper- stream news outlets, such as the New son into an international hero will do York Times and CNN, forced Israel to nothing to validate their cause. Instead promise to end Adnan’s detainment in mid- of focusing on immoral, yet legal, indefi- April, thus ending the controversial hunger nite detainment of innocent , strike. which many deem a human rights viola- However, in all of this praise that tion, they have latched onto one man’s Khader is receiving, people are either ig- case. As the 66-day hunger strike norant to the fact, or won’t bring up, that Yes, Adnan was wrongly de- of Palestinian activist, Khader Adnan, his involvement with the Islamic Jihad tained, and yes his hunger strike created comes to an end, many questions sur- group of the past. Khader had been a chance for Palestine to gain interna- rounding this now folk-hero remain. quoted in speeches at anti-occupation tional traction in their fight for a free Adnan, believed by Israeli authorities to rallies making statements such as “Who state, but instead of shining light on the be a spokesman for the Palestinian among you will carry the next explosive plight, they shone it on the man. Adnan terrorist group, Islamic Jihad, was de- belt? Who among you will fire the next has a chance to change his attitude, to tained indefinitely without charges in bullets? Who among you will have his take his path of non-violence during the December, and promptly began a hun- body parts blown all over?” hunger strike, to other forms of non- ger strike until he was either released Such violent rhetoric will surely violent protest. or formally charged. turn off people who may otherwise be sen- However, if he chooses to con- His actions quickly spread sitive to the plight of the Palestinians, thus tinue association with violent terrorist throughout the world, so much so that hurting their cause even more. groups, he will only further hurt his the hashtag #Khaderexists became the As someone who believes in the cause and throw what little momentum it number one trending topic on . right of Palestine to be a free and inde- has in the other direction. All of this social media atten- pendent nation, I must say that Pro- Palestinians are going about this all wrong. Evan Rodenhausen’ 15

The Powder Keg known as Iran

In recent months tension be- smokescreen, and that the true goal of the nian oil imports and to freeze its central tween Iran and the Western world has program is the development of nuclear bank assets beginning in July. With been rapidly approaching a breaking weapons. tensions running high, any provocation point. Conflicting intelligence reports, In support of these accusations the in the region is likely to trigger a chain accusations, and increasingly hostile US and the aimed coordi- reaction. The Iranian defense minister threats and shows of force have mud- nated sanctions against Iran’s central has warned that an Israeli attack on Iran died the waters of an already compli- banks, as well as companies involved in its would lead to the complete destruction cated relationship. According to the nuclear and oil industries with the goals of of Israel. Further, any Israeli attack on New York Times, Iran, which is already cutting Iran off from the international finan- any of Iran’s nuclear sites could draw in Western crosshairs due to such is- cial system and destabilizing its govern- the US into a conflict which could rapidly sues as its suppression of the Green ment. escalate into a large-scale regional war. Movement in 2009, its continued sup- As a result of these efforts, the This threat, and the memory of port of radical groups like Hamas and Iranian economy has shown signs of strain mistakes made by intelligence agencies , and its frequent threats over the past few months. The government before the invasion of Iraq, is encourag- against Israel, is causing concern in the has reacted in a series of aggressive and ing governments to handle the situation West over its continued Uranium en- increasingly unpredictable gestures, includ- with extreme caution. With pressure richment programs. ing attacks on Israelis. In addition, President increasing from both sides, however, Iran claims that the goal of its Ahmadinejad’s has touted his county’s nu- the stage is troublingly reminiscent of nuclear program is purely the produc- clear advances, and, on 19 February, sym- the powder keg that was 1914 Europe. tion of reactor grade Uranium. The in- bolically halted oil exports to England and ternational community, chief among France. The latter is likely an initial re- them, Israel, believes that this is a sponse to the EU’s decision to cut off Ira- Zander Tippett ‘14

THE GLOBAL GRIFFIN P A G E 5

The Economy Shifts to the Pacific half of last year, and for the first time in history, members of Trans-Pacific Partner- traders on the stock markets of Chile, Peru ship (TPP) are estimated to collec- and Colombia were able to buy and sell their tively produce nearly 40% of the shares on the Integrated Latin America Mar- global GDP. With that being said, ket, which is the second largest stock market there are no doubts about the poten- in South America. Becoming members of the tial of the TPP. Integrated Latin America Market was the first The TPP seems to be a per- essential step that these three nations had to fect alternative to escape from the take in order to obtain a membership on a economic crisis sealed by Europe, Pacific common market. and to shift the economic focus to the It is important to consider the fact Pacific. Despite the unstable govern- these three South American nations are also ments and other risks, it hasn’t been Despite the end of nearly 400 involved in other trade organizations. In order brought to attention that these Pacific hundreds years of Spanish and Portu- to sustain the production scale that Chinese nations are located in one the most guese colonization, the 20th century importers demand, these nations are hoping to vulnerable geographic locations on brought a new set of challenges for rely on each other’s resources. Some critics earth, known as the Ring of Fire. South America. It was a century charac- argue that regional trade organizations are not Considering only the last decade, terized by military dictatorships, North always beneficial, but as Colombia's finance countries including Indonesia, Malay- American imperialism, communist influ- minister Juan Carlos Echeverry likes to say, sia, Japan and Chile (all major play- ences, drug wars and corrupt political “monogamy is good in marriage, not in trade". ers in the TPP) have suffered major systems. All these factors led South Furthermore, leaders of these nations argue natural disasters that have cost their America towards an economic stagna- that such partnerships will attract foreign in- economies billions of dollars. If the tion. Despite many natural resources vestors to an alternative market other than in international market is going to rely and a massive labor force, South Amer- Brazil, a market that many argue is currently on their economies in the Pacific, it ica did not realize its extraordinary eco- overwhelmed by foreign investments. will be important for them to remem- nomic potential. However, things are By the end of 2011, the discussions ber that those who play with fire can finally starting to change in a continent about a free-trade market have raised the always get burned. which is ripe for exploration. hopes of Chile, Peru and Colombia of becom- Until now, Brazil has been the ing members of a Pacific trade organization. shining star of South America. The The countries that have already been invited country’s Gross Domestic Product in into free Pacific trades are: the United States, 2010 was larger than that of economic , Peru, Brunei, Malaysia, New Zee- powerhouses like the United Kingdom. land, Chile, Singapore and Vietnam. Other Argentina has been positively recover- countries in the Pacific have expressed their ing from its financial crisis back in 2001. desire to become partners, such as Canada, The Economist describes that in the first Colombia, Japan and Mexico. The possible Priscila Reis ‘13

Contact Information

The Global Griffin is a production of the Office of International Student Services that seeks to promote global awareness at Chestnut Hill College in the context of today’s international society. All are encouraged to make submissions to the newsletter. Your submis- sions are welcomed whether they be stories, poems or commentaries on global affairs (send us issues of which you would like the campus to be aware).

James McLaughlin, M.S. Aizaz Gill Director of International Student Services Student Rep. & Editor [email protected] [email protected]