'Building a Bridge' to Iraq?

Author: Emily Berg '05

I found the article "Midd needs Iraqi Representation," printed in the Jan. 27 issue of The Middlebury Campus, to be extremely thought-provoking. To foster Iraqi representation on campus, Leslie Thompson '05 and David Belanich '05 proposed the establishment of an endowed scholarship for Iraqi students to attend Middlebury.

Their idea struck me as an innovative way to promote peaceful dialogues and friendships between Americans and Iraqis - however, I had some concerns about the motivation for the scholarship and its implementation.

First, the article seemed to imply that part of the purpose of the scholarship is to teach Americans about the true nature of the Iraqi situation through exposure to one individual. Clearly, one person's perspective does not represent the sentiments of a nation, and it is unfair to treat a fellow student and friend as a poster-child for Iraqi politics.

Second, the article suggested that the recipient of the scholarship would be held to a stringent contract. During his or her time in Middlebury, the Iraqi student would offer discussions and lectures. After four years, the graduate would be required to return to Iraq, where he or she would be expected to speak publicly about experiences in the United States. I understand that such contracts are not uncommon for fellowships that last one or two years. A four year college education, however, may be more likely to significantly alter one's values and goals. Even if the recipient of the scholarship initially expressed an interest in returning to Iraq upon graduation, we need to be sensitive to the possibility that this desire might change. To my knowledge, most Middlebury College students are not held to such contracts. Is it right to welcome a student and then subject them to a different standard? Do the terms of the contract support or undermine the scholarship's intentions?

At the Feb. 15 meeting, Thompson and Belanich were genuinely receptive to the questions and concerns of those who attended. As they want the scholarship to reflect the Middlebury community, they seek widespread student and faculty input. As such, Thompson and Belanich were pleased that the meeting drew a diverse crowd, with underclassmen and upperclassmen from at least four different continents.

Thompson and Belanich also made clear that the purpose of the scholarship is to celebrate peace and diversity, not to gain an up-close perspective on a remote enemy. As the scholarship will facilitate discussions and friendships between Middlebury and Iraqi students, it will promote acceptance on both sides and help bridge the gap between two distant and often conflicting cultures.

At the meeting, Thompson and Belanch also began to address some of the complex issues regarding the implementation of the scholarship: What constitutes an appropriate contract? How will we deal with the logistics of recruiting an Iraqi who is financially underprivileged, did not attend an international preparatory academy for high school and is nonetheless interested in and prepared for study at Middlebury? How will we help to minimize discomfort or exclusion - the emotions the student could feel if they are excessively put on display? How will we ensure that the student feels comfortable and welcomed at Middlebury? These, among others, are all concerns that Thompson and Belanich look forward to grappling with in the immediate future.

Since the meeting, Thompson and Belanich have taken steps to establish an official student organization called "Building a Bridge" to Iraq. The primary activities of the organization will be to plan events related to the scholars' responsibilities and manage the scholarship funds. In addition, "Building a Bridge" will create forums for discussions of current events related to the Middle East. "Building a Bridge" encourages participation from anyone interested - including staff, community members, students and faculty.

Thompson and Belanich have ambitious goals for the remainder of this semester and beyond. By May, they plan to have raised enough money for one scholarship. Over the next few years, they hope that an endowment will develop and that other colleges will follow Middlebury's lead and encourage Iraqi enrollment. As both Thompson and Belanich are seniors, they hope that underclassmen who aid them in founding Building a Bridge this spring will continue to develop the organization in the years to come.

As Thompson and Belanich want "Building a Bridge" to represent the Middlebury community, they are interested in your questions and suggestions. They can be reached at lthompso@middlebury.edu and dbelanic@middlebury.edu. The date and time of next week's meeting will be posted in dining halls and on-line editions of Midd This Week.