By
Niusha Faghih
Arizona Daily Wildcat
U.S. Representative encourages students to study abroad
U.S. Representative Jim Kolbe believes students who become globe trotters have a better understanding of issues around the world.
"We live in a world global in nature, and we can't know about that world if our horizons don't extend out of a university atmosphere," Kolbe said. "There is no substitute for seeing it first-hand."
Kolbe's talk, "Foreign Affairs: A View From Capitol Hill," which he gave to University of Arizona students and the Tucson community Friday, addressed his views on foreign affairs.
UA President Peter Likins introduced Kolbe, a Republican currently running for re-election in District 5, to an audience of about 40 people at the Center for Creative Photography.
Likins said students live in a global society, economy and community and, therefore, require a global education.
International exchange programs are important for college students everywhere, Kolbe said.
Exchange programs expand one's horizons, enrich lives and change the ways that people look at the world, he added.
Carol Bender, the director of the undergraduate biology research department and one of the lecture's sponsors, said that foreign exchange programs are important to the biology research department because science students need to work with teams from other countries to deal with problems such as global warming and diseases, neither of which recognize foreign boundaries.
While Bender noted how foreign exchange programs affected some students directly, Kolbe talked about the importance of students understanding world events generally.
The public has yet to come to terms with the balance of power in the world and remains a dangerous place because of terrorism, fundamentalism, the scourge of disease and poverty, Kolbe said.
"Events take place from the shores, but they affect each and every one of us in the United States," Kolbe said, "If it's not us, then who?"
China doesn't have the desire, Europe finds itself distracted and absorbed, and Russia can't keep it's business straight, Kolbe said. "The failure to realize this creates a vacuum which leads to instability."
Kolbe went over a list of fundamental values and said that without a bedrock of principles, policy is nothing.
The six principles are that the United States accept the responsibilities as a world leader, vigil in supporting the law, articulate to the world its objectives and goals, remain clear and consistent with economic relations, support principles and not leaders, and ensure the military is adequate and accountable.
"The U.S. will remain the moral authority, we must not squander, we must define our objectives and state them for friend and foe," Kolbe said. "By doing this we will assume responsibility for the world."
Bender said she was glad Kolbe was able to come even though she did not necessarily agree with everything he said.
"He (Kolbe) has given us a lot to think and talk about," Bender said, "He was quite supportive of international education and cultural exchange which is what the biology department does."
Courtney Chatham, an English sophomore, also liked the lecture.
"Some Republicans tend to be isolationists, however, Kolbe is promoting the idea of the U.S. stepping out and being a world leader and making our world vision known through imperialistic foreign policy," Chatham said.
Lacey Orsini, a communication senio,r said she agreed with what Kolbe said about foreign policy and what he wants for foreign exchange students.
"A lot of people are not culturally aware within the university and need to understand what is going on around the world," Orsini said.
