Binghamton University’s growing reputationfor academic excellence, and innovative research and scholarship is helping theSouthern Tier earn international attention.
More than 2,700 international students fromnearly 100 nations are currently learning at Binghamton University. Half ofthese are graduate students, almost all of whom live in the City of Binghamtonand its surrounding towns. In addition, the university is host to 75 visitingscholars and faculty whose exp**ise adds to our reputation.
Our international students and scholars arehere in Binghamton because they value not only the education they receive, butalso the unique experiences that distinguish our community. They cheer on ourlocal baseball and hockey teams, tour our museums, enjoy First Friday, pickapples and attend Spiedie Fest. A doctoral student in translation studies saidit best: “I came here to grow and to stretch my world.”
The presence of individuals from othernations and cultures adds to the diversity and energy of our community. Strong,growing towns and cities celebrate their visitors and invite newcomers in theirmidst.
The company leaders that I’ve spoken to asuniversity president and in my role as co-chair of the Southern Tier RegionalEconomic Development Council tell me they want to locate in places that have aneducated workforce, a range of amenities and a high quality of life. They arelooking for cities that are open and welcoming to all their employees.
Our openness as a community is crucial toattracting new talent and reversing the brain drain that has plagued the regionfor the past three decades. Immigrants and international students can be thesource of new ideas and entrepreneurial spirit that cities like Binghamton needto thrive.
As an article in USA Today recently pointedout, 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or theirchildren. Wouldn’t it be great if one of the university’s own internationalstudents developed the next Google or Apple and located its production inBroome County because of its welcoming community?
But we don’t need to wait for the next bigthing to appreciate the contributions our international students make to ourcommunity. According to the Institute for International Education,international students contribute more than $30.5 billion to the nationaleconomy, ** international education a significant export product. Here inNew York, international students are responsible for nearly $4 billion ineconomic activity each year — and it’s not just spending on books and tuition.The students I know, particularly our graduate students, rent homes, shop inour stores, and eat in our restaurants. And crucially, they also pay taxes thatsupport our schools and community services.
But there are other reasons that we shouldtreat our international visitors with respect and friendship. Their presenceadds to the social and cultural vigor of our community, ** it a moreinteresting and attractive place. Having them here, we have opportunities tolearn more about different customs and beliefs, and gain a greaterunderstanding of the human condition. Without them, I’d have not had theopportunity to participate in a Sikh Langar ritual, enjoy an Indian DiwaliCelebration, or view a traditional Chinese opera on campus. They have made me abetter person.
As an educator, it pains me when I learnthat students are being intimidated or harassed, as has happened recently inother communities. These actions not only hurt the students directly involvedbut harm the entire learning process. When a student is made to feeluncomfortable or, even worse, unsafe, they may respond by withdrawing fromclassroom discussions so that their peers lose out on the insights andexperiences that they offer. But worse, the entire community is harmed, asthose targeted develop a negative view of their harrassers, and by extension,of the region and America more generally.
I have great faith in the people of theSouthern Tier. I know that I can count on them to do the right thing for theirnei**ors, from whatever nation they call home. And right now, doing the rightthing means giving our students your support and friendship, and at times, evenyour protection. The community will be stronger for it, and our foreignstudents will remember their time in the Southern Tier with pride and affection.
