Why is the World’s Top School of International Relations Somewhat Divided?
By Xintong (Olivia) Wu
At the beginning of my Master’s program at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in September 2018, my concentration Urban and Social Policy (I later switched to International Finance Concentration in my second semester) organized a retreat shortly after orientation to a remote area outside New York City where we stayed for two days and got to make new friends.
Several ice-breaking events helped us open up to each other and at night, we sat together to drink and play games. Looking around, I found my table was merely “Asians”: Japanese, Thai people, Chinese, Taiwanese American, Chinese Ecuadorian…Next to us was a group of so-called westerners laughing and talking: our peers from the US, the UK, France, Belgium, Spain…At that moment, I felt it was so intimidating to simply stand up and join the other table as if I was sticking to the chair. However, I thought I could find chances to talk to them later.
Growing up in a small city in eastern China surrounded by people who share a similar appearance, culture, and set of values with me, I’ve always had a longing for a larger world where I could connect with people who are different from me. That was why I came to Columbia in 2018.
Founded in 1946 in the aftermath of World War II, Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) is one of the world’s leading institutions of international relations and public policy. Located in Manhattan, New York City, SIPA is exactly “where the world connects” -- an incoming class is usually represented by future policymakers from around 60 countries.
However, at SIPA, which is almost like a mini UN, my passion for making friends with Latinos, Americans, and Europeans gradually faded after I tried so hard to develop conversations with my classmates. Sometimes, I invited them to dinner but ended up never hearing from them again. At the end of my first year at SIPA, a German Brazilian classmate who repeatedly emphasized that I was the only Chinese student she knew invited me to a party at her house. Being the only Asian female surrounded by my Latin American peers from Chili, Peru, Brazil, Argentina and so on, I found it difficult to let them be interested in me or simply talk comfortably about myself and feel connected. Loneliness grabbed me even when I was in a SIPA community.
My Asian friends comforted me by sharing the same experience. One of my Japanese friends confessed: “I almost don’t know anyone from Latin America or Europe.”
Another friend who is also from China complained to me that she did not have any common topics with US peers - “We didn’t even watch the same cartoons when we were kids.” At first, it was such a relief to know that the problem was not about me. But, it made me feel even more upset when I came to realize the issue was large-scale. Students are stuck in their comfort zones. They make friends with classmates from their country, region, and culture. They stick together with peers like them.
In order to reach out and connect to people that are so different from us, we have to do more work to find common topics or build connections. While the process helps us to grow as a global citizen, it does not necessarily bring immediate benefits. Getting out of one’s comfort zone demands a huge effort, and at times may seem meaningless for those who came to SIPA only for networking and resources from their home country or from the United States. That’s why I feel SIPA is somewhat divided. We need more open and frank debate and conversations so that Indian students and Pakistani students can exchange their opinions with each other and mainland Chinese students and Taiwan students can both express their concerns.
While the school does hold events on hot regional issues, they can often be dominated by one-side. This leads to conflicts even within the SIPA community. During this year’s graduation ceremony in May, a Taiwanese student unfolded a controversial flag when he was shaking hands with the Dean on the stage which led to mainland Chinese students openly condemning him in social media.
I came to SIPA amid the growing tension between China and the US as well as the rising of populism worldwide. Growing up in a globalized world, I used to think that we already have enough conversations between nations and cultures. But, my experience in SIPA makes me understand that I should not take a stable and peaceful world for granted. Instead, much more work is needed to facilitate more dialogue. Understanding does not come easily; it should be nurtured with time, energy, and most importantly, long-lasting dedication. Here in SIPA, as future policy-makers worldwide, I cannot help but ask: “If not us, who? If not now, when?”
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Xintong (Olivia) Wu is a second-year MIA-IFEP-TMAC student. She’s from Jinan City, Shandong Province, China. She’s passionate about writing people’s stories and truly believes everyone is unique and gifted in some ways. She feels proud of the community and plans to write a series of SIPA peers’ stories. Her favorite part about SIPA is diversity—students from different countries, cultures, professions.