Global Reach

“Get out of your comfort zone.”

That was the recent message of Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times journalist and author Nicholas Kristof to an audience of 1,300 Georgia Southern students, faculty and community members. In his latest book, A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity, Kristof makes a call for global citizenship. That call echoes the goals of Georgia Southern’s First-Year Experience program, which sponsored the event, along with several other campus groups.

“Our graduates in all fields will face challenges that require the ability to think and engage globally,” said Chris Caplinger, Ph.D, director of First-Year Experience. “Our goal is to expose students to these ideas early so they can develop diverse cultural perspectives through coursework, study abroad and community engagement.”

Kristof’s visit to campus was sparked by just such an engaged student activist: Claire Torrell, president of the Student Abolitionist Movement (SAM), an organization committed to ending human trafficking. “Kristof addressed the topic in his earlier book, Half the Sky,” noted Caplinger. “Claire and SAM students knew his work because they’ve been educating their peers on human trafficking for several years.”

Sharing real-world stories of individuals making a difference in complex problems, the author reminded students of the power they have to effect change. “He urged us not to be discouraged about being just a drop in the bucket,” said Caplinger, “because drops are how the bucket gets filled.” – Lynn Lilly