It is pretty safe to say that the Jacobs community is a global community with students from over sixty nations. But take a look at the College III servery – for example – and it’s clear we’re not taking advantage of that diversity.

Where one sits in College III servery is usually determined according to a common factor: usually nationality. You’ll notice different groups sitting together – the Macedonians, the Bulgarians, the Germans, the Africans.

This isn’t a new problem, but we all remain guilty of it. We’re a global yet separate community lacking real integration. We’re all terrified of setting foot outside our comfort zone.

Students have got to go out of their way to make their seating patterns more diverse. Obviously, it’s not going to happen naturally.

My point is this: the whole point of being in an international university – apart from obtaining a top-notch education, of course – is to interact with and learn about other cultures. And this doesn’t necessarily have to only happen at the Other Side when you’re drunk.

I transferred to this university approximately a year ago, and the first things I noticed when I went for lunch were these divided seating arrangements. I was personally disappointed, and it’s especially uninviting if you are a new student.

It is also sad to say that I have noticed a number of students who dine alone. Isn’t it possible that this is partly a consequence of our insular seating habits? As an outsider, finding a chair at a table with an established group can be awkward and uncomfortable.

But here’s the question: are we here to be comfortable?

We all identify with people with whom we share common identities – this is perfectly natural. But just because something is different from what you are used to doesn’t mean it can’t be equally nice. Step out of your comfort zones! Otherwise, what’s the point? We might as well be attending universities in our own countries.

If we can’t break out of our closed seating patterns, we should at least stop pretending that we actually understand internationalism.

Imiodella Emuze (‘09) is studying International Politics and History.