Part I
Momodu Turay had just arrived from Sierra Leone a few days before the start of the fall semester to study Environmental Education. Ahmed was a graduate student mentor from Senegal, and Momodu had been assigned to him by the International Students Office to ease his transition to the new cultural context and learning environment. The two students quickly became friends.
“Getting involved in extracurricular activities is an excellent way to experience the new American culture in which we live, meet people and also find a way to relax a bit from the daily study schedule,” Ahmed told Momodu as the two were eating dinner at the cafeteria. “I have been involved with the Environmental Club for the past two years and since last year I have been serving as vice-president. We have a meeting tonight at 6:30 and I would like for you to come along. You may join the Club later on if you wish, but more importantly, you will meet a diverse group of students who are interested in a variety of environmental issues and who work to make our campus more sustainable.”
The meeting room in the basement of the Student Union was filled to capacity. Ron Smith, President of the Student Government Association, had asked to present to the Environmental Club the SGA’s plan to increase the number of parking spaces on campus. The Vice President of Students Affairs at the university was eager to report students’ opinions to the administration as there were plans to demolish old Hamlin Hall and eventually convert that area into a parking lot. Jane McDermott, President of the Environmental Club, called the meeting to order on time and, after approval of the past meeting minutes, invited Ron to make his case. The meeting lasted longer than usual as the audience was evenly split in support of the idea of building a new parking lot versus developing a community garden for all students in order to make the campus “greener.”
Part II
Momodu remained convinced that both plans were legitimate at fulfilling specific campus needs, whereas Ahmed was adamantly in favor of the community garden.
“Each plan has advantages and disadvantages!” Momodu said the next day when he met Ahmed for breakfast at the cafeteria. “What should we students know in order to make a sound decision? I believe this is a critical question that should be brought up at the next meeting. Its answer will be of vital importance if we are going to resolve this issue.”
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