We were inspired and encouraged by Mortenson and Farmer's example of service to others despite difficult odds, differences in culture and language, and distance.
Our university's motto, Ut Prosim, stands in stark contrast to the "what can you do for me now?" mentality that permeates our modern culture. Last month, Greg Mortenson and Paul Farmer, two of the most influential humanitarians of our time, visited Virginia Tech.
Their talks stand as capstone visits to a remarkable year of service for our community. The capstone process demands that we reflect on what we've done in order to readjust our course for the future with the hope of reaching our expectations.
Yet, their stories should also challenge us. Our responses to their calls for action-oriented service will determine the trajectory for how we invent the future.
The purpose of this piece is to initiate a community-wide discussion about how we might respond. I also want to challenge us each to meet the potential to change the world we all hold, even to exceed it. I realize that as I write this we are wrapping up the semester, or possibly an educational experience.
Many who may be open to this call for a considered response to the challenge to serve will not have the opportunity to read this op-ed, while others are already asking similar questions themselves even as they are pulled back into the end of the semester rush.
As we disperse for the summer, I hope this letter gives us all something to think about, so that when we return to campus in the fall we are ready to formulate a considered and courageous response to the challenges before us.
In order to facilitate the debate, please consider three possible outcomes from these recent visits as beginnings to an important call to service:
One, we pat ourselves on the back for bringing in people like Mortenson and Farmer to campus, remind one another how cool and intellectual we are, and then go back to our safe and predictable lab reports, term papers, grant proposals and exams. It should be understood, but this is the least preferred option.
Two, we ease into a relationship with Partners In Health and start a Pennies for Peace project, guarded with a sense of caution, and start chipping away at large problems with small-scale projects.
This is the likely scenario, but it is one that I argue is still not enough. Farmer told a small group of faculty that universities are uniquely connected to deep resources, yet their biggest failure is that their visions are too small compared to the scale of problems we all face.
Three, we use these visits as the mechanism with which to engage in a new and spirited call to action that unites many efforts and evolves from project-based interventions to long-standing relationships with those in need.
This last point raises a more important question that we must each answer for our self: Who benefits from service? Truthfully, and contrary to common perceptions, the provider receives more than the beneficiary does.
For example, thousands of Hokies move out into the community during The Big Event to plant flowers, paint decks and improve the local community. Lending a hand to our neighbors is heartening and feels good.
Nonetheless, our influence in the world community requires an expansion of "neighbor." Otherwise, we limit the power and influence we have to solve real problems that could influence the future of our larger community as well.
And what problems might those be? Farmer talked of the resource gap between Blacksburg and Cange, Haiti. The growing gap in regional and global inequality fuels so many of the world's ills.
We often do not realize how our actions, including what we buy and consume, actually widen this gap and directly contribute to global inequality and poverty.
Let us not produce more producers, but instead citizens prepared to engage with and within their communities two feet and 2,000 miles away.
The tipping point to collective action starts with awareness - an awareness one should get with a university education. Once we are aware, then it takes everyday people and institutions like Tech to take action and make real change.
Farmer reminded us that land grant universities have a responsibility and a mandate to respond to public problems.
Tech has a long tradition of service to the Commonwealth. It is time to reconsider our impact to the common wealth.
Tech students are uniquely poised to act.
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