Peters Hall has been likened to a castle by President Nancy S. Dye. A better analogy might be the Tower of Babel.
The stately campus landmark, which underwent an extensive renovation that was completed last fall, was rededicated October 10 as a campus center of international studies. It now houses all of the College's foreign language departments and the Paul and Edith Cooper International Learning Center (see related story on page 2), plus the offices of the Oberlin Shansi Memorial Association, the Counseling Center, Residential Life and Services, and Student Academic Affairs and Services.
Taking his cue from the grouping of one world under one roof, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Pickering, the keynote speaker at the dedication ceremonies, delivered a speech that touched on nearly every continent. His noontime address, titled "American Foreign Policy: Challenges Ahead," drew 250 students, faculty, staff and community members to Finney Chapel.
Pickering led his audience on a one-hour tour of the world's developing democracies, jaunting from the former Soviet Union to Africa and back by way of China. He stressed the importance of maintaining an American global presence despite the termination of the Cold War.
"It has become trite, but it is still true that the U.S. has become the world's only superpower," Pickering said. "It has fallen to us to lead, but it has not become easier to do so."
According to Pickering, America must assert itself in the international sphere to ensure national security, economic prosperity, and protection from crime. American priorities, he said, include protecting U.S. citizens abroad, promoting economic prosperity, making humanitarian response to conflict and natural disasters, and dealing with issues such as sustainable development, population growth, and infectious disease. Pickering noted that America's ability to conduct humanitarian aid efforts depends upon the nation's international status.
Pickering, who holds the personal rank of career ambassador, the highest in the United States Foreign Service, and who has previously served as U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation, India, Israel, El Salvador, Nigeria, and Jordan, lobbied vigorously for his audience's support.
"We need the support of Americans who recognize the imperative of American engagement and the need for resources to carry out our foreign policy," Pickering said to the students sitting among the pews. "I'm not going to pass the hat around now - but I will make a pitch for the most important resource in diplomacy: people. I very much hope that students here at Oberlin will take a very serious look at a career in the Foreign Service. The exam will be given February 28, 1998."
The plug drew laughs, but Pickering continued to stress that knowledge of foreign affairs is essential in today's environment. The challenge today, he said, is not just for international affairs majors, but also for people who understand science, technology, and the environment. "We need an American diplomatic corps with diverse backgrounds and broad, substantive expertise," he said.
"While you may disagree with the administration on specific policies, I hope you will agree with me that America's best interests are served by a commitment to engage actively in shaping international affairs," Pickering said.
Pickering outlined a number of specific policies favored by the current administration, including the expansion of NATO and passage of "fast track" trade agreements. Following his address, audience members formed long lines at the microphones to grill him on foreign affairs. Questions ranged from the status of China as a Most Favored Nation to the proposed treaty to ban land mines.
The U.S. could not add its name to that treaty, Pickering said, because land mines are needed in the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea.
"We wanted badly to sign," Pickering said. "But we need the mines at this time to protect our servicemen and the South Koreans. There is no alternative to the mines in the DMZ."
"There haven't been any softball questions," Pickering exclaimed as he took a quick breath between fielding questions.
- by Hanna Miller '98Return to the ATS-December 1997 Table of Contents