Dean Thompson's comment about the Duke South Asian Studies Initiative (DSASI) in yesterday's paper where he is quoted as saying that "there has been a history of students being interested in having courses that address their particular cultures and experiences" suggests that only South Asians on campus support DSASI and the interdisciplinary study of modern South Asia. This is an inaccurate assertion.
Speaking as a non-South Asian student, I am concerned about Duke's reluctance to increase the course offering regarding this important region. South Asia is home to one of the world's fastest growing economies, the world's largest democracy, two nuclear powers and is the breadbasket of globalization and outsourcing. Yet Dean Thompson goes on to suggest that the study of the region might not be important enough to merit the allocation of "University resources." I hope Dean Thompson and the rest of the Duke Administration will realize that if Duke wants to be thought of as one of the premier universities in the world, it needs to be at the forefront in recognizing the next major trends in society. I do not think it is mere coincidence that nearly all of our peer institutions place a much greater emphasis on studying South Asia.
I implore the administration to take a serious look at DSASI's recommendations so that Duke can give its students the opportunity they deserve to properly study South Asia.
Charles Throckmorton
Trinity '08
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