We are proud that DePauw was ranked high on the National Survey of Students Engagement - a study that told us that both freshmen and seniors have had a significantly higher number of intimate conversations with international students than the national average.
Our interactions with international students on campus are some of our most fruitful. We are able to learn about various parts of the world, gain different perspectives on life and maybe even practice speaking in a foreign language.
We praise the university for giving us oppurtunities to engage with students from different countries. The administration has made recruiting students from all over the world a priority. And the DePauw 2020 plan provides more physical places - including a larger dining hall and more-organized outdoor space - for people from all groups to interact.
But they can only do so much; the next step to promoting these interactions is for students to take initiative. The results of this survey are certainly encouraging, but that doesn't mean we should start slacking.
It's easy to see separation between international and domestic students on campus. We often sit at different tables in the Hub, go to different parties or study in different spaces. But we can - and have - broken these barriers. Clearly, we just have to make the effort.
And if we continue to do so, it will continue to be worth it.