Thousands of demonstrators are expected to swamp the International Monetary Fund and World Bank meetings this week to protest a variety of causes unified against the negative effects of globalization.

The protests will make national and international news. While the protests will take place within blocks of GW’s campus, many students will not take interest in what the commotion is all about, instead considering it just a complication to their day.

Attending GW is a unique experience, but many students are not aware of the magnitude of events around them. This is a great opportunity for students to relish the fact that “something happens here.” Instead of complaining about the scuffed plastic exteriors covering the School of Media and Public Affairs or about the hassle of showing GWorld cards more than usual, students should take this opportunity to educate themselves about some of the major issues of our time.

Students at GW have a chance to take interactive learning to the next level and actually observe or participate in these demonstrations, which address issues that will be discussed in political science and history books for years to come.