This week is International Week, which this year comes at an especially critical time in the world. In a recent atmosphere of strained international relations, it is important we support all of our fellow students. When a nation is at a time of conflict and anger, understanding and cooperation are often some of the first victims.

Looking through Friday’s Daily, there is a good example of the lack of responsible thinking when it comes to people who are different than the norm. In talking about the women’s basketball team playing an exhibition game against an American team instead of an international team like they’ve played in the past, Iowa State women’s basketball coach Bill Fennelly was quoted as saying “It should be much better than playing a bunch of people you can’t pronounce their names.” Now while this is obviously not a slur toward international athletes, it hardly comes off as culturally sensitive. Was that statement necessary? And should the Daily even have included it in the story? These are questions we need to look at.

The statement is not particularly insulting and isn’t really a “big deal.” But it is the kind of sentiment that shows disregard for cultural awareness. Coach Fennelly isn’t being singled out; his remarks are purely an example of a problem for a lot of people.

All week Iowa State students from all over the world will be putting on events to showcase their cultures. Last Friday was the opening ceremonies and Sunday was the food fair. All week there will be movies, cultural performances, awards and a dance.

International students make up 10 percent of the student body. These students are an important asset to the ISU community and have worked to put on this annual event focused on understanding. We have a great opportunity to celebrate our cultural diversity at Iowa State and it’s critical that we take advantage of it. Better educating ourselves will lead to a better understanding of those different cultures, many of which are right here at Iowa State.

editorialboard: Andrea Hauser, Tim Paluch, Michelle Kann, Zach Calef, Omar Tesdell