One of the biggest events this school year occurred during the weekend. Thousands of people were chanting, many standing behind a common bond, all to see a positive outcome.

I do not speak of the Penn State football game this weekend, but of the corporate globalization protests against the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Every year, annual meetings are held that affect people in every aspect of life.

This year, I ventured away from State College to voice my opinion on the matter. I would be a liar if I said it wasn't a little disheartening that not one person I knew joined me from Penn State, but my real worry is not of motivation among the students, but the possession of knowledge on the issue.

As I told people where I was going this weekend, many of my friends and classmates knew barely anything about the issue.

Ask a Penn Stater who won or lost the football game. One would have no problem finding the answer, even though the game, with the exception of the actual players, really has no true affect on one's self.

But ask them what world institutions have a hand in the winning and losing of the world economy; the reason only 2 percent of the world even go to college; and the reason you wear Abercrombie and another person the same age makes it halfway across the globe, the answer will be difficult to find.

This isn't anything against football but a request to the student body that there are prevalent issues in the world that we must confront whether you agree with them or not.

When George Atherton helped to build up this university, I can bet that his vision was of learning and stimulation, not of lethargy and distraction.