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Here’s a pop quiz: Of the following 10 important international issues, how many can you explain in detail? Be honest!

The Ukrainian fight for democracy, the British elections, the Syrian pullout from Lebanon, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the current European Union news, the Myanmar struggle for democracy, apartheid and Nelson Mandela, the China-Japan conflict, the North Korean situation and America’s current shape in the war in Iraq.

Now try to name nine current international leaders (keep in mind nine is less than 5 percent of the total number of countries in the world).

How did you do? If you are familiar with more than half of the 10 issues, and you could name nine leaders, I applaud you. I conducted a small informal survey asking my classmates the above questions, and the results are frightening. Here’s how some of your classmates stacked up.

Although the sample was small (only 31 students), it is a very telling start. Of the 10 issues, not a single student could explain more than five. The majority of the students could only explain three or four issues, and a significant number of students only knew two or fewer. As for listing world leaders, only two students could list nine, while the vast majority could only list three or four leaders, with President Bush being one of them.

Our lack of global consciousness is obvious. We are some of the smartest students in the world’s leading nation, yet we’re pathetic when it comes to international issues. I do not exclude myself from this accusation, as I would have done poorly on my own survey. But something needs to be done.

I believe a course requirement to teach current global events would be the motivation we need to arouse our interests and stimulate awareness. Certainly it can be said that there is a role for individual responsibility, but I think interest begins with knowledge. If we are given an adequate foundation, we will find an interest in the rest of the world.

We lack the stimulation that is needed to keep ourselves informed of international topics. I believe that all of these things need to be, and could be, changed by taking a current events class.

A class could not only teach students about the global issues that we face today, but could also teach us how to stay informed long after the class has ended. If we become knowledgeable about international issues, we will then be able to follow the news and continue to be conscious about them.

This would of course be new to many students who don’t understand the myriad international topics being discussed in the news in the first place and thus completely divert their attention from it. Interest cannot be spawned without initial knowledge.

Our current level of awareness is inexcusable. Our position in the world should be reason for us to be the most aware about international issues. As Americans, we hold the future of the earth in our hands – every act by the U.S. government affects other cultures, either directly or indirectly.

Some scholars have even joked that the rest of the world should get a third of a vote in our country because of the huge effect our politics have on the fate of other countries. We have the privilege and duty to make well-informed decisions that will ultimately affect the future of the world.

Universities have a vital role in our future, as they will mold some of the most influential people in the nation. As the world is marching toward globalization, with America in the front of the line, it has become even more imperative to teach global issues to each and every student.

Americans must understand that nothing is a “foreign” issue – everything affects us. No longer does it suffice for us to think, “If it doesn’t affect me, I don’t care.”

UCLA must have higher standards for their students. UCLA alumni will go on to be leaders in our nation, become some of the most educated citizens, and will make a strong impact on the future. After four years of higher education, lacking basic knowledge of the world is just plain embarrassing.

During my years of vigorous study at this university, I only wish that I had learned more about today’s global issues. My freshman year started only weeks after one of the most infamous days of U.S. (not to mention world) history, Sept. 11, 2001.

If I have learned anything during my college education, it’s the importance of understanding international issues and the grave dangers of being unaware. We are young. We are bright. We are hungry for knowledge. We are the future of this country – so give us the foundation we need to break the stereotype of the ignorant American.

Mori is a fourth-year communication studies student.