By 
In an increasingly interconnected world, the significance of foreign policy extends far beyond diplomatic circles and international summits. The decisions made on the global stage have a profound impact on the daily lives of individuals in our local communities.
On Wednesday, Jan. 31, Carroll College had the privilege of hosting Bill Russo, the Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Global Affairs from the U.S. Department of State.
“Russo came to Carroll College to share insight on current global events and the impacts they have on local communities, like Helena,” said Jackson Hague, a junior health science and chemistry major from Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Hague, ASCC Vice President, represented the student body at the luncheon alongside Student Body President Marrin Chapman, and ASCC Senator James Peruzzi.
“The Helena community would be pleased to hear that Mayor Wilmot Collins and City Commissioner Andy Shirtliff were also in attendance,” said Hague. “Additionally, many of Carroll’s donors and members of the Board of Trustees were also invited to the event.”
The meeting sought shared perspectives among local and government officials and aimed to foster meaningful dialogue, emphasizing the importance of a deeper understanding within our community.
“It was really rewarding being around this conversation,” said Peruzzi, a junior history major from North Weymouth, Massachusetts. “This is such an important part of our representative democracy and it was eye-opening to be shown that world. After the meeting, I thought about how important it was that they came here and wanted to include as diverse an opinion as possible in how they make their decisions.”
Dedicated to understanding and discussing pressing issues, those present sought valuable insights to address important concerns, especially in the context of effective foreign policy engagement.
“While Bill Russo was here, he spoke with representatives of the city and, of course, with Dr. Cech,” said Hague. “At Carroll College, current global conflicts have decreased our ability to recruit exchange students, and that’s a part of Carroll’s identity.”
Carroll College has been a source of inspiration to many in terms of its international outreach program. The Global Student Refugee Initiative, founded by previous board of trustees member and Carroll alumni Ray Kuntz, has brought a number of students from war-torn countries to Carroll over the past several years.
“When it comes to Carroll College, it’s easy to see that the exchange student program has largely been influenced by recent global affairs,” said Hague. “This sadly diminishes the diversity that we see across our campus, but thankfully we still have many students from Brazil, Ethiopia, and Ukraine, and each student brings some of the culture and traditions with them to Carroll, and it’s part of what makes us family.”
Not only did the meeting enlighten the students present about the effects of global conflicts on our Carroll community, but also on the greater Helena community as well.
“I felt like I learned about what the current administration is doing and how we can take lessons from other countries and apply them to our own community,” said Chapman, a junior catholic studies and biology major from Montana City. “Specifically, I liked the thought that we could help our homeless community based on what other countries are doing… We can especially help out with the greater Helena community through Carroll’s outreach programs like the Center for Peace and Justice.”
In the end, Russo shed light on the vital importance of navigating public relations.
“I would say that this event definitely expanded my understanding of the importance of supporting other countries, investing in common problems, and maintaining diplomatic relations with other countries,” said Hague.
Hague concluded by noting that “everyday Americans” must let their voices be heard.
“Whenever anyone speaks about foreign affairs, they often tell you that the only real votes that matter are who you want to be president or represent your state as a senator. But, obviously, this isn’t the case… Bill Russo did an amazing job at explaining the intentions that the Department of State has for connecting with everyday Americans. They genuinely want to hear how foreign conflicts are affecting their lives.”
