With the events taking place around the world in the wake of war, classes at MSU should integrate discussions of world issues into the regular curricula to increase awareness on the topic.

Classes at MSU, such as the ones for the peace and justice studies specialization, will be adding discussions to classes to inform students about the issues dealing with war in Iraq.

Although the discussions of war will be taking place, professors say they will not be permanently altering their classes to count this as another war in history until the length of the war is permanent.

"We've actually been talking about the war all semester," said Richard Peterson, co-director of the specialization and philosophy professor. "It gives them an opportunity to see some of the things we're talking about in the classroom."

Most professors are not changing their classes only because of the events taking place in the world but also to keep students interested in the material which is being presented.

Students must be aware of what is going on, not only with the war in Iraq, but also with all world events in general.

In order to help students become well-rounded, professors need to initiate intelligent conversations to give their students a chance to voice opinions and ask questions which might help others to understand the events which are shaping the world.

In actuality, it would be impossible to not bring up the war in everyday discussions in MSU classrooms. Faculty and students both encounter the war's graphic images, hear its sounds on television and radio and read about it in newspapers.

To disregard the war in university classrooms would not benefit anyone.

It would only cause ignorance and confusion among the MSU community and the students and faculty need to help inform each other while informing themselves.