The first sessions of the program ”The World in Dialogue” for the second semester were launched at the Information Technology Center at University Presidency via Zoom on Wednesday, the twenty-second of February. This program is a weekly student conversation in partnership between Hadhramout University and University of Pennsylvania in the United States. It was organized by the Diplomacy Center in the Sociology Department. It lasts for four upcoming dialogue sessions via Zoom.
Hadhramout University pays great attention to build relations through communication with international universities. This program was held under the supervision of the Students Affairs Deputyship, and the implementation of the English Language Department at Arts Faculty.
Prof. Salem Mubarak Al-Obathany; Vice President for Student Affairs, confirmed that the study at the university began at the first week and he added that the university always pays great attention to the student activities due to their importance in building students’ confidence, providing them with life skills, and expanding their knowledge, which represents one of the most important outcomes of this program. In addition, he expressed his appreciation for the efforts made by the coordinator of this program, Dr. Abdullah Al-Falaq; one of the staff members at Arts faculty, as well as to the University’s Information Technology Center, which represents the link between Hadhramout University and the outside world.
From his part, Dr. Abdullah Al-Falaq; the program coordinator expressed his thanks and appreciation to the Hadhramout Foundation for Human Development for the generous support to the program since its establishment in 2021. In addition to the continuation of presenting its activities, which has an impact on the adoption of Hadhramout University as a permanent partner in the program with the University of Pennsylvania.
Hadhramout University students discussed with their colleagues from the University of Pennsylvania in Sociology Department the phenomenon of weapons proliferation and shootings in Yemeni and American communities at this opening session. This phenomenon is more widespread in American society than Yemeni society, The researchers exchanged views on the causes of this phenomenon in American society and methods of solving them. They mentioned that the main causes of the proliferation of the shooting phenomenon are due to the proliferation of weapons weak laws, adolescents’ easy access to firearms and psychological stress, as well as unemployment, racism and bullying of some school students from their partners as well as the spread of violent video games. Moreover, the negative feelings, depression, feelings of hatred, the isolation experienced by many adolescents and poor family relations. They agreed that the phenomenon of widespread shooting was a complicated issue and could not be eliminated easily, and that it would take many years to gradually eliminate it. However, one American student explained that he could not imagine how society could live without firearms that the American Constitution guaranteed the right to own for everyone in American society, and that American society used such weapons for amusement as hunting hobby, as well as for personal defense. While one participant from Hadhramout University asked about the American community’s perception of the shooter as a criminal or victim of his negative feelings, psychological stress, and isolation from family and friends, which ultimately led him to commit a crime. They pointed out that addressing the phenomenon of proliferation of weapons needed the synergy of society’s various institutions.
