Last Monday, September 25, four members of the Russian Duma (parliament) visited St. Olaf campus. U.S. Congressman Gil Gutknecht was responsible for hosting the delegates on their first visit to Minnesota. The trip included touring St. MaryÕs Hospital of Rochester, the state capital, Owatonna primary and secondary schools, and St. Olaf College, appealing because of the stature of itÕs Russian program.

The Duma Delegates (Gadzhimet Safaraliyev, Dmitry Abramenkov, Aleksandr Kruglikov, and Aleksandr Shelekhov) and a staff member (Sergei Shirobokov) are part of the Duma Committee on Education and Science, and are on an education tour sponsored by the American Foreign Policy Council. They are here studying American practices in education.

Explains Professor Patrick Dale, chair of the Russian Program, " They are here to view how a private, liberal arts college operates at a time when private universities are beginning to immerge in Russia. And to give our students a view of some Russian policymakers."

On campus, the delegates lunched with Dean James Pence and wife, and faculty members of the Russian Department. They were led on a campus tour that focused primarily on the math and science facilities. At 2 p.m. they were guests in Professor DaleÕs Comparative Politics class (topic: the rise of Parliament since the Magna Carta). They also hosted an hour-long open forum for questions in the Library at 3:15 p.m., and at dinner they attended the Russian Table.

During the hour of question and answer, the Duma members shared perspectives that were refreshingly non-western. "Education does not exist in a vacuum; it always reflects the culture. American culture to a great extent is a technological culture . . . There is a danger this emphasis will diminish emphasis on fundamentals . . .These underpinnings may erode and all that will be left is the super structure," warned Shelekhov via a translator.

To a question on the appropriateness of national standards and testing, Kruglikov responded, "The fear that National Standards will lead to an over-homogenization is over-exaggerated. And I am basing this on my experience with the Russian system."

Shelekhov added, "I think the question of what young people need to be taught is much more complex than standards . . . There is a Russian Poet . . . who said, ÔWhat should be taught is the good, the intelligent, and the eternal.Õ One shouldnÕt be afraid. Norms and standards should be there to create order like the shores of a river, and so, if one has those shores, any student should find enough room to maneuver in between."

Concerning Russian President Vladimir Putin, Safaraliyev, Deputy Chair of the Committee, said, "Time has told us the things Putin said he was going to do he has done, and on time. When someone begins to use power, [some] cry that he is a dictator. Imagine each of the 50 states of the U.S. [implementing] their own laws, laws that are often in conflict with [your nationÕs] constitution. ThatÕs exactly what we had . . .There is a time to throw stones and there is a time to gather them up.

And when asked about Russian-Iraqi relations, Safaraliyev declared, "I think that Russia, along with other countries, believes that the UN is not always fair in dealing with Iraq. ItÕs easy to isolate Iraq because they are competitive with their oil and to do this on the pretext that Iraq was the aggressor. Iraq should take responsibility for its actions. At the same time, the world community has pushed it too far."

Adds Kruglikov, "But Russia has not done anything that violated [the UN] sanctions." He continues, "It is a fact that when we talk about democratic policy, the acts of politicians are one thing, and what happens to the people and their suffering, is another, and is important . . . [Further,] it is important, when decisions are made such as sanctions, to take into account the effects on and opinions of many other countries.

Finally, a student asked, "How do you feel about U.S.-Russian relations?"

Abramenkov replied, "In a sense it is hard to call what has happened Ôreform.Õ What has happened in our economy could be defined by a different word: Ôdestruction.Õ . . .And that affects attitude."

Safaraliyev followed, concluding, "Politicians and Government are one thing, people are something else. What has happened in the past should remain in the past. It should not affect the interactions between the youth of the U.S. and the youth of Russia."

And the last words came from Kruglikov who wished us all the best one can wish before reminding us that the "Russian militaries have never come to U.S. soil."