Established 1916

 

 

 

This column represents the view of the Old Gold and Black Editorial Board

Professors often need to be rescued from their ivory towers of academic pursuit, and Sir Sylvain Boko, an assistant professor of economics and a Knight of the National Order of Benin, is just the one to do it.

His honorary knighthood illustrates to students that what they learn doesn't exist in a vacuum. Academia is best served when put to use in real life situations. Each summer Boko leads a student trip to Benin, his homeland, where students to apply what they've learned in the classroom.

An advocate of increased democracy on the continent, Boko goes beyond the written word in his book, Decentralization and Reform in Africa, to action, giving students the opportunity to spend five weeks interacting with African communities and increasing international awareness of rural Africa.

During their time in Benin this summer, students were able to work with area hospitals. Africa evolved from a name to places, faces, a reality. While Boko is not the only professor on campus who uses his academic influence to impact the real world, he is an example of the strong partnership between knowledge and action.