LEWISBURG -- Although Hong Kong is on the other side of the world, many students at Bucknell University in Lewisburg are learning about the conflict there, which involves students protesting the Chinese government.
"I think they are very interested in what's going on in Hong Kong. They are fascinated by what is happening over there," Dr. Zhiqun Zhu said.
Dr. Zhu is a professor of International Relations at Bucknell. He talks about the developments in Hong Kong in a class called U.S./China Relations.
"What this demonstration means for Hong Kong and for China and what will be the outcome," Dr. Zhu said.
"It's been dominating our discussions just as it's been dominating discussion all around the world," Alex Liebers said.
Liebers is a senior at Bucknell University and majors in political science. He says he and his classmates formed their own opinions while discussing the Hong Kong issue in class.
"Myself, and many of the other students, I believe, stand with the protesters who realize that the rate of change they'd like to see will never be satisfied by the communism regime," Liebers said.
Students tell Newswatch 16 it's easier to learn about things in real time because of social media.
"And also there are certain sites and we explored a few in class where there are live feeds of the protest so we can see what is going on in real time. A true version of what is going on there and not what the communist government wants people to see," Liebers said.
"I hope that on both sides reason will prevail and perhaps they can sit down and talk to each other and reach some sort of compromise," Dr. Zhu said.
The U.S./China Relations class at Bucknell meets every Monday and Dr. Zhu says he and the students will continue to follow the developments out of Hong Kong as they progress.