"The relationship between current events and language study is particularly clear in the case of Arabic. The immediate increase in enrollment in fall 2001 illustrates students' attentiveness to the languages of politics. Near Eastern Studies professor Nancy Coffin linked the popularity of Arabic with the political significance of the Middle East. "Traditionally, something would happen, and you would get a little tick up [in enrollment]," she said. She added that she doesn't anticipate any decrease in the language's popularity since, "unfortunately, the U.S. is now deeply embroiled in the Middle East." "I think Arabic is the new Russian," she said."