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Learning extends beyond the Lutedome
December 15, 2006
More than 300 students will explore the globe and expand their horizons this January.
This J-Term, 19 groups of students will visit 17 countries on six of the seven continents, from Asia to Africa and Europe to Latin America.
Six of those groups will chronicle the academic and cultural experiences in their host country on a blog. Each group of bloggers is studying on a separate continent. Visit the blog at http://studyaway.plu.edu/.
In this year’s blog, the students will be responding to “big questions” about stereotypes, the daily life and values of the people in the host country and how the experience has affected their worldview.
The six groups featured in the blog are:
When J-Term is finished, all the insight gained from these diverse trips will coalesce with an all-campus event called World Conversations: Voices from Around the Globe.
The two-day event slated for Feb. 22-23 will feature presentations from faculty and students about their recent study, as well as celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Wang Center, welcome a contingent from the government of Trinidad, and engage the broader Parkland/Tacoma community in meaningful conversations about global issues.
"It's exciting to be holding an event that gives us the opportunity to mine the depths of international experience we have right here on campus," said Neal Sobania, director of the Wang Center. "Our faculty, staff and students are excellent sources on so very many global issues because to a large extent, they've really been out in the world and know what they are talking about."
Examples of topics already in the lineup include a discussion of the impact of oil development on indigenous people in Ecuador and journalism at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Planning for the February event is still underway, but it will include food from around the world, dancers and music from Trinidad and beyond, and a series of interesting discussions on global topics. Also in line to kick things off on Feb. 22 is a speech by Ann Jones, whose work with nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan was the basis of her book, “Life Without Peace in Afghanistan.”
On Thursday of last week, President Loren Anderson also announced that former Vice President Walter Mondale will deliver a speech on global issues following lunch on Friday, Feb. 23. The entire campus is welcome and encouraged to attend for this special guest.
To learn more about the study away opportunities at PLU, visit the Wang Center’s Web site at www.plu.edu/wangcenter, or contact the center at ext. 7577 or wangctr@plu.edu.
Photo by English professor Charles Bergman.
Six of those groups will chronicle the academic and cultural experiences in their host country on a blog. Each group of bloggers is studying on a separate continent. Visit the blog at http://studyaway.plu.edu/.
In this year’s blog, the students will be responding to “big questions” about stereotypes, the daily life and values of the people in the host country and how the experience has affected their worldview.
The six groups featured in the blog are:
- Studying the church and courts in South Africa with English professor Barbara Temple-Thurston
- Exploring art and music in China with music professor Gregory Youtz
- Delving into children’s literature in New Zealand with education professors Cathy Yetter and Jan Lewis
- Uncovering moral philosophy in Western Europe with philosophy professor Gregory Johnson
- Photographing the dynamic cultural environments of New York City with art professor Bea Geller
- Wang Center student-faculty research grantees Rachel Esbjornsen, Kate Fontana and English professor Chuck Bergman are researching the impact of oil on the indigenous people of Ecuador
When J-Term is finished, all the insight gained from these diverse trips will coalesce with an all-campus event called World Conversations: Voices from Around the Globe.
The two-day event slated for Feb. 22-23 will feature presentations from faculty and students about their recent study, as well as celebrate the fifth anniversary of the Wang Center, welcome a contingent from the government of Trinidad, and engage the broader Parkland/Tacoma community in meaningful conversations about global issues.
"It's exciting to be holding an event that gives us the opportunity to mine the depths of international experience we have right here on campus," said Neal Sobania, director of the Wang Center. "Our faculty, staff and students are excellent sources on so very many global issues because to a large extent, they've really been out in the world and know what they are talking about."
Examples of topics already in the lineup include a discussion of the impact of oil development on indigenous people in Ecuador and journalism at the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland.
Planning for the February event is still underway, but it will include food from around the world, dancers and music from Trinidad and beyond, and a series of interesting discussions on global topics. Also in line to kick things off on Feb. 22 is a speech by Ann Jones, whose work with nongovernmental organizations in Afghanistan was the basis of her book, “Life Without Peace in Afghanistan.”
On Thursday of last week, President Loren Anderson also announced that former Vice President Walter Mondale will deliver a speech on global issues following lunch on Friday, Feb. 23. The entire campus is welcome and encouraged to attend for this special guest.
To learn more about the study away opportunities at PLU, visit the Wang Center’s Web site at www.plu.edu/wangcenter, or contact the center at ext. 7577 or wangctr@plu.edu.
Photo by English professor Charles Bergman.