Spotlight

Spotlight

• Study Abroad: A Chance for Students to Make the World Their Extended Classroom
• Emmanuel College Students Provide Aid in New Orleans, Phoenix and Boston
• Seniors Present for Distinction in the Field

Study Abroad: A Chance for Students to Make the World Their Extended Classroom

When senior Anthony Ballerini was deciding how long he wanted to study abroad in England during the 2005-06 school year, he simply took advice from his sister.

"She went to Oxford for a semester and all she wanted to do was go back," he said. "I learned from her experience and went the full year."

The extra time Ballerini spent as a student at the University of York through a Butler University program ultimately proved to be beneficial for the Global Studies major, as it allowed him to fully integrate into British culture. On top of the overall cultural experience, he was even able to join a local rugby squad and travel to several different countries with the team as well as on his own.

Not long ago, the College averaged just nine students per year studying abroad. During the 2006-07 school year, however, Emmanuel has sent 81 students to places among its list of suggested programs, which includes 550 programs in more than 70 countries around the world.

Although interest in the program has picked up over the last few years, Ballerini admits he's surprised even more students haven't jumped on board. Hearing that some students have concerns about the application process is even more amazing to him, as he remembers the procedure not being a huge worry, thanks to Director of International Programs Lisa Larson Read.

"If you sit down and get it done, that's all it will take," he said. "Lisa does a real good job of getting it all straightened out for you."

Creating a more effective, centralized approval process was one of Larson Read's first projects when she arrived at the College in the fall of 2004. Working with faculty chairs and Dean of Arts & Sciences Nancy Northrup to get a sense of course approval criteria for both major and general requirements, her efforts have made it easier for students to explore travel opportunities - especially those with more specific majors such as management, science and education, which tend to have stricter course requirements.

"It's a big development," she said. "It cuts down so much hassle for everybody. It allows me to give students a pretty good direction because I now have a better idea what departments will approve. But my biggest challenge is still getting students in here so that I can sit down with them, look at their four year plan and say, 'maybe you do have room to go for a semester.'"

Although Larson Read can approve all non-major course equivalents, students still need to meet with department chairs for major course approvals. Many, such as English Department Chair Dr. Lisa Stepanski, greatly support students wishing to join the program.

"One of my biggest regrets is that I did not study abroad, even though my father encouraged me," she said. "Going abroad as an undergraduate is so much easier than going later. It's a great way to broaden your perspective and learn beyond the classroom."

With so many different programs to take advantage of, students would be surprised just how simple it is for any one of them to take part in a program. Sophomore Charla Lauriston, for instance, is preparing to spend next fall in South Africa and the spring of 2008 in Switzerland through the School for International Training. Also a Global Studies major, she felt the opportunity to get hands-on experience was something she just couldn't pass up.

"I think that just talking about other places isn't enough," she said. "I need to be there, taste their food and understand their customs. I want to see things with my own eyes and listen to what the locals have to say about their own country, instead of just what I see on the news."

Students who feel they cannot spare a semester can choose from the many short-term programs throughout the Colleges of the Fenway (COF) during summer and school breaks which offer alternatives to the longer programs. For example, during the 2006 winter break, LeAnne Graham '07 spent 10 days in Belize as a part of a Simmons College course she cross-registered for through the COF's Global Education Opportunities (GEO). A Residence Assistant on campus, Graham felt the shorter program was the best fit considering her situation.

"It gave me the experience of going abroad while still allowing me to come back to my priorities [at Emmanuel]," she said.

Psychology major Caitlin Fitzgerald '07 also explored a different route with her trip, choosing to study during the summer of 2006 in Costa Rica through SUNY Oneonta. Performing primate research at biological field stations, Fitzgerald worked through days of 90-degree heat and 100% humidity in order to gain valuable experience in the field.

"It was difficult, but it was also the best thing I've ever done," she said.

Emmanuel also took another big step forward this year by running the first short-term faculty-led program since 2000. Recently during spring break, 26 Emmanuel students and one Simmons student traveled with Adjunct Professor of Religious Studies Dr. Michael Hartwig to Rome as part of a "Religious Traditions of Rome" course. The course was one of 22 short-term programs offered by COF this school year.

"It's a good stepping stone into bigger programs," said Larson Read. "And it's so easy. If you're already taking four classes, there's no added tuition. These are great for younger students too, because when they go somewhere short-term early on, they tend to be more adventurous when they decide to go abroad later."

Needless to say, no matter what a student desires, study abroad has an option that will more than likely fulfill their needs. Put simply, the opportunity for Emmanuel students to explore the world is just one conversation away.

"Almost any student can go abroad, especially if they start planning at least one year in advance as recommended," said Larson Read. "But you won't know until you come in, talk to me, and figure out your options."

"Everyone assumes they can't go, but they can always work something out," said Ballerini. "If you want to go, you will go."

Emmanuel College Students Provide Aid in New Orleans, Phoenix and Boston

A number of Emmanuel College students spent their spring break volunteering their services all over the country. As part of the Alternative Spring Break program, 49 students, faculty and staff members traveled to New Orleans, LA, Phoenix, AZ, and surrounding areas of Boston to provide assistance.

The service trip to New Orleans marked the program's first official visit to the city, after a number of students traveled there last May with Sister Mary Johnson, SND as part of her Catholic Social Teaching course, to assist the Sisters of the Holy Family with relief work. Due to resounding interest from many students to further aid the cause, the College offered the opportunity to once again help the Sisters, an African American Congregation of Pontifical Status that centers on educating youth and caring for the aged, the poor and the most abject of society. Volunteers spent the week living and working with the Sisters - who operate two independent facilities for low-income senior citizens in the city - assisting them with their continued work for the victims of Hurricane Katrina as well as touring New Orleans.

"I believe that the Sisters of the Holy Family, this group from Emmanuel and myself can make changes in the lives of many there," said Emmanuel College junior Mark Harrington. "Even if it's a small change, to affect the lives of others always leaves you warm-hearted."

While Harrington and his groupmates worked hard down south, another group of Emmanuel volunteers once again provided service in Phoenix, Arizona with the Society of St. Vincent De Paul, a Catholic lay organization, and the Andre House, a non-profit organization sponsored by the Priests and Brothers of Holy Cross from the University of Notre Dame. This spring marked the fifth anniversary of the College's relationship with the Arizona foundations, which allows students to assist the organization's staffs with a variety of daily tasks.

Two Emmanuel students also stayed close to home during the week of March 5th and provided a helping hand to local Boston communities as well. Freshman Susanna Derby and junior Samantha Scola were two of 14 students from the Colleges of the Fenway (COF) who participated in the inaugural Boston Immersion Alternative Spring Break, organized by the COF Civic Engagement Committee to allow students an opportunity to spend their break learning about, connecting with, and taking positive action in Roxbury and Mission Hill.

Throughout the week, Derby, Scola and the rest of the student volunteers worked with Roxbury Youth Programs and Sociedad Latina, a Mission Hill-based organization that provides a comprehensive, community-responsive array of programs designed to empower Latino youth and their families. When they were not volunteering their time with these programs, the students spent time learning about the history and demographics of Boston, Roxbury and Mission Hill, as well as participated in panels, discussions and meetings with city and community leaders. Invited guests included Mayor Thomas Menino, State Representatives Gloria Fox, Byron Rushing and Jeffrey Sanchez, and City Councilor Michael Ross.

Seniors Present for Distinction in the Field

Sean McKendry was one of roughly 50 members of the Class of 2007 who presented work recently as a candidate for Distinction in the Field. The presentations, which ran from April 23rd through May 12th, featured in-depth projects and discussions by students from wide-ranging disciplines. This marked the second year the College held a forum for the presentations.

A double major in political science and history, McKendry presented as a candidate for distinction in both fields, beginning with his work entitled "When What is Due is Not Given," a discussion regarding the legality of President George W. Bush's detention policies on the war on terrorism, on April 23rd in the Jean Yawkey Center for Community Leadership Conference Room.

Originally written as part of an assignment for a class he had last spring with Professor of Political Science Marie Natoli, McKendry worked this past year on updating the project, which he presented last November at the Northeastern Political Science Association Conference. Expanding his thesis to discuss historical oppositions to executive detention as well as the Military Commissions Act (MCA), McKendry was also recently asked to present his thesis on April 27th at the New England Political Science Annual Conference.

While he admits he didn't originally intend to present as a candidate for distinction in both majors, he eventually convinced himself to go through with the effort. His history thesis entitled, "The Legal History of 'Separate but Equal,'" which he presented on April 25th, provided a historiographical look at segregation and desegregation in public education.

"Originally I was apprehensive about doing two presentations," he said. "But when it came down to it, I had already written the political science thesis, so there wasn't any reason why I couldn't do both."

McKendry was one of just two seniors who presented talks in two fields. Laura Bean also discussed multiple theses, presenting her global studies work entitled, "Genocide and the Failure of International Policy" on the 23rd, and her history project, "Historical Treatment of the Mau Mau Uprising" two days later.

While discussions took place April 23-27, students presented their work in a variety of mediums. Michael Flaherty, for instance, presented via the poster session, which was held April 24th in the Maureen Murphy Wilkens Atrium. A biology and chemistry double major, he created two projects for exhibition, one entitled, "The Role of IkBNS in Gene Expression upon TCR Activation" and the other, "A Computational Studies of Copper-Containing Enzyme Diamine Oxidase." On April 30th, Performance Arts major Jessica Walsh performed her work, "A Little Night Music" in the Auditorium. The presentation events closed with an art exhibition, with students work displayed in the Saint Joseph Hall Foyer from May 4-12.