Liberal Arts majors participating in this program are eligible to apply for enrichment funds to help with program costs.
For more information, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/psunanjing
by cjf181
Liberal Arts majors participating in this program are eligible to apply for enrichment funds to help with program costs.
For more information, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/psunanjing
by cjf181
In November 2012, Dean Long and then Director of Digital Media and Pedagogy, John Dolan sat down for a discussion with the co-directors of the Center for Democratic Deliberation (CDD). In this podcast, J. Michael Hogan, Liberal Arts Research Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, and Debra Hawhee, professor of English, talk about the mission of the CDD as it related to teaching, outreach, and research. They also share their thoughts on what it means to deliberate.
Debra and Mike also provide an overview of some of the opportunities for undergraduate students to get involved with the CDD. For more information about these opportunities, please visit the CDD website.
Listen to the podcast to learn about the CDD:
Subscribe to Liberal Arts Podcasts through iTunes.
by nms5497
On October 8, the Paterno Fellows students were offered discounted access to a live, one-man production of Khaled Hosseini’s novel The Kite Runner. Immediately following the show, to which we students were privileged to have first row balcony seating, an intimate discussion between ten students and two professors investigated the themes of the novel/play and how they related to the themes of this year’s Penn State Reads book, Beautiful Souls.
The performance lasted roughly one hour and depicted the first one-third of the book; those who are familiar with the story would know this as the end of Amir’s childhood narrative. I was skeptical that one man would be able to capture and portray all the characters–each with their own complex ideologies and inner struggles–but the actor did as well as I could have hoped for in capturing the emotions and conflicts presented throughout the novel. He held the audience’s attention and provided clarity in his transitions from character to character by utilizing various voice inflections and body language. Additionally, I must recognize the actor’s talent in memorizing the ongoing monologue of a play which is typically three hours long.
However, as all plays do, this one had its ups and downs. The rape scene, one so vividly depicted in the novel, was only an implied occurrence onstage, depicted broadly as a scene of profound violence. In a brief Q&A session after the play, an audience member who had not read the book had voiced that she did not understand that the scene in the alley was one of such tragedy. I feel that a mere implication of such a scene leaves out the intensity of the situation, the intensity which mirrors the magnitude of Amir’s guilt, the guilt without which there would be no novel. In response to this audience member, the actor explained that this was a conservative choice, one which would make the play appropriate for younger audiences. I believe the play, as well as the loyalty to The Kite Runner’s plot line, would be enhanced by creating a version which caters to mature audiences.
The seminar after the play briefly touched upon this artistic choice. The discussion participants included ten Paterno Fellows students, Director of the Paterno Fellows Program, Catherine Wanner, and Assistant Director of the Rock Ethics Institute, Michael Burroughs. The majority of the talk revolved around the moral and ethical issues presented in The Kite Runner with Beautiful Soul’s underlying ethical themes serving as a topic backdrop.
The discussion was intense, intimate, and enlightening. All students and professors who attended were well acquainted with Amir, Hassan, and Baba, characters of The Kite Runner who exemplify the struggles of love, ethics, and moral consciousness which served as ongoing topics of conversations. The analysis and ideas presented were ones I have yet to have the privilege of experiencing in a traditional classroom setting; all students in the seminar chose to be there based on their passions for reading and connections to The Kite Runner. If the opportunity presents itself to be part of a similar seminar, you can count me in.
by bae1
Penn State’s University Fellowships Office will host a Critical Language Scholarships Workshop on Tuesday, October 29, at noon in 321 HUB. The presentation will cover learning lesser studied languages, enhancing your current language skills, travel abroad, and experiencing new cultures. Pizza will be served!
RSVP for the workshop by October 28 by sending an email to jmw62@psu.edu.
See the enclosed flyer for details.
by krp5
I come from a long line of Penn Staters, dating back to 1929 when my grandfather graduated with a degree in Chemistry. As a current University employee in the College of the Liberal Arts and resident of State College, I see a lot of friends and family when they come back to Happy Valley. The minute they set foot on the Mall or College Avenue, they feel at home. For them, Penn State lives here–on campus and in town. When they leave, however, I am always struck by the ways in which they take Penn State with them.
My sister is a physician–who graduated with two minors from the College of the Liberal Arts: Japanese and Spanish. Because the University network is so vast, she inevitably treats Penn State alumni and current students. They see my sister’s diploma on the wall of her office, and that inexplicable Penn State connection blossoms. Because of the excellent care she provides and because of that instant connectedness, Penn State lives in my sister’s medical practice.
As an academic adviser, I work with Liberal Arts students every day, and I’m am always in awe of the ways that Penn State lives–and radiates and shines–in these students both here on campus and beyond the geographical boundaries of the University.
Heather Hodge, a member of the Blue Band and a senior in Crime, Law, and Justice with minors in French and Wildlife and Fisheries Science, describes herself as a world traveler. And, having traveled to Ghana, Honduras, Fiji, and Australia, Heather’s earned that distinction and is quick to say, “The College of Liberal Arts has encouraged and enabled me to embark on all of these adventures.” But more important than the list of interesting countries she’s visited is the reason for her travels. As a member of Penn State’s Global Brigades organization, Heather doesn’t exactly rest over semester breaks. Instead, she carries out the mission of the Global Brigades and works to implement sustainable water systems in rural communities. Next on her list is a trip to Costa Rica. In these far-flung places–thousands of miles away–Penn State lives in Heather’s dedicated service.
A petite and erudite student majoring in Linguistics, Spanish, and English, Mary Beth Spang might not look like someone who regularly wears a hard hat and skillfully wields a hammer. But she’s beginning her 3rd year as a member of Habitat for Humanity and currently serves as the Executive Director of the organization. Outside of the long hours she spends studying, she’s discovered that she “likes working with my hands and doing things that physically challenge me.” She’s also realized she loves working as a part of a team as well as being a leader. Without question, meeting the families at each build location is Mary Beth’s favorite part of the Habitat for Humanity experience–“they are always gracious and excited to have the opportunity to work on their own homes and others’ homes, and to meet the volunteers who are helping to build their homes.” Most recently, Habitat for Humanity took Mary Beth to Florida and Texas. The sense of community that existed between the future homeowners as they worked on each other’s homes was, in her words, “such a beautiful thing to see.” Another beautiful thing? Knowing that Penn State lives in the very door frames and roofs Mary Beth’s helped build, the floor tiles she’s installed, and the walls she’s painted.
Heather and Mary Beth are both extraordinary–and ordinary–Penn State students. They’ve charted their own Penn State experiences, their own incredible journeys. One of the great privileges of my job as a Liberal Arts adviser is witnessing this process. First year students are charged with finding their “niche” here. Much like Mary Beth’s Habitat for Humanity community members, Penn State students build their own homes here; they create their individual Penn State experiences. This process is amazing to see–and before I know it, four years have passed, and suddenly, it’s time for my students to leave home. And, as bittersweet as those moments are, I know my students will share that Penn State connection with untold numbers of people and in a myriad of places. Penn State will always live here in Happy Valley for them–that won’t change, and, like so many alumni, they’ll come back to visit. But because Penn State lives in them, they take it with them no matter where they go.
– Katelyn Perry
by ket5128
by jxg5152
My semester at the University of Sydney is now coming to an end, and I have had my final day interning at Can Too. My four months in Australia has flashed before my eyes, but I have so many unforgettable memories to bring back to the States with me.
Looking back on my experience here, I am so glad I decided to participate in an internship abroad. I have realized how important it is to experience different work environments and learn about the cultural differences present in the work place. I now feel that I have a greater ability to work with others and approach situations with a more open mind. As a complete stranger to Sydney, my internship gave me a stronger sense of connection to the city and helped me to feel right at home.
Over the course of my internship I helped Can Too with several marketing and social media projects. Through organizing brochure distributions, forming and maintaining relationships with in-kind supporters, updating Can Too’s Facebook and Twitter pages, and helping to re-design the Can Too website, I was able to learn a lot about the non- profit organization and develop a greater understanding about Australian work norms. After a previous internship experience at a non-profit in America, I was able to apply my skills from that internship to offer Can Too new and innovative ideas. I now look forward to applying the skills I learned at Can Too to my next internship or work experience.
Overall my internship experience was extremely successful. I am so grateful to have been placed as an intern at Can Too and to have been given the chance to meet all the inspiring people who work and participate in Can Too. I have grown to love their mission and values, inspiring me to find a similar organization to work for in the future. Can Too has taught me that an enjoyable career can be obtained if you possess passion and interest towards the organization’s mission and values. Most importantly it has shown me that many details and effort go into the effective presentation and management of an organization and it is important to handle every individual task with thought, consideration, and commitment.
by cjf181
In May 2013, three Penn State faculty along with eleven Schreyer Honors College students embarked on a journey to Cambodia and Vietnam. Liberal Arts student Daniel Magerman shares their experience on his website Nambodia 2013.