Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

LAUC Hosts Study Abroad Panel, Oct. 8th 4:30pm 124 Sparks

by

14546825490_64c836c29d_o

Image_previewAre you interested in studying abroad but are not sure what location or even how to begin the process?

 Then come out to the Education Abroad Fair on Wednesday, October 8th in the HUB from 11am until 4pm to hear from Penn State Colleges, faculty and global partners.

In conjunction with the Education Abroad Fair, the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council will be hosting a Study Abroad Panel at 4:30pm on October 8th in 124 Sparks. The panel will feature Penn State undergraduate students who have had remarkable global experiences. At the panel, the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council will be having various student representatives who have completed research abroad, a study abroad program, an internship abroad, as well as an international student.

In addition to these students, an adviser from Global Programs named Whitney Strickler will be present.  If you are considering studying abroad in the future or even if you are unsure, I would definitely recommend attending both the fair and the panel to learn about the numerous abroad opportunities and gain some valuable information in regard to application processes and important deadlines.  As someone who has studied abroad in Ireland and Ghana as an undergraduate, I can honestly say from personal experience that attending the Education Abroad Fair helped me to make a decision about where I ultimately wanted to study abroad.

To learn more about Amanda’s experience studying abroad in Ireland as well as other liberal arts students enrichment experiences, check out the Student Profiles on the Career Enrichment Network website.

This post was contributed by Amanda Thoet, Vice President of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, Double Majoring in English and Communication Arts and Sciences. 

LAUC Statement in Support of the Paterno Fellows Student Advisory Board

by

LAUC Image copy.jpgLooking back more than a year after tragedy befell our great University, we have seen many attempts to restore Penn State’s name after our University’s darkest hour.
   
One proposed action, in the spirit of the University’s convalescence, was to rename The Paterno Liberal Arts Undergraduate Fellows Program in the wake of the Freeh Report’s allegations against Joseph Vincent Paterno. As part of the discussions surrounding the program’s now-controversial name, the Paterno Fellows Student Advisory Board was consulted for a student view on the issue. While on the surface level this issue was black-and-white–rename the program and be consistent with such efforts as the NCAA’s stripping of Paterno’s record 409 wins, or keep the name just as the University Libraries did–the Student Advisory Board perceived many larger questions.
   
Ultimately, the students advised the administration of the College of the Liberal Arts to defer judgment on the program’s name, citing their belief in due process and the need for more information regarding Paterno’s role in the case against Gerald Sandusky.
   
The Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council, on behalf of the students of the College of the Liberal Arts, would like to commend the Student Advisory Board for their embodiment of many liberal arts virtues that make the students of the College great: holistic thinking, long-range planning, and judiciousness all played a huge role in the Student Advisory Board’s decision.
   
Although this statement is emerging well after-the-fact, given that the legal process has yet to take its full course, we perceive that the future holds further judgments of the Paterno Fellows Program’s name. It is for this reason that we would like to commend the Student Advisory Board for its ability to convey the strength of the College of the Liberal Arts in these difficult times and teach us all a powerful lesson about critical thinking. WE ARE in good hands.

Sincerely,
The Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council

Dialogue on Diversity: Responding to Difference

by

Vendor in Cuetzalan Market by LAUSatPSU
Vendor in Cuetzalan Market, a photo by
Chelsea Jackson via LAUSatPSU on Flickr.

LAUSDeanLong: Kasey, one of the things we talk about as a core value of the liberal arts is being open to diversity. This is different from tolerance, which is merely to put up with something that might otherwise be unpleasant. The liberal arts ideal involves more than that, it means to embrace diversity as an enriching part of our lives, as what gives human life texture and depth.

That is why the images we have seen of the Penn State students playing on the most insensitive and demeaning caricature of Mexicans is so disheartening. It reflects poorly on all of us and demonstrates that we are doing a poor job cultivating one of the central ideals of a liberal arts education. How are you and your fellow students thinking about and responding to this incident?

KaseyOK: I think that students are generally disappointed by this situation. While a divide seems to exist as to exactly how out of line the students’ actions were, I think we have all acknowledged that the stereotypes that were highlighted were extremely offensive to us and to Mexicans. We simply wish the students had thought about the consequences of representing people of this culture in a degrading manner.

As you mentioned, in Liberal Arts we strongly value diversity and encourage all students to be open to and embrace people of other cultures. Personally, I do not believe this incident stemmed from hate; however I believe it did come out of a lack of these values which we have distinguished as being central to a liberal arts education. Looking ahead, I think we as individuals need to re-examine the way we incorporate diversity into our lives, and learn to do more than tolerate others, but to seek actively opportunities for growth through exposure to diversity.

LAUSDeanLong: You are probably right that the incident did not stem from overt hatred, but it did emerge from a culture of ignorance and xenophobia. It is probably easier to address overt hatred than it is to address more subtle and therefore perhaps more pernicious forms of racism and cultural ignorance. It is our responsibility as an institution of education to respond in ways that enable us to honestly examine and redress our own prejudices, even and especially when they are embedded in the institutional and cultural structures in which we live.

Another important dimension of this episode is the role social media played in exposing the incident. One aspect of social media that I find compelling is the way it can reveal something about ourselves to us as a community; often it reveals aspects of ourselves it is difficult to face. The public nature of social media is critical in this regard. Do you have the sense that students appreciate the extent to which their social media presence is, at heart, a way of appearing in public, with all the power and implications that involves?

KaseyOK: At this point in our lives (being in college, applying for jobs and other opportunities), I believe students are developing an awareness of this public face that social media provides. Students take steps such as altering Facebook names, creating multiple Twitter accounts, and blocking certain people from their social media platforms in order to maintain “privacy.” 

However, I do not think that students have an awareness of how what they post on these sites reflects on them as individual people. You mentioned how social media reveals things about ourselves that we do not want to face, and I believe this is an area to which we students need to turn our attention. While students have mastered blocking specific people from viewing their sites, they are not focusing on what image their statuses and pictures are creating to the people who are allowed to view it. This also ignores the fact that all things posted on the internet have the potential to reach an unintended audience; the internet does not allow us to keep anything truly private.

My question to students is this: why post things on social media that you would not want everyone to see? Is there a general lack of understanding of the power of the internet, or do we just choose to ignore it?

LAUSDeanLong: And to your questions, I would add: what vision of ourselves as individuals and members of the Penn State community do we want to embody in our social media and face to face relationships? How does the liberal arts ideal of embracing diversity, as opposed to merely tolerating it, fit into that vision of ourselves?

Dialogue on the Freeh Report

by

313/365: Old Main by cplong11
313/365: Old Main, a photo by cplong11 on Flickr.

LAUSDeanLong: It is a real honor, Kasey, to continue our tradition of dialogues between the LAUS Dean and the President of the LAUC with you today. The dialogues are intended to open a space of mature and honest communication with students in which we can address issues of central concern to the College and the University. There is, of course, no more pressing issue of concern today than the recent release of the Freeh Report. 

The report outlines the failures of senior leaders in the university to act on behalf of the safety and welfare of child victims of a sexual predator, and of a university culture of deference to authority that prevented reports of crimes to flow to proper authorities (14, 127ff). It designates the transformation of this culture as the most challenging task facing the Penn State community (18). 
As a member of the faculty, an administrator, a husband and a father, I want very much to contribute to the transformation that we need to accomplish together, but I must admit, I feel tremendously saddened, disappointed and even disheartened as I read through this report. I wonder about the students; how are you feeling? 
KaseyOKeefe: I would say the vast majority of students share that disappointment and sadness you mentioned, Dean Long. We came to Penn State trusting those in power, and expecting them to live up to the upstanding reputation that we were proud to become a part of. We felt let down in November, when it felt like the rug was being pulled out from under us, and I believe that feeling returned today, reading a summary of everything that went wrong over the course of many years. Further, as young adults and simply as human beings, it is extremely upsetting to see people we respected put children’s lives in jeopardy for the sake of careers and reputations.  
Along with these uneasy feelings, however, comes a strong sense of unity and promise of hope for the future of Penn State. Many students have been tweeting or posting on Facebook all day the reasons why they are proud to be Penn Staters, and they have been urging others not to blame the whole University for the actions of few. Additionally, as you mentioned, the report calls for a transformation, and students are also looking forward to being involved in that process. A group of student leaders released a statement this morning, which assured us that they “will do the best [they] can to ensure that our institution diligently reviews and considers the recommendations laid out in the Freeh report.” I believe we students ultimately expect to see these changes made by our administration, want to continue placing the victims and their well-being as a priority, and look forward to carrying ourselves in ways that will restore and reinforce Penn State’s good name. 
LAUSDeanLong: Throughout this process, Kasey, I have been impressed by the thoughtful manner in which most Penn State students, and particularly our students in the College of the Liberal Arts, have responded to the crisis. We will need your best talents as students of ethics and psychology, of political science and sociology, of history and communication, to navigate a way to the “values- and ethics-centered community” of which the Freeh report speaks (129). Can we think together here, and perhaps ask students to think with us in the comments below, about what we can do in concrete terms to create a culture of accountability and ethical decision making? 
KaseyOKeefe: I think the main way that we can help create this culture is ongoing communication and discussion among all members of the Penn State community. Since November, Penn State students, faculty, and alumni have begun asking more questions and actively seeking out information of our decision making bodies. I believe the way we encourage accountability and ethical decision making is to continue these actions, such as following the Board of Trustees meetings and not letting them slip to the back of our minds again. We should also continue to push for student voices to be heard among administrators, allowing these meetings to have a mix of perspectives and opinions. Finally, we can promote open and constructive discussions among students and faculty. For example, these LAUS blog posts can provide a platform for non-threatening dialogue between students, faculty and administrators in the College of the Liberal Arts. I would like to encourage anyone to comment below and add to this discussion with your thoughts and suggestions about the topic. 
LAUSDeanLong: The voices of students will be critical to our ability to move toward a more open and self-critical community. In that spirit, let’s open our discussion to others and invite comments and reflections below about how we can best cultivate a renewed culture of accountability at Penn State.

LAUC: THON 2012

by


LAUC Dancers at THON 2012
Originally uploaded by LAUSatPSU

In the midst of this turbulent year for all of us at Penn State, one of the most prominent questions was how this terrible scandal would affect THON 2012. Not surprisingly, Penn State students worked harder than ever For The Kids. The record breaking total of $10,686,924.83 was beyond anyone’s expectations. A similar story is true for the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council. An organization consisting of no more than thirty students, LAUC could not be more proud of the dedicated members who put in time and effort toward reaching our THON goals.

Thanks to the success of LAUC’s THON 2011 efforts, the Council was rewarded with two guaranteed dancers for THON 2012. We were honored to have Rob Turchick and John Zang represent us for 46 hours on the floor of the BJC. They did an incredible job!

This year, the Council was able to organize a trip to Pittsburgh for the first canning weekend. Never before had we started out on such a strong note with over $1000 raised. Throughout the year LAUCers were enthusiastic to attend and participate in events such as the THON 5K, THON Dodgeball, and various THON sponsored fundraisers. Additionally, one of our initial goals was to improve upon our alternative fundraising. No Shave November was a hairy competition that provided entertainment and funds to add to our THON total. As a new idea, LAUC decided to plan a late-night bake sale where we sold everything from cupcakes to Oreo truffles. The sale was such a fun and successful night, with rehearsed slogans and dancing members, we decided to hold another one a few weeks later. Together the sales brought in $736.80. Our final canning trip to Philadelphia was a weekend full of Cranium battles, Bananagrams, generous donors and a grand total of $2,005.25.

With these extraordinary efforts, combined with THONvelopes and THONline fundraising, LAUC surpassed any goal we could have possibly imagined. We couldn’t be more excited to announce that the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council’s total for THON 2012 is… $9205.92!!!

Thanks for everything LAUC!

Your THON Chairs,

Katie Klonicki & Sarina Katz

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 38 “THON and State Patty’s Day”

by

Liberal arts majors John Zang and Rob Turchick join Dean Long for episode 38 of our bi-weekly podcast Liberal Arts Voices to discuss THON and State Patty’s Day.

John and Rob begin the podcast by discussing their experiences as dancers in last weekend’s IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon (THON). For those who do not know, THON is a Penn State student-run annual initiative to raise money in support of pediatric cancer research through the four diamonds fund at Hershey Medical Center. This year, Penn State students raised a staggering $10.6 million that will go to children and families facing the many forms of pediatric cancer.

This year, John and Rob filled the two dancer spots earned by the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) for raising $5,600 last year. John and Rob share how they stayed awake and standing for the 46 hours of the Dance Marathon. John and Rob also talk about how LAUC successfully raised $8,400 this year. Congrats to LAUC for their efforts this year!

The second half of the podcast shifts to a discussion of State Patty’s Day, an annual student created holiday occurring this weekend focusing primarily on drinking. The group talks about the recent movement encouraging students to think differently about State Patty’s Day, especially in light of the events on campus last fall and early spring. John and Rob shed some light on the variety of responses about the holiday within the student body and across the variety of student organizations. Dean Long talks about his recent blog post with LAUC President Lauren Perrotti focusing on the different service initiatives planned for this weekend.

Liberal Arts Voices: Episode 38 “THON and State Patty’s Day” 

To subscribe to Liberal Arts Voice through iTunes, click here.

We encourage all of our listeners to write to us with comments, questions, or suggestions to laus@la.psu.edu. We may even respond to these comments on the next episode of Liberal Arts Voices.

Dialogue on Drinking: End of an Era?

by

low gravity by andi.vs.zf
low gravity, a photo by andi.vs.zf on Flickr.

LAUSDeanLong: Over the past two years, I have been engaged in an ongoing dialogue about the culture of drinking at Penn State with the presidents of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council. 

Sam Loewner and I focused on the controversial administrative responses to State Patty’s Day, while Geoff Halberstadt and I established a Dialogue on Drinking in which we discussed, among other things, what we owe to one another as students, faculty and administrators. So I thought we might continue this tradition with Lauren Perrotti, President of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council for the 2011-12 academic year.
In light of all that has happened at Penn State in the last year, new questions and issues have emerged around the drinking culture at the university. Those issues have recently been brought into focus by an Op-Ed article in the Daily Collegian written by Sam Richards and Laurie Mulvey which argues that students should say no to State Patty’s Day this year. What is your take on this issue, Lauren?  
LaurenPerrotti: First, I’d like to thank you, Sam, and Geoff for cultivating a meaningful dialogue surrounding this issue. I think it’s important to note that the seriousness and negativity surrounding State Patty’s Day has always been important. The recent events don’t make it an any more severe, but there’s an enhanced need to come together as a community. As Penn Staters, we should never allow outside forces to control our decisions, and it is essential that we do not permit a fictitious holiday and out-of-town visitors to create a chaotic and destructive environment. It is up to us as the Penn State family to take a stand against State Patty’s Day. 
LAUSDeanLong: I read on PSU Live that a core group of student leaders have teamed up with Mayor Elizabeth Goreham and local businesses to curtail excessive drinking this weekend. It seems to me that if this is going to be successful, it will need to be a grassroots student movement, even if it involves collaboration with the Penn State and Borough administrations. State Patty’s Day began as a student led initiative, it could be transformed by students. Are there plans to refocus the energy dedicated to State Patty’s Day to other endeavors related to service? 
LaurenPerrotti: State Patty’s Day has begun to turn from a student sponsored event into a student service event. As more outsiders flock to State College to drink on this weekend, our hometown students are coming together in a big way to protect our community and help each other. The InterFraternity Council (IFC) has decided that there will be no social functions sponsored by fraternities on State Patty’s Day, Residence Life has created a one guest per room policy for this weekend, and the Penn State Council of Lionhearts Service Leaders is sponsoring the STATE Day of Service. These initiatives, among others, hope to keep downtown State College a safe and fun place. We do so much good for this world when we work together. I hope that this attitude toward State Patty’s Day prevails and it soon becomes a myth of a holiday practiced by past students. I do wonder though, will we transform State Patty’s Day? Dissolve it? And how long will it take?

“What is the Career Enrichment Network?”

by

This question was posed to me by a student who happened to be walking by the office in 5 Sparks, noticed the sign on the wall, and wondered what this new office was all about. I was thrilled to see her and happy to explain that the Network is a new initiative by the College of the Liberal Arts to centralize a range of career-related services and programs into a one-stop resource for students. You may have seen Dean Long’s tweet about my arrival back in September or listened to episode 29 of Liberal Arts Voices when we talked about the Network and the vision for what it will do to help Liberal Arts students. Now that I’ve been here a few months, I thought I’d share an update on the Network and ask for your input on future directions.

I’ve learned a lot since my arrival in September — about the various Liberal Arts majors, about special opportunities like the Paterno Fellows Program, about student organizations like LAUC and Envoys, and so much more. I’ve met representatives from every department — faculty, advisers, administrators, and students. And throughout it all, I have been incredibly impressed with the commitment and passion everyone has for helping Liberal Arts students to realize their amazing potential as they explore the wide range of career opportunities available to them. I don’t think there has ever been a better time to be a Liberal Arts student at Penn State, and I’m excited to be part of the Network.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers Job Outlook 2012 survey results illustrate that employers are seeking many of the skills Liberal Arts graduates acquire through their educational experiences — the ability to work in teams; to communicate effectively; to make decisions and solve problems; to obtain and process information; and to plan, organize, and prioritize work. Employers recognize the importance of these skill sets, and they also know from direct experience that not all job candidates have them. Liberal Arts graduates do.

So the Network’s aim is to assist Liberal Arts students with applying and further developing their skills through internships, undergraduate research, and study abroad experiences. And here are a few things to watch for in Spring 2012:

  • Implementation of a new web-based software system (Symplicity CSM) will start, which will be a great resource Liberal Arts students seeking internships. Students can create a profile, upload a resume for review, book an appointment with a Network staff member, and search for internships – all in this one system. Liberal Arts students should watch their email in-boxes for a message asking them to get started with the system by logging into the site and completing a profile.
  • Two additional staff members – a Program Coordinator and an Assistant Director – will be joining me in 5 Sparks. We all will be available to meet with students one-on-one and to answer questions about preparing and applying for internships, making the most of a mentor relationship, searching various study abroad options, etc.
  • Part-time Network Assistants will be joining us to help with outreach to Liberal Arts students. They will be Liberal Arts Envoys who are trained to serve as peer career coaches, helping with resume reviews, interview skills questions, and referrals to available resources, and the new software system.

As with any new initiative, there are a million and one things to do and still only 24 hours in the day. To make sure we’re prioritizing to really meet Liberal Arts students’ most immediate needs, I’d love to hear from you about one or two things you hope the Network will do during the Spring semester. Comments to this post would be most welcome, or you can contact me directly at sek104@psu.edu.

Dialogue on Penn State Crisis

by

vigil_9113 by pennstatelive
vigil_9113, a photo by pennstatelive on Flickr.

LAUSDeanLong: Lauren, we have been talking in person over the last week or so about how to respond to the crisis at Penn State in the wake of the grand jury indictments in the Sandusky case. I have admired your leadership with students in trying to keep the focus on the more important elements of this experience: first, the abused children, then the question of an institutional culture and character that seems to have allowed abuse to continue. How are students processing all of this?

Lauren Perrotti (Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council President): Thank you for your compliment. After the news broke (and continued to break daily) about the Sandusky case, students have been facing a multitude of emotions. It is difficult to process all the major issues surrounding the case. First and foremost, it is the case itself, the horrific allegations, and the sadness we feel for the victims. Then there is the firing of a beloved figure, the responses of the administration, the swift acts of the Board of Trustees, the incessant media presence, and the lack of communication from the University to the students. As students, we are trying to comprehend everything, but it is difficult.

The recent email from you reached out to students, yet treated us as adults. Do you foresee more communication between administration and students as this long process continues?

LAUSDeanLong: When I wrote that email, I tried to think about what I would want to hear as a student … then I checked with you. Thank you for looking it over.

Students have a lot of resources to bring to bear on this situation, and administrators and faculty have much to learn from how you are processing the diversity of emotions on the multiple levels you mention. Perhaps the sort of public, honest, mature and open exchange we are having here, and have had in the past, can be a model for ongoing student/administrative communication.

We have both tried to think about what a just and ethical response to all of this might look like. Certainly, it will require us not to lose sight of the crimes at the root of it, nor to forget the victims of those crimes who continue to suffer. But it will also require that we take up the question of institutional ethics in earnest, and not in name only.

What sorts of responses to this would you consider just and ethical?

LaurenPerrotti: I think that the best way to frame a just and ethical response is by promoting truth and respect. Over the course of the past week, we’ve felt in the dark and unclear about what is going on. I think that as you mentioned, these types of transparent dialogues are necessary. It is not us and them, but rather We Are all part of a community coming together as one.

It is important to treat this situation with the complexity it deserves. Thoughtful responses to the current situation include the Friday’s vigil on Old Main lawn, the response of everyone at Beaver Stadium on Saturday, and the choice of the THON 2012 logo. Even the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) called a meeting on Thursday to openly discuss the events surrounding Penn State and to reflect on how we are feeling.

The more we communicate and deliberate together, the more we can reach just and ethical conclusions. How are other students, faculty and staff within the Liberal Arts and Penn State community responding to this crisis? What just and ethical responses would promote truth and respect?

Dispatch from the Other Side: Penn State Connections

by


Connections
Originally uploaded by teachingsagittarian

It’s beginning to look a lot like Spring, isn’t it, University Park? I’m sure your weather is beginning to improve in State College as mine certainly is in Virginia. For this edition of my post, I had a few ideas for content: a post about drawing upon connections at Penn State, a post about resume tips, or a post about what kinds of thoughts should be going through your head when you receive an offer from a potential employer. Eventually I decided on the connections topic, but I welcome your feedback on the other two future topics (including which one I cover next and what I discuss in each). Feel free to reach out to me in the comments section or on Twitter (@smloewner).

Before I begin writing about connections and the human resources you have around you, I ought to mention that my prolonged absence between posts is due to a recent job opportunity I was offered and accepted. Although I was originally writing these entries as an employee of a political non-profit, I now work for a large consulting firm where I teach different agencies and organizations how to make the best use of online communications (specifically, social media). I mention the change because it’s going to be pretty significant in this post.

Connections at any stage of life are important. As a child, our main connections are with our parents or families who put us in a position to succeed. As we age, we might retain that connection, but we try to develop others: teachers, friends, community leaders. These are all very important, and if you’re about to graduate from college, they can be helpful for finding a place in the workforce.

Two specific types of connections can be very useful when you’re looking for a job as a soon-to-be Penn State Alum: other PSU Alumni and the faculty around you.

I was fortunate to meet a Penn State alumnus named Steve Kelmar through one of the College’s programs, and I asked if he might know anyone in DC whom I could have an informational interview with. He had a few contacts and he was actually excited to match us up – eventually, that led to me getting my role in the non-profit I worked for. I think I speak for most of my fellow alumni when I say that we love to help current students. You might not be able to draw upon the college’s already established programs for finding an alum, but there are many other ways to meet alumni (like this and this) – try to do so and consider using us as resources.

When it comes to helpful faculty, the College of the Liberal Arts is really ahead of the curve. These connections are a little bit different than the alumni-centric ones. Faculty may or may not know industry professionals that they could connect you to, but they can help you learn a lot about yourself. I mentioned that my new role in social media would be important, and here it is: It was only about 14 months ago that I even began to learn what social media is (and can be), and I only arrived at that point because of then-Professor (now Associate Dean) Long, who introduced the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council to social media. Now, only about a year later, I’m working with it every day. Look for your faculty community to be more than just conveyors of lecture material. If their passion matches your passion (in this case, I think Dean Long and I share a passion for building online communities in new and innovative ways), draw upon it. You rarely get that opportunity with members of a business community. I learned that I love the theory behind social media and online communities, and I wouldn’t have done that if I hadn’t worked with members of the LAUS office. Those kinds of connections are definitely valuable for determining a good direction to take.

Can you think of other connections that students might draw upon while they’re an undergraduate? Do any other readers have experiences with connections they made in school leading to employment later on? As always, if you have questions about this post’s topic or anything else you want me to discuss, feel free to leave them in the comments.

Skip to toolbar