BESTSEMESTER The Off-Campus Study Magazine • Fall 2008 • Issue 3 Visit us online at
GO FAR Get your passport ready for the next big adventure of your life.
First Stop: Hong Kong Oxford Tutorial Countdown BLAZING TRAILS IN AUSTRALIA | HOLLYWOOD BY THE NUMBERS |
WHO’S WHO AT THE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CENTER
Karn Brynildson, USP, Spring 2007
Get a quote from a senator. Hold an orphan in your arms. Explore the world beyond your doorstep. Search for more... And earn a semester’s worth of credit.
DISCOVER 12 PREMIER OFF-CAMPUS STUDY PROGRAMS AT BESTSEMESTER.COM.
BESTSEMESTER The Off-Campus Study Magazine
BestSemester magazine is published each year in the fall and spring. BestSemester programs are offered by the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), based in Washington, D.C. To subscribe, please go to www.BestSemester.com. Paul R. Corts, Ph.D. President
YOUR ITINERARY 6 GO FAR 9 FIVE WEEKS IN OXFORD 22 Oxford Summer Programme
10 FACT OR FICTION? Russian Studies Program
Nate Mouttet Executive Editor Vice President of Communications
12 THE THRILL OF THE HUNT
Amber Palmer Lead Editor Assistant Director of Student Programs
American Studies Program
Mike Plunkett Deputy Editor Media Relations & Publications Manager Jocelyn C. Green Writer/Managing Editor Brian Ross Creative Director Richard Harrison Bailey/The Agency Contributing Designer: Elissa Chudzicki, Richard Harrison Bailey/The Agency Photos: Cover photo provided by Daniel Chin, RSP, Fall 2007. With few exceptions, the photos in this edition of BestSemester came from students in the programs. To see more photos, including the winners of the 2008 photo contest, go to www.BestSemester.com.
14 LIFE WITH A UGANDAN FAMILY Uganda Studies Program
Warren Pettit
22 WHO’S WHO AT THE CONTEMPORARY MUSIC CENTER Contemporary Music Center
24 TUTORIAL COUNTDOWN Scholars’ Semester in Oxford
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HOLLYWOOD BY THE NUMBERS Los Angeles Film Studies Center
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FIRST STOP: HONG KONG China Studies Program
18 WHY IS STEPHEN COLBERT IN THE SYLLABUS?
28 BLAZING TRAILS
Washington Journalism Center
Australia Studies Centre
20 BROADEN THE SPECTRUM: DISCOVER
FOUR THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT LASP
WHAT CONNECTS THE MIDDLE EAST
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Latin American Studies Program
Middle East Studies Program
PLUS On the cover: 2006-2008 Russian Studies Program intern Lica Juarez and friends take a stroll along St. Basil’s Cathedral in the Red Square in Moscow. RSP students get the authentic Russian experience during their time in Nizhni Novgorod.
5 Travel Tips | 25 Ten Things Tourists Don’t Know About D.C. 31 Answers to your questions
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CCCU Mission To advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help our institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.
Learning in Latin America might be a tug of war, but don’t worry, everyone pitches in to help.
Yuri Semenyuk, LASP, Spring 2004
The Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU) is an international higher education association of intentionally Christian colleges and universities. Founded in 1976 with 38 members, the Council has grown to 110 members in North America and 70 affiliate institutions in 24 countries. The CCCU is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.
These programs are offered exclusively through the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. Learn more about these intentionally Christ-centered institutions at www.cccu.org.
THE CCCU’S BESTSEMESTER OFF-CAMPUS STUDY PROGRAMS SERVE THE FOLLOWING INSTITUTIONS: Members Abilene Christian University Anderson University Asbury College Azusa Pacific University Belhaven College Bethel College (IN) Bethel University Biola University Bluefield College Bluffton University Bryan College California Baptist University Calvin College Campbellsville University Carson-Newman College Cedarville University College of the Ozarks Colorado Christian University Corban College Cornerstone University Covenant College Crichton College Crown College Dallas Baptist University Dordt College East Texas Baptist University Eastern Mennonite University Eastern Nazarene College Eastern University Erskine College Evangel University Fresno Pacific University Geneva College George Fox University Gordon College Goshen College Grace College & Seminary 4
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Greenville College Hardin-Simmons University Hope International University Houghton College Houston Baptist University Howard Payne University Huntington University Indiana Wesleyan University John Brown University Judson College (AL) Judson College (IL) Kentucky Christian University King College The King’s University College Lee University LeTourneau University Lipscomb University Louisiana College The Master’s College & Seminary Malone College Messiah College MidAmerica Nazarene University Milligan College Mississippi College Missouri Baptist University Montreat College Mount Vernon Nazarene University North Greenville University North Park University Northwest Christian College Northwest Nazarene University Northwest University Northwestern College (IA) Northwestern College (MN) Nyack College Oklahoma Baptist University Oklahoma Christian University
Oklahoma Wesleyan University Olivet Nazarene University Oral Roberts University Palm Beach Atlantic University Point Loma Nazarene University Redeemer University College Roberts Wesleyan College San Diego Christian College Seattle Pacific University Simpson University Southeastern University Southern Nazarene University Southern Wesleyan University Southwest Baptist University Spring Arbor University Sterling College Tabor College Taylor University Toccoa Falls College Trevecca Nazarene University Trinity Christian College Trinity International University Trinity Western University Union University The University of Mary Hardin-Baylor University of Sioux Falls University of the Southwest Vanguard University of Southern California Warner Pacific College Warner Southern College Wayland Baptist University Waynesburg College Westmont College Wheaton College Whitworth University Williams Baptist College
North American Affiliate Colleges & Universities: *Does not include seminaries/ graduate only schools
Ambrose University College Atlantic Baptist University Baylor University Bethany University – CA Briercrest College Campbell University Central Christian College Charleston Southern University Columbia International University Crestmont College Emmanuel College Franciscan University of Steubenville Johnson Bible College Kuyper College Lancaster Bible College Lincoln Christian College and Seminary Mid-America Christian University Moody Bible Institute Multnomah Bible College North Central University Ohio Valley University Philadelphia Biblical University Prairie Bible Institute Providence College & Seminary Regent University Southwestern College Taylor University College & Seminary Tyndale University College & Seminary Valley Forge Christian College Walla Walla University William & Catherine Booth College William Jessup University
Good to Go Top Travel Tips for Your BestSemester
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Put LUGGAGE TAGS containing contact information for your destination on the inside of your suitcases, as well as on the outside, in case the tags on the outside pull off.
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When traveling by plane, be sure to CARRY ESSENTIALS (toiletries, a change of clothes, phone charger, important numbers and addresses, etc.) in your carry-on. That way, if your luggage gets lost or re-routed for a few days, you’ll have some basic necessities with you.
If you are meeting the group at the airport, you will receive PROGRAM TAGS for your luggage. Put them on your carry-on and checked luggage to make it easier to spot upon arrival.
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For international travel, make two copies of your IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS (passport, immunization record, visas, additional identification, your credit cards, prescriptions, etc.). Leave one at home with family or friends, and keep the other in a different bag from the one where you’ve packed the originals.
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Avoid bringing flashy clothing, expensive jewelry or valuable electronics on your travels,
to REDUCE YOUR VULNERABILITY TO CRIME.
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If you’re traveling to a country where English isn’t spoken, FAMILIARIZE YOURSELF with a few useful phrases for getting around when you first arrive.
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When PACKING FOR YOUR TRIP, scrutinize every item and determine whether it is really worth bringing along before you pack it. Try to pack as light as possible.
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Avoid wearing heavy jewelry, metal accessories, heavy coats or jackets and difficult-to-remove shoes when going through AIRPORT SECURITY. The faster you get through that metal detector, the faster you get to your destination! Enjoy the ride!
Fall 2008
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Feature Story
When you enroll in a BestSemester program, you are signing up for the ride of your life—you’ll be amazed at the places you’ll go from here. With their BestSemesters opening new doors of experience to them, here’s just a glimpse at where some alumni have gone.
Townsend Lange McNitt, Gor don College (MA), ASP Fall 1987, is a consulta nt to the Office of the Secretar y at the U.S. Departm ent of Education. In this capacity, she provides strategic and legislative advice to Secretar y of Education Margare t Spellings and senior staff on legislative, policy and communications issues. Previously, Townsend served as Deputy Chief of Staf f for Strategy and Com mun icati ons in the Department of Education, where she was prim arily responsible for the development and implementat ion of strategic plan ning and initiatives, as well as prov iding legislative and policy guidance for K-12 and higher education issues. Before join ing the Department of Education in early 2005, Tow nsend spent the prev ious four years with the Senate Health, Education, Lab or and Pensions (H.E .L.P.) Committee working as Republi can Staf f Director and then Deputy Staf f Director for form er Cha irma n Judd Gregg (R-N H). In these roles, Tow nsen d advised Cha irma n Gregg on all mat ters before the Com mittee, served as the Senator’s chief legislative and policy advisor, helped set the Com mittee’s agenda and plan ned hear ings and legislative action. In 2001, Tow nsend served as Special Assistant to President Bush in the Wh ite House Office of Leg islat ive Affa irs.
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y (MI), LASP Spring 2006, is teaching a Bauhof, Spring Arbor Universit Megan Schools (NICS) in Accra, Ghana. th Network of Inter national Christian with the
Ross Meyer s, Cedar ville University (O several years of H), L ASP Fall st udyi ng and 1996, just com wo rk ing in Asia, in interrnat iona pleted and is cu rrently l development. gett ing an M BA
Ste ve ma n n B ult h a g er u is, in C Ru s s ia n a Sy rac us alvin C e, N o nd U r el ig .Y. H llege k ious ( M I) e he p er s r a i n i a n , RS lps r eva n ec ut P Fa e s et i g o e n l t le r . l icals Sidn ef ug l 20 0 0, who ey D is a r ee s f a re g 20 0 0 eme e r om r a nte a nt, M Bu r m f ugee ca d ref K a n nd OSP i se d a, a n A u sa s i S g m u ee st m e ri c n th at us d helps aN e D e m e r 20 ba se a 0 pa r t d on men 3, is wor zarene t of k U i n n g Slav iver t o w ic La si a rd a ng u Ph.D ty (KS) ag e s , RS . at t a nd P he U Lite n i v e Sp r i n g rat u rsit y re s . of
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Kris Anne Killam, Ge orge Fox begi ns her se University m inar y educ (OR), OSP at ion in M in A rt s in theo Su m mer 20 nesota th is logy and th 05, fall to pu rsue e ar ts. a Masters of
“OSP insp ired me to mak uniquely an d purposef e the most of ever y scholars le oppor tuni ully fashio ty and to ned by G od cture, wal believe I am king in pas ,” says Kill over tea ar t am . “Liste w e experienc riters’ foot ning to gre steps, and es that ha aspiring ar at ve encour tist and th aged me as bonding with friend eologian .” s an
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Rebekah Clark, Corban College (OR), SSO Fall 2003, lives in Eugene, Oregon, where she is the literary director for Sanford Communications, Inc., a Christian literary and editorial agency; she will begin an MBA program this fall at Northwest Christian University.
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Jane lle L o p ez 20 03, , B io is pa r la U n t of t h M a na ivers e ma n g e me ity (C a nt i n as Th A), Los A gement te e Sm a a n m at A C MC Spr g s e h i ng le s , w Sy mo i ng zof f M P u mp ork i n ne a n usic g w it k i ns, d ma n h art i Nick y ot h st s s u L ac h er s . ch ey, R Ti n a a v e nPa rk er, W Fall 2 a rn e 0 03, l r Pa c i ve s i m a rk ific C n Na et i n g s hv i l l olleg a nd e Enter e, Te e (O vent s n ness tainm R), C m ee , a n a ent (a n a g er Fra n k d is t h MC n art i f o l i n, T r Thom e st m a en nes as n ag em s ee. ent co -Vasquez mp a n y) i n
“My semester abroad changed my life. I came away with new perspectives on life and the world and greater confidence in myself and the things I could accomplish. Of course, studying literature only added to my love of books and literature, and the one-on-one tutorials with Oxford dons challenged me to literature in new and deeper ways.” pp appreciate
Tim Taylor , ME
SP, Fall 200 5
Stacey Pistritto, Go rdon College (MA) , MESP Fall 2005, live Washi ngton, D.C ., and s in works as assista nt to the press director in the Eg Embassy’s press office. ypt ian (In add ition to attendi ng MESP, she also atte American Studies Progra nde d the m in Spr ing 2007.)
Micah Schu urman, Dor dt College (I to work w ith A), M ESP Fa the Men nonite ll 20 06, retu rn Central Com s to Eg ypt m ittee th is fa ll.
Feature Story
Michael G reer, G ra ce Colleg two years w e (IN), CS ork ing as a P Fall 20 02 Peace Cor , recent ly co to Wash in ps teacher g ton, D.C ., mpleted in Jordan. to co He recent ly mplete h is specializi n masters in g in M iddle m oved internat ion East st ud ie Prog ram in al educat io s. (Greer at Spr ing 20 02 n, te n de d the M idd , in add it io le East Stu n to CSP.) d ies “There ar
e two mai n ways B now,” he estSemes says . “B ro ter has d adly spea interest in irec ted m king , my internatio e to what experien nal educa specifica I am ces abroad lly, my se tion , whic sparked m doing m h esters pro East; and I have bee y career mpted m I hope to n pursuin e spend man g ever sin to return ce. M ore to live an y more ye d ars in that work in th e Middle region .”
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Christine Underwoo d, Eastern Universi ty (PA), ASC Fall 200 wit h Ind igenous Pitch 5, works Da nce Collective, Inc., a collective of Ph iladelp dance compan ies whose hia-based goal is to per for m works that highlight the divers Ph iladelphia. The collec ity of tive also seeks to nur tur e children who have bee by nat ural, env ironment n affected al and /or econom ic dis asters.
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Gordon Hou ston, Vangu ard Univers ASC Fall 20 04 ity of Southe , is a worship rn California pastor for a ch (CA), Cal iforn ia. H urch of about e released a wo 1, 50 0 in sout he rs hi p albu m tit led rn Wonder; one of SJA Worship: Houston’s song Lost in the s was included song discover in Worsh ip Le y compilation ader Magazin CD in 20 07. e’s
UNITED KINGDOM: Crisps = potato chips; chips = French fries; chum = friend; lorry = truck; jumper = sweater; nappy = diaper; and loft = attic. Good luck!
OSP Oxford Summer Programme
As a student of the Oxford Summer Programme (OSP), you’ll spend five amazing weeks as an affi liate member of Wycliffe Hall, University of Oxford, doing intensive scholarship in this historic seat of learning. Here in the “City of Dreaming Spires,” you’ll work with worldclass academics (there are 10 of them working with OSP students) to hone your skills and delve into the areas that interest you most. In addition to participating in a lecture series on the Christian tradition in the British Isles, all students take two seminars which include individual tutorials in the classic Oxford style. Subjects for these range from science and the Christian tradition to Jane Austen to the rational religion of C.S. Lewis. For example, tutors Martin and Margot Hodson teach a seminar in “The Bible and the Environment.” Martin is an environmental scientist and Margot is Chaplain of Jesus College, Oxford University.
“The seminars are intended to mimic the type of teaching that Oxford University students get,” says Martin. “Instead of large lecture halls packed with students, think of small classes with lots of attention from the teachers. What we like best is that we can really get to know the students, and they get to know us.” Peter Groves teaches theology and church history in his seminar on “The Oxford Movement,” a reform movement in 19th century England that affected the whole church. “I have taught extensively in our visiting student programmes, and fi nd the experience very stimulating,” he says. “The OSP students are enthusiastic about studying in Oxford and engaged by their subject courses. They learn simply by being introduced to new ideas and ways of thinking, complemented by lots of new experiences in a new country.” Margot Hodson agrees. “OSP is an incredibly fruitful time that students will remember for the rest of their lives,” she says. “They pack huge amounts into their weeks in Oxford. They very rapidly adjust to the new situation they fi nd themselves in, and noticeably develop in their thinking. They are never quite the same again!”
Inspiration, please… Oxford has the largest university library system in the U.K., with over 100 libraries. The Bodleian Library, the University’s main research library, has 120 miles of occupied shelving, 29 reading rooms and holds over 11 million printed items. Established in 1683, the Ashmolean Museum is the oldest museum in the U.K. and one of the oldest in the world.
www.BestSemester.com/OSP
It houses the University’s extensive collections of art and antiquities, ranging back over four millennia. The Museum of the History of Science is housed in the world’s oldest surviving purpose-built museum building. It contains the world’s finest collection of historic scientific instruments.
The Pitt Rivers Museum holds one of the world’s finest collections of anthropology and archaeology, with objects from every continent and from throughout human history. The Oxford Summer Programme is located in Oxford, England. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/osp.
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RUSSIA: The country is proud of being the ďŹ rst to send a human being into space. On April 12, 1961, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin orbited the Earth in the ďŹ rst manned spacecraft, Vostok 1.
Russian Studies Program RSP
You’ll have a hard time finding things to like about Russia. Russia stole my heart. After only two weeks of being there, I was totally hooked. The crazy thing is that this exact thing happens to so many RSPers. I know this has a lot to do with the way RSP is run. Harley Wagler (program director and professor) and the RSP assistant are very dedicated to their jobs and have a deep love for Russia. Seeing that in action has a profound effect on students.
The academic aspect of the program will both challenge and excite you. Academically, we were challenged to think critically about everything from history to literature to politics. Harley wanted us to grapple with issues, to discuss things both in and out of the classroom, and to learn from our Russian friends, host families and from each other. We had to do fi rsthand research for our final paper, which led to very interesting findings on a wide range of different contemporary issues. Learning from everyone in the class was amazing. Academically it was stretching, and I learned skills that I was able to utilize both in college and later on in life.
Learning the Russian language will be just as difficult as you imagine it to be. The speed with which we learned Russian was phenomenal. I had no idea it was possible to learn so quickly!
The Russian people are cold and reserved. The Russian people are some of the kindest I have ever met. Once, I got on the wrong bus when I tried to go to the university to meet some Russian friends (this was before cell phones were so prevalent). At the end of the line, I went to the bus driver and conductor to try to explain my situation. They took me by the hand, put me on the correct bus and told that bus driver to make sure I got off at the right stop. When I finally made it to the university, my friends there were worried sick about me and had called my host family looking for me! Seeing and feeling the love and care of these amazing Russian people that I had known just a few short weeks really touched my heart.
The Russian Studies Program offers an authentic Russian experience. The extent to which students are able to engage in the culture and interact with Russians is an extraordinary opportunity. During a service project at a nursing home, some other students and I met a woman who had been born during the reign of Tsar Nicholas II. She saw through the reign of the Soviet Union and lived to experience some form of democracy, as she called it. The stories she regaled us with made us laugh and cry. Nizhni Novgorod, where the program is based, is not Moscow — although you will travel to Moscow and St. Petersburg, as well. Nizhni is not the capital, and thus, is much more “Russian” in my opinion. RSP gives students the opportunity to see what the real Russia is like, both the good and the bad. Not only do you learn about the Russian culture, but through this experience you learn about your own culture and what it is you value and why. Joanna Hamby was the RSP assistant for three years after graduating from Point Loma Nazarene University (CA). She is currently working on her MBA at Thunderbird School of Global Management in Glendale, Ariz. She hopes to work with small business owners in Russia, teaching basic business principles, consulting and supporting women entrepreneurs in Russia.
The Question of Russian Power Earlier this year, Dmitry A. Medvedev became Russia’s president, succeeding Vladmir Putin. News reports say the election was choreographed by the Kremlin, and that Putin intends to remain in the government as prime minister. The question remains as to how Putin and Medvedev will balance their power. Here, two RSP alumni and RSP director Harley Wagler weigh in:
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“Vladimir Churov, chief of Russia’s electoral commission, is quoted in The Economist, saying, ‘This is another step in the development of democracy, a wholly natural step.’ Yet the planned joint rule of Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin unsettles many Western supporters of democracy. The concerns are not without merit; Russians and Westerners alike have historical reason to fear a seemingly omnipotent Russian leader. But Russia respects power above niceness, and Vladimir Putin has the grudging respect of many in Russia. The West must face a grueling question: Do we still embrace democracy when a democratically elected leader appoints an official whose power terrifies us? For now,
www.BestSemester.com/rsp
Russia and the West will have to live with the decisions made by the Russian people.” —Gloria Nygren Smith, RSP Spring 2002, Geneva College (PA)
I’ve noticed that it is very hard to get the news on Russia in the U.S. without it being viewed through the lens of ‘Democracy is the only way.’ I think the American media would have us believe that Putin is a Soviet-era dictator in ‘democratic’ clothing. Although many Americans have the view that Putin is way too hard-nosed for a modern democratic leader, I think the Russian mindset requires and respects that kind of strong leadership, and I don’t believe Americans will ever understand that.” —John K. Shea, RSP Fall 2003, The Master’s College & Seminary (CA)
“Russia cherishes the stability she has enjoyed during the Putin years, and the people clearly desire more of the same. Gorbachev was a brilliant, once-in-a-generation leader with courage and grand ideas, but his successors (all three of them), have been essentially technocrats who shift pawns about the Kremlin chessboard. Yeltsin was hungry
Left to Right: Dmitry A. Medvedev, Vladmir Putin Photo Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/44666479@N00/17535478/ and www.flickr.com/photos/worldeconomicforum/374718127/
for personal power and created chaos in the country, while Putin has spent years to restore stability and a sense of national dignity. Medvedev, who is very close to Putin in mannerism, style, philosophy and, most importantly, in technocratic management, will continue the policies of his predecessor. He will continue Putin’s pro-Western policies. Like Putin, he recognizes that stability begins with economic growth and a careful tending of national interests.” —Harley Wagler, RSP director
The Russian Studies Program is located in Nizhni Novgorod, Russia. Read more about Russia at www.BestSemester.com/rsp.
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ASP
American Studies Program
WASHINGTON, D.C.: The Library of Congress, the biggest library in the U.S., contains 535 miles of bookshelves. In the Reading Room alone, there are 45,000 reference books.
The Thrill of the Hunt LEARN THE CAPITAL WAYS TO GET IN ON THE ACTION As a student in the American Studies Program (ASP) in Washington, D.C., you’ll work hard—really hard. But you’ll also have more fun doing it than you might expect. Why? In a word, people. You connect with leaders who can change your life.
You participate in a 20-hours-per-week internship that puts you at work with people who are making a difference in their field. In addition, you conduct research that has you rubbing shoulders with Washington experts. Instead of being stuck in a library, ASPers conduct their own investigations of assigned topics by doing interviews all over town with people who hold power nationally and internationally. This type of cutting-edge research puts you “inside” breaking events and, with your internship, gets you in touch with Washington leadership. Lee De Cleene, from Bethel University (MN), researched health care for the uninsured and met with experts from places like The Heritage Foundation, Families USA, the Gala Institute and the National Conference of State Legislatures. “The interviews were most exciting when someone would be talking to us and a light bulb would turn on,” says De Cleene. “It was really cool to see how much I could learn through talking to people.”
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Vanessa Schmuck, ASP, Spring 2007
Houghton College (NY) student Mike Danylak worked in the Senate and studied SinoAmerican relations from the angle of South Korea’s interests. “Being an intern in the United States Senate enabled me to meet many influential individuals on a daily basis,” says Danylak. “Specifically, the staff of Senator Richard G. Lugar (R-IN), the ranking member on the Senate foreign relations committee, was really helpful. Also, I was fortunate enough to conduct an interview with the public affairs minister of South Korea.”
Andrew Brown, ASP, Fall 2005
Vanessa Schmuck, ASP, Spring 2007
Here’s the twist. You don’t keep what you’ve learned to yourself. You share it with decision-makers active in the topic area you research. Danylak says that being able to present his own fi ndings to key players was exciting. “It can be nerve-racking to know you are briefi ng an expert and someone who is going to be making a decision based somewhat on what you have found. But at the same time, it is a great experience to be part of policy making, and really take part in that process.” “When I briefed someone from Health and Human Services, I could tell that I brought information and opinions that were beneficial,” says Simpson University (CA) student Lindsay Johnson. “It was great to actually interact with people who have a say in what goes on in our country.” De Cleene briefed the legislative director and legal counsel in the office of Rep. Jim Ramstad (R-MN). “Ramstad’s office hadn’t done a lot of work in this area already so our research seemed to
www.BestSemester.com/asp
be useful,” she says. “She [Ramstad’s legal counsel] talked to us after the briefi ng and was very receptive to our thoughts.” Working and studying like this is quite a ride. “I have always enjoyed politics and now that I have spent a semester working in the political world, my love for the political field has only grown,” says Johnson. “One thing that was really helpful for me to figure out is that I work great being more behind the scenes in politics. I have enjoyed doing research and being involved in my office; because of that I realize I would make a great legislative assistant or chief of staff someday.” De Cleene points out that it’s hard to overestimate how much fun ASP students have in community with each other, too. You’ll have to discover that one on your own when you come. “ASP has been a great experience,” says Danylak. “A chance to get into the city of Washington and not just watch politics, but be a part of it, all this while building friendships with others who share in my interests and desire to learn. It has been a wonderful experience and one I will never forget.”
The American Studies Program is located in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/asp.
Fall 2008
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USP
Uganda Studies Program
UGANDA: Individuals’ names in Uganda can be indicative of a number of things, including, gender, family and tribal connections, as well as a person’s place in a family. Ugandans also frequently have both a traditionally English and a traditionally African name.
LIFE WITH A UGANDAN FAMILY Scott Clark, USP, Fall 2006
Beginning last fall, Uganda Studies Program (USP) students could choose between two different academic emphases. Students selecting the Intercultural Ministry & Missions Emphasis spent the entire semester living with Ugandan host families instead of staying in the dorms with Uganda Christian University students. While all USP students spend two weeks with host families, living with them for the entire semester brings a whole new level of experiential learning. Recently, we sat down with two students who went this route and asked them about it.
Did they make you feel like you were part of the family? JASMINE: For the first few days, we (the other USP
student and I who were staying there) were treated like guests and not allowed to do chores. But we were soon included in the family routine. She dressed us up and had us come to an uncle’s wedding. At one point our dad told us we needed to tell him where we were after dark. They treated us as if we were their kids. DANIEL: Within the first month, I felt like I was a member.
They gave me a Luganda name, Lugaloobi, which means “bravest member of the clan.” Also, my mama would eventually yell at me. “Danny! You stop!” she would say. She was really like my mother, not going to put up with anything. I really appreciated that. They also took so much time to teach us Luganda words or different aspects about the culture.
What was your host family like? JASMINE LYBRAND, Seattle Pacific University (WA):
My host dad was headmaster of a high school, and my host mom was a school nurse. They were also chicken farmers. There were thousands of chickens around our home. They had a daughter, Judith (18), and, three or four teenage sons in boarding schools. I really connected with Judith and both parents. DANIEL QUANSTROM, Olivet Nazarene University (IL): My host mom was a recent widow who had five children and cared for several children of her late husband’s other three wives. There were between nine and 14 people living at the house at once. I really clicked with two of the siblings that were close to my age.
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How did they like hearing about American culture from you? DANIEL: They soaked up what we told them about
American culture. I brought my guitar, and they loved hearing American songs. We taught them American words they didn’t know. They would sing them throughout the day. Their favorite song was “Zombie” by the Cranberries.
On the Flip Side
What sort of challenges did you deal eal with? JASMINE: Because they had hosted a few students before, my host family was sure they knew a lot about what American students were like. We had to re-educate them that we can work. They were constantly worried about us being tired or overworked. DANIEL: Things that were difficult at the beginning I came to enjoy. Food was pretty difficult, eating the same thing every day, rice and beans, matooke (unripe banana wrapped in banana leaves and steamed). My family was very gracious and came to know what we liked, so they prepared meals they knew we enjoyed.
Did cultural differences ever get in the way? DANIEL: Sometimes, especially in communication.
For instance, when I would talk to them, I would be very straightforward, I would say things in black and white terms. But when they explain, they tell a story. At first, I didn’t understand where they were going with the stories. I’m sure the way I communicated was strange for them at first, too. Also, I didn’t realize that they raise their eyebrows to say yes, just like we nod to say yes. So for a while, I thought my host mom just didn’t hear what I had said or was ignoring my question.
USP students who are not in the Intercultural Ministry & Missions Emphasis live in the dorm at Uganda Christian University, where they experience life with fellow USPers as well as students from several African countries. Here, Jessica Libby of Gordon College (MA) tells us what it was like for her. BESTSEMESTER: What did you enjoy most about the dorm experience at USP? JESSICA: Getting to know the girls in my dorm, and other students in surrounding dorms, was by far one of the most rewarding experiences I have had. I was able to build friendships with Africans that built trust and understanding for each other. These friendships allowed me to ask questions I had about Africa, America and other parts of the world to get a broader perspective on life. BESTSEMESTER: Did you feel like the dorm helped create a strong sense of community? If so, how do you think that happened? JESSICA: Eating meals together, hanging out in the common room and doing homework together are all ways that community was built through the dorm lifestyle. The cultural divide between American students and African students was closed a bit by the common ground of living in the dorm together. There is something extraordinary about a community that comes together from different countries, tribes and tongues.
For other things we did, they would say, “When you’re around other people, don’t do that again.” It was a very gracious way of filling me in on cultural differences. JASMINE: It definitely gave us a lot clearer insights faster as to what was expected of us in the culture. When we hung out with people not doing the homestay, we shared what we had learned with them.
How did the semester change you?
What did you learn about yourself during USP?
JASMINE: I have a streak where I want to solve everyone else’s problems. This trip changed that. I was humbled. Studying different mission organizations and non-governmental organizations (NGOs), I saw that the best solutions come from the people themselves.
DANIEL: I went to Uganda to find out if doing ministry outside of America was something I could do. While I don’t know if I’m called to it yet, I know that it’s within the realm of possibility and it’s something I would love to do.
DANIEL: One of the biggest changes was that I simply
JASMINE: I’ve been wondering if I want to spend a
“learned to be.” I no longer feel the need to impress people. In America, what we do gives us worth. The mindset in Africa is because we are part of a community, we have worth. I remember times people came to visit Mama, they’d sit for an hour and say all of ten words to each other. They would visit to simply be with each other. They didn’t have to say anything or do anything, just being in each other’s presence was important. It’s made a huge impact on my life.
significant portion of my life overseas. This gave me confidence that I can if I’m called to it. I know more of what to expect, even dealing with culture shock and how to come back to America without hating it.
www.BestSemester.com/usp
The Uganda Studies Program is located in Mukono, Uganda. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/usp.
Fall 2008
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LAFSC
LOS ANGELES, CA: Los Angeles is the second largest city in the country, with 3,849,378 citizens. The Greater L.A. area has a population of over 17 million people.
Los Angeles Film Studies Center
hollywood How do we even begin to describe what you’ll experience during your semester at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center (LAFSC)? In this issue, we’ll let the numbers do the talking:
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17,376
5
Jamie Petitto, LAFSC, Spring 2008
seats in the Hollywood Bowl (and you’ll sit in at least one of them)
editing bays (less than a 2:1 ratio of editing bays to students currently editing projects)
Sarah Bohl, LAFSC, Fall 2005
celebrity sightings without even trying (more if you go to the hot spots)
times you’ll pinch yourself to make sure living in Hollywood is not a dream
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200
trips to Starbucks to bring back coffee for your internship production staff
hours in your internship in a film production company, television company, talent agency, animation company, publicity department, post-production company or some other Hollywood organization
The Director’s Cut While these numbers offer glimpses of the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, we caught up with the program director, Rebecca Ver StratenMc Sparran, to help fill in what the numbers cannot say. Here’s what she told us. 16
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Rhonda Gibson, LAFSC, Spring 2008
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photos you’ll upload to a Facebook album
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BESTSEMESTER: How do you hope students will be changed by their LAFSC experience? VER STRATEN-MC SPARRAN: Improved quality of filmmaking is number one. I’d also want their call to Hollywood to be confirmed or clarified as they process their own authentic relationship with God. I hope they have a broadened understanding of how God is moving in Hollywood, and a humility regarding what they have to learn from this culture.
movies in our DVD library
Sony HDV cameras, Bogen tripods and Sennheiser shotgun microphones at your disposal
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www.flickr.com/photos/stevezaslavsky/77286585/
1,000
Karin Veal, LAFSC, Fall 2006
63
degrees F average annual temperature of Los Angeles
cars in line at the drive-thru at In-N-Out
1
Brenda DeVries, LAFSC, Fall 2006
hour of sleep you’ll get the night before your films are due
286 340
seats at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Linwood Dunn Theater where our Hollywood Production Workshop films are debuted
40,000
licensed music tracks for student use
minutes - total running time of all student films
hours of raw footage shot each semester
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movies you’ll watch for your theology in Hollywood class
70
Bethany Bylsma, LAFSC, Fall 2005
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Red Bulls (or energy drink of your choice) you’ll consume during late-night post-production sessions throughout the semester Photo Credit: www.flickr.com/photos/loop_oh/2659062370/
BESTSEMESTER: What kind of student would you consider to be a perfect candidate for this program?
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student films made each semester
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VER STRATEN-MCSPARRAN: Someone who is very bright and creative, with a passion for film, as well as an understanding of metaphor and symbolism. I look for students with a depth of spirituality, critical understanding of culture, and a willingness to engage culture. Students who are eager, willing to ask questions of God, culture, everything, and yet have a deep abiding faith within a philosophical framework do very well in our program and in Hollywood.
www.BestSemester.com/lafsc
60,000
times you’ll visit Grauman’s Chinese Theater
sound effects you’ll choose from in the digital sound effects library
For more information about a semester at the Los Angeles Film Studies Center, visit www.BestSemester.com/lafsc.
Fall 2008
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WJC
Washington Journalism Center
WASHINGTON, D.C.: That famous red phone that’s depicted in many movies isn’t actually in the Oval Office. It’s in the Pentagon.
Why is Stephen Colbert in the syllabus?
While the famed comedian entertains by poking fun at politicians and newsmakers, it turns out he is playing a much bigger role than merry jokester. by Washington Journalism Center Director Terry Mattingly
One of the most interesting discussions we have at WJC centers on the overlap between news and entertainment. Studies indicate that shows like Saturday Night Live, Comedy Central, Leno, The Colbert Report and The Daily Show are the main places where young Americans get what they think of as news. My argument is that just as newspapers have political cartoons, Colbert has become the political cartoon of mainstream TV journalism. He has a valid role to play, but imagine the political perspective you’d have if the only places you found your news were political cartoons and The Onion. Colbert is a fascinating study because of how he integrates his faith as a Roman Catholic into his broadcasts. We’d have to consider Colbert one of the three or four most powerful Christians in the news media. This blog, written by Harrison Keely (WJC spring 2008) while he was an intern at The Washington Times, models how WJC students learn to dissect their news entertainment instead of swallowing it whole.
Photo to Left: Striking a pose for a photo taken by his brother Marcus, Harrison Keely does his best Colbert impersonation.
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LAUGHING AT FAITH, OR IS HE? Perhaps the most surprising dose of faith served up on television emerges not from the Trinity Broadcasting Network, but from Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report. The faux news show, which is one of the most highly viewed on the network, features comedian Stephen Colbert’s commentary on politics and current events, but includes a stronger dose of religion in a serious tone than other programs. In an interview with Time Out New York magazine, Mr. Colbert described himself as a Catholic who was raised to believe that it was okay to question the Church. To put that in perspective, much of the religious content in Mr. Colbert’s show is often portrayed through a lens of irony. “What is worthy of satire is the misuse of religion for destructive or political gains,” he said. “That’s totally different from the Word, the blood, the body and the Christ. His kingdom is not of this earth.” Understanding the Christian faith from the inside is what differentiates Mr. Colbert’s show from the rest of the network’s offerings and makes the humor much more effective. The comedian’s infamous speech at the 2006 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner jabbed at President Bush’s evangelical beliefs: “And though I am a committed Christian, I believe that everyone has the right to their own religion, be you Hindu, Jewish or Muslim. I believe there are infi nite paths to accepting Jesus Christ as your personal savior.”
In one episode, Mr. Colbert quoted scripture to former Clinton adviser Paul Begala. “I felt that, reciting the verse, Colbert was not being The Colbert Report character, but that his own religion was dictating that he had to say the verse as a demonstration of his own faith, and it wasn’t right to fool around with that,” wrote New York law professor Ann Althouse on her blog. “I experienced this moment as a startling statement of faith, the kind of thing you don’t normally see on TV.” After failing at his own attempt to run for the White House last fall, Mr. Colbert has fought with other late-night television hosts for the right to boast the success of Republican presidential hopeful Mike Huckabee as a product of his show. What makes the pseudo-endorsements of Mr. Huckabee all the more interesting for Colbert is that the candidate is a former minister. Mr. Huckabee repeatedly has joked that he would consider Mr. Colbert his running mate if he became the Republican Party’s presidential nominee. Mr. Colbert also hosts a weekly segment on his show titled This Week in God, which he discussed with Terry Gross, host of the NPR show Fresh Air. “I have to walk [a] thin line because I don’t want to criticize anyone’s religion for the fact that it is a religion, and what’s funny to me is what people do in the name of religion,” Mr. Colbert said in the interview. He continued, saying that the fact that he attends church makes him rare among modern comedians. Mr. Colbert has even hosted religious leaders like the Rev. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life, on his shows.
“He created me in His image and I sure love me,” Mr. Colbert, exploiting his character’s egotism, told Mr. Warren. On February 12, Stanford psychology professor Philip Zimbardo, author of The Lucifer Effect, appeared as a guest on Mr. Colbert’s show to promote his new book. Mr. Zimbardo argued to Mr. Colbert that the reason Lucifer seduced Adam was to rebuke authority. “Lucifer was right and God was wrong,” he said. “If God was into reconciliation, he would have said, ‘I made a mistake.’” Mr. Colbert, apparently incited by a statement contradictory to his faith, delivered a smack-down of a rebuttal: “Evil exists because of the disobedience of Satan. God gave Satan, the angels and man free will. Satan used his free will and abused it by not obeying authority. Hell was created by Satan’s... purposeful disobedience to God and his purposeful removal from God’s love. You send yourself to Hell. God does not send you there.” Mr. Zimbardo remarked to Mr. Colbert that the host studied well in Sunday school, to which Mr. Colbert explicitly replied that he taught Sunday school. In his book, I Am America (And So Can You), Mr. Colbert devotes an entire chapter to religion in the section about his childhood. Entertainment Weekly wrote in its review of the book that “Stephen exhorts all of us — Jews, gentiles, atheists, and Scientologists — to jump on the ‘Jesus Train.’” Perhaps that is his goal, after all. *This blog, originally posted Feb. 19, 2008, was edited for space and reprinted with permission from The Washington Times.
The Washington Journalism Center is located in Washington, D.C. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/wjc.
www.BestSemester.com/wjc
Fall 2008
19
MESP
EGYPT: Egypt receives the least amount of rainfall of any country in the world.
Middle East Studies Program
Broaden the Spectrum: i
d co n
tro ve r
s
It should come as no surprise to you that the Middle East is unlike any other place in the world. As the major Western religions were born in this region, ancient wisdom and modern thought come together and are fused with passion and conflict. When you study at the Middle East Studies Program (MESP), we encourage you to think for yourself and see how all the parts that make up the Middle East come together and create the uniqueness of the region. By engaging with scholars, religious leaders, government staff and others from Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine, Turkey and Jordan, you truly make the world your classroom.
role of w om
in g m u w o kn
slims
i hr
ia st
ty ni
ih a nj
y
c
DISCOVER WHAT CONNEC
en Above: David Lichte, MESP, Fall 2006 Martin Graham, MESP, Spring 2006
Below: Tim Taylor, MESP, Fall 2005
life at ho
me
Raelyn Koop, MESP, Spring 2006
How does it work? 20
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As a student in the Middle East Studies Program, you’ll soon discover that there are two main hallmarks of your education; We broaden the spectrum of perspectives you come in contact with; and we encourage students to consider opposing views, recognizing that empathy and understanding other
viewpoints need not equal agreement. The current MESP interns explain how this works: SPECTRUM “As an intern, I’ve seen people grow in their understanding,” says Claire. “Living with grey areas doesn’t have to mean compromising one’s beliefs. In addition
CTS THE MIDDLE EAST Two recent MESP interns explain how the people they meet help broaden their understanding of the region.
A STAFF PERSON FROM ISLAM ONLINE spoke to us about the much misunderstood concept of Jihad. He made the point that the just war tradition in Christian thought condones war only under certain conditions, and so does Jihad. He reminded me that violence arises out of self-justifying actions, not religious ideas per se, so at times both Christians and Muslims have used violence unjustly. His comments led me to think about Jesus teaching to turn the other cheek, and whether we can abide by this teaching when we are threatened or attacked. It is a hard teaching to live by, and it made me think.
ABUNA ATHENASIAS, a Greek orthodox priest in Syria, exposed me to ideas that were different than my Protestant American Christianity. In listening to him and asking him about Orthodox tradition and belief, I came to appreciate the reasons for his respect for the traditions of the early church. He helped me understand that even if we value free speech and expression as Western Christians, we cannot afford to ignore the early sources of our faith history, including
to engaging with many experts on topics related to the Middle East, students also challenge one another in the context of living, learning and traveling together throughout the semester. Along the way, they learn to respect and empathize with one another despite differences of opinion on many issues.”
www.BestSemester.com/mesp
Claire Thurman, Northwestern College (MN) (MESP student spring 2005; MESP intern fall 2007, spring 2008):
the enormous sacrifices made by early Christians martyred for their traditional beliefs. It was inspiring to hear him defend Orthodoxy from this perspective.
Interacting with people at ISLAM ONLINE is invaluable. It allows students to dialogue with those very familiar with Islam regarding some controversial issues. We had a debate with two Christians and two Muslims, in which we covered polygamy, homosexuality, marriage, etc. That encounter was one of the most positive in terms of bringing people closer to understanding one another.
DR. OMAIMA ABOU BAKR
Barrett Price, Colorado Christian University (CO) (MESP student spring 2005; MESP intern spring 2008):
The CHRISTIAN HOST FAMILY I lived with for a week was truly the salt of the earth. These people lived in a slum in northern Cairo. They had very meager economic means. Though they suffered from meager income and the financial stresses that accompany that, including various illnesses, they seemed happier than anyone I had ever met in my life.
I lived for a week with A GIRL MY AGE AND HER MOTHER, BOTH DEVOUT MUSLIMS, which was one of the most formative experiences I had at MESP. One of the greatest strengths about the program is the opportunity to meet Middle East Muslims on their own turf, in their own lives. So, instead of being an abstract entity, I saw Islam as a part of someone’s life who I loved. She’s still part of my life.
is a scholar who spoke to us about the place of women in Islam. She really helped me understand the diversity of Islamic tradition. Also, she showed me that even if she dresses conservatively and follows Orthodox Muslim tradition, she strives to introduce the Muslim public to a more diverse, open interpretation of Islam tradition that is more in touch with contemporary global society.
And this is just a taste. To read more about the people you’ll meet along the way, visit www.BestSemester.com/mesp.
TEACHING EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING “When I came to MESP as a student, I was extremely pro-Palestinian,” says Barrett. “And I roomed with a guy who was pro-Israeli. While at MESP, we had countless conversations, both pitching opposite perspectives. But the more facts we were exposed to, the closer to
the center we both moved. By the end of the semester, we could share our agreements and disagreements with greater mutual respect. MESP tries to get students to grow by exposing them to issues, speakers and experiences that allow them to arrive at better informed opinions, even if they still leave with many more questions than answers.” Fall 2008
21
CMC
MARTHA’S VINEYARD, MA: The island of Martha’s Vineyard was home to one of the first-known deaf communities, generating the now-extinct Martha’s Vineyard Sign Language dialect.
Contemporary Music Center
Executive? 1. used to keep office door
open 2. getting the art ist to do what I want 3. Point-of-Purchase Marketing Materials 4. important trade ma gazine 5. name of intern 6. get the details right befor 7.
Artists & Repertoire
e a show
8. focus group data 9. sig natories to an ag ree 10. fou nd on planes 11. financial profits 12. fou nd on company car 13. state of office or de sk 14. to worry about sales 15. laptop 16. number of sales 17. to earn back mone y
Warren Pettit
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ment
1 WEDGE 2 MANAGEMENT 3 POP 4 BILLBOARD 5 LESLIE 6 ADVANCE 7 A&R 8 FEEDBACK 9 PARTIES 10 SNAKE 11 GAIN 12 FENDER 13 CLEAN-DIRTY 14 FRET 15 KEYBOARD 16 VOLUME 17 RECOUP
There are two types of students at the Contemporary Music Center on Martha’s Vineyard: those in the artist track who write, record and perform all day, and those in the executive track who manage and market the artists. Although artist and executive track students may use the same words, they often have very different meanings. Here are some of the terms bantered about and their meanings:
cated in ter is lo usic Cen re about M y r a r r n mo ntempo tt s. Lea The Co ssachuse r.com/c mc. a M , d r a te ’s Viney tSemes Mar tha r at www.Bes e st e m the se
www.BestSemester.com/cmc
Fall 2008
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UNITED KINGDOM: Crisps = Potato chips; chips = French fries; chum = friend; lorry = truck; jumper = sweater; nappy = diaper; and loft = attic. Good luck!
SSO Scholars’ Semester in Oxford
Students in the Scholars’ Semester in Oxford (SSO) experience the tutorial system of learning, which means that instead of going to class several times a week, each student meets with a tutor once a week to review and critique the student’s independent work on an assigned essay. Here, Katharine Arnold of Gordon College (MA) takes us through a typical week.
TUTORIAL
Countdown 8:15 AM
10:45 AM
Lauren Becker, SSO, Fall 2006
In the sunny kitchen of Crick House, my home in Oxford, I begin my 300-page primary text. YIKES! It’s daunting, but I plow ahead. I space out my reading with good conversation and a delicious dinner of lamb and roast potatoes with my other housemates.
Elated by yesterday’s successful tutorial, I begin reading for my new essay assignment on Saint Augustine—but just one chapter for now. I am going to take advantage of a sunny day and wander through the green UNIVERSITY PARKS before my FOOTBALL practice on the QUEEN’S COLLEGE PITCHES.
Translation, Please! Need a little help interpreting some British terms in Katharine’s log? Read on. 24
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9:10 AM
5:30 PM
6:38 PM
Carole Cochrane, SSO, Fall 2005
I look at my watch and suddenly remember that I have an orchestra rehearsal tonight at 7 p.m. Though rehearsing with two different orchestras cuts out a big chunk of study time, I love participating in a familiar activity.
Jessica Prince, OSP, Summer 2005
Where has all my time gone?!?! My essay is due in less than 24 hours. Okay, self, don’t panic. Don’t procrastinate.
CYCLING ACADEMICS: In Oxford, bicycling is a means of transportation more than recreation. Cycling is a very common way to get around the city.
11:00 AM
Richard W.E. Taylor, SSO, Fall 2005
Success! Now it’s time to start all over again...
I procrastinated. Time to lock myself in my room with a giant pot of tea and some DIGESTIVE BISCUITS. It is going to be a long night. Done! Hooray! After three hours of sleep, six cups of tea and a package of digestive biscuits, I grab my essay, hop onto my bicycle and head downtown as I frantically try to recall everything I read this week. Even though I’m nervous, I tell myself that once the tutorial begins, the discussion that follows is always rewarding, even if everything I say isn’t perfect.
I relocate to the Radcliffe Camera (part of the BODLEIAN LIBRARY) to intensify the amount of knowledge that will be channeled into my brain. The Bodleian has 120 miles of shelving, six million books, and is more than 400 years old! I un-tuck my TROUSERS from my socks (a common fashion among CYCLING ACADEMICS), and collect a small mountain of books from the librarian. Soon, my fi ne-tuned argument will come fl owing from my fingertips, and I imagine my tutor shouting, “BRILLIANT!” in response to my breakthrough research. . .
BODLEIAN LIBRARY: main research library of the University of Oxford, and one of the oldest libraries in Europe. It includes several off-site storage areas, as well as nine other libraries in Oxford.
9:00 AM
9:23 PM
T
DIGESTIVE BISCUITS: cookies FOOTBALL: soccer
UNIVERSITY PARKS: about 70 acres of parkland in the city of Oxford, open to the public daily.
PITCHES: playing fields QUEEN’S COLLEGE: Queen’s College is one of the 39 independent colleges which comprise Oxford University. TROUSERS: pants (but don’t say pants in England as that means underwear)
The Scholars’ Semester in Oxford is located in Oxford, England. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/sso.
www.BestSemester.com/sso
Good to Go
TEN
THINGS TOURISTS DON’T KNOW ABOUT D.C.
Home to both the American Studies Program and the Washington Journalism Center, Washington, D.C. is a popular destination for BestSemester participants. If you’re going to call Washington, D.C. your home for a semester, you really should know more about the place than the tourists who come to visit.
www.flickr.com/photos/dcwriterdawn/874196238/
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Harrison Keely, WJC , Spring 2008 5
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Harrison Keely, WJC, Spring 2008
Here’s a head start:
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There’s a free concert EVERY DAY (including Christmas) at the Kennedy Center.
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For a fun night out on the town, visit STARS Bistro in Dupont Circle for unique food and singing servers.
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2 D.C. has its own memorial to the Titanic.
There are more independent bookstores in Dupont than you can ever imagine—do a tour through Olsson’s and Kramerbooks to see the two most established in D.C. (and check out Afterwords a café at Kramerbooks if you get hungry).
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Ben’s Chili Bowl is one of the oldest black-owned establishments in the District—and Bill Cosby can eat there for free (according to the sign in the window, he’s the only person who can). The restaurant is housed in the city’s first silent movie theatre and was featured in a scene in the film The Pelican Brief.
4 Following the death of Martin Luther King, Jr., D.C. erupted in riots that literally burned the H Street Corridor to the ground. Before that, the H Street corridor was shopping central for most of the district. Forty years later, H Street is the new up-and-coming hot spot in town—and it’s only a few blocks from ASP and WJC.
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Also near the Dellenback Center (your campus for the semester) is the Marine Corps Barracks at 8th & I, the oldest post of the Marine Corps.
Even though tourists know the big monuments, lots of people miss out on The FDR Memorial—it’s along the tidal basin and the length of a football field. This memorial was designed to be an engaging lesson in history and the water throughout is part of the symbolism. It’s inspiring just to be there reading the eloquent words of FDR.
9
Etched into the stone at the Lincoln Memorial is a marker of the spot where Martin Luther King, Jr. gave the “I Have a Dream” speech. You have to look for it or you’ll miss it, but it’s a powerful feeling to stand there and imagine.
10 If you’ve got visitors coming to town and you want to treat them right, take them to America in Union Station and ask to sit along the top looking out at the Capitol. The food’s good, but the view’s what they’ll remember.
Fall 2008
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CSP
China Studies Program
CHINA: “Never tire to study — and to teach others.”
First Stop: Hong Kong Starting this fall, students in the China Studies Program will begin their semester by spending their orientation in Hong Kong.
PLANES, TRAINS AND BUSES 26
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PLANE–To/from Hong Kong, from HK to mainland and from Xiamen to Xi’an
TRAIN–From Xi’an to Beijing, Beijing to Shanghai, Shanghai to Xiamen, and other smaller trips
WATER TAXI– Between Kowloon and other Hong Kong islands
Jay Lundelius
Julia Grenz, CSP, Fall 2007
Jay Lundelius
Alisha Hopkins, CSP, Fall 2005
Hong Kong. It’s the center of activity for East Asia. It’s the model for where China wants to go. And now, it’s also the launching pad for the China Studies Program (CSP). Eleven days at the beginning of the semester will be spent in Hong Kong for orientation before students enter China. This means a couple of things: 1) students will hear lectures about China from the perspective of Hong Kong professors, guaranteed to bring a broad range of viewpoints for discussion; and
2) gain an added dimension to the students’ overall China experience. Up until this semester, CSPers spent 13 weeks at Xiamen University in southeastern China, and two weeks trekking at locations such as the Great Wall, Forbidden City, Xi’an’s terra-cotta soldiers and Shanghai. Now, students will spend less time in Xiamen and more time in more places. For example, rather than a few days of sighteseeing in Xi’an, they will spend three to four weeks there. Chinese history will come alive in Xi’an. In Xiamen, students will continue
to study Chinese language, contemporary society, tai chi and Chinese painting. As always, time with locals and Chinese students will be a major portion of the program’s time in Xiamen.
“Most students say, ‘The more places we get to know, the better,’” says CSP Director Jay Lundelius. “This will allow students time not simply to see the tourist sites, but also to become familiar with the personalities, cuisine and attitudes of the quite different parts of China: South, West, North and East.” The curriculum for CSP will be expanded in spring 2009 to include a new threecredit elective course called “Dimensions of Culture,” which will explore Chinese thought through water-color painting, tai chi and Chinese cooking.
“We also hope to serve as a liaison for students to take up their own three-month summer internships,” he says. “Overall, students will become more familiar with more parts of the country.”
Business and Culture: Two Sides of the China Studies Program While all CSP students will travel to the same hot spots in China, don’t expect your semester to be just like everyone else’s in your class. There are two ways to do the China Studies Program: choose to participate in either the China Studies concentration or the Business concentration. Beyond the core coursework, China Studies concentration students will also take either an additional class of Mandarin Chinese language or a course in Eastern philosophy and religions. Electives for this concentration include “Chinese Art,” “Tai Chi” and soon, “Dimensions of Culture.” Students in the Business concentration will take classes in Chinese language and international business on top of the core coursework. These students also participate in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity — a three-week business internship in either a Western or Chinese company. Currently, these internships are in Xiamen, but Lundelius says he hopes internships will be back in Shanghai, where there are many multi-national corporations as well as Chinese companies.
The China Studies Program is located in Xiamen, China. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/csp.
Alisha Hopkins, CSP, Fall 2005
CAB–Around town in Beijing, Shanghai, etc.
BUS–An adventurous way to get around town all over China
www.BestSemester.com/csp
SUBWAYS–To get to Tiananmen Square and other Beijing tourist attractions, and to get around Hong Kong
YOUR OWN TWO FEET–To get around campus and towns
BICYCLE–It’s the Chinese way and it’s easy to get around this way.
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ASC
AUSTRALIA: The “outback” refers to any region beyond the urban centers of Australia; the largely infertile, arid and desolate bush parts of the continent. Less than 10% of the Australian population lives in the outback.
Australia Studies Centre
As a student in the Australia Studies Centre, you’ll be based at the Wesley Institute, a theology and arts college located in the suburb of Drummoyne, just a short bus ride from downtown Sydney. But that’s only your starting point. Throughout the semester, you’ll also be blazing trails to some of the most intriguing places in Australia. Take a look.
CANBERRA
4 DAYS
GOSFORD SYDNEY
“THE OUTBACK.” For four or five days, you’ll stay on a familyowned homestead, learning about the connection between Australian land and culture.
“The Outback was like nothing I had ever seen before,” says Chris Thomas from Spring Arbor University (MI). “It’s a place so burnt, so dry and so uninhabitable, but absolutely filled with life. I will never forget our first night there, stopping and looking up at the sky and seeing more stars than I have ever seen in one place before. It was like I was a few feet away from the roof of the universe,” says Thomas.
SENSATIONAL SYDNEY While the program-sponsored trips are incredible, the city of Sydney is a great place to call home base. Here are 10 FREE ways to enjoy this world-class city:
2 Walk across the Harbour Bridge. From this vantage point, the city skyline is topnotch. The walk takes about half an hour and is lovely, day or night. Start in The Rocks, walk across the bridge, and take the train back.
4 Discover Darling Harbour. Explore
3 Explore Hyde Park. Named after
1 Walk Sydney’s top beaches, starting
Hyde Park in London, this beautiful and enormous green space is bounded by the Supreme Court of New South Wales, St. Mary’s Cathedral, the Australian Museum and Sydney Hospital.
5 Relax in the Royal Botanical Gardens. It’s a beautiful, peaceful place to relax, do homework or meet up with friends for an afternoon picnic. Try to spot the flying foxes, just one of the protected species that call these gardens home.
at Manly or Bondi. Take an hour or all afternoon.
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Darling Harbour and the King Street wharf; jump in the fountains; have a picnic on the grassy knoll. There are often free concerts and interactive art there. It’s especially beautiful at night.
CANBERRA.
Plan to spend two days in this capital city in order to engage Australian foreign affairs and policies, as well as embassy officials from a number of countries.
2 DAYS
“Canberra was an excellent time to step out of our routines in Sydney and to get a better understanding of politics in Australia, and of each other as a group,” says Thomas.
4 DAYS GOSFORD, Central Coast of New South Wales. You’ll spend four days here interacting with traditional Aboriginal family structures, totems, spiritual beliefs, relationship to the land and sacred sites. “The Bush was a great experience with our behind-the-scenes tour guide. Our teacher, Ms. Oomera Edwards, an Aboriginal herself, took us into the Bush to show and teach us how her people lived,” said Rachel Neff, who graduated from Grace College (IN) in 2008. “We split into totem groups and created our own version of a song Oomera sang as a child. This night was full of memories and fun times, seeing how all our totems were different yet so fun.”
AUCKLAND
ROTORUA
7 DAYS AUCKLAND AND ROTORUA, New Zealand. You’ll spend the last week of your semester abroad broadening your awareness of Maori culture, the indigenous peoples of this land. “New Zealand was amazing — the Kiwis are so great, friendly and welcoming, but they know who they are and the heritage they protect,” says Neff. “We arrived in Auckland and within a couple of days traveled to Rotorua, where we learned about the Maori culture. We hiked to the top of Mokoia Island, where we also learned about the great legend of Hinemoa and Tutanekai: a true story of love and adventure.”
6 Watch “The Sounds of the
8 Check out art.afterhours. The Art
Outback” show. This free show (donations accepted) is in The Rocks. Demonstrations of didgeridoo-playing and using circular breathing are presented twice a day.
Gallery of New South Wales runs a program called art.afterhours every Wednesday from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. They show films, sponsor talks by authors and producers, and host live musicians and other artists. Check out their Web site (www.artafterhours.com.au) for schedules.
7 Visit Sydney Olympic Park. Explore the place where the 2000 Olympic Games took place, now a venue for major concerts, rugby matches and the recent swimming time trials for the Beijing Olympic games.
www.BestSemester.com/asc
10 Visit Sydney Fish Market. Sydney Fish Market is the largest fi sh market of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere and the world’s second-largest seafood market in terms of variety. The catch comes in early, so it’s best to arrive close to the daily opening time of 7:00 a.m.
9 Ride the Sydney ferries. Local ferries are free for ASC students. Hop on any ferry at Circular Quay and see where it takes you . . .
The Australia Studies Centre is located in Drummoyne, Australia, just outside of Sydney. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/asc. Fall 2008
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LASP
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COSTA RICA: A common phrase used in and associated with Costa Rica is “pura vida.” Although this translates directly as “pure life,” it is a wish for a good life filled with strong relationships, good health and time to celebrate one’s gifts and good fortune.
Latin American Studies Program
Things You Need to Know About LASP
Thinking about attending the Latin American Studies Program? Here are a few things you should know, according to Lindsey Gant, Olivet Nazarene University (IL). She attended LASP in spring 2007, she was an Alumni Ambassador on her campus for a year, and now she’s back in Costa Rica as the new LASP intern. Here’s what she has to say: 1) Bring a journal. Or fifty. One of the most important things LASP teaches us is to think for ourselves. Some days we will listen to two speakers on the exact same topic who have completely different opinions. One day you may fall in love with one idea, and the next day completely disagree with it . . . and that’s okay! Work it out in your mind and don’t be afraid to write down your thoughts even if they change later. Ask hard questions of yourself and reflect on your experiences that will continue to teach you lessons in the future.
Mackenzie White, LASP, Fall 2006
2) Put your pen down. Now that you’re in the journaling groove—stop. Put the brakes on your alone time long enough to go and experience life here. Eat the weird food, ask the tough questions, speak as much Spanish as you can, go to the mall with your host family sisters, talk to people on the streets, and go into this experience with arms and mind wide open. If you have homework to do, do it after you go play soccer in the streets. Go out there and soak up as much culture as you can. Megan Bauhof, LASP, Spring 2006
3) Get ready to think for yourself. LASP encouraged me to think for myself and revaluate who I am and what is my “footprint” in this world. I learned that I do have opinions and experiences and strong beliefs that make me who I am. I studied communications in college, so I love using words to discuss and figure out who I am and what I believe. But sitting on the porch with my Tican (a.k.a. Costa Rican) mom in silence, described God’s beauty in a better way than I could have even after all my theology education and communications studies. I learned to slow down and rest in unanswered questions and the beauty of a God that is bigger than words. Briana Kassebaum, LASP, Fall 2005
4) Immerse yourself in the culture.
The Latin American Studies Program is based in San José, Costa Rica. Learn more about the semester at www.BestSemester.com/lasp. 30
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I don’t have to tell you what you need to know for LASP. The Ticans will remind you often with their popular phrase: Pura Vida! It literally means ‘pure life,’ but they will say it to you when you need to be reminded to not freak out about your Spanish, or about homework, or about the questions in your mind that you need to figure out in order to save the world… just relax, take a deep breath and enjoy a PURA VIDA! Brittany Sickler, LASP, Spring 2005
www.BestSemester.com/lasp
Preparing for your BestSemester... Who can apply for a BestSemester program? BestSemester programs are “extension campuses” for any student enrolled at a college or university that is willing to grant credit for the off-campus experience. Therefore, any student may apply. However, colleges and universities that are a part of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities have agreed to grant this credit to their students and those students have priority acceptance for BestSemester programs. The CCCU is a higher education association of 180 intentionally Christ-centered institutions around the world. There are now 110 member campuses in North America and all are fully accredited, comprehensive colleges and universities with curricula rooted in the arts and sciences. In addition, 70 affiliate campuses from 24 countries are part of the CCCU. The Council’s mission is to advance the cause of Christ-centered higher education and to help its institutions transform lives by faithfully relating scholarship and service to biblical truth.
Who on campus can help prepare me to study off-campus with BestSemester? Each college or university designates a main contact person on their campus. Every year, BestSemester materials and updates are mailed to these appointed persons or to the campus’ chief academic officer. In addition, faculty and administrators who request materials receive information on BestSemester programs from the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. To find out who is the main campus contact at your school, go to www.BestSemester.com/campuscontactlist.
What is the cost? Fees are published online in the costs portion of each program site. If you have questions about fees, please contact your campus contact or the CCCU. Your campus contact can be found at www.BestSemester.com/campuscontactlist.
You can contact the CCCU at 202-546-8713 or by e-mailing info@BestSemester.com.
Jeremy Glazener, SSO, Fall 2006
Answers to your important questions.
How is credit granted? Since BestSemester programs are considered “extension campuses” of your college or university, the hours of credit for each program are not granted by the programs, but are recommended by the Council to the home institution. (Usually 16 credits are recommended for each semester program and six credits for the Oxford Summer Programme.) Your home college or university grants the credit. “Transcripts” are sent to the registrar’s office at the end of each semester. Credit can usually be applied in a variety of ways — usually a combination of major/minor credit, general education credit and general elective credit. Council recommendations are provided on program Web sites. You are advised in advance of program participation to follow your home campus policies and procedures for determining applicability of program credit. (Usually this is with your academic advisors and/or the registrar.) Most syllabi are available in the course section for each program at www.BestSemester.com. They are usually helpful in determining the applicability of credit.
To learn more about a particular BestSemester program, visit www.BestSemester.com or call 202-546-8713. Ryan Lindstrom, MESP, Fall 2005
General Application
Deadlines (visit BestSemester.com for exceptions) Fall Semester – April 1 (Early Admission–February 1)
Free BestSemester Screensavers! Update your desktop with new screensavers of amazing BestSemester scenes — for FREE. Go to www.BestSemester.com/screensaver and start downloading today!
Summer Semester (OSP only) – March 1 (Early Admission–January 15) Spring Semester – October 1 (Early Admission–May 1)
Take the leap. This is one great ride. Take one semester to study off campus for a learning experience that will challenge your thinking, broaden your horizons and strengthen your faith.
Culture Shaping
Culture Crossing
Engage with popular culture and public life through off-campus study that shapes culture.
Study abroad to better understand and engage your place in God’s world.
• American Studies Program (Washington, D.C.)
• Australia Studies Centre (Sydney, Australia)
• Contemporary Music Center (Martha’s Vineyard, MA)
• China Studies Program (Xiamen, PR China)
• Los Angeles Film Studies Center (Los Angeles, CA)
• Latin American Studies Program (San José, Costa Rica)
• Washington Journalism Center (Washington, D.C.)
• Middle East Studies Program (Cairo, Egypt) • Programmes in Oxford (Oxford, England) • Russian Studies Program (Nizhni Novgorod, Russia) • Uganda Studies Program (Kampala, Uganda)
Jana Eberly, ASC, Fall 2006
Council for Christian Colleges & Universities 321 Eighth Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20002
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