Students at the salt mines in Germany

This past summer, thirteen trips from various departments inside the College of Arts and Sciences participated in a cross-cultural experience.  Dr. Jeffrey Sargent co-led the third annual Psychology trip to Europe with Dr. Heather Quagliana.  Twenty-nine students visited Austria, Germany, and Switzerland, and were able to see the salt mines of Germany, visit Freud’s office, and attend a lecture at the Carl Jung Institute.  The Italy trip, led by Dr. Matthew Sims and Professor John Simmons, took twenty-two students to Rome, Orvieto, Florence, Venice, and Milan to study Renaissance art, Baroque Italy, and Ancient Rome.

Dr. Donna Summerlin led nine students on the American Ethnic Studies trip which focused on the ethnic diversity of the South, including African American history and the Civil Rights movement.  The Modern Europe trip, led by Dr. Steve Swindle and Dr. Jeff Golden, took twenty-four students to Brussels, Paris, Munich, Salzburg, and Budapest to study Humanities and Political Science; while there they were able to see NATO, the Eagle’s Nest, Dachau, and many museums.

Students at a grill in Hiroshima

Dr. Trevor Milliron and Dr. Robert Fisher led another psychology trip to Japan; twenty-five students traveled for eleven days to Tokyo, Osaka, and Hiroshima, along with some trips into the countryside.  Twenty-five students participated in the Argentina Spanish Institute trip led by Dr. Alexander Steffanell and Professor Carmen Guerrero to Montevideo, Uruguay, and Buenos Aires.  There, they visited museums and held a language café at the Universidad de la Empresa.

On these trips, students are able to experience life outside of Lee University, as well as become more acquainted with their professors.  Beth Thompson, Director of the Global Perspectives program says, “What better academic pursuit is there than having a student learn hands-on the meaning of their own Christian values and how those relate to another cultural perspective.  As faith based educators we have an ethical responsibility to teach our students there are other ways of knowing and thinking.”

Paul Dehart, Lee University assistant professor of Political Science, spoke in a live discussion of the Iowa caucuses at Channel 3 on January 23. His position on the importance of the caucuses gave the local broadcast “something that was uniquely theirs.”

Dehart remarked on how fascinating it was to be “on the other side of the camera.” Starting at the early time of 5:45 p.m., the inside of the recording studio appeared tight, bright, and cold, the atmosphere fast-paced and fluid.

“The camera makes it seem larger,” Dehart noted. He almost missed his turn on the mike, and had no time to gather his thoughts. His time on air “felt like 10 seconds.” From Channel 3’s perspective, however, the discussion was a success.

Dehart was expected to discuss the Iowa caucus and its implications the primaries. Dehart said, “Getting all that out would have been impossible.” According to him, “Iowa, as far as caucuses go, is 10% perception.”

“Iowa is not very determinative, but people behave based on what happens, due to how they perceive Iowa,” said the professor, “The media likes to see Iowa as a horserace, which it isn’t. The wins in Iowa are more for minimal victories, and perceptual victories, but large campaign wins are not as affected by this.” “They report it as a horserace,” he said, “and people may begin to respond that way.”

As far as the experience with Channel 3, Dehart “had fun and would do it again.” He anticipated returning to Channel 3 after Super Tuesday for further discussion. Dehart also looked forward to interviewing Christian radio station Moody BS for charity before Super Tuesday.

Lee University’s new Model UN team recently participated in the annual National Model United Nations Conference in New York City. 16 students were led by sponsor Dr. Stephen Swindle.

The students gathered with 3,500 other students from across the nation and abroad to meet and discuss issues that are current and relevant to the nations represented in a format similar to that of the real United Nations.

Each group of students is assigned a country or Non-Governmental Organization to represent throughout the week’s discussions of topics such as the legal aspects of war and occupation. Lee University was assigned to represent the South Pacific island country of Fiji.

While in New York, the students volunteered at an Indonesian church and led worship for the congregation there.

“It was such a blessing to be able to worship with people from another culture. It is amazing how we truly are brothers and sisters—even when they are speaking another language,” said Nancy Cooper, a senior History major who participated in the trip.

At the end of the conference, some of the more than 225 groups participating were honored for their exceptional involvement as Outstanding, Distinguished or Honorable Delegates. Lee University’s group was flattered to be named Honorable Mention Delegates for their first convention.

Submitted by the Office of Public Information