the davidsonian
FEBRUARY 17, 2016 VOL. 108 ISSUE 15
The Independent Student Newspaper of Davidson College since 1914
Staffing shortage ends program in Madrid AJ NADDAFF Staff Writer
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he office of the Vice President for Academic Affairs has decided to end the “Davidson in Madrid” program, according to Dr. Chris Alexander, head of Dean Rusk International Studies Program. The program was founded by Professors Patricio Boyer, Melissa González, Kyra Kietrys, Samuel Sánchez y Sánchez, Lola Santamaría, and Mary Vásquez, in the Hispanic Studies Department. The group began work in 2011 at the suggestion of Dr. Chris Alexander and Dr. Clark Ross, then Dean of Faculty. The program took two and a half years of research and preparation to hit the ground running. Kietrys, an integral member of the program’s inception and maintenance, led the first group of students in Spring 2014. While rooted in Hispanic Studies, the program was conceived
and has been sustained as a College program with the “hope that students and faculty from across the curriculum would participate in this cross-cultural immersion experience,” explained Kietrys. Uniquely tailored to meet the diverse needs and desires of students, the program provided a flexible structure. This organization allowed students to be as independent as they liked, while simultaneously fostering a connection with the Davidson community. But not until very recently had the program’s administration realized that there were questions about their ability to staff the program beyond its current year. As a result, the program will close its final chapter after this semester, drawing a curtain on a trip that has impacted the lives of many student participants. This past fall, 11 students under the leadership of González embarked on the program. The small program was “a prime example of the ways that faculty and staff at small liberal
arts colleges can create and sustain small-scale educational experiences that provide individualized support to students as they take on new challenges, fostering close faculty-student interactions and reciprocal learning,” González remarked. Currently, Dr. John Wertheimer, Professor of History, is leading four students for the program’s fifth and final semester. All past and current participants received the news in an email this January. The reason behind the closing of the program is straight-forward: there was not a plan for the staffing of the program that seemed sustainable to all of the people that needed to be involved in the decision. “Administratively, it really was about a staffing challenge,” Alexander explained. With over 150 approved study abroad programs yielding at least a 65 percent student participation rate, Davidson’s commitment to global education is apparent. Yet, this does not undermine the difficulties that can come with studying abroad. Kietrys, describing a common frustration, sadi, “Far too often, students return from abroad and ache to remember their time off campus with someone who understands them.” However, Davidson-sponsored programs are different. “No matter what path the students forge on the program, they ultimately have something in common with Davidson peers when they return to campus.” Such was the case with the Madrid program, which even gave students the opportunity to take classes taught by their Davidson professors who accompanied them. For example, Elizabeth Helzberg ’18, Political Science major and Hispanic Studies minor, embarked on the program in the fall and took a class on Spanish film with Professor González. The program is unique for many reasons, including the closeness that develops between faculty and students. “The many conversations I had with students during meals, on bus rides, and in museums, monuments, and hotel lobbies during two semesters in Madrid were many small things that added up to something much greater than what we did in the classroom,” González said. “I got to know and understand my students abroad in ways that are simply not possible on campus.” In addition, the program allowed students to
Inside NEWS Dr. Boddery discusses political implications of Supreme Court Justice’s death 4 LIVING DAVIDSON Eurydice dress rehearsal promises entertaining show 4 A Peanut Butter Hot Cocoa Recipe for cold days 4 PERSPECTIVES Three athletes argue for supporting student endeavors 5 Emma Johnson describes her transition from abroad 5 YOWL RLO replaces Myers-Briggs with Buzzfeed quizzes 6 Hillary Clinton regrets deal with Zune 6 SPORTS Shamael Chaudhry ’18 leads men’s tennis into A-10 play 7 Lacrosse looking for big year 8
See MADRID on page 3 Lucy Dempsey and Belle Raim ’16 on the 2014 program. Photo courtesy of Belle Raim.
New student-run group advocates for Charlotte refugees OLIVE DANIELS Staff Writer
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recently established organization for student civil engagement, Davidson Refugee Support (DRS) seeks to promote life skills, educational opportunities, and a broader sense of unity within the Charlotte refugee community. Founded and guided by Davidson students, DRS draws from a diverse group of student leaders to enact change in one of America’s fastest growing cities. Through the support of the Arab Studies Department Chair, Dr. Rebecca Joubin, and the Center for Civic Engagement, students have been organizing themselves into various committees within the group and coordinating weekly carpools to reach refugee communities in Charlotte. DRS’s ultimate goal, according to several of its most instrumental members, is to create lasting relationships with those refugees in need and to provide Davidson students an opportunity to get involved in a cause through which they can act directly in order to see a significant and positive change. DRS began in September as an idea discussed between Hayden Bates ‘17 and Anmar Jerjees ’18. Both Bates and Jerjees are interested in Arab Studies and the Middle East, coming from experience working abroad. Bates spent the summer of 2015 in Amman, Jordan, working with the
United Nations Refugee Agency. She discussed evant campaign. Madan was interested in gethow she was impacted by the “resiliency and ting involved in a hands-on way and helping to humanity of the Syrian individuals” whom she redirect the way refugees can be “portrayed by met. She became motivated to communicate the the Western media.” Naddaff was similarly fruscomplexity of their stories, which she believes are trated by “US perceptions of the refugee crisis often simplified by Western perceptions. abroad,” and he wanted to address the misguided Jerjees spent his summer in Bulgaria, working notions of Islamaphobia that surround the curas a translator rent crisis. in the nation’s Coming largest refugee from diverse Bates discusses how she was b a c k g r o u n d s camp. He “saw the stories” and impacted by the ‘resiliency and and cultures, the people bethese four stuhumanity of the Syrian individu- dents have hind them, and he realized that united als [whom she met].’ She bacame been back home on by their “dethe Davidson motivated to communicate the sire to help the campus, more community in complexity of their stories, which need.” While had to be done to address these organizaVKH EHOLHYHV DUH RIWHQ VLPSOLÀHG the issues than the tion is still in by Western perceptions. its nascent typical talks and panels. stages on camBoth stupus, significant dents recognized the ways in which the refugee work has been done during the last five months situation is often “misconstrued” in the US, and to seek out and mobilize student action. they wanted to take action. DRS does not have a president or elected Joining Bates and Jerjees as key leaders within officers. Instead, within the group, Bates acts DRS are Aman Madan ’19 and AJ Naddaff ’19. a “point person” for six separate committees Both students are likewise interested in Arab Event Planning, Health & Life Skills, Higher EdStudies, and they connected with Bates through ucation, Outreach & Publicity, and Sponsorship their common desires to get involved with a rel- & Fundraising. Each of these committees seeks
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to provide refugees in Charlotte with the tools to create and build upon their new lives in the U.S. Events are coordinated by DRS to bring members of the refugee community closer together; for example, DRS coordinated a Thanksgiving dinner for the refugees in November and a Valentine’s Day event in Charlotte, coordinated by Ashley Frye ‘19. One of their main tenets is not to decide what the refugees’ needs are, but instead, to work with them on an individual level and then help provide the tools necessary to move forward – be it in terms of educational assistance (e.g. ESL classes) or health and life skill management in a new country. Madan believes that this type of leadership structure makes DRS “more action-oriented” and ensures that each member holds a critical role. Currently, DRS coordinates weekly shuttles to Charlotte, where student volunteers work one-on-one with refugees and offer educational tutoring. Bates discusses the weekly commitment of the volunteers as “the most valuable thing we can do [in the community].” By creating stability and consistency in volunteer-refugee relationships, Bates believes that the group can have its largest impact. She also emphasizes the importance of ESL classes, SAT and TOEFL prep, and
See REFUGEE on page 2