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Thursday, March 6
Fulfilling goals of internationalization University receives award for internationalizing campus Jessie Tremmel STAFF WRITER
Three UW-Eau Claire students spent part of their winter break investigating geomorphic sites and studying the sub-surface using ground penetrating radar in New Zealand with Harry Jol, professor of geography and anthropology. These students were funded to participate in an international research program. “Without the funding from the Blugold Commitment, this trip wouldn’t have occurred, point blank,” Jol said. The International Fellows Program at Eau Claire is an opportunity for faculty and students to collaborate on a research project internationally and is the recipient of the Institute of International Education’s 2014 Andrew Heiskell Award for Internationalizing the Campus. The International Fellows Program supports one or more faculty members to go abroad with one or more students. It requires
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a research component and a minimum of three weeks in a country. Students are eligible for a $1,000 stipend and also have airfare and lodging covered by Blugold Commitment money. The students are responsible for their own food and any personal expenses. Karen Havholm, the assistant vice chancellor for Research and Sponsored Programs and director of the Center of Excellence for Faculty and Undergraduate Student Research Collaboration, said receiving this award raises the profile of the center for international education and the university. “I really believe that the more of those kinds of recognitions and awards that we get, the more valuable your degree is,” Havholm said. “Even though you might not
“... Eau Claire is really dedicated to increasing the impact of study abroad.” SHANTI FREITAS
International Immersion Coordinator
go on the International Fellows Program, it raises the value.” One goal of the International Fellows Program is to increase access and innovation within study abroad, by providing an option to those who often can’t FREITAS participate in traditional study abroad opportunities. Shanti Freitas, the International Immersion coordinator, said often students in the STEM programs are limited in their options for studying abroad, since many classes are only offered once a year. With the International Fellows Program, Freitas said Eau Claire did a really good job of targeting the students who were not going abroad, identifying why they were not going abroad, and creating opportunities for those students. The International Fellows Program offers research opportunities over the summer or over winter break so students on a rig-
id schedule can be involved. “The award will have a big impact because it recognizes the fact that Eau Claire is really dedicated to increasing the impact of study abroad, making it more affordable and making it more accessible,” Freitas said. Programs through the International Fellows Program create experiences for students which also act as a faculty professional development program, Halvolm said. Jol said while in New Zealand, the Eau Claire students were able to interact with other students, both graduate and undergraduate, from other countries. Since coming back to Eau Claire from New Zealand, Jol has included what he learned on the trip into his lectures, letting students know what their peers accomplished. “Often these are graduate student experiences,” Jol said. “And so I think we need to let students know that this is a significant experience, and most people in the world do not get this experience.” Tremmel can be reached at tremmejr@uwec.edu or @jessietremmel.
RALLY/ Senate hopes to educate and involve students in referendum tunity to vote on it,” Onsager said. In fall 2012, the majority of City Council members were in favor of the project. However, the members who serve now are different from those who served in fall 2012. City Council President Kerry Kincaid is one of the members in favor. “I think the Confluence Project is a burst of pride for the city,” Kincaid said. “The City Council looks forward to hearing from the citizens on the referendum.” The rally
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In addition to Vernon at the rally, City Council member Catherine Emmanuelle, Homecoming King and Singing Statesmen President Dane
Jaskowiak and Larson will be speaking. Larson said Senate is hoping prominent members in the community will draw more students to the rally. “The point of the rally is to bring students together,” Larson said. “Obviously a lot of people are familiar with Justin Vernon.” Senior Tori Prager said she recently became familiar with issues surrounding the Confluence Project. Prager said she will be attending the rally and plans on voting in the upcoming referendum. “I think it’s just a cool thing to vote,” Prager said. Prager is a supporter of the Confluence Project and the idea of extending the university into the downtown area.
What is the referendum? — County referendum: “Should the county give $3.5 million to help build the Confluence Project’s arts center?” — City referendum: “Shall a charter ordinance be enacted that would require a binding referendum before $1 million or more in municipal funds can be appropriated for any building construction that is planned for dramatic, musical or artistic performances?” Source: Eau Claire City Council
“Since being a student here over the past four years, just going downtown even in the summer when there isn’t something necessarily going on, the downtown area could be better. It could be so much better than it is,” Prager said. Also a Bon Iver fan, Prager said she is excited to have the musician on campus. She said she is assuming that a prestigious Blugold alumnus on campus will encourage students to come and educate themselves at least. “I think that a lot of people will go,” Prager said. “I hope.” Landry can be reached at landrymm@uwec.edu or @ MarthaLandryy. Roszak can be reached at roszakcm@uwec.edu or @CRoszak22.
How should you vote? — Supporters of the project should vote YES on the county referendum and NO on the city question. —Project opponents should vote NO on the county question and YES on the city referendum. More information about the Confluence Project can be found online. Supporters of the Confluence call themselves Community for the Confluence and opponents the Citizen Referendum Committee.
GRAPHIC BY KARL ENGHOFER/The Spectator
Trent Tetzlaff STAFF WRITER
TT: This is your last semester as a professor here, what will you miss most about UW-Eau Claire and the city? VC: I will miss students, I enjoy young people. They inspire me, challenge me and teach me. They give me faith in the future, I sincerely believe our world will become a better place when the college students I’ve taught take over the reigns of society from my generation. TT: What is the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you in one of your classes over your years here? VC: I’ve had many weird things happen to me. This was after class rather than in class. In one Sociology 164 class, students became emotionally distraught with one another over the issue of child discipline.
To read the full interview go to spectatornews.com.