Perspectives: What Does Gettysburg College Mean to You?

What Does Gettysburg College Mean to You?

Compiled by Mikelyn Britt, Opinions Editor

(Photo provided)

Associate Professor of English McKinley Melton

“Gettysburg is deeply rooted in the past, yet ideally situated to respond to the demands of the present while empowering students to tackle the challenges and pursue the possibilities of the future. Gettysburg remains firmly invested in liberal arts traditions that guide students through creative and critical interrogations of our world, which require thinking about seemingly discrete issues in integrated and interconnected ways. Making sense of our world requires an understanding of the contexts out of which particular moments arise, the histories that converge to produce certain challenges and opportunities, and the broader implications of the decisions that determine how we ‘meet the moment.’ Every day, I talk to students and faculty who recognize the importance of thinking deeply as well as broadly, with an awareness that what we do here matters beyond any given class or individualized experience. So, that’s what Gettysburg is to me: a community of people whose commitments reflect the idea that what we do here matters.”

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Ziv Carmi ’23

“Gettysburg is the site of the largest land battle in North America, an iconic speech that altered the course of Western Civilization, a WWI tank training camp that helped launch the career of one of the greatest generals in American history, and that general-turned-president’s home for over a decade. It is impossible not to feel the importance of this small town wherever I go. Indeed, most of my heroes, including Prime Minister Menachem Begin of Israel and Presidents Teddy Roosevelt, Harry Truman, and Ronald Reagan, have all visited this hallowed ground, creating a direct link between these figures and myself as I travel the Battlefield.

That, at its core, is what Gettysburg is to me. It is a site with an incredibly rich history stretching well beyond the battle that will always inspire me and millions of other visitors to continue fighting for what people like General Eisenhower and President Lincoln did: freedom and equality for all.”

(Photo Aly Leia Wein/The Gettysburgian)

President Bob Iuliano

“Gettysburg is about community, inspired by the commitment to graduate students ready to make a profound difference in their lives and in the societies in which they graduate. We do it because the history of this institution compels it, and we do it because we attract students who want to get their hands a little dirty, who want to help make a difference in the world they’re going to inhabit, and we do it because we have a remarkably committed community that is determined to help students achieve those aspirations. And this is why we’ve talked increasingly about a consequential education.”

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Fiona Docherty ’26

To me, Gettysburg is a place of opportunity. At the college I have found many academic opportunities to grow in knowledge and experience. My professors are dedicated to helping me achieve my goals and to become the best version of myself. I can learn from experts in every subject who have a passion for what they are teaching. In the town, I have found a vibrant community of people who are kind and welcoming. The community in Gettysburg is the best form of small-town hospitality there is. From getting coffee at Waldo’s, thrifting at Wildroot, to seeing a movie at the Majestic theater, there is always something to do in Gettysburg. While I am still getting used to being in a new state with new people, Gettysburg makes the transition easy. I am excited to grow in this community over the next four years.”

(Photo Provided)

Professor Ian Clarke

“I did not attend Gettysburg College, but the college, and the liberal arts way have been at the heart of my life. I was a faculty kid in the 70s, and the benefits offered at the time sent me to college in the 80s. When I came out of grad school in the early 90s, I found a job here as an adjunct teaching first-year writing. I did not plan to stay, but I met and married another college employee, we raised our family in the community. Over the past 30 work years my work has evolved, and now I am teaching astronomy labs and directing the college planetarium, though I have taught an English course as recently as 2020. It has been a treat to bridge the humanities and natural sciences in this way, particularly in the planetarium, a space where both can live.”

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Angel Tong ’26

“ When I decided to venture outside of my comfort zone, Gettysburg was the first location I chose. Flying almost 30 hours from Vietnam to get to a whole new place was a wild experience for a -17yearold girl who has never been to a foreign country. But Gettysburg has given me a warm embrace and a friendly smile in return. Gettysburg welcomed me as an international student so smoothly that I already considered this place as my second home. Mr. Brad, Mrs. Carla, the VSA, and the “Gettys Xia Xia Meo Meo”, all have contributed to emphasizing that Gettysburg is a choice that I will never regret making. I am so looking forward to spending my next four years in this amazing college.”

(Photo provided)

Director of the Eisenhower Insitute Tracie Potts

“Gettysburg College is the stage for my ‘second act ’—helping students Do Great Work. At the Eisenhower Institute, we create experiential learning projects. I love traveling with students, seeing their eyes light up when they see what they read about and when they talk with people about opportunities and challenges in their communities. I am energized guiding students to develop policy solutions, and putting them in front of leaders who can implement their fresh ideas. I spent 30 years telling stories. Gettysburg College is allowing me to create my own. This is meaningful work, and I love doing it!”

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Gabriel Houser ’24

“ Initially, I was not sure what to make of Gettysburg. It was 2020, and it felt like the world was going to end. The first three semesters were brutal. Isolation, no friends, a sea of masks, and an unrelenting academic workload. As a young man alone with ASD, I never felt worse in my life. But one day, the masks came off, and the community came alive. I started going to clubs. I met many likeminded neurodivergent kids, I started doing improv in front of strangers who became fast friends, and then I helped put on the first sketch comedy show in the history of Gettysburg College. At last, I finally found a place of belonging. To me, Gettysburg is all about community and finding your people. Even if you cannot find them now, believe me when I say that, they are out there just waiting to get to know you.”

(Photo provided)

Chairperson & Associate Professor of Italian Studies Lidia Anchisi

“ During my time at Gettysburg College, I have not just worked alongside engaging colleagues, amazing support staff, and the myriads of students who have populated my classrooms. I have shared laughter, tears, excitement, pride, and humility with many of them. These emotions, rooted in a deep sense of caring, do not just manifest themselves from 8 to 5 but carry on well beyond the classroom.

So, while Gettysburg means many things – personal and professional development, valuable experience, and sometimes an occasion for civil disobedience – as unconventional as it may seem, family is the word I keep veering towards. Family is what I experience when colleagues are, more accurately, my unwavering support system. Family is when students come to my house to make Gnocchi alla Sorrentina, filling the room with laughter and chatter that bring sunshine to a dreary afternoon or when they linger after class to gossip about the latest reality show.”

Read the rest of Professor Anchisi’s perspective at gettysburgian.com

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Oghenerukevwe E. Tejevbo ’26

“On the night of Thursday, the 18th of August 2022, I stepped off the van that had brought me and some other international students to campus from the Washington Dulles International Airport. Wanting to lie down, I had no idea I would see a bunch of other people, including some international students, who all screamed ‘ welcome! ’ at the same time. The joy I felt immediately after was indescribable. That was the final indicator that I was a part of something bigger than college: a community.

Going forward from that night, it has been quite a journey: a wonderful one, in fact. For me, Gettysburg College is a beautiful community that I am grateful to be a part of.”

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Daniela Lopez Larios '24

“Gettysburg is a symbol of growth and transformation. Whether that be historical, through the Civil War and its legacies, or personal, through my process of self-discovery and countless iconic injuries, Gettysburg has witnessed it all. But at the same time, Gettysburg is a challenge. Many of the people I know, myself included, often feel defeated. It is never easy to navigate Gettysburg, especially when institutions like Gettysburg were not made for marginalized groups. However, the reality is that these people were made for these spaces; what keeps many of us going in light of hardships are the small victories and the support of one another to motivate us to make it to the finish line. Rough patches are, unfortunately, necessary to better ourselves, not just as a student but as a person overall. So, thank you, Gettysburg, for this character development. I would be unable to experience many ‘ full circle’ moments without you.”

(Photo Eric Lippe/The Gettysburgian)

Lauren Cooke '23

“As a liberal arts institution, Gettysburg has allowed me to pursue all of my passions despite how different they may be. I am a biology major and neuroscience minor and am involved in two research labs on campus. While a large part of my experience has been in the science departments, Gettysburg has allowed me to be involved with so much more. I have participated in multiple programs through the Eisenhower Institute, I have engaged in leadership opportunities through Alpha Delta Pi and Order of Omega, and I have been able to pursue my passion for ceramics through classes and Clay Crew. I know that an experience like this is something I would not be able to find just anywhere, and that is what makes Gettysburg so special.”