LAUS @ PSU

Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part Three

By CASEY JAMES FENTON on May 2, 2013 2:29 PM | 0 Comments

During the spring 2013 semester, students in one section of English 030 took part in a unique experiment to bring together research, writing, and technology in a way that was both meaningful to the students and relevant to the Penn State community. "Mapping the Penn State Archives" is being featured in this blog during finals week.

In this final installment, appropriately titled "Gentle Thursdays," Jennifer Tato (right) talks about the process of uncovering a long-forgotten student tradition. Her article and some of the photographs she discovered are available here.

By Jennifer Tato
Researching in the archives. That phrase made me really anxious and hesitant to begin a research project in the Penn State Library. Whenever I heard the word research, I would shudder and think of someone working on pages upon pages about a boring subject. The moment I stepped into the archives I could not think of what was so boring about it after all. The archives have everything! It was in that moment that I got excited to begin my work. I did not know what I was going to be researching at the time, but I knew it was going to be an adventure. I think it was when my English teacher, Laura Brown, proposed Gentle Thursdays as a potential research project to me--that's when I dove full throttle into research at the archives. I spent a lot of time in there uncovering the history behind Gentle Thursdays, which was considered as a "day of sharing" amidst the 1970s anti-war sentiments. This event was a well-known and celebrated student tradition; it brought together everyone in State College by simply caring and giving. The reason it really captured my attention was because, during a time of violence and hopelessness, the student body and community came together to share and to create a peace-oriented, accepting environment. I knew instantly I wanted to propose to bring this tradition back for my project, the only problem was that Gentle Thursdays was canceled in the early 1980s because of substance abuse. Therefore, I knew bringing this student tradition back would mean having to reform the event.

Piecing together all of this information about Gentle Thursdays was the best part of my experience. It was like a giant jigsaw puzzle, and I was the one that needed to make sense of it.

The puzzle pieces were the boxes of pictures handed to me at the archives. I wore blue rubber gloves so as not to damage these delicate old photographs. Other pieces were newspaper clippings of the event and little weekly booklets from the 1970s that gave information about events and courses that were happening on campus. These were all the resources available to me in the archives, along with the archivists, who proved to be my heroes when it came to finding more information on participators at the events. Overall I would have to say that my all time favorite and most memorable part of this research project was getting in contact with Dr. Thomas Benson. He is a Penn State scholar and Professor of Rhetoric, or as I know him, the famous Gentle Thursdays still-life photographer. I had an interview with him about my project, and he was so helpful and ended up giving me the contact information of one of the three student founders of Gentle Thursdays, Jon Lange. I was able to interview him as well over the phone, and I was simply ecstatic. These two people and the archivists gave me all the resources I needed to make my research project a success. I would highly recommend the archives to anyone who is interested in a specific topic, the archivists are more than helpful, and in the end you could stumble upon a piece of history that no one has ever uncovered before!

Continue reading Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part Three.

Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part Two

By CASEY JAMES FENTON on May 1, 2013 11:33 AM | 0 Comments

During the spring 2013 semester, students in one section of English 030 took part in a unique experiment to bring together research, writing, and technology in a way that was both meaningful to the students and relevant to the Penn State community. "Mapping the Penn State Archives" is being featured in this blog during finals week.

Today, Carter Clabuagh (right) offers a student perspective on the research process and working with the staff at the Special Collections Library. Her brief history of the State Theatre is available here.

My Experience with the University Archives
By Carter Clabaugh
At the beginning of the semester, my English 030 class was given a run-down of all the papers we would have completed by the end of the semester. When the archival research paper was discussed, I knew then and there that I would want to write about the State Theatre. The historic "State" is important to me because it housed one of my first classes as a freshman here at Penn State: COMM 150. I learned a lot in that film class, and had a great time watching movies in a beautiful, old theatre. Having a class in the State was an experience I will never forget.

When it finally came time to research topics in the University Archives, I was pretty intimidated. I knew that I would find some information on the State, but the process for using the Special Collections material seemed kind of lengthy and daunting. I decided that I would stop worrying about the process of going into the archives by myself and just do it! I came in on a Tuesday, and right off the bat, the staff welcomed me and made me feel...important! Everyone I talked to about my research project got very excited and offered me pieces of advice about constructing my argument as well as anecdotes about their own experiences at the State. One librarian even drove out to another location to find a file for me on the State Theatre that I could use. All of the Special Collections faculty at the desk the day I went in helped me find plenty of material on the State, and they did so with joy. Once I had all of the information I needed, I went through it in the "quiet room" a few times and, finally, put together my paper. I could not have done it without the help of the extremely friendly and helpful staff. Sure, reading through old emails was fun (and weird!), as was looking at old annual programs from the State, but the people who worked in the University Archives library really made the experience for me.

It meant a lot to me to get the chance to recreate the history of a place I felt a connection to through old programs and newspaper articles, and I would gladly encourage my peers to go check out the archives for research or recreation.

Continue reading Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part Two.

Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part One

By CASEY JAMES FENTON on April 30, 2013 2:31 PM | 1 Comment

During the spring 2013 semester, students in one section of English 030 took part in a unique experiment to bring together research, writing, and technology in a way that was both meaningful to the students and relevant to the Penn State community. The resulting project, "Mapping the Penn State Archives," will be featured in this blog over the next three days.

Today, in part one, instructor and graduate student, Laura Michael Brown, reflects on the project, the process, and the transformation she witnessed in her students.

By Laura Michael Brown

In our Honors First-Year Composition class this semester (ENGL 030), my students were tasked with an archival research project. This challenging assignment was initially met with a healthy level of skepticism, but these students dove into the research process with positive attitudes. We visited the Special Collections Library for the first time together as a class. Archivists Jackie Esposito and Paul Dzyak introduced us to the incredible variety of sources available in the University Archives, which houses the collections that my students worked from. They each investigated a particular aspect of Penn State's history that they found interesting, using primary sources to stitch together a story about our university's past. For their research papers, they used that history to inform a discussion of a current issue on campus. Topics ranged from the history of the mascot to the history of student activism on campus, but every member of the class was able to develop a detailed and persuasive contemporary argument. They learned to value Penn State's past at the same time that they looked for ways to better the community in the present. Archival work invigorated their research and writing processes by encouraging them to explore unique connections between historical and contemporary issues and by creating a real opportunity for them to discover something new and unexpected about our university.

The project culminated in the creation of a website. Librarian Dawn Childress helped us to develop a site that features a digital archive and an interactive historical campus map. This public element allows their work to leave the walls of our classroom and continue to reach the Penn State community well past the end of the semester. The website helped students to see their individual projects as a part of larger conversation about our institution; I loved seeing the students develop and discuss connections between their topics. We held a public presentation of the website on our last day of class. I was impressed by the confidence and enthusiasm of each student as they shared their contributions, and I could not have been more proud to see their work come together so successfully. It is my hope that this project taught my students to rethink possibilities for research and writing, but that it also taught them something about what it means to actively engage with their community.

Continue reading Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part One.

Two Penn State Students win Critical Language Study Scholarships

By CASEY JAMES FENTON on April 29, 2013 1:19 PM | 0 Comments

Penn State students Tomoko Bowser (Engineering) and Sarah Newby (Chinese/Biochemistry) have both been awarded Critical Language Scholarships for intensive study of an Asian language during the summer of 2013. The Critical Language Scholarships (CLS) Program offers fully-funded summer language institutes for U.S. University Students and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State.

Continue reading Two Penn State Students win Critical Language Study Scholarships.

Monkeying Around at the Biological Anthropology Conference

By Kate Thompson on April 26, 2013 10:05 AM | 0 Comments

Last week, I traveled to Knoxville, Tennessee for my first American Association of Physical Anthropology conference. Correction, first Kristen and I went to the Knoxville Zoo, then I went to the conference.

I have never seen such a marvelous aggregation of like-minded primates in my life! And I'm not talking about the lemurs or chimpanzees. Perhaps I am still green-hearted and rose-lensed but I was thrilled to simply be surrounded by so many other anthropologists: here one couple is discussing aye-aye masticatory muscles, around the corner a man holds his palm flat under an imaginary skull and describes the CT scanning process to his student, and beyond them a pair of girls walk up to read posters on ancient Latin American trephination. These are the conversations I don't get to have in my daily life. These are the interests that make me feel like an odd bird in a college of pre-med students and chemical engineers. This was the first time I felt that I too was an anthropologist. I belonged.

Thursday, I presented my summer plan to study aye-ayes in Madagascar. Standing beside my poster I bit the inside of my cheek and anxiously waited for some gray-beard scholar to come over and stump me with hellish questions on evolutionary genetics. But he never came. Rather a crowd of curious grad students, post docs and professors slowly formed. I shook hands with my nervous, sweaty palms, and slowly began to relax to friendly smiles and good natured questions. I even got some great suggestions and encouragement from renowned scientists in my field. Ahhh, the transitive property of endorsement: if these people are important and they like my research plans, my research must also have a chance of becoming important.

Apart from this, the best parts of the conference were the little things. Morning runs along the swirling Tennessee river. Discussions on the state of lemur conservation over fried onion rings. Cranberry vanilla wheat scones to dip in coffee during breaks between presentations. Whiskey bread pudding ordered by room service after our last day of talks. (I swear I wasn't just there for the food!)

The most profound and lingering taste was that of inclusiveness. To my surprise, I didn't feel like a little baby-undergraduate student last week. I thought I would be like the little kids sister of science: tagging along, nervous and pitied in my inexperience. Rather, I felt included, respected and excited. Excited for my next conference, encouraged for my summer research and motivated to one day be the professor on stage presenting the new discoveries on subfossil lemurs, instead of just a bright eyed girl clapping in the audience.

Liberal Arts Alumni Networking Event - A Student Reflection

By NAYANTARA SINGH on April 23, 2013 7:14 PM | 0 Comments

On March 21^st, I went for my first ever networking event - Liberal Arts Alumni Networking. Networking is a word that almost everyone has either heard or used. It is thrown around casually but no one actually realizes just how important it can be or even how scary.

Continue reading Liberal Arts Alumni Networking Event - A Student Reflection.

It's 'Go' Time - Getting through Final Exams with Success!

By KRISTIE KALVIN on April 19, 2013 4:13 PM | 0 Comments

t's that time of year again; spring semester is wrapping up and it is crunch time. For many students, that means there are papers to write, exams to take, final projects to complete, group work to hash out, and, with all that, personal sanity to protect! With all the work piling up and condensed into the last few weeks of the semester, it can be relatively easy to get burned out. These two lists will offer potential signs of burn out AND provide some helpful tips on how to avoid it.

Continue reading It's 'Go' Time - Getting through Final Exams with Success!.

Got a summer internship? Then tell us about it!

By SUSAN ELIZABETH KNELL on April 18, 2013 9:39 AM | 0 Comments

When you're searching for that perfect summer internship, and you finally get it, your first call is probably to your family. Then you start telling your friends. Maybe you mention it to your adviser if you meet him or her on a regular basis. But what about the Career Enrichment Network? We are incredibly interested to know when Liberal Arts students are successful in their internship searches, so please share your good news with us!

You can add your internship information to your Network Symplicity account by logging in and clicking on the My Internship Information tab under Shortcuts. You also can send us an email at lanetwork@psu.edu with your details, if you prefer.

And in case just asking you to do it isn't enough, check out our

Top Five Reasons to Report Your Internship to the Career Enrichment Network:

5. For the good of the cause: Most students don't realize it, but there are a lot of faculty and staff invested in and interested in your success. We report annually on the number of students participating in all sorts of enrichment activities, so your internship is certainly important to you, but it's also important to us. Tell us so you can be included in the numbers of other Liberal Arts students enriching their educational experiences this summer.

4. Pay it forward: Your internship may be with an employer or site that we have not connected with yet. If you report your internship to the Network, then we can contact the site to learn about opportunities for future Liberal Arts students. Give the students a year or two behind you a hand with their internship searches by reporting yours to us today.

3. Competitive streak: We all know that Liberal Arts graduates are just as successful as graduates from other colleges. We'd like to be able to say that Liberal Arts students are just as successful as their counterparts from other colleges in participating in internships and other enrichment experiences. We don't know you're doing an internship if you don't report it (or if you're not earning academic credit for it).

2. Bragging rights: Don't you want people to know you're doing cool things? The Network spotlights Liberal Arts students on our web site, and we'd love to have you sharing your experience with the Liberal Arts community. Tell us where you are and what you're doing, and your photo could be on the Network web site this summer/fall.

1. Show me the money: Many Liberal Arts majors are interested in fields where interns are not always paid (non-profits, government, etc.). Luckily for them, we have a lot of successful and generous alumni who have donated to the College so we can provide current Liberal Arts majors with enrichment funds to support their internship experiences. The application process is pretty simple and straightforward, and award amounts range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the situation, student need, etc.

*If you don't have a summer internship and want one, then please review current postings in your Network Symplicity account and/or contact a Network staff member for assistance with your resume and/or cover letters.

Continue reading Got a summer internship? Then tell us about it!.

Where do YOU take a Liberal Arts Degree.....?

By MARY E CAMERON on April 12, 2013 3:35 PM | 0 Comments

You know the old question...

What am I going to do with this degree?"

The graduate with a science degree asks, "Why does it work?"

The graduate with an engineering degree asks, "How does it work?"

The graduate with an accounting degree asks, "How much will it cost?"

The graduate with a liberal arts degree asks,
"Do you want fries with that?"

You must admit some of you had to explain to your parents why you wish to pursue a degree in the liberal arts! The genesis of such stereotypical perspectives on liberal arts studies can be partially attributed to the computer generation and the industrial revolutions that have dominated our country's short history. But as liberal arts students you know that this stereotype is not true. In fact, a liberal arts degree is more valuable today than ever before. In response to this shifting economic dilemma, corporations have become less hierarchical and require employees who have developed a wide array of knowledge, rather than ones who specialize in one specific area. Who better is equipped then YOU? Whose scope is the big picture and the variety of studies that have trained you to understand and think critically about people and to become ethical leaders and global citizens? Yours!

You don't just learn facts--liberal arts students apply what they learn, test theories, consider multiple perspectives, and put knowledge into action. As noted in the Wall Street Journal (Sept 13, 2010), The Pennsylvania State University was ranked number 1 in their survey regarding company recruiters. The article stated graduates of top public universities are often among the most prepared and well-rounded academically, and companies have found they fit well into their corporate cultures and over time have the best track record in their firms.

That being said you need to take the appropriate steps NOW so that at the end of your academic journey you have asked the right questions that will help point you in the right direction. Here are some to think about...

Where do you look for information about different careers? Career Services!!! They have entire programs dedicated to helping you find your paths about careers. Career Services has a page dedicated to finding a job and how to develop the necessary skills to clarify your career goals, identify your job target and plan and organize your job search.

How do I prepare myself to apply for these opportunities? Another awesome resource is the Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network. They provide services regarding mentoring, internships, resume writing, interview techniques, and skill assessment. Sign up NOW for their network simplicity to find meaningful internships

What are the entry-level jobs really like? It is never too early to do internships. I encourage you to try to obtain an internship every summer. The majority of them are unpaid, however you need to focus on what you will gain during the internship, networking, references, knowing the area you wish to work in (non-profit, business, government, local). Use your available time wisely and make an effort to increase your exposure to career fields of interest through job shadowing, internship, volunteer, or work experiences during academic and summer breaks.

Does performance matter? It HELPS!! Look at your academic coursework to ensure that you are maximizing the array of academic and career options available to you at Penn State. The quality of your involvement within an organization is more valuable than the number of organizations in which you are involved. Seek opportunities for leadership within an organization (i.e. become an officer or take on a position that demands responsibility), find something you care enough about to make a difference, look for opportunities to volunteer in the community.

How do you network? Start now by meeting and building a relationship with your academic adviser to learn about majors, academic options, course content, and requirements. This is just the start of learning how to network. Also, it is very important to establish a relationship with faculty to learn about academic programs and related opportunities to build skills in and outside of the classroom. Remember your faculty members are passionate about the same things you are passionate about! I challenge you to get to know at least one of your faculty members every semester.

So embrace your decision for selecting Liberal Arts because YOU are the leaders, creators, and developers of our FUTURE! I know you are destined for great things.

You may find yourself in a fast food joint, BUT you will be the one buying the fries.

Mmmmmm..........fries!

Discovering the Land Down Under!

By JACQUELINE ANNE GUHANICK on April 7, 2013 12:21 AM | 0 Comments

G'day Mates! My name is Jackie Guhanick and I am currently studying abroad in the beautiful Sydney, Australia. I am a Junior at Penn State University majoring in B.S. Psychology, Business Option and minoring in Human Development and Family Studies. Although I was sad to leave the excitement of Penn State for a semester, coming to Sydney has been one of the best decisions I've ever made... and it has only been a month!

When coming to Australia, I had hopes of learning about a different culture and immersing myself into a new environment. By obtaining an internship during my time here, I felt that I could enrich my experience even more. I am very interested in learning about cultural differences, and I believe real work experience here will give me a great sense of the differences between American and Australian work environments.

I am doing a marketing and social media internship this semester with Can Too- Run and Swim. Can Too is a non-profit organization that trains individuals of all fitness levels to compete in marathons, half-marathons, swim events and triathlons as a part of a team. By training and competing in the run and swim programs, the Can Too participants fundraise for Cure Cancer Australia which provides funding for young Australian cancer researchers in their quest to cure cancer.

I will be working primarily a full day a week for Can Too, as well as attending their events. During my time at Can Too I have begun to help with launching their new marking campaign, designed to strategically distribute brochures throughout Sydney to attract new Can Too participants. I have been contacting the team captains, coaches, and mentors of each training program, introducing the new marketing campaign and requesting that their participants distribute the new Can Too brochures to venues within their areas. I have also been helping improve their social media usage. I have been researching other non-profits within Australia to compare to Can Too and identify what has worked and what hasn't for other organizations.

I also recently attended one of Can Too's events, a 10K Fun Run which the participants use for practice. It was great to see all the hard work put in at the office translated into a real event and finally connect all that I've learned about Can Too into action.

It's amazing that even though I'm thousands of miles away from home I have still found so much comfort here in Sydney. I have always found great enjoyment in being involved in my community and I believe Can Too will give me the opportunity to develop my connection with Sydney. It's also amazing to be working for an organization that supports a cause I am so passionate about!

Continue reading Discovering the Land Down Under!.

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Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part Three

Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part Two

Mapping the Penn State Archives - Part One

Two Penn State Students win Critical Language Study Scholarships

Monkeying Around at the Biological Anthropology Conference

Liberal Arts Alumni Networking Event - A Student Reflection

It's 'Go' Time - Getting through Final Exams with Success!

Got a summer internship? Then tell us about it!

Where do YOU take a Liberal Arts Degree.....?

Discovering the Land Down Under!

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