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This post is written by Sharon Xiangyou Shen, Program Coordinator at Global Connections, a community nonprofit organization affiliated with the Pennsylvania State University and the Centre Country United Way, with a long-standing tradition of promoting international cultural exchange in Centre County.

Have you ever tried to muster the courage to talk to a "foreign" student or visiting scholar? Wanted to get invited to the Turkish party or Chinese New Year Dinner? Are you thinking about studying abroad and wondering if you can get a little cultural warm-up before you go? Or do you just want to learn about other cultures and meet people from different countries since they are here?

If your answer is a "Yes" to any of the above questions, then take advantage of this great and exciting opportunity by joining the Conversation Partners Program offered by Global Connections. Liberal Arts Career Enrichment Network has recently partnered with Global Connections aiming to promote this opportunity to a broad range of Liberal Arts students.

The Conversation Partners program is designed to bring English and International speakers together for a mutually beneficial learning experience. While there are more formal classes where language mechanics are taught, this program facilitates informal meetings that emphasize more casual language practice, intercultural understanding, and sharing for both internationals and native English speakers.

The experience typically takes on one of two formats:

(1)  One-on-one, in which one native or fluent English speaker is matched with one international speaker to meet regularly for language practice and cultural exchange.  English is usually the primary language of communication. If the native English speaker has an interest in learning or practicing his/her partner's native language, they may use more meeting time to practice that language. In either case, this is a great opportunity for language practice as well as forming friendships.

(2)  A small conversation group, in which one native English speaker, acting as the group facilitator, is matched with a small group (2-3 or larger at request) of international speakers from diverse backgrounds. People in small groups communicate in English. This format usually offers a greater chance of meeting new people and forming friendships.  For native English speakers, this is also an excellent opportunity for leadership development. For international speakers, small conversation groups offer a friendly environment for practicing English conversation skills with lots of peer support. For both, it is a rich opportunity to learn about multiple cultures--imagine all the different stories, topics, and perspectives contributed by your diverse group members!\

In the past, a number of students from the College of the Liberal Arts have benefited from the Conversation Partners program. Particularly, many students, both undergraduates and graduate students, from Foreign Languages, Teaching English as a Second Language, and majors with an international dimension (e.g., International Studies, International Relations, and Asian Studies) have participated in the program.  As the Penn State campus becomes increasingly diverse and our immediate/broader living environment becomes more globalized every day, every liberal arts student can benefit from such an experience!  Join your fellow Liberal Arts majors, join students from other colleges at Penn State, join local community members, and join participants from all over the world; become a conversation partner!

You can participate in this program any time during the year!

No foreign language skills are required to participate.

To get started, visit Global Connections' website www.global.psu.edu/gc to register. The registration will also offer you the opportunity to get involved in other popular programs offered at Global Connections, such as Women's Intercultural Book Groups, International Friendship Program, International Speakers Program, and other volunteering opportunities.

For additional information about the Conversation Partners Program or other programs, please contact Global Connections at (814) 863-3927 or email globalconnections1961@gmail.com. You are also always welcome to stop by our office at 427 Boucke Building, University Park, PA 16802.

Since we're nearing the start of the fall semester, I wanted to present a few excellent opportunities for students to get in touch with an international perspective at Penn State.

Rooms Filled with Resources

Being an International Politics major and an avid language learner, I am constantly seeking methods by which I can keep in contact with the world that surrounds me. Naturally, I go about this process in just as many ways as possible. I look at it as a win-win way to pass the time; these resources assist me later in the classroom, and, as the New York Times put it best, also allow me to "join the conversation." Consequently, I don't have to feel so bad when I get completely distracted from impending class assignments.

Pattee Library has become a sort of hub away from HUB in the quest for what I've termed the Local's International. There are a number of international resources within the Pattee that I use on a daily basis. In two years at Penn State, they have provided me with endless entertainment, yet a hunger for more. One room I frequent is the News and Microforms Library on the ground floor. Including its physical and database formats, the N&M Library boasts a collection of more than 1,700 newspapers from 92 countries in 48 different languages. Included nearby is a collection of 30 news magazines, with several of them imported from overseas.

A read through the Times, a few articles from Le Monde, and one skim through an issue of Le Nouvel Observateur later, I almost forget that I have other resources at my disposal. Advancing further through the room, students can also borrow headphones to view television news in Hindi, Portuguese, Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and English, based on this schedule.

It was by chance that I sat down in Stacks 2a one day across from a considerable section of Arabic scripts--history, poetry, fiction novels, Arabic-French-English dictionaries, and even learning texts. Of course the work I'd initially come there to complete would be left undone for several hours, but what I quickly discovered was that the entire floor was loaded with literature from French to Spanish to languages I'd never even seen before. Fascinated by another international discovery, Stacks 2a developed into a new and decidedly wonderful place to study, read, and explore.

Another room filled with international resources is the Arts & Humanities Library. Here, I whet my cultural appetite with a long list of foreign language films, CDs, and personal interest periodicals on site.

Involvement

Whenever possible during the semester, I attend the International Coffee Hour, which is organized by the Office of Global Programs at Penn State. Every Thursday from 3:30-5:00 p.m., students gather in the lounge on the 5th floor of the Boucke Building. Almost every week, students and organizations of a different country or ethnicity host the event, and all who attend enjoy a sampling of the coffees, teas, cuisines, and music from each respective part of the world.

Often, the sessions serve as a way for international students to build confidence in their English-speaking skills, but with a gathering of people from such wide-ranging ethnicities and backgrounds, there's no telling who or what carries the conversation each week.

Plenty of organizations at Penn State motivate an international perspective, as well. Despite this being my third year as a student at Penn State, I am certain to attend the Involvement Days in Alumni Hall during the first week of the semester to see what else I might like to join this year.

Additionally, the Office of Global Programs has several unique opportunities to get involved, including the Global Ambassadors, Peer Advisers, and Conversation Partners programs. Having participated as a conversation partner, I know it serves as a particularly beneficial program for the culturally curious. I was matched with Mohamed, a fellow Penn State student from Oman. I was glad to offer what help I could in English, and in exchange he offered lessons in Arabic, his native language.

Late last spring, Mohamed invited me to Arabian Nights, an extraordinary celebration of great music, art, dance, and, of course, food. I found myself at a table of Omani students describing with excitement how a celebration such as this might look in the Arab world. Surrounded by conversations in Arabic, performers dancing the dabka, a fashion show of each nation's traditional dress, and a playlist of rhythmic sing-alongs from the region, I couldn't help but smile.

The Education Abroad Fair approaches in the fall semester, as well. Rather than trying to get an idea of where to spend a semester abroad online, take advantage of the fair, when coordinators and past participants from many of the programs gather in one room. This can really help to get a better idea of where you like, the program you like in the place that you like, and even when and for how long to go.

Another fall event full of multiculturalism is International Education Week. For those in the College of the Liberal Arts who are seeking international career opportunities, this week also holds a fair to present various options for volunteering, interning, and working abroad.

These come paired with what I would guess to be hundreds of opportunities, events, and resources I've yet to explore at Penn State. Throughout the semester, be sure to check for the dates and more upcoming events on the University Office of Global Programs homepage.

How have you achieved your Local's International?

I, along with about 35 other Penn State undergrads with majors ranging from English to Electrical Engineering, participated in Penn State Law's second annual Explore Law program held May 15-20, 2011 in the Katz building. This program is designed for students who are interested in possibly pursuing futures in Law to gain insight into what it means to be a Law student and eventually an attorney. Before the program even started, we had homework assignments--these assignments were (1) a personal statement for admission to Law School, (2) a practice LSAT essay exam, and (3) reading five different cases and writing "briefs" for them. When I saw these assignments, I knew I was going to be in for a rigorous week at law school camp!

Throughout the span of the program, I was consistently impressed with the lineup of presentations, panelists, and activities that kept us busy from 9 am to 5 pm (just like in real Law School). Much of the days' presentations featured Law Professors, Deans, Attorneys, and Judges who spoke about their professional specialties as well as their career paths and experiences in the field of Law. While that may seem to be a monotonous way to spend each day, it definitely was not. Not only did their stories inspire me (let me tell you, these people are successful with a capital S), but I enjoyed the honest and candid testimonials about their journeys. Each presenter shared their successes, but also took time to highlight the many challenges they faced along the way. For instance, they noted several difficulties of Law School such as professors' use of the Socratic Method, emphasis on analytical reasoning, the competitive atmosphere, and long lonely hours reading and studying, to name a few. Despite the challenges, each professional who spoke was very happy in their career and could also highlight many joyful times in Law School and afterward. Throughout the week, I was pleasantly surprised to realize that not all Law graduates take the same path; not every graduate ends up in courtrooms or works in a large firm in a high pressure setting. Many different people spoke to us throughout the week from all different paths; we heard from Law students and professors (legal writing, torts, and criminal procedure), Litigators, Judges, Deans, Transactional Lawyers, and Academic Advisors in the Law School. Hearing the diverse perspectives reinforced the claim that you can do a lot of different things with a J.D.

When we weren't listening to those very informational presentations, we were engaged in mock classes and workshops. We took two mock Law classes, one on "torts" and the other on criminal procedure. Those are two "1L" classes that are prescribed in the first year of Law School. In our Case Briefing Workshops, we worked on the briefs that we submitted as early homework assignments which were then used in the mock classes we participated in. One of my favorite activities was the "Lawyer Simulation Exercise," which was a simulation in negotiation and conflict management. Professors Welsh and Shea gave a presentation on the work of lawyers as "negotiators" in contracts and other deals, and the Law School campers participated in a simulation which I really enjoyed--maybe it's the Resident Assistant in me who loves managing conflict! Our final, big activity was the Litigation Workshop, or "mock trial," where we all got to play a part in a classic slip-and-fall" case. Some of us were lawyers, some judges and jurors, and the rest witnesses (plaintiffs or defendants/appellants/appellees). This activity was a lot of fun, and we got to work together in groups based on our roles. For example, I was the "witness" Danielle Fox, who was also the plaintiff. I had two lawyers (for two separate trials), so I was able to work with those students on my direct examination. It was a lot of fun! After our trials were over, real lawyers stepped into the student lawyers' shoes and performed direct and cross examinations of the same case. It was amazing to see them do what they do best!

Some other things that were discussed throughout the week were of course admissions and logistical questions about the LSAT, percentiles, transcripts, and financial aid, as well as information on joint degree programs and career services information. We were also given a personal tour of the Katz building and we got to hang out with two Penn State Law students--one who just finished her first year and the other who is now a graduate!

All in all, I am so glad I participated in this program. It gave me wonderful insight into life as a law student and to where a degree in Law can take a person in their career. I initially wanted to participate in Explore Law for just that--to explore the possibilities of Law, and this program definitely enhanced my knowledge of the experience. Not only was I surrounded by 34 other super ambitious undergraduate students, but I got to meet and mingle with some highly impressive lawyers, judges, and professors to talk about Law. The days were definitely long and the homework was not easy (at least for a student not accustomed to that kind of homework), but that helped make the week's activities more realistic and useful. For now, my future plans are not concrete, however Law School is most definitely in the mix of potential pathways to pursue and because of Explore Law I no longer feel quite as lost as to what that means. I highly encourage other students to apply for this program next year. Information can be found on Penn State Law's website.

Many thanks to Professor Michele Vollmer at Penn State Law for coordinating and facilitating the whole program. She did a wonderful job!

On Saturday, May 14th, we gathered to celebrate the 2011 graduating class from the College of the Liberal Arts. Rain threatened all day, but somehow Robin Robinson and Andrea Crews, who did an excellent job coordinating the events, managed to arrange for the rain to hold off until everyone was safely inside a packed Bryce Jordan Center. 

Agora, the liberal arts publication written for and by students, just released its final issue of the 2010/11 academic year. The publication, started in Fall 2009, has garnered significant attention at Penn State and is indeed becoming one of the most unique and prominent student publications. With the upcoming 2011/12 academic year, Agora will be getting its second president and vice president and an entirely new executive staff as many of the founding members graduate and move on from Penn State next month. Alex Lipton, who served as Agora's philosophy department head, and Liz Crossen, Agora's new president for the upcoming year, reflect on the meaning of Agora in their undergraduate careers, and envision the future of the publication.

Alex Lipton:

The liberal arts have a very strong emphasis on creative writing, reading comprehension, and analysis. These are essential skills, and it's important that students cultivate these during their college years. During college, many people just try to learn the facts to do well on an exam. Statistically speaking, these facts are not retained for very long - they are often "in one ear and out the other." Contrarily, improving ones' skill in creative writing, reading comprehension, and analysis is a lifelong and on-going endeavor. It requires dedication, perseverance, and attention to detail. The payoff is that these skills, unlike the facts learned for a particular test, transcend a single discipline and are universal in their nature and applicability.

Indeed, a liberal arts education cultivates skills that will stay with the individual throughout their life. Agora has proved itself to be a creative, engaging, and inspiring means for students to further cultivate these skills. Agora has shaped my experience in particular by providing an outlet for my creativity. I believe that while a college education can take you to the door, you have to make yourself walk through it in some way. College should be the time in ones' life when one grows profoundly as an individual and realizes their talents and strengths.

To this end, Agora has been a way for me to channel what I've learned as a student of the liberal arts. As Agora's philosophy editor, I've tried to present interesting and diverse material to Penn State. Though relatively young, Agora is already Penn State's premier student magazine. Moreover, Agora's philosophy department is the newest part of this relatively new magazine. The philosophy department has expanded and grown, much like Agora - in an astonishingly short amount of time. Philosophy is logic, it is reasoning, it is thought, and it is everywhere. Philosophy is immensely important, for it is ultimately thoughts and ideas that have the power to progress or regress a society. For this reason I encourage all students to submit his or her written works to Agora for consideration. Though I'm graduating, I'm looking forward to the seeing the bright future that both Agora and its' philosophy department will enjoy.

Liz Crossen:

I became involved with Agora in early 2010 when its first issue was being released. I was so impressed by the intelligence, innovative, and fresh ideas that were being produced by this group of students, the vast majority undergraduates. I think in many ways, Agora renewed my faith in the significance of undergraduate thought and work. I am a student focusing on three disciplines in the Liberal Arts: Sociology, Women's Studies, and African American Studies. In these disciplines, I am required to read, write, and utilize critical thinking skills constantly. I believe all of these things are so necessary and yet, under encouraged and too rarely taught or embraced during the undergraduate years. This is where I found Agora so refreshing - it is the praxis of the liberal arts and it upholds my strong belief that the work produced by undergraduate students is inherently scholarly and academic. This publication has come to define my time as an undergraduate at Penn State. It is my intellectual outlet, it is where I have met some of my dearest friends, and it is the embodiment of what I believe higher education to be about: the sharing of ideas, the honing of skills, and the spread of intellectualism.

This upcoming academic year, I have the incredible privilege and responsibility of becoming the second president of Agora. The first two years of this publication have proved to be incredibly successful, as we have built our reputation of excellent writing and the promotion of free thought. It is in this spirit, that new vice president Rob Turchick and myself, along with the rest of our highly talented new executive board, will continue to produce this publication with creativity, passion, and dedication to make Agora even better and to ensure its long legacy at Penn State. I highly encourage all who are interested to come and write for Agora. It truly has become a transformative experience for myself and the brilliant young minds that fuel this publication. Indeed Agora lends depth not only to our experience at Penn State, but to the thought it provokes among this university's community who is reading it, discussing it, contacting us. In doing so, the community at Penn State can be engaged in a deeper, more meaningful discourse that is such a part of what higher education is all about.

In the spring of 2004, four Harvard sophomores, led by Mark Zuckerberg, set out to move the college experience online. The result of their efforts, the social-networking website Facebook, which launched on February 4, 2004, has achieved just that, extending the social experiences of college online. Students can--and do--add people they meet in class, outside of class, campus club-mates, and potential love interests to their online friends list. We can "like" each others' comments, tag ourselves in images, and we always know when some event is going on, whether it be a party around campus, upcoming tests, or even world events. Facebook has revolutionized the ways in which we communicate with our peers. In the social sense, Facebook has placed the college experience online--but remember, the "social" aspect is only half. 

On Thursday, February 3, 2011, English 30 students under the tutelage of Diana Gruendler took the first step in completing the process. As part of the Sony Reader: New Frontiers in Reading research project, Gruendler's undergraduate TAs launched Lector: A Virtual Book Club, a website devoted to expanding the classroom experience to the internet. In the New Frontiers in Reading research project, students have been exposed to Sony Readers in order to gauge the readers' compatibility with the classroom atmosphere. In the past, the research group has run classes using the same syllabus, one a "control" class using regular, codex books, and the other an "experimental" class, in which the students had to use the readers. Now we're taking that one step further, by incorporating a medium natural to an electronic device, a website, and opening the invitation for others outside of the project that have eReaders to participate. Lector takes its name from the Latin word "lector," which referred to a reader in ancient times, one whose job it was to read from texts in public forums, when literacy wasn't common. It's a play on the fact that we call devices such as the Sony Reader, Kindle, and Nook "eReaders" and not "eBooks" -- because they display the text of eBooks (strings of code), and sometimes can actually read to us.

The National Model African Union is an annual conference held at Howard University in Washington D.C. at which students from across the country are invited to participate in a simulation of the real African Union and discussions about current issues facing Africa. The focus of the conference centers on intra-African relations and international affairs. The Model African Union gives students the opportunity to participate, as individuals and in teams, while conducting research on the political issues of a specific African nation. Each university is assigned a different country every year and this year, Penn State University was assigned to represent the interests of Malawi within the African Union.

As the Model AU's Faculty Advisor and Trip Coordinator, Dr. Abrokwaa introduced me to the benefits of participating in the Model AU while I was enrolled in AAA S/HIST 192. After making the decision to attend the conference, I met with Dr. Abrokwaa to decide which committee would be right for me. Every student is assigned to a particular committee meant to maximize their educational experience. As I am an International Politics Major, Dr. Abrokwaa felt that it would be to my advantage to serve on the Technical Committee on Economic Matters. This would provide me with a chance to learn about Malawi's role in the global market and how the latter affects international relations and foreign policy.

Following my committee assignment, I was ready to begin preliminary research about the current economy of Malawi. Guided by the Model AU's Handbook, I learned how to create and format a formal resolution (just like the ones submitted in the actual African Union). Soon, I submitted a final copy to the Executive Council of the Model AU at Howard University.

Finally, February came around and we were ready for the conference. Shortly after we arrived in D.C., we headed to Embassy Row for our briefing at the Malawian Embassy. This briefing was designed to answer any questions or clarifications we had in order to best represent the interests of our assigned country. The briefing was definitely a highlight of the trip. Various members of the embassy were present at our meeting, including specialists in investments, agriculture, water and sanitation, communications, tourism, and gender equality.

The conference officially kicked off that evening at Howard University where we met the other students involved in the conference from across the United States. It was that evening that the council sessions began for the first time and we received copies of all submitted resolutions. The next morning we attended our day-long Executive Council and Ordinary Committee Sessions. Each committee worked on assigning resolutions to agenda topics; establishing the order of consideration for agenda topics; introducing and debating resolutions; adding amendments to resolutions; and finally, working together to pass resolutions. My fellow Malawian delegate in the Economic Committee and I worked alongside delegates from the African countries of Nigeria and Togo to merge our resolutions in order to create a single, more powerful resolution. This condensed resolution was eventually submitted to the secretariat for potential adoption. Sunday concluded the conference with the Assembly of Heads of State and Government. During this time, all submitted resolutions were voted on and adopted as final resolutions and certificates of recognition/participation were given out in the closing ceremony. In addition to my participation in the Model African Union, I also got to see a lot of Washington D.C. when the committees were out of session. It was a lot of fun to wander around D.C. and try some new restaurants.

In all, The Model AU helps students gain knowledge in various fields such as African studies, political science, international politics and relations, economics, social sciences, etc. More importantly, it shows participants that an understanding of African development is an important part in the comprehension of globalization in the 21st century. The Model AU allows participants to develop an understanding of current politics and economics of African countries and gives students a chance to represent the interests of a specific country. By understanding these individual needs, we can take important steps toward globalization.

I feel very fortunate that Dr. Abrokwaa chose me to participate in the National Model African Union conference. It is something that I wouldn't have found out about otherwise, and I feel that I have gained exponentially from the experience. Not only have I gained knowledge and grown as an individual, but the Model African Union has also opened many opportunities for me to further my career goals. I would recommend that anyone interested in any of the areas mentioned above inquire about participation in the Model African Union.

If you are interested in participating in this opportunity there are a few more things you should know. First of all, it did not cost anything to participate in the Model AU this year. The conference was generously funded by various Penn State University organizations, offices and departments. Contributors included the Africana Research Center, the AAA S Department, the Liberal Arts Associate Dean's Office, the Liberal Arts Minority Programs Office, and the Vice Provost for Educational Equity's Office. You might also be wondering if participation in the conference is limited to AAA S majors or minors. That is not the case at all. Students in all majors are encouraged to participate. There are various committees (including committees focusing on government, economics, security, technology, etc.) within the Model AU, which cover areas in a variety of different majors in the College of the Liberal Arts.

For more information, visit the African & African American Studies Department website.  In the meantime, take a look at some photos from the 2011 National Model African Union Conference.

I started my Penn State education at the York campus, one of the university's 19 commonwealth campuses, after graduating Columbia International College, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. It was my first time back in America since I left New York in 1997 and I knew as many people at the Penn State campus as I knew in America as a whole: none. For the first couple of weeks as a freshman, I limited myself to the comfort of my bedroom, where I did homework and spent countless hours on Skype, talking to family and friends - people I felt comfortable with, whom I could be myself around and did not have to worry about awkward moments. Although people who know me would describe me as: loud, crazy and possibly and extrovert, I am also very "observant" (I refuse to use the term shy) around crowds I am unfamiliar with. For this reason, I usually have a hard time adjusting to change. One thing that saved me during my transition from high school to PSU York and from PSU York to my transition this semester at PSU University Park is campus involvement!

At York, I began to meet new people and learn more about the Penn State culture as soon as I joined the Student Government Association (SGA). By joining THON, the modeling club, the dance crew, the Black Student Union and several other organizations on campus, I was able to quickly find myself and bond with others like me. This led me to join other clubs on campus my sophomore year, such as Lion Ambassadors, which acquainted me with a lot of staff around campus. It was almost like being "popular" in high school, but without the drama. I learned that I do not have to be a people-pleaser to be a people person and with that mindset, I grew more as a person than I ever thought possible in two years.

I was finally finding myself at York, doing what I love, getting to know everybody on campus, and participating in almost every organization on campus through the SGA. Then came University Park....with thousands of students, over 800 organizations, hundreds of faculty and staff, and just one me. It was like freshman year all over again, except this time I knew what to do: Get Involved. It is so easy to lose yourself in a school so big and a city so crowded, where everyone seems too busy to even breathe and professors are always on the go. It is so easy to think "no one will notice," or "no one will care," or "I am just one in a million," but it is importance to remember that every drop makes the ocean.

I had convinced myself I would never make as big an impact as I did at PSU York, and even if I did, nobody will notice, but then I decided to try anyway. I wanted to take on this challenge to see how much I could do in a limited amount of time and to turn this distant super-campus into the warm 1800-student campus I was used to.

Today I am happy and have made progress. I have not achieved my goal yet, but I look back at where I was 4 months ago and I'm proud of how far I have come. All the self-improvement and the relationships I have built on campus have come as a direct or indirect result of my involvement. If there was one thing I could tell any freshman today, it would be: GET INVOLVED. If there was one thing I could tell any transition student today, it would be: GET INVOLVED. It is the best thing I have done for myself at Penn State, and I am sure there are many who can say the same.

Personally, I am involved with the organizations listed below, but I will definitely encourage people to get involved with any of the other hundreds on campus, including Greek life and Honors Societies!

• Council of Commonwealth Student Governments (CCSG): Where to start with this? You will see me talking about this in almost every blog I post, so no worries if you do not get the gist of it now. As I said in my previous post, it is made up of central staff (here at University Park) and the SGAs of all the 19 Commonwealth campuses.
• Students Engaging Students (SES): The name is pretty much self-explanatory, but I will go on to say that there will be recruitment for the spring semester! If any one likes to get peers involved, bond with great, motivated student leaders, and help out with community service projects, JOIN US! 
• Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC): From the mentoring program to playing THON dodgeball together, this is one of my favorite orgs, because we know how and when to mix business with pleasure. We strive at having discussions after each meeting, to get our minds thinking critically about various issues. We have guest speakers come to our meetings, such as Dean Long, and we also sponsor events that benefit every student in the College of the Liberal Arts, such as the internship panel I spoke about in my previous blog.
  
• The National Political Science Honors Society (Pi Sigma Alpha): I recently got initiated, which I am very excited about, and we have a lot of great goals for the year. No spoiler alerts here because my lips are sealed!
  
• The Golden Key International Honors Society: I wish I could sit here any type that I am actively involved with this organization, but then I would be lying, so in order to avoid that, I will tell you that I have in fact attended a meeting and to say the least, you can expect great things of this group.
  
• Black Caucus: This organization aims to promote the positive and successful growth and development of black students at Penn State. For social purposes, it is a good idea to join a cultural group so that you are certain of one meeting a week where you know you can just sit back, relax and socialize with a good group!
  
• LeaderShape 2011: On-site coordinator. If you have never heard of LeaderShape, google it. If you don't want to, here is a summary: Best five days of your life. In simpler words, it is a leadership training program, unlike any other. Applications go live next semester, so KEEP AN EYE OUT!
  

This went a little longer than expected, but that is only because getting involved is such a big deal to me, I think every word on this page is necessary to prove that point.

PEACE & LOVE ALWAYS. Stay Motivated. Stay Positive.

One skill that is bound to give you an edge, no matter what path you pursue after Penn State, is the ability to speak a foreign language. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of foreign language skills in the 21st century, an era that has already been marked by increasing globalization, dramatic shifts in global power and demographic trends, and ever-evolving challenges in the political arena.

You may think to yourself that "so many people throughout the world speak English" so you don't need to learn a second language. Well, the former may be true (although many Americans overestimate the proportion of the world's population that speaks English); the latter likely is not. Whether you plan to pursue a career in business, government, non-profit, law, or academia, there is a good chance that your employer will work with clients, constituents, or partners from across the globe.

Try this exercise: think of an American blue-chip employer (such as Pfizer, Omnicon, Procter & Gamble, Google, Bank of New York/Mellon, or MasterCard) and then try to guess what proportion of its revenues comes from outside the US. For the companies listed above, the proportions approach 50% or more. In fact, recent data suggests that for US companies as a whole the proportion of revenues that are derived internationally is about 30%, while for companies in the S&P 500, the proportion is along the lines of 45-50% (MSN Market Watch, 2007).*  These rates are expected to increase over the next several years. Certainly foreign language skills would be an asset for individuals seeking a position in the private sector after college, particularly as the global economy continues to evolve and other regions of the world assume greater economic and political influence.

Knowledge of a foreign language is also a great asset for those considering careers in government, the non-profit sector, law or law enforcement, and related fields. Currently, the fastest growing regions of the world are outside of North America, and are not predominantly English-speaking. Certainly some of the most pressing humanitarian and geopolitical challenges of our era are in non-English speaking areas of the world. In this regard, one might think particularly of the former Soviet republics (where Russian is widely spoken), the Middle East, Latin America, or Eastern Europe. Students interested in careers or research in these fields who possess a working knowledge of a foreign language will be able to take advantage of a wider range of opportunities to serve others, and will undoubtedly have access to a broader range of resources to draw upon in building their careers.

Even if your interests are more local, foreign language skills are still a plus given the increasingly multicultural nature of the modern workplace. Most young people in college today will one day work in an environment where they are required to interact with people from other cultural backgrounds or whose first language is not English. In the multicultural workplace employees who know another language and have developed an understanding and appreciation of foreign cultures that the study of a foreign language promotes are an asset.

Finally, if you plan further education after college, you may already know that many graduate programs require a certain level of fluency in one or two foreign languages. This is because important research is often published in professional journals and books in languages other than English. Language skills can also boost your application to law or business school, and make you more competitive for any grant or scholarship that you may wish to apply for. In addition to making you a better communicator, knowledge of a foreign language showcases your capacity to assimilate complex systems of information, as well as your flexibility and ability to "get outside your own head" and adapt to how other people think.

Penn State offers a variety of ways to integrate foreign languages into existing programs of study.  How might you get started? Penn State University Park offers courses in many languages ranging from the more familiar, such as German, to the less commonly taught, such as Hindi. For many of these languages, University Park also offers a range of summer courses (see for example, the many offerings in French, Italian, Spanish, German, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Arabic, Hebrew, and new next summer, Turkish and Portuguese). Thus foreign language study can complement and fit readily into most educational plans. For many of the languages offered here you can earn a minor which will give you a formal credential to attest to your skills.

Descriptions of Penn State minors, including language minors, can be found on the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies website.  Language minors typically require 18 - 19 credits in language courses, with 6 - 7 credits at the 400 level.  However, introductory language courses (LANG 001, sometimes LANG 002 and 003) do not count towards all minors. It is always good to consult with the departmental adviser to make sure that you understand the requirements.

Good luck!  Bonne chance! Viel Glück!
 

Hello all, my name is AnneLiese Nachman and I wanted to take the time to introduce myself to this blogging community before I started contributing to it.

First thing's first; I have never blogged before, so I am very new to this. However, I am a Freshman, and trying new things is all part of the experience right? After I learned of this opportunity, I thought it would be a good way to contribute to this growing technological way of communicating.

So if you follow my blogs, you will be peering through a window into the life of a Freshman here at PSU. I will discuss some of the activities here on campus that I take part in such as the Eco-Rep program,the Blue and White Society, and the Paterno Fellows program. I hope to give you a sense of how some Freshmen perceive this Penn State community and all that comes with it.

I look forward to sharing!

"Only a life lived for others is worthwhile" Albert Einstein

I pose this question after just returning from the CIC Summer Research Opportunities Program (SROP) conference held at The Ohio State University from 7/22-25/2010. This event is part of the capstone experience for some 464 students who have participated in an eight-week research internship attracting students in numerous disciplines who aspire to graduate study. The goal of SROP is to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups who will enroll and seek graduate degrees at CIC universities. Penn State University had a cohort of 31 students participating in this activity. There were three students from the College of the Liberal Arts in the aforementioned group. During the conference I met four other Penn State students participating in SROP at University of Michigan, Michigan State University, and Ohio State University. These students participated in poster sessions and discussion roundtables; networked with faculty and SROP alumni; and attended a recruitment fair.

We had the opportunity hear Astrophysicist Dr. Neil deGrasse Tyson, director of the Hayden Planetarium at the American Museum of Natural History in New York as the keynote speaker. He shared his experiences as a young person growing up in New York. His early passion to understand and study the universe was a driving force directing his achievements. He is a frequent guest on the Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and hosts PBS's show NOVAscienceNow.

These SROP participants have a leg up on the process of getting admitted to graduate schools because they have shown the initiative, commitment, and the desire to make a difference by engaging in the research process. Some of these students will continue to be involved in research when they return to their home institution. Over 59% of these students will graduate by fall 2011 with GPAs of 3.4 or above.

If you have not been involved in research, you should consider connecting with the faculty in your major this fall to open this new vista. Check with your advisor or faculty to learn more about research experiences in your major.

Take a look at some of the photos taken at the CIC Summer Research Opportunities conference:

Even before the formal ceremony, work began across the street, setting up the construction staging area in front of the Ford building (the first photo). Unfortunately, the residents of that building will be looking at a disturbed "front yard" for months and years. After the public attention of the ground breaking, the real work began. The north wing of the current Moore building will be stripped to its structural frame and the new building built around it. The attached photos illustrate work beginning on June 7, the Monday after the ceremony, as trees were cleared for the work. The photos also show the boarding of between window spaces, in preparation for the demolition, and then preparation for new infrastructure to be laid on the west side of the building.

For those who enjoy wrecking balls, the next stage will involve some demolition.

A lot of excellent work went in to making today a wonderful celebration for our graduates from the College of the Liberal Arts. Of course, our students did an enormous amount of work to earn their degrees. And they earned a celebration worthy of their accomplishments.

The Liberal Arts Undergraduate Studies staff gave them just such a celebration today!

Robin Robinson is the master organizer of graduation for the College of the Liberal Arts. She and her staff on the Records side of our office, Andrea Crews, Tanya Hockman and Sarah Derber, organized all the tents, food, diplomas, ceremonies and celebrations that we enjoyed so thoroughly today.

There were also a number of other members of the LAUS staff who worked today during the graduation celebration, including Holly Dickey, Mary Fleming, Ashley Tarbet, Earl Merritt, and Jillian Balay (aka @LAUSatPSU).

We also had a number of student advisors helping with the graduation ceremony itself at the BJC: Mary Cameron, Julianna Chaszar, Shery Crater, Rebekka Egger, Tracey Melnick, Whitney Merinar, Maureen Mulenga, Courtney Orr, Charlene Peters, Katelyn Perry, Karen Sones, Marie Villefranche.

Before I became Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies at the College, I came to graduation and enjoyed the spirit of celebration and accomplishment. Now that I see all the work that goes into putting such an event together, I am struck by how lucky we are to have such a professional, organized and talented staff.

A sign of their success is the degree to which no one notices all the little things that are done behind the scene to make the event run smoothly. The danger of this sort of success is that the hard work and excellent organization that goes into it will not be recognized.

So, on behalf of all the graduates of the College of the Liberal Arts and for the faculty and administration too, I would like to thank Robin first and foremost, and also the rest of my excellent staff, who made this truly a day to remember.

It was wonderful to have Robin join us on Liberal Arts Voices episode 9 to talk about graduation. On that episode, you can also hear Nikki Hatza, our College Marshal, who gave a marvelous valedictorian speech this evening, talk about her Penn State experience. If you want to learn more about Ron Suskind, who also gave a well received speech tonight, take a look at his personal website and his wikipedia page. 

Personally, I am grateful for the help Robin gave me with the names of the student marshals I had to read (I hope I did justice to them this evening) and for her tips about how best to keep an excited crowd in order.  I am also grateful to Ashley and Jillian for helping me practice the World Campus Graduation talk I gave today. 

In all, it was a beautiful day for a celebration of excellent students.  Congratulations to all our graduates and thank you to the staff that made this day a great success.

Here are some images from the day:

 

After seeing the headlines from the Collegian about PSU Deans "warning" students about Saturday's State Patty's Day, I thought that it might be a good idea to tweet Sam Loewner, President of the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council and an officer from University Park Undergraduate Association (UPUA), so we might engage in a discussion about the celebration.  Below is the beginning of our discussion, which we hope will continue in the comments here and elsewhere in the Penn State online and in-person community.

Dean Long: How are students responding to the comments reported in the Collegian and on Onward State in which Deans and other officials are attempting to address the issues around State Patty's Day?

Sam: I think the students are responding in a defensive manner.  The messages from the University range from "Don't drink" to "if you do drink, there will be serious consequences."

Dean Long: How could we enter into a discussion about the important concerns regarding responsible drinking in a productive way?  Specifically, I am interested in the possibility of a deeper dialogue about undergraduate drinking without falling into a paternalistic mode that often provokes the sort of defensiveness you mention.

Sam: Students are already taking a proactive and responsible approach. The UPUA sponsored a full page ad reminding students to make responsible decisions. The Greek governing bodies took actions that limit the roles that sororities and fraternities will play over the weekend. But let's not forget that State Patty's Day was established as a way to bring the Penn State community together.

Dean Long: I think that is an important reminder.  In talking to Meghan White, a 2006 CLA graduate working now at Allegheny College, I was struck by her suggestion that "the event attracts alums as well and it should be noted that it is up to alums to set a positive example to undergraduates about how to celebrate the spirit of Penn State in a responsible way." I think it is important to emphasize the role alums play in this and the fact that it is in some degree a celebration of the Penn State community.

The issue is, can the community respond in a thoughtful and mature way to the real problems that the event can generate?

Sam: The kind of discussion we are having here might serve as a way to begin such a response. Since this is an event based around the Penn State community, I think we can mitigate some of the problems by making sure we are looking out for one another, as I think many of the concerns center around the question of safety.

Dean Long and Sam: How will you look out for your fellow community members this weekend?  What should the University response to State Patty's Day be? How can faculty, students, administrators, and alums work together to address the complex set of issues that stem from the State Patty's Day phenomenon?

This seems to us to be a good opportunity to open a deeper dialogue about these issues and we hope that you will join in the discussion here. 

For those Twitterers, let's use the #StatePatty hash tag.

This year the Liberal Arts Undergraduate Council (LAUC) took a leadership role in THON 2010. To see the students at Penn State so actively involved in philanthropy is extremely heartening.

Anyone concerned about "the apathy of today's undergraduate students" need only venture into the Bryce Jordan Center on THON weekend to learn about dedication, ethical leadership and compassion.

THON is the largest student run philanthropic initiative in the world, having raised $61 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital to fight pediatric cancer.  This year they raised over 7.8 million dollars.

The LAUC had two dancers, Lauren Perrotti and Chrissy Boggs.  To hear them talk about THON, how they prepared, and what it means to them to participate, listen to them on LAUSRadio episode 3.

The LAUC covered the event on their blog with updates about THON from the Bryce Jordan Center this weekend.

Also, you can read the account Chrissy Boggs gives of the LAUC canning efforts to raise money for THON in Scranton, PA earlier this year.

Visit THON.org to learn more about this very special event.

I met with Sean Healy last week to talk about the Liberal Arts Magazine he is starting here at Penn State. It will be called, Agora.

Sean tells the story of how it came about:

"When I changed campus to University Park last fall I was seeking an opportunity on campus to get involved. I found it difficult to find a student organization that I was passionate about or thought would fit my personality. I was looking to get involved in some sort of publication or magazine because I enjoy writing, and when I explored my options I found that Penn State did not have a Liberal Arts magazine. I decided that a Liberal Arts magazine at Penn State would be the perfect opportunity for Liberal Arts students and Penn State as a whole to gain from the experience of writing and the invaluable process of peer editing, review, and discussions.

This was the start of Agora and it the organization has been slowly growing ever since."

The first edition of the magazine is due out March 1st, and it will be available at the LAUS office in 119 Sparks.

Here is Sean's description of the magazine itself:

"Agora is a monthly Liberal Arts publication that seeks to promote diversity, free thought, and a marketplace of ideas for the Penn State community. All writing pieces within this publication are the original ideas of our authors who are encouraged to write about the issues they are most passionate about and feel should be further discussed. The result is a body of writing different from any Penn State publication. With no limits, our writers are free to express viewpoints that are often muffled, sidelined, or under discussed. From this thought the motivation for our name is derived: Agora.

The agora was a place of assembly unique to the ancient Greek civilization that served as both a political and commercial marketplace. The powerful symbolism embodied within the principal of an agora is clearly represented in the first amendment of the United States constitution: freedom of speech."

I look forward to the appearance of this new magazine and hope that we can work together to amplify its voice in the College and the University.

Written by Autumn Griffin, Liberal Arts sophomore

Make it a day on... NOT a day off!

As many of you know, today is the MLK Day of Service. Dr. King dedicated his life to service to the community and more importantly to the nation. I truly believe he would want us to celebrate his birthday by giving back to our own communities in some way.

For the past few months, Meg Penza, Veronica Ariel, and I have been working to coordinate the Day of Service on campus. We have researched and contacted sites, narrowed them down, recruited volunteers, trained team leaders, organized transportation, and the list goes on. The past few months have been a bit hectic, but we are all excited that the day is here and we are sure all of our hard work is going to pay off!

I would encourage everyone to get involved today. If not through the Day of Service, just do something to make someone else happy: call your grandparents, take your dog on a walk, donate a dollar to Project Haiti. Every little bit helps and everyone is capable of service.

I'll close by reiterating my opening statement: Make it a day on... NOT a day off!

Please visit Penn State's Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemoration Web site for more information on today's events schedule.