THE SALAMENO SCHOOL OF AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SPRING 2012 SSAIS CURRENTS

Retirement of “Mr. Letter from the Dean International Studies” By Hassan Nejad By Ron Hayashida We have Professor Clifford E. Peterson, after 40 years had an of service to , will be retiring exciting and after this semester ends. Often called “Mr. productive International Studies” and fondly known for year. The his tireless mentoring of both American and School international students, he leaves behind a received a treasured legacy of invaluable contributions to gift of three International Studies and Political Science as million

well as memories of a caring pedagogy for his Herring Photo courtesy of Carolyn dollars from students. Lawrence and Theresa A native of Nutley, New Jersey (his high Salameno, and we are grateful to school classmate was Martha Stewart), the Salamenos for their generosity. Professor Peterson attended Rutgers Out of this gift two million dollars University in the late 1950s for his B.A. and will be spent toward the renovation Professor Clifford E. Peterson gained attention for his game on the Scarlet of classrooms and offices in the A Knight Basketball team. continued on page 2 and B wings with a new student continued on page 3

Inside This Issue This issue of 1 Retirement of Cliff Peterson AIS 1 Letter from the Dean CURRENTS 2 SSAIS Film Series was produced and edited by 3 Faculty Updates Professors 3 Student News Todd Barnes, 5 American History Textbook Keisha Project Haywood, 6 Deconstructing Architecture of Rebecca Auschwitz Root, and 7 MALS Graduate Theses Natalia 8 SSAIS Colloquium Seris Santamaria Photo courtesy of Raven Clarke-Lucas 9 Ramapo in Tbilisi Laorden. 10 Freedom House Speaker 11 Kyrenia, Norther Cyprus Alt Break Ecuador group inside the Basilica del Voto Nacional, Quito, Ecuador

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Mr. International Studies to see a line of students on the to play basketball in the senior second floor of the B-Wing, leagues and was able to win continued om page 1 crowding the corridors, waiting to championships in two successive At Rutgers, he was elected to Phi see him. Not too long ago, among age-group divisions. His senior Beta Kappa. Thereafter, he pursued many other honors that he received, team also won a gold medal at the his interest in international relations he was awarded “New Jersey Senior Olympics held at Stanford at , where Global Educator of the Year” in University several years ago. His he was also a teaching assistant for recognition of his devotion to medals and trophies are proudly a number of years, and where he students. He along with the late displayed in his office. It became a earned his Ph.D. in 1969. After a Professor Walter T. Brown and common sight to see Professor short two years as Assistant with the assistance of Professor Peterson, after a rough weekend of Professor of Government at St. Kathy Sunshine of Contemporary games, with bruises, gashes, Lawrence University in up-state Arts, applied for a grant 1986-89 stitches on his head, limping along New York, he transferred to called “Toward Global and on campus. Ramapo in the Fall of 1972 as a Multicultural Literacy: Education Professor of International Politics. for the 21str Century.” Commonly Upon retirement, Cliff Peterson and called the Governor’s Challenge his wife Myra, a retired attorney, In the Fall of 1972, Ramapo Grant, it awarded Ramapo $3.4 will moved to Westfield, New College had just begun its second million to internationalize the Jersey, where he promises to keep up year of operation, and this gave College’s curriculum. These three his close association with Ramapo Peterson the opportunity to lay the educators were at the forefront in College, and of course with its foundations for one of the College’s undertaking the strengthening of basketball team. ❑ “pillars,” international studies and this pillar of the College’s mission. study abroad. He established himself as one of the core members of the In other College-related activities, then School of Intercultural throughout the years Prof. Peterson Studies’ Political Science program. was involved with the Master Lecture He also served as the School’s Series, the Great Decisions program, Director for a short period before its the STAIRS summer seminar that merger with the School of American brought high school students on Studies. Professor Peterson taught campus, various study abroad over a dozen different courses programs, CBS Sunrise Semester, throughout his 40-year career but and talks and presentations too concentrated on offering his basic numerous to cite. In his community, courses on International Politics, he served for a period on the Introduction to International Harrington Park Board of Education, Studies, United Nations, United on the Northern Valley Regional High Nations Seminar, Contemporary School Board of Education, of which Problems in International Relations, he was president for a number of Terrorism, and Senior Seminars on years, and on the Board of the Problems of World Order. His Council of New Jersey Consortium annual classes on the United Nations for International/Global Education. were popularly associated with SSAIS Film Series students’ participation in the Model Cliff Peterson also closely followed UN Conferences, which benefitted the fortunes of Ramapo College’s Men’s Basketball team and was SSAIS FILM SERIES from Professor Peterson’s oversight, The SSAIS Film Series during the guidance and encouragement. known for uninhibitedly shouting encouragement to the team and Spring of 2012 featured Mahamat- Saleh Haroun’s DArAtt (Dry Hundreds if not thousands of shouting at referees “That’s a Muggling!! Did You Swallow Your Season) (2006), Assia Djebbar’s La students streamed through his Nouba des Femmes du Mount classes throughout the years; but he Whistle!!” He frequently followed the team to off-campus venues. He Chenoua (1979), and Ralph always found time to advise and Arlyck’s Following Sean (2005). ❑ help each of them on an individual also attended soccer games when he basis. It was not an uncommon sight had a chance. He himself continued

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SSAIS FACULTY Letter from the Dean STUDENT NEWS continued om page 1 UPDATES Senior Brendan Flanagan will lounge, expanded office space for participate in the International On April 12, 2011, Professor the adjunct faculty, and a conference Studies Association’s “Conference Patricia Ard gave a lecture to room. Half a million dollars will be on Protecting Human Rights: students and faculty at the dedicated to a British Studies Center. Duties and Responsibilities of University of Leon in Leon, Spain. And another half a million will be States and Non-state Actors” in The title of the lecture was “The used for dean’s scholarships. Glasgow, Scotland in June. He will American Graphic Novel.” present his Senior Honors Project The name of the School has been entitled “Applying Insights from Professor Iraida H. López changed to the Salameno School of Recent Transitional Justice presented her research on Ana American and International Studies. Scholarship to the Northern Irish Mendieta at the Cuba Futures Faculty and students have continued Case.” Flanagan, a triple major in International Conference sponsored joint scholarship in different fields Literature, International Studies, by the Bildner Center for of knowledge. Over 15 students and a Liberal Studies contract Hemispheric Studies, CUNY have conducted collaborative major, developed his project under Graduate School, March 31-April 2, research with the faculty and more the guidance of his Faculty Mentor, 2011. Her article on Mendieta’s than 20 students have presented Dr. Rebecca Root, and Faculty legacy in Cuba has been accepted papers at professional meetings Readers Dr. Clifford Peterson and for publication in La Gaceta de here and abroad. Dr. Keisha Haywood. He received Cuba. In January, also at the a grant from the Ramapo Bildner, she participated in a panel We have an excellent record of Foundation. discussion with critic Luisa graduating students who understand Campuzano on contemporary and are prepared for the challenges Congratulations to Chris Cuban literature and culture. of an increasingly complex and McKenna, Maral Varjabedian, Al Additionally, she presented her interconnected world. Last year, Martins, and Kelli Ward for being annotated editions of Ena Lucía several of our graduates were recognized for their outstanding Portela’s fiction at McNally accepted to some of the best law Jackson Books in Soho in February. and graduate schools in the country. continued on page 5 This year promises to be the same. During her sabbatical leave from Ramapo in the spring, Professor More than two-thirds of the School’s Lopez was a visiting scholar at faculty presented papers at professional New York University, where she conferences and a dozen received worked on a manuscript tentatively acceptances for the publication of titled “Myriad Returns: The Poetics their works in refereed journals. and Politics of ‘Volver’ in Four faculty members have signed Narratives of the Cuban Diaspora.” contracts to publish their books. She was invited to be a keynote speaker at an International We planned and offered more than Colloquium on women’s networks 30 co-curricular events each semester. and associations at Casa de las Our alumni/student networking Américas in Havana in February, event in March was one of the most and drew from the manuscript for successful since its inception three her presentation. years ago.

Professor Stephen Rice contributed Finally, 3 of our faculty members one of the short essays appearing in were awarded tenure and, because Hidden Treasure: The National our search for a new faculty member Library of Medicine, published by with expertise on China and East Asia was successful, we will welcome Dr. Dean Chen in the Fall. ❑ continued on page 4 SSAIS Colloquium Series

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SSAIS FACULTY UPDATES continued om page 3 Blast Books in 2012. The book provides illustrated interpretive essays on items in the collection of the National Library of Medicine outside Washington, D.C. Professor Rice's piece offers a brief history and analysis of an international eye test chart published and sold by a San Francisco optometrist in 1907. Information on the book may be found at http://www.blastbooks.com/ hidden_treasure.html.

Professor Natalia Santamaría Laorden participated in the 6th International Conference on Transatlantic Studies held at Brown University from April 10 to 14, Francesca Baratta, Sarah Galo, Stefanie Mauro, Brendan Flanagan, Kimberly 2012. There, she moderated a panel Eskin, Lauren Santaniello, Robert Texel, Danielle Reed, Katie Attinello, Lauren entitled “Circuitos de la Infomación Heatwole, and Ashley Rockhill at the Sigma Tau Delta International Convention Transatlántica” (“Circuits of Transatlantic Information”). She Medieval Studies at Western His submission for publication in also presented a paper entitled “El Michigan University. June, “Dimensions of the Animal- papel regenerador del indiano en la Human Connection” and “Honoring prensa y literatura finisecular” (The Professor Todd Landon Barnes the Accomplishments of the Living: Role of the Emigrant to the presented his paper “Karaoke as Festschrifts in Clio’s Psyche” are Americas in the Fin-de-siécle Press Historiography: Richard Burton’s being anonymously refereed. He and Literature). ‘Ghost Tape’ and The Wooster continues to work on two invited Group’s Hamlet” at the 2012 articles for the Journal of Professors Jennefer Mazza and Theatre Research Psychohistory, one with sections Michael Unger presented a paper Symposium at Villanova University, written by three Ramapo students on the capstone experience at where the theme was “The Avant (Caitlin Adams, Ben Figueroa, and Midwest Political Science Garde, Textual Intervention, Amy Jarvis) who will receive author Organization conference held in Ensemble and Experimental Theatre credit. Chicago from April 12 to 15, 2012. Collectives.” He also shared his The paper was entitled “Assessing paper “The Tempest’s ‘Standing On January 28,, 2012, in Manhattan, the Impact of Incorporating Service Water’: Recycling Early Modern Professor Elovitz presented Learning/Field Experiences Into the Cosmographies in Lost” in a “Rhetoric, Fantasies, and Capstone Political Science Course”. seminar entitled “Oceanic Personalities in the Republican Shakespeares,” part of the 40th Nominating Contest in a panel with Professor Yvette Kisor’s entry on Annual Shakespeare Association of professors from Rutgers and “Saxo Grammaticus” for the Gale America conference in Boston. UConn. At the June 6-8, 2012 series on Classical and Medieval International Psychohistorical Literature Criticism will be In March 2012 Professor Paul Association convention at NYU, he published in May 2012 (Volume Elovitz published “Election 2012 will present “A Psychohistorical 141). Also in May 2012 she will Free Associations and Comparison of Obama and His present her paper “Words, Deeds, Psychohistorical Questions,” Republican Rival” and “Rudolph Gender, and Genre” as part of the “Remembering Andrew Brink’s Binion as an Extraordinary session on Words and Deeds in Search for Knowledge,” and “The Historian and Psychohistorian.” ❑ Anglo-Saxon England at the Forty- Psychoanalytic Life of Elisabeth seventh International Congress on Young-Bruehl,” all in Clio’s Psyche.

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STUDENT NEWS American History continued !om page 3 Textbook Project

position paper at the 2012 National By Steve Rice Model United Nations Europe Conference in Lille France. Over The American History Textbook 70 universities from around the Project (AHTP) received two grants world attended the conference from the College this year, one from which ran from January 31 to the Ramapo College Foundation to February 6. support a spring 2012 project intern, and the other from SSAIS to support a student-faculty research project that makes use of the textbook collection. The AHTP gathers U.S. history textbooks published from the nineteenth century through the 1980s and adds them to a special collection in the Potter Library. These textbooks provide students with unique SSAIS Film Series insight into how the teaching of Chris McKenna, Maral Varjabedian, Al American history in schools has Martins, and Kelli Ward at the 2012 changed over time. Since it was National Model United Nations Europe Conference established in 2009 the project has This and other issues of AIS CURRENTS placed more than 75 books in the are now archived online at http:// On December 3, 2011 five students collection, including several ww2.ramapo.edu/ais/newsletter.aspx from the Literature program published before the Civil War. presented papers at the Sixth Undergraduate Conference in The intern for spring 2012 is Medieval and Early Modern Ruthann Inserra, a junior History Studies at in major who is in the Teacher Bethlehem, . Education program and who plans Jacqueline Thomas presented her to become a high school social paper on “Incest and the Distorted studies teacher. Ruthann is Role of Father, Lord, and Lover in identifying books to be considered Hagiography and Romance,” Kim for the collection, coordinating the Eskin presented on “Cynewulf’s student meetings in which final Elene as an Active Medieval decisions are made about which Woman,” Christina Sielski books to acquire from an on-line presented “Female Autonomy in consortium of book dealers, and Christian Literature,” Delia working with the library to have the DeLorenzo presented “Behind books catalogued as they come in Every Strong Medieval Woman, and added to the collection. “When There’s a Man,” and Brendan I saw the opportunity for the Flanagan presented “The internship, I knew it was something Evolution of Sir Gawain: Conflicts I had to try for,” Ruthann states. “I Between Nations and Gods.” The think this is a topic that everyone first four of these papers were should be aware of, especially since developed in Prof. Kisor’s British textbooks are being phased out so Medieval Literature course; quickly now.” By mid-semester the

SSAIS Colloquium Series continued on page 7 continued on page 6

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Noted Art Historian architectural office that included, in blatant lies,” she notes, “yet many addition to SS and civilian readers believed what they read to Deconstructs architects and other personnel, be fact. I think this project is Architecture of Auschwitz prisoners put to work as draftsmen. fascinating because it reminds us to By Michael Riff Through the failure of the SS to constantly question the information destroy the papers of the office we are given and think critically in ahead of the Red Army advance, order to come to conclusions, ideas scholars have been able to draw a central to a liberal arts education.” detailed picture of the installation’s design and operation as a The AHTP is co-directed by Stephen concentration camp, killing center, Rice and Alexander Urbiel, who is industrial complex and municipality. Professor of History and Teacher Education in the School of Social Working with a team of experts Science and Human Services. from various disciplines has Christina Connor, Instruction and allowed Jaskot to construct an Emerging Technologies Librarian in analytical framework that brings the Potter Library, serves as the into sharper focus how Auschwitz library liaison. Students involved in embodied and intertwined Nazi the project will host an evening On March 30, 2012, under the Germany’s goals and priorities in showcase event at the end of the auspices of the Center for Holocaust pursuing racial genocide and semester where all of the newly and Genocide Studies and the imperial expansion with cultural acquired books will be available to History Club, Dr. Paul Jaskot, policy and total war. In revealing look at. Ashley Wood will also Professor of the History of Art and that the site included landscaped present her research findings, and Architectural History at DePaul everyday buildings such as a sauna planning will begin for next year’s University in Chicago, Illinois, and an SS family apartment complex, work. ❑ discussed “The Architecture of Auschwitz.” He showed how the continued on page 8 very architecture of Auschwitz underscored its simultaneous and interlocking roles as concentration History Textbook Project camp (Auschwitz I), killing center continued om page 5 (Auschwitz II-Birkenau), and a site group had acquired nearly thirty for industrial production based on additional books for the collection, slave/forced labor (essentially with more than half the funding still located Auschwitz III-Buna/ available. Monowitz, but also in sections of Auschwitz I and II). The student-faculty research project is being undertaken by Ashley As Jaskot pointed out, it was Wood, a junior double major in additionally the home for all the History and International Studies. personnel who operated the site’s Ashley is working with Stephen facilities. Included were not only the Rice (Professor of American SS personnel in charge of the killing, Studies) to study how the textbook exploiting, tormenting and guarding treatment of Native Americans prisoners, but also their families and changes over the century and a half a bevy of civilian employees. between the 1820s and the 1970s, focusing both on the discussions in Front cover to Gertrude Hartman’s Auschwitz thus assumed the the textbooks and on their character of an ever-expanding and America: Land of Freedom (1961), illustrations. “Many of these books acquired this semester for the AHTP changing city that required its own contradict each other and tell collection.

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MALS Graduates Present the Potter Library archives, the Alpha’s essay competition. We wish MALS Office, and each student’s her great success in Spain. Theses home library. Theses may be in the By Missy Kupfer form of a written work, or a From February 29 to March 3, creative project such as a series of eleven members of Sigma Tau paintings or other artwork, an Delta, the English , original play, poetry collection, got the opportunity to attend the musical composition, photographs Sigma Tau Delta International on a focused topic, or the like, Convention in New Orleans. While accompanied by a shorter process at the convention, students attended paper. workshops and discussions about organizational management, January MALS graduate Krista writing, and literature. Literature Vancophsky chose a creative students Francesca Baratta, Sarah project. Her fascination with Galo, Stefanie Mauro, Brendan MALS students presented their theses literature of the Victorian era and Flanagan, Kimberly Eskin and on December 5 in the Student Center. the emergence of women detectives Lauren Santaniello presented Left to Right: MALS Director Dr. prompted her to write her own critical and creative works at the Anthony T. Padovano; Krista book, Intrigue and Innuendo: The Vancophsky; Dr. Hassan Nejad, convention. Robert Texel, SSAIS Dean; Michael Kassan; Natalie Case File of a Victorian Lady Danielle Reed, Katie Attinello, Vazquez. Detective, a detective story Lauren Heatwole, and Ashley involving time travel to the Rockhill (Psychology) also attended the convention. continued on page 8 The Master of Arts in Liberal Kristopher Zajkowski, a Spanish Studies program (MALS) in SSAIS major and Latino/a and Latin held a Thesis Presentation Night on Student News American Studies minor was December 5, 2011 in the Student continued om page 5 featured in the Catalan newspaper Center. January Graduates Krista Centrencada while he studied at the Brendan Flanagan’s presentation Vancophsky, Michael Kassan and Universitat Pompeu Fabra, in was developed in the Senior Natalie Vazquez presented their Barcelona last Fall. The article Seminar on Arthurian Literature. theses to Provost Beth Barnett, focused on the value of a Dean Hassan Nejad, and MALS conversational exchange he did Nora Director Dr. Anthony T. with a Catalán student while on his Dougherty, Padovano, along with assembled second study abroad experience in a graduating students, prospective students and Spain. During the summer of 2011, guests. Senior majoring in continued on page 11 MALS was the first Masters International program at Ramapo College in Studies, has 1995. It is a broad-based program been shaped by the traditions of the awarded a College and the focus on the prestigious

Humanities in SSAIS. Students in Herring Photo courtesy of Carolyn Fulbright to the program hone their analytical, Spain. Nora writing and presentation skills has been a while taking courses in literature, Nora Dougherty major force history, sociology, philosophy, on campus psychology, and the intersection of throughout her college career, the arts and science. organizing Invisible Children events, working in the Community Kim Eskin, Brendan Flanagan, Service Center, and dazzling us Christina Sielski, Jacqueline Thomas The final six credits in the program and Delia DeLorenzo at the Sixth are reserved for researching and with her intellect and compassion. Undergraduate Conference in Medieval writing a thesis, which is bound for She also recently won Pi Sigma and Early Modern Studies

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Deconstructing MALS Graduates Auschwitz continued om page 6 continued om page 6 SSAIS Colloquium Jaskot and his colleagues have made Victorian era of a modern day it abundantly clear that the female detective. Krista read Series perpetrators at Auschwitz, while excerpts and showed illustrations carrying out genocide and from her book, to enthusiastic The Spring 2012 AIS Colloquium implementing slave labor, applause. Dr. Ellen Dolgin, adjunct Series featured four lectures. On experienced a world that was professor of Literature, was Krista’s March 28, Ramapo Prof. of radically different from that of their faculty mentor. Political Science Jeremy Teigen defenseless victims. presented his talk “Teaching Michael Kassan teaches history in American Elections in the As a scholar, Paul Jaskot has focused middle school, and feels that the Caucasus: Stories (and Facts) from on art and politics in the Nazi period MALS program “greatly a Fulbright in Tbilisi.” On April 4, as well as the postwar cultural impact augmented” his content knowledge a lecture on “The Politics of of the Nazi past. He is the author for his world cultures curriculum. Human Rights Trials in Peru” was of The Architecture of Oppression: A visit to Urbino, Italy, and delivered by Ramapo Professor of The SS, Forced Labor and the Nazi guidance from MALS mentor Dr. Political Science and International Monumental Building Rosetta D’Angelo, resulted in Studies Rebecca Root. On April Economy” (Taylor and Francis, Mike’s unique analysis of 18, Ramapo Professor of Literature 2000) and The Nazi Perpetrator: Machiavelli’s Discourses on Livy. Todd Landon Barnes presented Postwar German Art and the Politics His findings have added a new his talk, “Barack Obama’s of the Right (forthcoming 2012) as perspective to Dr. D’Angelo’s ‘Hamlet-Like Indecision’.” ❑ well as the co-editor (with Gavriel teaching on the works of Rosenfeld) of Beyond Berlin: Twelve Machiavelli. Michael plans to German Cities Confront the Nazi submit a summary of his paper for Past (U of Michigan Press, 2008). publication in Confluence, the national journal of MALS Jaskot has published and spoken programs, which is supported by widely on these and related topics. Ramapo College. In March 2011 he was the Miller Visiting Distinguished Professorship Natalie Vazquez is a high school in Holocaust Studies at the English teacher and adjunct , Burlington professor at Ramapo College. She and in fall 2011 he was a Visiting has a B.A. and M.Ed. from Rutgers Professor at the CUNY Graduate University, and a great love of Center. In addition to his scholarly learning, culture and the arts. Her work, Jaskot is also the Director of thesis was titled “Student the Holocaust Education Foundation Motivation: Motivation Theory and Summer Institute on the Holocaust Pedagogy for the Practical and Jewish Civilization. From Teacher.” Natalie’s interest in 2008-2010, he was President of the helping her students be motivated to College Art Association, the nation's reach their potential prompted her largest professional group for artists research and thesis, which provides and art historians. Professor Paul evidence-based practical Jaskot holds a doctorate and a suggestions and strategies for Masters of Art in Art History from teachers to employ. Her mentors Northwestern University, and a were Dr. Kay Fowler, Professor of Bachelor of Arts in history and Geriatrics, and Dr. Jennefer SSAIS Colloquium Series English from Swarthmore College in Mazza, Associate Professor of Pennsylvania. ❑ Political Science. ❑

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Ramapo in Tbilisi By Jeremy Teigen

Kristopher Zajkowski featured in Centrencada

Through the bleary-eyed haze from the prior night’s wine horns and nine time zones of clock displacement, I began a semester teaching in the Caucasus last August on a bright Tbilisi morning. While the jet lag Ramapo Students Volunteer with receded, the amazement with life in Georgia never did. For five months, Invisible Children: Brian Okeny I was a Fulbright Scholar based on Tbilisi, teaching graduate students in Funk, Boni Akena, Gabby Mooney, American Studies and Political Science centers at three institutions, Nora Dougherty, Kristin Wilson, including the flagship, Tbilisi State University. Fulbrighters wear many Lauren MacDonald, and Madeline Macdonald hats: teaching, serving on dissertation oral defense panels, attending faculty meetings, participating in curriculum development, and chairing several conferences. In and outside of academia, the US Embassy, my titular employer, found myriad ways to deploy Fulbrighters both in Tbilisi and in the rural regions. I spoke to party organizations and student groups about developing democracy inside of political parties. Georgia treads unevenly but hopefully on a path toward democracy after its rebirth from the ashes of the Soviet Union’s collapse in 1991 and bloody convulsions of civil war in the 1990s. In this environment, it was richly rewarding to help even in a small way by engaging youth activists and talk about American party development, warts and all. While Georgia’s electoral structures are reasonably sound, one of the hard victories in a democratic consolidation is developing stable political parties that are responsive to public opinion and provide a path for preferences to manifest in government. In this way, I found the Fulbright program to be a great foreign policy tool for the United States, one that was deeply appreciated by the Georgians.

Georgia, or Sakartvelo as it is known by its citizens, is a jewel between the Black and Caspian seas and hemmed in by two mountain ranges. Known for wine, song, and poetry, Georgian culture echoes in the

continued on page 10 SSAIS Film Series

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Ramapo in Tbilisi continued om page 9 mountain gorges and across the vineyards dotting its river valleys. It is a host culture, and no visitor could claim a complete visit to Georgia without a “supra,” or formalized banquet with highly regimented toasting rituals in which honored guests play an important role. Food staples include wonderful options such as khachapuri, a flattened disc of fresh bread with ample cheese baked inside, and khinkali, unique Vardzia, Georgia pork dumplings with at least twenty precise folds. I traveled with my wife and four-year-old, Guest Speaker from Freedom House and while our weeks were packed, we spent many of our weekends On April 9, 2012, JJ Emru gave two talks on campus. Emru works for traveling to beautiful and less Freedom House, an NGO dedicated to promoting human rights and developed corners of Georgia. One democratization, where he serves as a Program Officer for the Middle such excursion was to an ancient East and North Africa. His first talk focused on the Arab Spring and his cave city called Vardzia (pictured), experiences working on the ground in Tunisia in recent years. His second an important religious spot talk provided career advice for those hoping to work in the human rights founded in the twelfth century. and NGO sector. This timely, well-attended, and engaging event was Near the intersection of the organized by Josh Gargano, a senior International Studies major, and Georgian, Turkish, and Armenian supported by the Roukema Center for International Education and Sigma borders, it still contains a working Iota Rho, the International Studies honor society. ❑ monastery for Georgian Orthodox Church monks who were quite pleased to open a thousand year old church and show chipped but sacred frescoes to an American toddler. The Georgian language is notoriously impenetrable, but I picked up a couple favorite words. “Zeg,” is the day after tomorrow, and “Mazeg” is the day after that. We are hoping for an opportunity Herring Photo courtesy of Carolyn to return to Tbilisi after a few mazegs. ❑ JJ Emru and Josh Gargano at the event sponsored by the Roukema Center Sigma Iota Rho

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Kyrenia, Northern research at the Global Education an indelible mark upon my Conference. The research we professional, cultural, and spiritual Cyprus: Still Looking presented addressed the connection growth. Without the mentorship of Forward between the Italian-American Dr. Rosetta D’Angelo and the By Emily Halter, a senior Liberal community and the “institution”, sponsorship of the Coccia Studies Major in Italian for example the relationship Foundation, such growth would not between the Ramapo College of have been possible. Approximately 5,465 miles away New Jersey Italian Studies Program from Ramapo College of New and the community which actively Jersey I stood atop Saint Hilarion takes part in the program’s events. “Spesso, siamo troppo Castle, in the mountains of As we worked to establish preoccupati con la destinazione Kyrenia, Northern Cyprus. As the relationships with the other che dimentichiamo il viaggio.” Eastern Mediterranean wind esteemed intellectuals, it seemed as Too often, we are so tousled my hair, I blinked my eyes though our research was being preoccupied with the destination a hundred times to attempt to etch echoed through our shared and that we forget the journey. within my memory every tangible intercultural encounters. Much like - anonymous and intangible detail of that myself, many of the intellectuals moment. For what seemed like an were discovering Cypriote culture eternity, I stood still and breathed for the first time. In this novel and so deeply I thought my heart would temporary environment, it was both Student News break, and leak out all the worldly comforting and exciting to reach continued om page 7 concerns I carried with me. Atop out and make friendships with the ancient walls of Saint Hilarion, Maajdt the architect from Jordan, the very same walls which Youssef the engineer from Egypt, he also attended Deusto University supported the Holy Roman Empire mathematicians from Lebanon, in Bilbao. during the 11th century, I opened sociologists from Oman, and my eyes and whispered in doctoral candidates from Indonesia. Lauren MacDonald (Senior, AIS) amazement to the setting sun, Although we all came from and Prof. Rebecca Root (AIS) led “How did I get here and where am dramatically different origins and an Alternative Spring Break trip to I going!?” As if responding to my disciplines we were uniform in our Quito, Ecuador. Students Tom inaudible inquiry, Dr. Rosetta awe of Kyrenian culture and Boswick (Junior, AIS), Rick D’Angelo called from the stairs community. Caban (Senior, TAS), Raven below me, “Emily! Please don’t Clarke-Lucas (Junior, CA), fall from up there! I’d really hate to As Kyrenia becomes further behind Maeve Kirwan (Sophomore, tell your parents that you fell off a me and graduation day becomes SSHS), Kaitlin McGuinness mountain during the Global nearer, I find myself asking many (Junior, AIS), Amanda Morse Education Conference!” I smiled, questions and working harder than (Junior, AIS), Yazlynne Vasquez and was reminded that I had ever before. When frustration (Sophomore, AIS), and Matthew traveled so far as a result of those mounts and I begin to fear Wilson (Junior, CA) spent the who had mentored me and invested unknown destinations, I remind week living and volunteering at in my education and future. I myself of what it felt like to be on the Centro del Muchacho turned to the sun, and laid my top of Saint Hilarion Castle, and I Trabajador, an NGO that provides cheek on the warm castle stone, remember that it is okay to be education and other services to realizing, “I know what I want unsure of the “next” destination, impoverished families. Highlights from life and I have the skills to provided that we know what we included playing with the children achieve those desires. So it’s okay want out of life and we remember at the Center, exploring the if I don’t know exactly where I’m the people and the communities historic center of the city, going to be in six months.” that have helped us to achieve all participating in a “minga” (work that we have done so far. Oh, and of gang), and hiking in a hail storm This past November, Professor course that we are prepared to work in the Andes! ❑ Rosetta D’Angelo and I had the towards those goals. I may not opportunity to travel to Kyrenia, return to Kyrenia, Cyprus but the Northern Cyprus in order to present experiences I had there have made

PAGE 11 THE SALAMENO SCHOOL OF AMERICAN AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES SPRING 2012 Photo courtesy of Carolyn Herring Photo courtesy of Carolyn

“Mr. International Studies,” Clifford Peterson, with Ramapo’s Model UN Club SSAIS Dean’s Lecture Series

Sigma Tau Delta, the Literature Honor

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Herring Photo courtesy of Carolyn Society, inducted new members at a luncheon on April 11.

Pi Sigma Alpha, the Political Science Honor Society, and Sigma Iota Rho, the International Studies Honor Society, inducted new members at a joint event and dinner on April 18. Photo courtesy of Patricia Ard

2012 Literature Forum: Prof. Vassiliki Flenga, Dr. Michael Alcee, Steven Reis, Prof. Yvette Kisor, Prof. Peter Scheckner, Caitlin Vogel, Prof. Edward Shannon, Jacqueline Thomas, Prof. Todd Barnes, Kim Eskin, and Prof. Lisa Williams 2012Literature Forum

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