THE DEPARTMENT OF SCANDINAVIAN STUDIES HEJ OCH VÄLKOMNA! GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE

SVENSKA HUSET NOTE FROM THE international careers in a wide range of fields. Because of the Swedish-Lutheran heritage of DEPARTMENT CHAIR, Gustavus, the Department of Scandinavian

HELENA KARLSSON Studies has a role that supersedes the

academic. By continuing to organize regular

The Department of Scandinavian Studies events on Nordic topics and invite speakers

welcomes you to our first biannual newsletter! It and guests from Sweden and the other Nordic

is a pleasure for us to share news about the countries, we seek to foster a culture that department and what we are doing. As many of simultaneously respects the past and looks Barbro Osher Svenska Huset is an on- you probably know, the “old guard,” who towards the future. campus International Learning and Service founded and developed the Scandinavian The department will have a specific House adjacent to the International Center. program since the 1970s has retired. Roger opportunity next year, during the It is a unique house with special goals and McKnight, Roland Thorstensson, and Byron College’s Sesquicen- traditions. The Swedish House is a place Nordstrom are now realizing their dreams outside tennial celebration, to where students who know or are learning of academia while Helena Karlsson, Kjerstin honor this dual role. In the Swedish or taking Scandinavian Studies Moody, and Glenn Kranking have taken over the fall of 2011, a visiting responsibility of educating students at Gustavus professor from Södertörn classes can live and use the language in their everyday lives. Several social events about the Nordic countries. University in Stockholm, are hosted there that highlight Swedish or The department offers courses in the Swedish Ulrika Dahl, will be Nordic culture and traditions. Every language as well as in the history, literature, and teaching a course on Thursday the house hosts a “Fika.” Over culture of the Nordic countries. We are taking Gender and Sexuality in the course of the academic year, there is over a well-developed curriculum, and we are Scandinavia as a Fulbright- also a “Kräftskiva,” a Lucia dinner, a molding it according to our expertise, particular Hildeman scholar. Hanna Valborg bonfire, and a “Syttende mai,” interests, and vision for the future. While we will Outakoski, a visiting event to celebrate the national day of continue to have a focus on the Swedish language professor from Umeå Norway. From its very beginning in 1974, and Sweden, our vision also includes both a University, Sweden, will Svenska Huset has aimed to represent and Nordic and a global outlook. In the 21st century, teach a course on Sámi present Swedish (and Nordic) culture on it is important to connect Scandinavian studies to culture during January campus in a variety of ways. We have European studies and to studies of the humanities 2012. Roger McKnight and traditionally had one native/near-native at large. Glenn teaches a course on European Byron Nordstrom will be speaker who serves as a “facilitator” and/or minorities, for instance, and Helena has returning to teach courses liaison person between the House and developed courses in Scandinavian multi- in January 2012, and Gustavus' Department of Scandinavian culturalism and crime fiction. For next spring, Helena Karlsson and Departmental Banner Studies. Kjerstin will develop a course on Scandinavian Kjerstin Moody will lead modernism. 14 students on a study
ToTfindsnFacbksarch: find us on Facebook search: International perspectives are invaluable for a abroad trip to Stockholm and Berlin. All three “Gustavus Adolphus College liberal arts education. We think that the study of faculty will conduct research in Sweden this Scandinavian Studies” Swedish and Scandinavian studies can be summer. increasingly practical for the future. Considering We hope that the diversity of our scholarly
Follow us on the departmental blog at:: the many areas where the Nordic countries have interests, the variety of our course offerings, http://scandinavian.blog.gustavus.edu// taken on a leadership role in the world—social and the opportunities we envision for our
Join us Saturday, October 1, 2011, welfare, health care, sustainable living, design, students’ futures will continue to make the Department of Scandinavian Studies an Homecoming weekend for our first technology—studies in Swedish and Scandinavian studies can lead to interesting, interesting and vibrant place to be. annual alumni barbeque

GUSTAVUS ADOLPHUS COLLEGE | St. Peter, Minnesota | 1-800-gustavus | gustavus.edu AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE parted ways for a ten-day spring break. Three STUDY ABROAD students spent their spring break in England, Gustavus’ Scandinavian Studies Department has four traveled to Spain, two stayed to further an extensive study abroad program, dedicated to explore Stockholm, two explored the Swedish teaching students about the Nordic countries. island of Gotland, and one traveled to Austria. Gustavus has direct exchanges with several As April began, they each found their way to universities in Sweden including Uppsala Jönköping and remained in the Småland

University, Linneaus University in Växjö, and province for their remaining time abroad as a The American Swedish Institute in Mora Folkhögskola. In addition to direct group. Minneapolis is a gathering place, museum, university exchange, students have the option of The students have completed five courses and cultural center where people can come taking part in a January term course or a while abroad. Two classes were taught by together and share experiences relating to semester-long group trip. Professor Helena Gustavus English Professor Eric Eliason while long-lasting ties with Sweden and connect Karlsson’s J-term course, Stockholm and Berlin: others were taught by guest lecturers, including with more recent immigrant communities The Northern European Metropolis focuses on Gustavus alumni. The courses include: People in the area. ASI is currently undergoing the societies and cultures of these two cities and Politics, The Sámi People, Study of some exciting changes. Over the course of through fiction, articles, film, and the Nature, Swedish Writers and the Nobel Prize, the next year, construction is underway to social/cultural life of the city. Our Semester in and Sweden Today. These classes ensure that create a new, inviting space to complement Sweden program emphasizes experiencing their education is as well rounded as their trip. the Turnblad Mansion. ASI is also creating Swedish culture through excursions, lectures, and The Semester in Sweden program is a very a special new partnership with Gustavus. classroom work as well as visiting important unique and special opportunity. It differs from In the new building there will be an office landmarks. This program begins above the Arctic other study abroad experiences in that the for Gustavus employees to work on admis- Circle in northern Sweden and continues south group changes location regularly, ensuring that sions outreach, alumni relations, and edu- throughout the term. the students see different parts of the country. cational programming. Both the Scand- Our department emphasizes the importance of Unlike other study abroad trips, the students inavian Studies Department and ASI are experiencing the Scandinavian cultures, and all move together with the professor from their excited about this new relationship. study abroad programs are also available in each home university. This allows the group to get -Catherine Keith, ’12 of the other Nordic countries. Although it is not a to know each other on a much deeper level. requirement within the major to study abroad, the The group also has the unique privilege to act majority of our students do, and over the last ten as ambassadors for Gustavus, making visits to Being an exchange student years more than 100 students have spent for friends of the college, which in turn offers is a special experience; you either one semester or an entire year in unique opportunities. get the opportunity to be a Scandinavia. The experiences the students have had are part of a different lifestyle -Jill Rykken, ’12 innumerable. Tours of a royal palace, and culture. You leave your parliament, churches, factories, companies, and family, friends, and even museums are among the highlights. Students your languages, basically everything that have participated in the historic Sámi Winter makes you feel safe. Deciding to come to Market, attended the world’s oldest and Gustavus included all of the above but longest ski race (Vasaloppet), and have been there is something special about being a pulled on a sleigh by a reindeer. The people the Gustie from Sweden. During my year here group has met along the way have had the I have had the opportunity to experience greatest impact. Gustavus connections have and learn about American holidays and been found at nearly every stop and with traditions. I have celebrated Thanksgiving, everyone the group has met, more have been enjoyed all types of fried food, and learnt created. the bitter truth of American coffee. -Maddie Lang, ’12 However this is not all—while doing all Sunset over Gamla Stan in Stockholm: this I have also had the pleasure of view from the af Chapman hostel experiencing the American interpretation of Scandinavian celebrations. I have enjoyed a weekly fika at the Swedish A NOTE FROM ABROAD House, celebrated the festival of Lucia, and Jönköping, Sweden, is the last stop for the much, much more. I have realized the Gusties on the Gustavus Semester in Sweden influence and the importance my culture program. The program, designed by Professor has had in America and especially at Emeritus Roland Thorstensson, is taught every Gustavus. Countless people have come up other spring semester and its second year has to me and shared their heritage. They have been a great success. The group, 12 students and shown great pride in their roots and always one Gustavus professor, left in January and began been interested to learn more. their adventure in the northern Sweden: Umeå, Even though I have been thousands of Jokkmokk, Porjus, Pajala, Jukkasjärvi, and miles on the other side of the globe, Semester in Sweden 2011 professor Eric Kiruna. After three weeks in Jokkmokk, they Eliason with a reindeer friend Gustavus has been a home away from made their way south in February to the Dalarna home. province, spending a month in Mora. In early -Ida Väisänen, Law Student March they moved on to Uppsala and Stockholm. at Uppsala University After their ten-day stint in Stockholm, the group

GRADUATING SENIORS the Oneida community in New York State. At Lindgren's Pippi Longstocking” and brings Gustavus, I have not only been able to discover forth Lindgren’s social critique of 1940s VALERIE McCLUSKEY new passions, but have also been able to pursue Swedish society through the use of the Pippi I’m a senior Scandinavian them academically, side by side, which has been stories. Being able to intertwine my fields of Studies and History double so rewarding. Graduating is bittersweet, as I’ll study has been a very rewarding experience major. To be completely have to leave this wonderful department. I feel for me and I am very thankful especially for honest, I “stumbled into” that Scandinavian Studies at Gustavus is unique the supportive environment in the Scandinavian Studies once in the way that faculty and students form such Scandinavian Studies department. I have I got to Gustavus, and it strong relationships, which I am so grateful to grown so much during my time here! was the best coincidence have had the opportunity to develop during these that could have happened. past years. ALEX LEGEROS During the fall of my I chose to focus on freshman year, I took CHELSEA BOWEN Scandinavian Studies Swedish 101, and through Hej! I am a senior because, for many reasons, the language, came to discover the intricacies Scandinavian Studies it is a part of my everyday and depth of Scandinavian culture. During the and Communication life. My mom’s side are all spring of 2009, I was a part of the first group Studies double major. Danes (the happy kind), so of the Semester in Sweden program. I often Comparable to most I grew up with the same joke that the best time I spent at Gustavus was Minnesotans, I have kinds of traditions, values, when I was in Sweden when asked about my roots in Scandinavia and history that we study college years, but I think it’s true. I learned and being at Gustavus here at Gustavus. Studying abroad in more not only about Sweden and Scandinavia has been the perfect place to explore those Sweden in 2009 on the Gustavus program during those five months, but it also forced me interests. Learning Swedish has been a blast! I and spending a month in Denmark afterward to step out of my comfort zone and learn more went abroad in for the spring semester of 2009 with my extended family made me realize about myself and those around me as well— with Gustavus’ Semester in Sweden program and what a part of my life those seemingly far- something I’m not sure I would have been able had the time of my life! Having the opportunity off lands are. I thought everyone danced to do had I stayed in one place during these to be above the Arctic Circle in Jokkmokk and around the Christmas tree, knew about past four years. studying the Sámi culture was truly a rich folkehøjskole, and ate kransekage and I have also had the wonderful opportunity experience. leverpostej! I love living in the Swedish this past year to visit Bishop Hill, Illinois, the I have had great opportunities in combining my House and always try to bring the kind of site of the once-utopia established by Erik two fields of study in various research projects. cultural, linguistic, and historical education Jansson, often credited as the leader of the first This spring I presented my research at the we get from the department into practice. large group of Swedes to immigrate to University of Saint Thomas’ Communication Gustavus has been a great place for me as a America. As an Honors History major, I am Studies Undergraduate Research conference. The student, and I am very thankful that our little writing my thesis on 19th century American title of my paper is “Here Comes Pippi Scandinavian Studies department has played religious utopias, focusing on Bishop Hill and Longstocking! An Ideological Criticism of such a big role in my time here.

MEET OUR HELENA KARLSSON developing new courses for the department is a I graduated with an M.A. from Lund University, joy; I will teach a course on Scandinavian PROFESSORS! Sweden, and with a Ph.D. from the University of modernism in the spring of 2011, and in the Minnesota, Minneapolis. I teach Swedish from the coming semesters, courses on Finland and beginning to the advanced level and courses in Finnish culture, and the Icelandic sagas. It is also literature, film, and culture. My main research a pleasure to teach courses in our department’s interests are multiculturalism, race and culture in Swedish-language curriculum. Outside of my the Nordic context, and contemporary Nordic film. work at Gustavus, I enjoy spending time with I am mainly interested in literature and film as family and friends, cooking, walking, biking, reflections of socio-political realities. I just reading, and learning how to garden. developed a course in crime fiction for the fall, which will engage crime literature and film from GLENN KRANKING all five Nordic countries from the 1970s to the Like my colleague Kjerstin, I am also a 1998 2010s. We will discuss topics like the social graduate of Gustavus, with a double major in welfare system, Marxism, global capitalism, and History and Scandinavian Studies. I grew up in immigration. When I don’t teach, do research or New England, and after Gustavus worked as a chair the department, I like to run, ski, dance salsa, journalist before continuing my studies with rollerblade, or do power yoga. I also like to travel; I Masters degrees from the University of visit Sweden and my family there as often as I can. Washington and the University of Tartu in Estonia, and finished my Ph.D. in history at The KJERSTIN MOODY Ohio State University. My research has focused I grew up in Minnesota and graduated from on the Baltic Sea region, and in particular the Gustavus with degrees in Scandinavian Studies Swedish minority population in Estonia. At and English in 1998. I completed my Ph.D. in Gustavus, I have taught Scandinavian, Russian, Scandinavian Studies with a minor in Comparative and European history, a Curriculum II course on Literature at the University of Wisconsin-Madison world history, as well as a course on minorities. in 2010. My area of academic interest is 20th My January course on digital history, with From left to right: Helena Karlsson, Glenn century and contemporary Scandinavian literature, student projects on the history of Gustavus, has Kranking, and Kjerstin Moody on Honors poetry, in particular. I am currently working on a received considerable interest. Beyond Day 2011 few pieces of writing on Swedish and Finnish Gustavus, I am discovering the joy of home poetry, including articles on Tomas Tranströmer ownership, and in my spare time I enjoy singing and on Edith Södergran. The process of and taking photographs.