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SPRING 2016 LAWRENCE STEPPING OUT AND STEPPING UP From Sierra Leone to China, Engaged Learning hits the road LAWRENCE SPRING 2016 VOL. 97, NUMBER 2 EDITOR Tom Ziemer ART DIRECTOR Liz Boutelle ASSOCIATE VICE PRESIDENT OF COMMUNICATIONS Craig Gagnon ’76 CONTRIBUTORS Michael Brissett ’16, Erin Dix ’08, David Gerard, Dani Glass ’16, Abigail Hindson ’16, Alex Kurki ’16, Rick Moser ’83, Rick Peterson, Kyle Stalsberg ’16, Perrin Tourangeau ’16, Laura Udelson ’16, Joe Vanden Acker PHOTOGRAPHY Liz Boutelle, Rachel Crowl, Dolores Howse, Rob Kopecky, Alex Kurki ’16, Lily LaGrange, Thompson Photo Imagery, Wesley Varughese ’16, Paul Wilke FOR CHANGE OF ADDRESS Lawrence University Alumni and Constituency Engagement 711 E. Boldt Way Appleton WI 54911-5690 920-832-6549 [email protected] TO SUBMIT IDEAS Lawrence University 6 42 Communications 711 E. Boldt Way Appleton WI 54911-5690 920-832-6593 [email protected] features departments Opinions expressed in this magazine do not necessarily represent Lawrence University policy. Engaging and Changing 24 Profiles 6 Professor Claudena Skran and a group of Lawrence students and 30 History Lesson Lawrence (USPS 012-683) is published alumni have raised and delivered financial support to schools in three times a year by the Lawrence University Office of Communications. Sierra Leone and dug into on-the-ground research experiences. Now 31 Inside Lawrence Nonprofit postage paid at Appleton, Wis., they are taking on their most ambitious project yet: bringing clean and additional mailing offices. water to a community in the country’s capital. 33 Viking Voices 36 Ask a Professor A Lawrence Classroom ... on the Other Side of the World Lawrence’s Sustainable China program opens students’ minds to life 38 Athletics 14 in the world’s most populous country. It asks students to engage with 46 Class Notes three themes that cut across traditional academic silos: economic development, environmental conservation, and cultural preservation 66 The Big Picture and heritage. Final Analysis 20 Lawrence students plan and carry out unique capstone projects to demonstrate command of their chosen fields. Senior Experience is the culmination of students’ academic journeys. Interdisciplinary Learning 42 A group of alumni, faculty and staff took a Lawrence/Björklunden ON THE COVER: seminar trip to Cuba in March for a glimpse into the enigmatic island’s A group of Lawrence students, faculty and staff past and present. walks the “Winding Mountain Path” in Guiyang, China, as part of Lawrence’s “Sustainable China” LAWRENCE 3 trip in December. (Photo by Rachel Crowl) 14 PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE Dear Lawrentians, Our university provides an extraordinary learning environment. Visit campus during term time and you will see Engaged Learning in action. Students fill Lawrence’s classrooms with vigorous LEFT TO RIGHT: Luvie Myers, President Mark Burstein, Richard Zimman ’73, discussions and deep exploration of topics that range widely: Scott Myers ’79 and Dave Blowers ’82 at the El Caballero de Paris statue in from the economic factors behind rural-to-urban migration in Old Havana during a Björklunden-sponsored trip to Cuba in March. Indonesia with Assistant Professor of Economics Hillary Caruthers to the ecological ramifications of zebra mussel invasions in Green the knowledge and skills they have gained.” In other words, Bay with biology Professor Bart De Stasio ’82. Engaged Learning on a global level. At Lawrence, we firmly believe these experiences form the These are among the opportunities we aim to provide for foundation of a student’s education. We also recognize that the our students, whether they study production techniques of world is a diverse and complex place that is better understood Shakespearean plays in our London Centre program, practice by directly engaging with it. This is why we encourage our their French and Wolof as part of the Francophone Seminar students to expand their educational experiences beyond in Dakar, Senegal, or research the environmental impact the Appleton and Björklunden campuses, whether through of rainforest degradation in Madagascar. While abroad, residential study abroad programs that cover entire academic Lawrentians from vastly different academic interests and terms or through trips during breaks as part of what we like backgrounds engage with tangible dilemmas that require to call “traveling classrooms.” collaborative, interdisciplinary, hands-on approaches. They might work in tandem with a nongovernmental organization to Data published by the Institute of International Education in establish a new school in rural Sierra Leone or analyze the use 2015 showed that just fewer than 10 percent of American of green space across Chinese cities. undergraduates participate in residential study abroad programs. But at Lawrence, the percentage in each graduating Wherever they go, whatever they do, Engaged Learning requires class has ranged between 35 and 40 percent over the past them to put skills developed in the classroom to the test. By five years. We would like that number to be even higher. Recent doing so in new settings, Lawrentians gain confidence in their gifts from many Lawrentians to endowed scholarship funds ability to conquer the unknown; these experiences build greater made it possible for the Board of Trustees to increase the awareness of and appreciation for the tremendous diversity that amount of need-based financial aid available for study abroad. exists in our world. They return to the campus community with This increased aid will be indexed to future comprehensive fee new perspectives and a heightened sense of global citizenship increases, allowing more Lawrence students to take part in that will stay with them for the rest of their lives. We know they these transformative off-campus experiences. will continue to make us proud long after they leave campus. Dawn Michele Whitehead, senior director of global learning Yours, and curricular change at the Association of American Colleges and Universities, writes: “High-quality global learning situates students in the midst of global challenges and Mark Burstein Lawrence students perform a K-POP dance routine during the 40th annual International Cabaret variety show. (Photo by Paul Wilke) provides them with multiple opportunities for analysis from President different perspectives and a real-world context for applying This is something that’s for everyone: different While abroad, Lawrentians from cultures, different religions, different vastly different academic interests backgrounds, different identities. But we come and backgrounds engage with tangible together and create this beautiful show.” dilemmas that require collaborative, —Bimalsen Rajbhandari ’17, interdisciplinary, hands-on approaches.” “ president of Lawrence International “ ► Go behind the scenes of the 40th annual Lawrence International Cabaret: go.lawrence.edu/cabaret-2016-video To see more photos from this year’s Cabaret, visit go.lawrence.edu/cabaret-2016-photos. 4 SPRING 2016 LAWRENCE 5 Engaging and Changing 6 SPRING 2016 LAWRENCE 7 ABOVE: Alex Kurki ’16 and Berenith Martinez Wolberg ’18 pull on a rope that is part of a government-run pulley system that brings vehicles across a river to the main road. LEFT: Lawrence students Berenith Martinez Wolberg ’18 (kneeling, left), Wesley Varughese ’16 (kneeling, center) and Katherine Ling ’16 (standing, right) and Professor Lawrentians dig deep to help children in West Africa of Government Claudena Skran (standing, center) with school leaders at Conforti Community Primary School in the eastern part of Freetown, Sierra Leone's capital. By Tom Ziemer PREVIOUS PAGE IMAGE: Alex Kurki ’16, left, and Wesley Varughese ’16 are surrounded by students at Fawe School in Mattru Jong, Sierra Leone. (Photos courtesy of KidsGive) “It’s funny how one little thing can basically change the whole “I was entirely seduced by this amazing experience,” Ehlinger At the center of it all, though, is Skran. The Edwin & Ruth at Conforti and their families. It will replace a shallow, hand- course of your life.” recalls, more than six years later. “I wanted to really get West Professor of Economics and Social Science, professor dug well that lies about 15 yards from a septic tank. involved and return.” of government and a Lawrence faculty member since 1990, Sarah Ehlinger ’11 (left) was a sophomore she has built a development operation in Sierra Leone “It could change everything at the school,” says Ehlinger. at Lawrence, balancing a geology major ••• from scratch. Under her direction, Lawrence students with her exploits on the soccer field as a have raised thousands of dollars to support schools and And when the first stream of water emerges, it will be the playmaking forward for the Vikings women’s Ehlinger is one character in the story of Lawrence’s children