News - October 3, 2008

The Fresh Factor: first-year students energize study abroad through Discovery Florence

SUF news

Curious. Brash. Energetic. Bright. Courageous. Eight freshmen students from SU College of Arts and Sciences have begun their academic career not on the home campus, but in Florence, Italy through the SU Florence signature program Discovery Florence (DF).

“In preparing for their arrival and the first year forum class, I often wondered what sort of student would choose to start their college career in a foreign country rather than on the SU campus, and further, be willing "pioneers," given they are the first to do this at SU Florence,” says Prof. Amy Kleine, who teaches the Freshman Forum. “I can now answer this question. These new students are all extremely intelligent, mature and open-minded. They are not afraid of what is new or different—they embrace change and new experiences. They are globally minded; active participants in the world in which they live. They ask questions, are critical thinkers, and can laugh at the inevitable cross-cultural mishaps that can occur when confronted with a new culture. I have no doubt these students will continue to be successful and contributing members of the SU community throughout their undergraduate years.”

The students are overwhelmingly positive about their experience so far. Comments Kelly Baug, “I've already learned so much about not only Italian, but also about European culture and international politics that I can't imagine not having taken this opportunity…I've feel like I’ve matured since being here.”

The DF students are following a curriculum tailored specifically for them, although not all classes taken by the DF students are for them alone. They mix with upper level students in Italian, allowing them to integrate more fully into the student body, and several have chosen to participate in Prof. Eric Nicholson’s acting workshop. The professors are just as positive in their assessments as the students. Richard Ingersoll is teaching the freshman course "Italian art and Society" and says “We are approaching history through a juxtaposition of traditional and somewhat radical teaching methods. So far, the results have been quite revealing and we are all learning a lot, and I do mean we.”

Says Lily Prigioniero of the freshman Journaling class, “As much as I've been hearing how fortunate these students are to be doing the DF program, I feel equally fortunate to be their writing professor. There is a certain amount of audacity and courage in this group, making our class discussions and their writing lively and impressionable, for them as well as for myself. It’s a pleasure to see brilliant young men and women opening their minds to another culture and getting an international experience as a first step into their adult life.”

First year student Madriqueka Brooks comments, “Being here in Italy I feel like I now have a better understanding of where I come from, I have learned more about my country than when I was living there.”

The DF students are closely monitored by both faculty and staff. Says SUF Director Barbara Deimling, “We're very fortunate to have such an excellent group as our first DF class. These students have come to realize first-hand that study abroad offers more than the opportunity to learn a foreign language. It’s also about living and experiencing the local culture. It’s a chance to influence future academic and career possibilities, and at the same time have a great and unforgettable experience abroad.”

Students recognize immediate changes in their personal perspectives. Some realizations came as a surprise. Says Mercedes Garcia, “I have a whole new understanding of my parents now. They immigrated to the States and learned English as a second language. I used to get so frustrated when they weren’t able to express themselves in English. I’ll be more patient with them now.” Darren Cole adds, “I honestly never realized before how important language was until I found myself full of things I wanted to say to people—but didn’t know how to communicate with them.”

In speaking of cultural adjustment Tyra Jeffries comments, “Now we are the foreigners—it’s up to us to make the cultural adjustments necessary to live here.” Almost the entire group confirms that they plan to repeat the study abroad experience, either in Europe or elsewhere. Says Baug, “I recommend coming to SUF to the next batch of incoming freshman, and would remind them that this could be just the beginning of many Study Abroad semesters to come.”

Ready, set, SWAP: an exchange exhibit celebrates SUF’s partnership with Gettysburg College

SUF news

SWAP: Selected Works by Art Professors, an exchange exhibit with Gettysburg College in Pennsylvania, is set to open at the SUF Art Gallery on Syracuse University’s Florence campus. From October 8-November 1, 2008 the artwork of Gettysburg faculty will be exhibited.

Jim Agard, Brent Blair, Peter Morgan, Alan Paulson, Mark Warwick and John Winship are all accomplished artists working in a broad range of media and through this exhibit provide an overview of their current work. Agard and Warwick will be in Florence for the opening of the exhibit. They will present a lecture to students and the Florence community at the opening reception and will visit studios throughout the week, giving students a chance to dialogue directly with them.

This is the second phase of the SWAP exhibit exchange. The first took place in Gettysburg in March of this year, with six professors from the SU Florence Studio Arts Department (Marco Fallani, Francesco Guazzelli, Kathy Knippel, Nick Kraczyna, Kirsten Stromberg, and Stefania Talini), exhibiting their work at the college’s art gallery.

2008 marks the ten year anniversary of a rewarding collaboration between Syracuse University in Florence (SUF) and Gettysburg College that has seen more than 150 Gettysburg students participate in SUF’s international education program. Rebecca Bergren, Director of Off Campus Studies at Gettysburg College, explained: “SU Florence is one of Gettysburg College's most popular affiliated study abroad programs and the idea for the exhibit came through the desire on both sides to celebrate our successful ten-year relationship in a tangible manner.”