"Cultural coffee breaks to raise global awareness on campus"
By Kimberly Killick
Bi-weekly international coffee breaks giving SLU Madrid students the opportunity to get a taste of local cuisine and music from around the world began in September in the Student lounge.
With over 65 nationalities, SLU Madrid is a diverse campus, however both faculty and students alike agree that this diversity is lost through the formation of social groups based on nationality or language. "I believe that some of this diversity and mixing of cultures is lost as we tend to remain in those groups where we feel most comfortable," said Nadia McCarthy, a SLU Madrid Senior.
The cultural coffee breaks intend to strengthen the SLU community through the sharing of food, music, dance, culture and general information.
"The cultural coffee breaks are a means to promoting integration amongst the students, raising cultural and international awareness, tasting new flavours and having fun," said Hamish Binns, the coordinator of the English as a Second Language program at SLU and the dynamo behind these events.
The first event, which featured the southern African country of Malawi, received great reviews with more than 50 students finding it enjoyable and beneficial to them. "I would love to see more events similar to this where smaller countries are represented at our school. I enjoyed learning about Malawi, a country that doesn't get much attention and that we are generally not very educated about!" said Emily Osvold, a freshman at SLU Madrid.
Students sampled some traditional food including mandasi, a local doughnut and zitumbuwa, a type of deep fried bananas, as well as learning about Malawi culturally through a dance demonstrated by the two Malawian students at SLU. Local produce such as tobacco, sugar, tea and Malawi Gin were on display and students heard first hand experiences about life in Malawi.
"It was beneficial because it gave me a chance to learn something new about another country. With SLU Madrid being so diverse, it’s good to have these presentations so others can learn more about the world around them," said Richard Griffith, also a freshman at SLU Madrid.
The individual events are prepared by volunteer students from the country in focus each week. Some of the other countries who have been represented are Brazil and Saudi Arabia. The Republic of Ohio and the Caribbean are in the line up for future events.
According to Katherine Smith, SLU Madrid Graduate Student and co-founder of the events, anyone wanting to represent their country is more than welcome to do so.
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"Community ESL Re-Launches on Campus"
by Julianne Hixson
Community English as a Second Language, a volunteer program, matched Saint Louis University students with Madrid locals to re-launch classes on Monday, September 27 in the SLU Madrid campus classrooms.
"It went very smoothly," said Hamish Binns, the current coordinator of ESL programs. The program runs each semester, with evening classes every Monday through Thursday at 7:00PM. Some classes are one hour twice a week while others are one and a half hours only once a week.
Community ESL provides four levels of English, from Beginner to Advanced, to Madrid community members at no cost. It was created by Anne McCabe and Therese Gleason, ESL professors, and Tom Hare, a graduate student, in 2001. "The driving motivation was to provide service opportunities," said Anne McCabe, now the Chair of the Language and Literature Division.
Hannah Beaty, a Junior visiting from the Missouri campus confirmed the need for opportunities."I was hoping that my Spanish would get better," Beaty added when asked why she was teaching Community ESL.
Enrique Valencia, a 54-year-old electrician studies in the Community ESL program, he said, because of the convenient schedule."It’s good for me because I can hear how an American speaks naturally," Valencia said of learning from university students.
Hannah Beaty launched the semester with her partner Brianne Keller, also a Junior from the Missouri campus. "I would be terrified if I didn’t have a partner," Beaty said, glancing at Keller.
Two teachers, though, possessed no partner the day before the launch. Binns attributed this to a lack of advertising on campus and said that as soon as he’d unleashed gangs of recruiters, e-mails seeking to fill the void flooded his inbox. This brought the total of teachers to 30 according to Binns.
Community ESL also halted ads in local newspapers. The semester ends November 30 and the spring semester will be advertised through word of mouth.
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"Saint Louis University begins new semester of class trips"
by Abigail Schultz
September 24, 2010 marked the beginning of a series of mandatory class trips that Saint Louis University of Madrid (SLU Madrid) sends its students on this semester, with destinations such as Huesca, Atapuerca and Alcalá de Henares.
Within the next three months, students enrolled in such classes with travel to destinations such as Belgium and Morocco. The Introduction to Oceanography class’ next trip will be to Murcia and Alicante in the beginning of November.
Students and teachers agree that the trips greatly enhance class discussions and dynamics, however some students disagree with the concept of mandatory class trips and the associated expenses.
Academic trips for the Fall 2010 semester range from 210€ to 595€ and include transportation, accommodation, activities and some meals, depending on the trip.
"There is a big difference in learning about something and then seeing it for yourself," explains Hannah Emery, a visiting student at SLU Madrid. "The sights were nice, but I also know that there were probably cheaper ways of doing the trip."
One of the most recent trips was led by Aitor Bikandi-Mejías, Ph.D., a professor of Spanish and Latin American Literature at SLU Madrid. "The trips help the students understand that what is discussed in the classroom are real things, not dead, and truly give meaning to our history," said Bikandi.
The trips are academic components of the classes and are planned by both the professor of the class and the Student Life department of the university. Student life is responsible for carrying out the general logistics of the trip.
"Obviously, students can plan more economical trips on their own," notes Ariadne Ferro, Dean of Students at SLU Madrid. "However, class trips are planned in order to make them as economical as possible while adhering to the needs of the class. It is not the same to go backpacking on a low-cost airline, than to reserve for a group with an airline that allows flexibility, a hotel that is well located, a safe bus, entrance fees, etc."
Student Life anticipates that the rise in sales tax this year in Spain will affect the prices of the trips, however they will be working to maintain their prices and make them as affordable as possible for students.
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"Six new student clubs on campus!"
by Diana Lipcan
Six new student-led clubs and organizations have popped up on Madrid campus this fall thanks to an increased interest among SLU Madrid student body. "This year there is a lot of interest from students to start a club," Dean of Students Ariadne Ferro said. "Before we didn’t have that much interest."
The newly created clubs for economics, politics, books and art along with the Graduate Student Association and the Gay-Straight Alliance are still welcoming students.
Last year the Student Government Organization, Abanico and La Voz were the only student-led organizations running while this year three other clubs are expected to be approved by the Chartering Committee which is comprised of the Dean of Students, the Director of Student Life and the Executive Vice President of the Student Government.
Setting up a club or an organization within SLU Madrid requires at least five members, a faculty adviser and a chartering packet to be fully completed and submitted to the Dean of Students."It is very hard to start up a club, especially at the beginning when you have to get people together," president of Art Club Sara Barahona said.
After having the club chartered, its members must turn in an anticipated budget and how they think they can raise funds. "We want them to have initiative to raise money on their own," Ferro said.
Elizabeth Lenn, president of Graduate Student Association, found the money issue as part of the mission of her organization.
"Our goals are to provide funding so that English and Spanish Masters Students on Madrid campus can attend conferences, host social events and offer workshops on career and academic advising," Lenn said.
All nine student-led clubs and organizations which range from five to fifteen members may use the university space for meetings and other activities, create a website through the Saint Louis University Google Apps site and publish their events in the Billiken News and the Student Life calendar.
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"SLU Madrid Soccer"
by Randa Medina
Weekly tryouts, gearing and preparations were part of the SLU-Madrid men’s soccer team schedule during the past semester for the 2010 Madrid Soccer League season that kicked off on October 19th in Green Canal Isabel II.
Participating in the league sponsored by MARCA allows the S.L.U. Madrid men’s soccer team to represent the Jesuit university on both local and national territory.
"We’ve had the opportunity to join the Madrid soccer league both this year as well as the last one." said Cesar Rioja, head of the sports department of S.L.U. Madrid "It’s a competition that takes place in the Spanish capital sponsored by the national sports newspaper MARCA, hence we are dealing with a league recognized not only in the community of Madrid but also in the rest of Spain, which is why I think it is important for our University to have a good team offering a strong competition." he added.
Students that wished to be a part of the fall 2010 team met every Friday at 3:00pm during three consecutive weeks in the Green Canal Isabel II during the month of september, with coach and Senior student Santiago Vazquez, for workouts that lasted up to two hours.
"We had a large number of participants and it was very difficult to chose the team members because a lot of students with a good level showed up to the tryouts, unfortunately we had a limited number of space," said Rioja. Aside from being physically fit, a positive attitude and team quality were fundamental for the election of the final team members. "They should be fairly fit and have a rather good technique when playing, the ones that stayed out were ones with a weak technique but especially the ones with a negative attitude," said Vazquez.
The Madrid Billikens won all matches against other local teams but will keep training hard for the matches to come. "Even though we won all matches, we won’t take the upcoming ones for granted. We’ll keep up the hard work until the end as if it were the first match each time." Concluded Vazquez.
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"The Fastest Way to a Student’s Heart is through His Stomach"
by Laura de Socarraz-Novoa
To raise money for a nearby Soup Kitchen, Student Life whetted appetites when it hosted one of its monthly charity Pancake Sales in the Student Lounge on October 6, 2010.
"I think this is a great way to raise money and get students involved. And, it’s delicious," said Ellen Kee, a permanent SLU-Madrid student.
From 10:30-12:30, student volunteers made batter, cooked pancakes, and served juice to other SLU-Madrid students in Padre Rubio’s Student Lounge. Hungry students waiting to get a taste of the pancakes surrounded a table set with two hotplates, bowls of batter, and bottles of syrup.
The idea to fund the soup kitchen was a joint effort between Ana Aizpún, Student Life Program Assistant, and a number of SLU volunteer students.
"Ana [Aizpún] was talking to Suki, the nun that heads the Soup Kitchen. Suki said that the Soup Kitchen has been having financial difficulties lately because it only depends on donations," said Erin Brehm, one of the fifteen students that weekly volunteers at the Soup Kitchen.
The Franciscan Nun Soup Kitchen, located approximately five minutes from the university in Calle del General Asensio Cabanillas, has been going through tough times since the crisis. According to Ms. Aizpún, the number of servings has nearly tripled, increasing from 100 to approximately 350 meals per day, while the amount of donations has remained the same.
"We thought a pancake sale would be a good way to raise money for the Soup Kitchen." said Madeline Moore, another student volunteer.
The Franciscan Nun Soup Kitchen received all proceeds fundraised during the event, estimated around 110 Euros.
"The principal purpose for the pancake sales is fundraising for different events. The cause is determined depending on current events or student suggestions," said Aizpún. "The good thing about these bake sales is that they are a practical way for students to become involved in volunteer activities. This doesn’t usually happen in Spain. It’s great," she added.
Fundraising for the Franciscan Soup Kitchen is an ongoing effort in SLU-Madrid and any donations or volunteer work would be gratefully accepted.
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"Talk on campus: Internship opportunities at the UN"
by Kristin Kradolfer
UNESCO Program Specialist Dr. Ming Kuok Lim was on SLU campus in early October rallying interest towards internship opportunities and pushing students to be aware of issues and current events in their field, in preparation for international careers.
Dr. Lim talked with students about UNESCO internship opportunities on Monday, October 4th. UNESCO looks for interns in their last year of studies, although unpaid, an internship offers an entrance into the world of international work. According to Dr. Lim, interns will not be expected to get coffee, instead they will be drafting reports, building websites, and working in direct contact with the 193 UNESCO members.
The opportunity to experience the working world of an international organization seemed appealing to SLU students. "I like the fact that the interns actually do work, and that they are actually involved and part of a team, so that’s exciting", commented SLU student, Lorena Martinez, a political science major at SLU with a concentration in international studies.
While on campus, Lim also gave a presentation about UNESCO’s Division for Freedom of Expression, Democracy and Peace on Tuesday October 4th. He spoke about UNESCO’S position as a global forum to discuss issues of peace, and his own work in UNESCO’s Communication and Information Division. This department deals with issues of freedom of communication throughout the world.
Dr. Lim went on to specify which issues are most important to his department right now. "The main issues my department is currently facing are the safety of journalists, free independent and pluralistic media", said Dr. Lim. He also stated that privacy issues, and mobile applications in an international context and freedom of speech in cyberspace are pressing issues. Dr. Lim is starting an online social networking peace project called The Power of Peace Network dealing with these themes, and he says he is looking for volunteers to head the project.
Dr. Lim was invited by SLU faculty Dr. Erika Polson. She felt his speech highlighted the need for students to be aware of the issues in the area you want to work in. "There is a bridge between what we are doing in the classroom and getting a job," said Dr. Polson, "in an interview, he (Dr. Lim) looks for people to be able to discuss the issues in an intelligent way."
