Berlin, Germany
May 17-31
Course Requirement: PLSI 3491-70 Global City Berlin
1 credit hour during the semester plus 3 credit hours abroad
The class and trip to Berlin will focus on the politics and diversity in both Germany’s past and present. Berlin is not only Germany’s capital but also its largest and most diverse city, with people from more than 100 countries.
“The idea is to use Berlin as a classroom,” said Peter O’Brien, professor of political science and program coordinator. “We’ll spend a minimum amount of time in a formal classroom and spend a lot of time on excursions throughout the city.”
During the semester, students will only spend an hour in class each week. The bulk of the material will be covered during the concentrated time that students will spend in Berlin.
“We’ll be doing things related to the class from about nine to four each day, but the students will have the evenings and weekends free to explore,” O’Brien said. “Berlin is incredibly diverse with a legendary nightlife and huge percentage of students. The trip gets students thinking if they’d want to study abroad or even go to grad school in Germany.”
Contact O’Brien at [email protected] if interested in joining the trip to Berlin.
The Hague, Netherlands
May 17-30
Course Requirement: PLSI 3491-71 The Hague, the City of International Law
3 credit hours during the semester plus an optional credit hour abroad
Topics such as human rights, the development of international criminal law and international justice will be explored in the course. Students who enroll in the course next spring will have the option to travel to The Hague at the end of the semester.
“I want the students to connect with the victims in the stories and to understand that this is something that has touched many individuals,” said Rosa Aloisi, assistant professor of political science and program coordinator. “We want to make sure that the students are aware of the devastating effects of these crimes.”
While in The Hague, students will visit the Anne Frank House, the Van Gogh Museum, the International Court of Justice and the International Criminal Court for the former Yugoslavia. There will even be an opportunity to witness trials as they are ongoing, depending on judge availability.
“My experience in The Hague changed my life,” Aloisi said. “You enter a courtroom and you sit next to world-class criminals, looking at them, and you truly realize that they are human beings. Hearing what they’ve done is just amazing and you wonder””how could this happen? It had a huge impact on my life.”
Contact Aloisi at [email protected] or Nanette LeCoat at [email protected] if interested in hearing more about the course and trip.
Japan
May 18-June 1
Suggested Course: PLSI 3339-1 Contemporary Japanese Politics and Society
3 credit hours during the semester and/or 3 credit hours abroad
Students have the potential to receive up to six credit hours in Japanese politics, but neither the class nor the weeks abroad require the other. Both will explore contemporary Japanese society, religion, culture, politics and economy.
“The main theme is politics. We’ll use politics to talk about the main problematic issues that are happening in Japan, so we’re going to look at economics, business and the issues of demographics, with both the aging population and immigration reluctance,” said Katsuo Nishikawa, assistant professor of political science and program coordinator.
The trip will take students to various areas of Japan, including Tokyo, Kyoto, Osaka and Hiroshima. Registration for the trip will take place alongside registration for Trinity’s summer semester, but scholarships will only be available for those who are enrolled in the complementing course.
“In Tokyo, we’re going to pair up students with students from a local university, and you’ll shadow them for a day, going to their classes and part-time jobs,” Nishikawa said. “We really hope they’ll form neat friendships and get a glimpse of university life in Japan.”
Contact Nishikawa at [email protected] if interested in joining the trip to Japan this summer.
Peru Mission Trip
May 20-June 2
Hosted by Trinity’s Catholic Student Group
In May, Trinity students will be led on a mission trip to the mountains of Peru by Florencia Silva, Trinity’s new Catholic campus minister. While in Peru, students will help rebuild a church and a classroom, as well as put on catechisms and games for the local children.
“It’s a poverty that I don’t think anybody here can fathom,” Silva said. “These people only eat once a day. Children are working as soon as they can walk, so they don’t really get a chance to be kids.”
Those who wish to attend are asked to bring a suitcase of clothes, art supplies and toys for the children they will visit while in Peru in addition to their own luggage.
“I love the mission trips with students that I’ve taken in the past,” Silva said. “It’s probably one of my favorite things to do. Us going there reminds them of their dignity and that they’re worth it. It’s about us helping them and them helping us.”
For more information or to join the trip, contact Florencia Silva at [email protected].
