European study abroad offers opportunity for would-be politicos

WEST CAMPUS – Politically minded Valencia students have a chance to explore the “city of lights” and beyond in the summer of 2013.

Students who wish to enroll in International Politics while experiencing the local flavor can choose to travel to France and Belgium for nine days next year. This short-term study abroad trip will begin in Paris and will terminate in Brussels, exploring Strasbourg and points between.

“This is my first time leading a study abroad course, so I am excited to really get this up and running more than anything,” said trip adviser Professor Scott Creamer. He can be found teaching political science at Valencia’s Osceola campus.

Activities will range from walking tours to group activities and lectures. Be prepared for total immersion: much time will be spent on foot and utilizing local transit.

“This course is certainly not geared just to the student interested in politics.  The course will offer a look at much more than that,” said Creamer. “Students can expect to indulge in the art, food, and music of France and Belgium as part of the cultural experience.

According to Valencia’s information page, “Students will study government in Europe, the operation of international organizations, the practice of international law, the outcomes of regional cooperation (especially economically), and diplomacy by experiencing them firsthand.”

“Who knows, they may become ‘politicos’ themselves after the experience,” said Creamer.

All activities are mandatory, and according to the itinerary provided by Valencia, the trip will be preceded by orientations and requisite assignments beginning as early as February.

The course itself is worth three credit hours. Requirements for the program include a minimum GPA of 2.5 at the time of application and students must be above 18 years of age.

“My program benefits students especially interested in fulfilling social science/humanities requirements as part of their general education requirements,” said Creamer. “It is a three-credit section of International Politics that serves the same purpose as either the face-to-face or online version.”

Creamer believes that the benefit of the trip will extend beyond simple immersion in local politics. Students should take credit hours as a welcome bonus to the unforgettable experience that international travel provides.

“I hope students get what I got out of my study abroad experience - something they'll never forget and something that changes their perspective on what they see and hear around them regularly.”

Application deadline for the France and Belgium trip is Feb. 1, 2013.

For more information, visit the program website.

First-time Valencia student sets her sights on Broadway

EAST CAMPUS -- Singer. Dancer. Actress. Broadway aspirant. Knows sign language. Soft yet well spoken and appears eerily wise beyond her years. Currently performing downtown. Rings in at 18-years-old. Humble.

Could this be a list of talking points on the resume of a theatrical wunderkind? It’s possible. Though these attributes belong to Tess Carr, who on Wednesday, in the failing afternoon glow of East Campus’ performing arts building, projected average teenage girl.

“People judge me all the time. They make assumptions that because I’m in the theater world I’m a certain way and it’s not necessarily true,” said Carr. “It’s kind of a generalization of a group of people. Just because I’m in theater I don’t act a certain way or am a certain way.”

First time Valencia student Carr recently landed her second professional theater role with “Sunday in the Park With George” at the Mad Cow Theatre Company in downtown Orlando. Her first was with the Orlando Repertory Theatre in Loch Haven Park with last year’s “A Wrinkle In Time.”

Since beginning her acting career as a child of 8, Carr has performed in upwards of 25 shows.

“I think I probably knew that I wanted to be an actress from the time I was about 3 when my mom would catch me in front of my full length mirror singing,” said Carr. “Growing up I’ve always performed everywhere I’ve went. It’s always what I wanted to do.

“I hope to be on Broadway one day. That’s probably every performer’s dream.”

Currently, the Sondheim musical is in full swing downtown, allowing Carr to be totally immersed in the student-performer lifestyle. Having graduated high school just last May, she intends to attend Valencia in order to remain close to both her base of contacts and to her family, whom she loves spending time with.

Carr intends to participate in Valencia’s acting program as soon as her schedule allows and is currently enrolled in an acting class with Professor John DiDonna.

“I think the hardest part about being a student in the world of professional acting is that you have to balance work and school and your professional life while still learning about everything,” said Carr.

“I always bring all of my homework with me and all of my books with me so everytime that I’m not on stage I’m backstage studying anything I can do with school.”

“Sunday” follows the creation of painter Georges Seurat’s quintessential park scene, “A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte.” Carr cites long nights and talented players for the success of the production at Mad Cow.

“It’s been very long nights but it’s been a very condensed and quick process. We put everything up very fast and then we went back through it working it over and over and over again until it was perfect,” said Carr.

“I really didn’t know much about the history of the actual painter himself but I studied as much about the time period, about how certain people would act during that time period.”

Carr plans to finish a degree in acting following completion of a degree in sign language, which she says is her other great passion alongside theater.  In the long run, she says, “I really do see myself performing.”

When asked to impart some advice unto her fellow young actors, Tess smiled big and took a preparatory breath.

“Study with a lot of professionals in the area. Audition everywhere you can, take classes as much as you can and definitely do as much studying as you can.”

“Sunday in the Park With George” opened Mad Cow’s new performance space at 54 W. Church St. downtown. Catch Carr and her fellow actors through Oct. 28. For more information, visit www.madcowtheatre.com.

Watch the full interview here.

Professor enters unfamiliar territory for free lecture series

WEST CAMPUS -- We love to hate it. It confounds us and confuses us. It may even frighten us. But have no fear, for election season is here and Professor Noy Sparks is the man to help us understand those two little words: Electoral College.

But it wasn’t always that way. Like many of the students in attendance, Sparks is no expert.

“It’s something I’ve always wanted to do research on, and I’ve been forced to dig,” said Sparks.

He took his hour-long turn at the podium Thursday evening as part of the Interdisciplinary Honors Professor’s Choice lecture series. The program encourages professors to step out of their comfort zones by teaching a subject that they find both personally interesting and valuable to students. Each session is free and open to the public.

“It gives the students an opportunity to learn about things that may not be in the curriculum,” said Sparks. “And it gives the professor an opportunity to share areas of interest that he or she may feel are important.”

More than 30 Valencia students were in attendance. One student, Roland Brown, actively engaged Sparks throughout his presentation.

“The whole idea of the Electoral College doesn’t make sense,” said Brown. “I didn’t know some of what I heard tonight, it’s definitely something that should be taught in schools.”

Philip Belcastro, president of the Secular Student Alliance of West Campus, displayed a little more confidence. “I was curious to see if there was anything I didn’t know.”

Sparks has been teaching the humanities to Valencia students for the past nine years, but has strong political convictions in his personal life. He strives to maintain neutrality in class, though stresses the importance of de-mystifying the Electoral College system. According to Sparks, many Americans are out of touch with their own history.

When asked to comment on his political leanings, Sparks leaned back in contemplation, chin over colorful bowtie.

“Valencia hasn’t hired me to teach my political convictions. Valencia’s hired me to teach the humanities.”

The IDH lecture series continues on Oct. 25 with Professor Lisa Lippitt. For more information, contact honors program director Valerie Burks at 407-582-1729.

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