Spring 2017 in Review

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As the semester is coming to a close, I'd like to take a moment to reflect on some of the great events that took place during the past four months!

Guest speakers and lecturers 

  • Franklin Speaker Series
    • This series, held over the course of the 2016-17 academic year, brought experts from a variety of fields to Franklin to discuss relevant topics. 
    • These events help bring the community to Franklin, as they are open to the general public as well. 
    • This semester's guests were Dr. Roger Fayet (Director of the Swiss Institute for Art Research) and Dr. Thomas Girst (Head of Cultural Engagement, BMW Group)
How Art Historians Construct(ed) Swiss Art by Dr. Roger Fayet, Director of the Swiss Institute for Art Research
January 31, 2017
  • An Odyssey: A Father, A Son, and an Epic by Daniel Mendelsohn
    • Franklin was happy to host the award-winning author for a book reading hosted by Comparative Literary and Cultural Studies with the support of the Jan Michalski Foundation - February 21, 2017
  • The North Face at Franklin by Julian Lings, Sustainability Manager at North Face
    • Lings spoke about corporate social responsibility practices at The North Face in an interesting lecture tied to Franklin's celebration of Earth Month - April 13, 2017
  • Thinking Things and Sharing Visions: Creative Writing and the Pursuit of Social Change by Sharon Dodua Otoo, 2016 Winner of the Ingeborg Bachmann Prize 
    • Dodua Otoo shared her work and discussed ideas for combining creativity and activism - April 25, 2017
  • In Passionate Pursuit: An Art Historian's Travel from Ascona to Vienna to Antarctica by Dr. Alessandra Comini, University Distinguished Professor of Art History Emerita at Southern Methodist University (SMU), Dallas, Texas (USA)
    • In a lecture that was both entertaining and informative, Dr. Comini shared the ways in which her life was shaped by key events - April 27, 2017
Dr. Alessandra Comini with Franklin President Dr. Greg Warden - who was actually a student of hers at SMU many years ago!
April 27, 2017

Student events

  • Student Government Association Aperitivo at Ristorante Ciani - January 26, 2017
    • Thanks to the generous support of SGA, the first 50 students to sign up received a voucher for free food and a drink.
  • Learned Conversations hosted by Franklin's Honors Society 
    • Topics covered this semester included What Now? The Maturation of Populism and Digital Masks: Exporting Ourselves Online  
Honors Society: Learned Conversation
  • Jazz Night - January 27, 2017
    • Traditional New Orleans food and great music!
  • Franklin Goes Sledding - Andermatt, February 11, 2017
    • Students travelled to Canton Uri for a fun day playing in the snow! 
Franklin goes sledding!
  • FUS spring play: Picnic by William Inge - April 7 and 8, 2017
    • "The lives of the women of one 1950s small Kansas town are about to be changed forever. While preparing for the annual Labor Day picnic, the quiet morning is quickly interrupted by charming young drifter Hal Carter. Hearts are broken and lives are changed in the following twenty-four hours, as Hal’s lively, dangerous, masculine energy wakes up the sleepy community. William Inge’s Pulitzer prize winning play explores sexuality, repression, and disappointment."
Spring play: Picnic
  • Vagina Monologues - April 22, 2017
    • Women at Franklin shared stories about self-love, acceptance, times of empowerment and times of hardship at one of Franklin's most celebrated annual events.
  • Texas Night, Latin Night and Arab Night
    • These annual spring semester events proudly celebrate Franklin's diversity through food and dance.
  • Holi - April 23, 2017
    • Every year, we celebrate Holi at Franklin both in honor of the historic tradition and as a nod to our own diversity.
Holi 2017!

Film screenings

  • Fire at Sea - February 16, 2017
    • This documentary focuses on the people of Lampedusa, an island south of Sicily, and their response to the current migrant crisis. 

  • Denial - February 27, 2017
    • Hosted by the International Students of History Association (ISHA), this film documents a legal trial between a professor of Holocaust Studies and a noted Holocaust denier. The film serves as "an imperative reminder of the importance of research, interpretation, and critical reception for the digestion of information."
  • Dōdhār - The Dilemma - March 1, 2017
    • Produced by the Swiss Network for International Studies (SNIS), this documentary focuses on the economic, environmental and social consequences of outmigration in Nepal. It was followed by a roundtable discussion featuring Dr. Bernhard Fuhrer, Director of the SNIS.

  • Moonlight - April 20, 2017
    • Hosted by Franklin Resident Assistants in conjunction with PACE (Franklin's LGBTQ club), this Oscar-winning film "follows the life of Chiron in three defining chapters as he grapples with issues of sexuality, masculinity, and race."

Academic Travel


It was a great semester for Academic Travel, as you probably already know from reading part 1 and part 2 of my posts about student experiences. 

Students traversed the globe, from Italy to Bhutan to Guatemala and many places in between! I can't wait to see where Academic Travel takes us next semester. 

Adventures at Franklin

Last, but not least, here is an overview of all of my posts this semester:

. . .

Wow, it's been a busy semester! I can't wait to relax a bit during summer break. Don't worry, though, I'll be back in the fall - I hope to see some of you then, as I'll be an Orientation Mentor for incoming students! 

I wish everyone an amazing summer, and congratulations to all of 2017's graduates! I am so excited to see all of the great things everyone does next.

Don't forget to follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat!


Arrivederci and till next time, 



Gabrielle

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