newsarchive17-18

Student Studies Ancient Greek to Pursue Contemporary Epistemology and Philosophy of Western Religion

Anonymous — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 18:25:37 +0000

Student Studies Ancient Greek to Pursue Contemporary Epistemology and Philosophy of Western Religion Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 09/06/2018 - 12:25

I used my CWCTP grant to study ancient Greek independently over summer, 2018. I progressed through many chapters of From Alpha to Omega, the textbook used at CU-Boulder which covers grammatical concepts (etc.) for beginner-level students. Originally, I had hoped this project would help my study of ancient Greek philosophy; as I now aim to pursue contemporary epistemology and philosophy of (western) religion, I hope that my understanding of Greek aids in the latter aim.

A special thanks to Kathleen Ragland of CWCTP, who worked (tirelessly!) with me in an attempt to add me to beginner's Greek I and II over the summer. While ultimately to no avail in my case, it now appears philosophy grad students will have less difficulty doing so in the future.

-Jonathyn Zapf

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Student Learns German while Experiencing the Capital City of Berlin

Anonymous — Wed, 05 Sep 2018 17:03:59 +0000

Student Learns German while Experiencing the Capital City of Berlin Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 09/05/2018 - 11:03

During the summer of 2018, I was given the opportunity to study German in Berlin, Germany on the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy Summer Language Grant. I was able to have this experience just before entering my senior year at CU, and I believe that the time I spent learning and German and living in Berlin have a paved a way towards a new future for myself. My goal for the summer was to greatly improve my German language skills and in order to do so, I took 6 weeks of intensive German classes at the Goethe Institute, an international renown German language school and cultural exchange center. Not only did I improve my grammar and communication skills, but I was also surrounded by 14 other adults, both young and old, all coming from an entirely different country. This was an experience in itself and allowed me to learn about other cities, foods, and cultures – all while practicing German! During my time in Berlin, I was able to reach out to the local Rotaract Club and join the events, club meetings, and volunteer opportunities. This turned out to be an enriching experience and has provided me with even more global contacts.

While I was in Berlin, I lived in two very different neighborhoods. The first was Prenzlauer Berg, which was a hip, family-oriented neighborhood with many great bars and restaurants. The transportation was fantastic, and the neighborhood was clean, full of art, and a lot of fun! The second neighborhood that I lived in was Neukolln. This was a more international neighborhood, with a lot of Middle Eastern influence. It was a little bit more alternative and exciting! In a city like Berlin, full of culture and influence, I was grateful to have been able to live in two very different areas.

I want to thank the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy providing me with the summer language grant. It dramatically improved my German skills and have provided a new future after the university. I could not be more grateful for the opportunity!

Best regards,
Soren Fuchs

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Student Delves into Colonization, Civilization and Spanish during Educational Visit to Peru

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Aug 2018 18:55:50 +0000

Student Delves into Colonization, Civilization and Spanish during Educational Visit to Peru Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 08/27/2018 - 12:55

"During this summer, I was able to travel to Peru for two weeks in June on the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy Summer Language Grant. My goal was to advance my understanding of Spanish, and to become more fluent in the language. Apart from language, I was also curious of the history of Peru; especially it’s complicated past with Spain and Europe. During my trip, I travelled through Lima, the capital, and to Cusco, the city considered to be the capital of the Incan empire. I had a travel partner for the first week of my journey while I was in Lima, and later for the first few days I was in Cusco. In Lima, we were able to try many of the foods native to the country and culture and saw the differences in wealth from the slum areas to the affluent downtown areas where most tourists stayed. I was also able to see many monasteries with Morisco (Moorish) influences which the Spanish had brought when they occupied the region. I found the mix of Incan spirituality and Catholicism and interesting dynamic which still exists today, although one would expect it to converge to either one or the other.

I unfortunately had contracted Salmonella poisoning from some less-than-sanitary poultry sold by a street vendor in Lima. Although the sickness slowed me down quite a bit, we were still able to go to Machu Picchu and explore important parts of Cusco on the second leg of the trip. Machu Picchu was amazing for multiple reasons, one was that it has incredible civil engineering integrity. Whereas anything built by the Spanish after 1533 would crumple under many of the local earth quakes, Machu Picchu was in still almost pristine condition. Another is its historical background; when the Spanish came, instead of fighting, the Incan people surrendered non-violently. However, since arms were let down, the city of Machu Picchu was left unknown to Spanish conquistadors and was not (re)discovered until the late 1800’s. It very much reflected a character of modesty and privacy shared by the general culture.

During the second week of my journey, I stayed at a local hostel. It happened to also be over Inti Rami, the festival and celebration of the Incan Sun God, one of the largest holidays of the year in the region. The festival lasted for 5 days (all of which I was there for). During these days, countless groups of local children and teenagers would parade through the streets with bands and perform street dances. As the days drew closer to the Winter Solstice (June 21) The Groups would put on colorful costumes made specially for the celebrations. During this week alone, I was able to take 8 hours of private Spanish lessons offered by the Hostel at an extremely affordable price. Many of the tour guides, local people, and shopkeepers knew only a little English, so it was extremely helpful for my language to be immersed in a community with very little use of English. I was amazed at how much easier speaking Spanish was at the end of my trip compared to the beginning. I was grateful to be given the opportunity to go to a place where everyone and thing I interacted with was educational and beneficial for my knowing.

I want to thank the Center for Western Civilization, Thought and Policy for giving me a way to further my own education outside of the University, and to do so in such a way which was meaningful and extremely efficient. I believe I would have needed to take many more semesters of Spanish courses to be at the same level of speaking I was at the end of my trip."

-Laura Murray, CWCTP Undergraduate Fellow

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CWCTP grant allows CU student to "study abroad" in Washington, D.C.

Anonymous — Thu, 28 Dec 2017 17:56:32 +0000

CWCTP grant allows CU student to "study abroad" in Washington, D.C. Anonymous (not verified) Thu, 12/28/2017 - 10:56

I had the wonderful opportunity to spend my final year of college ‘studying abroad’ in one of my favorite cities: Washington D.C. This opportunity gave me the ability to get a better jumpstart on my career in the city where I wanted to be post-graduation. I was able to set down roots and really focus my attention on politics and my future career. Having the ability to intern at a prominent Republican political committee like the Republican Governors Association gave me invaluable experience in the field of Republican political communications. My internship experience out here was amazing, I learned more than I ever could have imagined, and met some great people.

I am incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to study in Washington D.C. for my final semester of school. This is my second time interning in our nations capitol, and it is amazing to see how much one can grow from the beginning of their Freshman year of college to their last semester of school. This was a once in a lifetime chance that I had to move to the city I wanted to work in and start interning before I graduated college. This opportunity has allowed me to garner the skills and experience I needed to enter into the field of politics. I have learned an incredible amount here and have had the amazing opportunity to be exposed to so many new cultures, intern during a vibrant time in American politics, and gain new insights from our nations capitol. The ability to intern in Washington D.C. my final semester set me up to start my dream career in the best place to be a young political operative. I was able to make new friends, connections and begin to build my post-graduate life in Washington D.C.

Washington D.C. is such an exciting city that constantly has something new and fun to do. There is nowhere else in the world where students can have the opportunity to mingle with the movers and shakers of so many different industries. Washington D.C. is also a city rich in history and cuisine, it is such a treat to have the ability to have a wide array of museums and art exhibits to visit, as well as many renowned restaurants. I recommend that any future students who choose to intern in D.C. take advantage of the free Smithsonian’s to see amazing art and history. I also highly suggest that anyone who decides to make the trek out to D.C. does so with an open mind ready to experience all this city has to offer politically, professionally and historically. I have also made so many wonderful friends out here, as well as reconnected which tons more from my past.

Interning in Washington D.C. for my final semester of college gave me the experience I needed to be able to start my post-graduate life in Washington D.C. I am so excited to see what the future will bring as I start my next chapter of life in this vibrant and exciting city.

-Justine Sanders, Class of '18

"This opportunity gave me the ability to get a better jumpstart on my career in the city where I wanted to be post-graduation. I was able to set down roots and really focus my attention on politics and my future career. Having the ability to intern at a prominent Republican political committee like the Republican Governors Association gave me invaluable experience in the field of Republican political communications. My internship experience out here was amazing, I learned more than I ever could have imagined, and met some great people."

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The New York Times: "Too Many Colleges Flunk Trump 101" (Oct. 28, 2017)

Anonymous — Tue, 14 Nov 2017 20:55:17 +0000

The New York Times: "Too Many Colleges Flunk Trump 101" (Oct. 28, 2017) Anonymous (not verified) Tue, 11/14/2017 - 13:55

The CWCTP's Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought & Policy cited as a rare response to what NYT columnist Frank Bruni calls "increasing ideological uniformity" on college campuses.

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Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought & Policy feels at home in Boulder

Anonymous — Mon, 13 Nov 2017 22:32:27 +0000

Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought & Policy feels at home in Boulder Anonymous (not verified) Mon, 11/13/2017 - 15:32

Robert Kaufman, a veteran of the Conference on World Affairs, says the Trump presidency has fostered robust debate on campus.

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CU Independent: National Review editor Reihan Salam on immigration, multiculturalism and nationalism

Anonymous — Sat, 28 Oct 2017 22:19:50 +0000

CU Independent: National Review editor Reihan Salam on immigration, multiculturalism and nationalism Anonymous (not verified) Sat, 10/28/2017 - 16:19

"Salam argued that there is a need for true kinship between all Americans. If there is a perception that some group, in this case immigrants, is not fully invested in America’s collective social bargain, the social fabric will begin to deteriorate as people cling to their own tribal groups and subcultures rather than to a broader sense of Americanism."

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The College Fix: Program embedding conservative thought into ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� continues to thrive

Anonymous — Wed, 25 Oct 2017 18:58:42 +0000

The College Fix: Program embedding conservative thought into ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� continues to thrive Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/25/2017 - 12:58

"Now in its fifth year, the program aims 'to promote intellectual diversity on the CU-Boulder campus… [seeking] highly visible scholars who are deeply engaged in either the analytical scholarship or practice of conservative thinking and policymaking or both.'"

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Student enhances knowledge of French philosophy texts through CWCTP grant

Anonymous — Fri, 13 Oct 2017 21:11:48 +0000

Student enhances knowledge of French philosophy texts through CWCTP grant Anonymous (not verified) Fri, 10/13/2017 - 15:11

Receiving the language grant from the CWCTP was critical for my gaining a grasp of French. Given that the focus of my dissertation in philosophy is the early modern period, being able to read French is essential. It will enable me to read the work of Descartes, Pascal, Leibniz, Rousseau, and others in the original language--a skill that is absolutely necessary for developing myself as a competent scholar in the area.

The grant enabled me to set substantial amounts of time aside to focus exclusively on language study, as well as to buy the necessary aids for learning French. On account of this, I was able to begin reading French even after a relatively short period of study. An especially quick payoff occurred even this summer, in that my study of French enabled me to read a French text which was a critical element in my qualifying paper (a paper which all Ph.D. students must pass in philosophy in order to embark on their dissertation).

In short, being both a husband and father, I'm not sure how I would have been able to dedicate anywhere near the amount of time to studying French that I did, had I not received the grant. I deeply appreciate those who made it possible.

Mark Boespflug - CU Philosophy

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Latin experience gained from CWCTP Student Grant

Anonymous — Wed, 11 Oct 2017 21:43:09 +0000

Latin experience gained from CWCTP Student Grant Anonymous (not verified) Wed, 10/11/2017 - 15:43

"For seven days at the end of July, I spent an entire week in a mansion in West Virginia with thirty other people. For these seven days, only Latin was spoken within these walls. This weeklong intensive, immersive experience reanimated the life of a language whose favorite epithet is “dead.”

The instructors at this program were a mix of Latin-lovers: from lifetime aficionados to college professors, who came from all over the world, including Mexico, South Africa, and Australia. Regardless of our backgrounds and ages, we automatically had one very important thing in common: our passion for a language whose benefits are often undervalued.

Each day was well structured between full classes, small group sessions, and guided leisure time. After breakfast, congressus omnium was our first gathering of the day in which all participants learned in one room. Afterwards, we divided into pre-assigned groups for two sessions. The first session revolved around common quotidian vocabulary, such as rooms of the house, telling time, seasons, and animals. During the second small-group session, we read Latin passages in which we discussed the grammatical and the pragmatic meanings of these texts. After this session, lunch was served. After lunch, we split into three groups, depending our oral Latin expertise. Each group prepared a miniature play, which was performed on the final day, rehearsed, choreographed, and memorized. Our last class of the day was another congressus omnium, in which we practiced grammatical structures and lexical items introduced throughout the day. Between this final meeting and dinner, there were guided leisure activities, such as reading more complex literature, and various games, including dungeons and dragons and go fish. After dinner, participants and teachers alike spent the remainder of the evening in personal leisure activities, including telling stories on the back porch, a place of informal, spontaneous chatter interspersed with copious laughter.

The experience was fun, challenging, and most importantly, rewarding. It was crucial for my quest to become a Latin teacher. Because the ACTFL standards for world language teaching are becoming more focused on communicative approaches, the necessity for oral, conversational Latin is increasing more and more. Because I have learned Latin through the traditional, didactic, grammar-translation method, I was at first hesitant to participate. However, this intensive program showed me not only that it can be done, but that it should be done to foster a more complete understanding of the ancient language."

-Brandi Boseovski
M.A. Classics with a Concentration in Teaching Latin

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newsarchive17-18

Student Studies Ancient Greek to Pursue Contemporary Epistemology and Philosophy of Western Religion

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Student Learns German while Experiencing the Capital City of Berlin

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Student Delves into Colonization, Civilization and Spanish during Educational Visit to Peru

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CWCTP grant allows CU student to "study abroad" in Washington, D.C.

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The New York Times: "Too Many Colleges Flunk Trump 101" (Oct. 28, 2017)

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Visiting Scholar in Conservative Thought & Policy feels at home in Boulder

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CU Independent: National Review editor Reihan Salam on immigration, multiculturalism and nationalism

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The College Fix: Program embedding conservative thought into ���Ҵ�ý�ƽ������ continues to thrive

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Student enhances knowledge of French philosophy texts through CWCTP grant

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Latin experience gained from CWCTP Student Grant

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The College Fix: Program embedding conservative thought into ��Ҵ�ý�ƽ�� continues to thrive