Lucky 15 in London?
First-year students from 15 states (plus Puerto Rico and China) have joined Skidmore’s London’s program, on its 15th birthday in September 2015.
For Skidmore’s First-Year Experience in London, 2015 is its 15th anniversary, and its participants hail from 15 U.S. states, Puerto Rico, and China. This year is also part of the four-year centennial commemoration of World War I, which is the focus of one of the London Scribner Seminars, “Mediating the Great War.”
On August 26, after a three-day orientation on campus, a lively cohort of 35 new students rode a bus to Newark International Airport. They landed in London the following day for on-site orientation before the start of classes on September 1.
London FYE students on campus.
The students are living in King’s Cross Residence Hall, rooming with fellow Skidmore students and sharing the company of nearly 1,000 others from across the globe. Each Skidmore student will take either “Mediating the Great War,” taught by French professor John Anzalone, or “Making Things Right,” an exploration of reconciliation and peace with philosophy professor Larry Jorgensen. Students also choose three other courses to pursue at the IES London Center.
Joseph Neumeyer ’19 from Greenwood Village, Colo., originally wanted to take a gap year to explore the world after his graduation from Colorado Academy. But the London program and Skidmore’s business major—unusual at a liberal arts college—made him think: “Why not explore the world and start college at the same time?”
Joseph Neumeyer and Devon McLane.
His London roommate, Devon McLane ’19, a prospective psychology and music major from Avon, Conn., had been to London in high school with an international choir and has cousins who live there. Eager to return, he says, “This program was a natural fit, an unexpected gift.”
“The London program was cool and different,” adds Kayla Briskey ’19 of Cleveland, Ohio. “None of my friends starting college are doing this sort of thing—going out of the country. It’s exciting.”
Kayla Briskey and Alena Larsen.
While Briskey hopes to major in international relations, her London roommate, Alena Larsen ’19 of Danvers, Mass., has her eyes on anthropology. When she visited Skidmore, Larsen says, “I liked the campus atmosphere, and the tour guides really seemed to love Skidmore, which wasn’t the case at some other schools.” She’s excited to choose her classes in London, especially art courses connected with works at some of the world’s top museums.
The program typically features an overnight trip, and this year it will cross the Channel, to visit Ypres, Belgium—the Flanders Fields of so many WWI battles. Kendra Nelson, London FYE program manager, says, “The site in Belgium ties directly to ‘Mediating the Great War’ and is also relevant for ‘Making Things Right.’”
