A few weeks ago I went to a meeting that one member of each student run club needed to attend. I went to the meeting to represent GOE. In the meeting, members of student senate discussed the steps of how student organizations would become recognized as official organizations on campus for the following year. They also explained how to obtain funding and supplies from GAC.

The application for student organizations involves some online forms and a budget request, but the underlying message of the meeting was that Gustavus encourages the formations of student organizations and is willing to fund activities. I think that it is essential that GAC supports a variety of interests, and this support highlights the fact that Gustavus is a Liberal Arts College.

With so many organizations in place, many students are able to find a way to get involved on campus. But, if not, Gustavus says to you Mr. or Ms. Creative, “generate an idea for an organization, create some interest, become a recognized group, and enjoy the college experience!” My favorite new student organization is the sauna society. As the name implies, members use the Gustavus sauna to relax and chat.

Participating in or creating your own organization is a straightforward process at GAC, and the many organizations at Gustavus are nice supplements to an academic schedule.

Because I am a biology major, most of the speakers that I have heard throughout the year have given lectures related to science. I have enjoyed all of the presentations I have attended, and I will give a brief description of some of my favorites from the year.

Dr. Esther Sternberg, from the National Institute of Mental Health/National Institutes of Health, came to Gustavus during the fall of 2006. She gave a passionate lecture regarding her current research, which has highlighted the power of the mind-body connection and its impact on how we treat stress and other health concerns. Dr. Sternberg’s lecture was wonderful because she presented meaningful data that illustrated how illness could potentially be combated by treating both the body and the mind.

Daniel Simberloff, a professor at the University of Tennessee, also spoke at Gustavus during the fall semester of 2006. His lecture concerned invasive species control and prevention. Daniel Simberloff presented interesting examples that illustrated the detrimental effects that invasive species have had ecosystem throughout the United States. He also listed several ways in which invasive species can be better dealt with in the future. Simberloff’s topic is an important one indeed.

During April of 2007, Paul Alan Cox, an ethnobotanist, visited Gustavus for the celebration of the Linnaeus Symposium. Paul Alan Cox’s work has centered around documenting the traditional healing methods of indigenous peoples throughout the world. His research has helped to discover the leading anti-AIDS drug candidate, Prostratin. Paul Alan Cox was a very polished presenter, whose balance of humor and seriousness made his lecture completely captivating.

The presenters mentioned above have been some of my favorite speakers that Gustavus has brought to its campus. However, there have been many other lecturers that have made it to St. Peter, and they have spoken about religion, politics, academics, and fitness.

Gustie students have the incredible opportunity to attend presentations from many talented and dynamic individuals, and these lectures complement the liberal arts education that Gustavus students receive.

One student group that I decided to join boasts the electric name Gustavus Outdoor Enthusiasts (GOE). The mission of GOE is to provide a, “…cooperative, common adventure program open to all Gustavus students, faculty, and staff. Activities and trips vary from weekday afternoon outings near campus to full day weekend adventures to extended trips during breaks.” I had some prior interest in camping and canoeing, so I decided to give GOE a try.

Through GOE I have had the opportunity to canoe on the Blue Earth River, snowshoe, kayak, camp, and hike. Most of these activities occurred during a single day. However, during academic breaks, some GOE participants go on much more extensive trips. For example, this past spring break, some members of GOE traveled to Costa Rica and took advantage of the special natural environment of that country.

GOE is unique because it is an organization that thrives on student ideas and initiative. Any student who wants to gather some of their peers together and participate in an outdoor event can propose their idea and make it happen.

Life at Gustavus, for many students, is full of academics, sports, theater, and other activities. College is busy! To add to the wonderful and busy lifestyle of a student, Gustavus offers many student groups. I have found that choosing a select couple of these groups to be a part of has allowed me to meet some new people, try some new things, and still have time for everything else in my life.

GOE has turned out to be a great fit for my interests. At the same time, there are plenty of other groups that seem just as wonderful and I appreciate this student organization diversity that is present at Gustavus.

As a current sophomore student at Gustavus, I decided that studying abroad during the fall of my junior year would be an ideal time to travel. I began my search for the right program this past fall. To do this, I paid a visit to the Study Abroad Office on the Gustavus campus. Once there, I began to learn about the multitude of programs available for any Gustavus student, and I picked up many brochures concerning study abroad programs. The staff of the Study Abroad Office were very helpful in pointing out programs that I may be interested in and helping me get started in the application process. Check out the Gustavus Study Abroad Office’s website here.

I initially thought that I would like to travel to Spain for a semester. I had taken several Spanish language classes in high school and college, and I thought it would be wonderful to practice those language skills in Spain. However, after more pamphlet browsing, I found a especially enticing program. This program took place in Monteverde, Cost Rica. Students who participated lived in a biological research station located in one of the many tropical forests of Costa Rica. I loved the program because it would allow me to use my Spanish skills and also to take ecology and conservation classes in the middle of a rain forest. The Monteverde program was offered through CIEE, an organization that offers study abroad opportunities to students all over the United States. Gustavus is on the list of universities whose students may apply to any CIEE program.

The application process for studying abroad was relatively simple. I first applied to the Gustavus Study Abroad department, an application that consisted of some personal contact information and a brief (500 word) essay. Next, I applied to CIEE, an application that again consisted of some more personal information and another short essay (I was able to use my first essay that I wrote for Gustavus in my CIEE application).

Several weeks after completing my application, I found out that I been accepted into the Monteverde program. Since that time, I have received lots of information about Costa Rica and the different types of opportunities that await. I have lots of packing and preparing to do before I leave, but I should have plenty of time get ready. I am very content with the program that I have picked, and at the same time, I look forward to hearing about the stories of my friends who are traveling to other places around th globe. I encourage you to view some of the winners of the Gustavus International Photo Contest, it is sure to get you thinking about studying abroad.

Studying abroad isn’t a necessary component of a successful collegiate career at Gustavus. However, it is a wonderful opportunity for students, and if you have an interest in spending some time overseas, it is worth further investigation.

The fall of my junior year should be challenging and unique, but I anxiously await the adventure that is sure to take place!