Nineteen students and three faculty members of the University Honors Abroad Program left for England today for four weeks of study at the University of Plymouth.”The purpose is to provide sort of a culturally enriching experience for our Honors Students by allowing them to study at an important international university,” Dr. Paul Wilson, head of the University Honors Program and history instructor, said.
Wilson is one of three faculty members who will conduct the program. The other faculty members are Dr. Martin Simpson, professor of sociology, and Mary Besse, assistant professor of nursing.
“I am looking forward to going because it is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and an experience I will not soon forget,” Jarrod Gonzales, president of the Honors Council and psychology junior from Metairie, said.
“I plan to see as much as possible and learn about another culture whose history is as rich and interesting as ours.”
The Honors students will continue to attend the classes the way they have with the three professors.
“Our students will be sitting in on a sociology class in England,” Wilson said.
“Part of their honors experience is to participate in an English class. It will be directed by one of the professors at the University of Plymouth. He’ll be teaching a course at Nicholls this summer.”
The agenda also includes field trips to Stratford-On-Avon to see a Shakespeare play, London to observe the Houses of Parliament and Scotland Yard.
“We’re going to be setting up field trips. We want to go to an English police station because we want the students to see police forces that doesn’t carry weapons,” Simpson said.
The students said they are excited about these trips.
“We’re really excited. I believe Dr. Wilson wants to take us to a couple of museums for his history class. We’re going to take a trip out to Stonehenge,” Danielle Walker, vice president of the Honors Council and government junior from Bourg, said.
“I think that’s going to be really awesome.”
James Irwin, social studies education sophomore from Morgan City, said he is also very excited.
“It’s going to be a blast to meet new people, visit places you usually only see on TV and experience a whole other country. In addition, traveling is always a fun experience, as you can relax and enjoy life, even if we do have to do some schoolwork,” Irwin said.
The University of Plymouth was chosen because it is widely known for its international students.
“Plymouth itself is supposed to be a big port city with sailors and newcomers coming everyday, which means the nightlife will be fantastic,” Alcie Maxwell, history sophomore from Alexandria, said.
“I am most excited about going to Bath to see the magnanimity of the ancient Romans. Being in England will enhance that connection between what we are taught from the books in the classroom to actually getting out there and seeing what we have been taught,” he said.
Simpson said some students have an assignment to interview English lawyers and observe the English legal system.
“Here, we have one person who does everything. In England, lawyers specialize. They’re either solicitors who do legal research or barristers,” he said.
A barrister is a specialist who argues a case at the bar in court.
“They know all the tricks of the trade of arguing cases in court. They don’t do all the legal research. That’s done by the solicitor. The solicitor will then pass on the information to the barrister.
“The barrister then figures out how he or she will present it in court. So, we want to go to a criminal court case,” Simpson said.
He also intends to take the students to a soccer match by Plymouth’s semi-professional team.
“Students need to see it. England has had its problems with soccer hooliganism,” Simpson said. The environment of the match, he said, is what students must experience.
Wilson said the endeavor was the idea of Dr. Alice Pecoraro, vice president for academic affairs.
“I have been to the school myself. I went over there to make sure it was the right place for us to send our students,” Pecoraro said.
Pecoraro addressed the students and some of their parents at a meeting Monday night in Gouaux Auditorium.
“We are confident that these three faculty members are prepared and they are ready to accompany your children.”
Pecoraro said students will have to adjust their thinking about things they commonly think of, like going to bars in the United States as opposed to going to pubs in England.
“In England and in many other European countries, the pub is different from a bar. In Europe a pub is a place where people do drink, but they drink and they have intellectual conversations. Everybody goes and everybody participates in these intellectual conversations,” she said.
Pecoraro said she is optimistic that the program will continue without any setbacks.
“I don’t expect any problems,” she said.
“I expect you will all have a wonderful time, and when you come back you, will come to my office and say, `Can I go back?'”
Other students attending are Sarah Bourgeois, biology sophomore from Houma; Melissa Brunet, nursing sophomore from Houma; Andrenique Climax, nursing sophomore from Franklin; Jace Duet, computer information systems junior from Lockport; Estelle Foret, English education sophomore from Houma; Brandy Holton, nursing sophomore from Luling; Jaret Hubbell, vocal music education junior from Thibodaux; Brian Milam, management sophomore from Metairie; Billy Null, English junior from Bourg; Samiko Price, government junior from Bourg; Lee Prosperie, mass communication sophomore from Montegut; Katie Sanchez, English junior from Schriever; Erin Terracina, biology sophomore from Thibodaux; Adam Terrell, computer science junior from New Orleans; and Suzanne Zeringue, English sophomore from Houma.
Pecoraro said the approximate cost, including tuition, room rentals, air fares, play tickets, bus transportation from London to Plymouth and back and three weekend excursions is about $33,000.
No state funds were used; the trip is being funded through donations.
“Without the generosity of our donors and the support of the University administration (Dr. Ayo) and the Board of Supervisors, who approved the agreement we have with the University of Plymouth, this experience would not be a reality,” Pecoraro said.
The major donors are the Adams Foundation, Morgan City; Cameco, Inc., Thibodaux; Lorraine Brownell, Morgan City; R. E. Miller, Morgan City; Sam Smith and Chuck Denning, Morgan City; Rusty Cloutier, Lafayette; Alice Shannon, Morgan City; Dr. Neil Maki, Thibodaux; and Dr. and Mrs. Quentin Falgoust, Thibodaux.
