January 23, 2007
Bowling
Green, Ky. - Four Western Kentucky University faculty and 13 students from several disciplines spent
the Winter Term in Western Europe studying urban planning, design and leadership issues.
Directed by geography instructor Debbie Kreitzer, and accompanied by Agriculture Department Head Dr. Jack Rudolph, Geography and Geology Department Head Dr. David Keeling and Bowling Green Community College Adjunct English Instructor DJ Urquhart, the Leadership in Urban Planning Study Abroad program visited London, Oxford, Brussels, Brugge, Amsterdam and Paris.
Students examined myriad issues related to urban management, including security challenges, transport provision, historic preservation, tourism impacts and leadership strategies.
In London, England, the group received a briefing from the Mayor of London’s Office of Strategic Development and discussed a wide variety of planning issues ranging from transport management and Olympic Games planning, to urban quality of life and political leadership.
In Paris, France, a briefing at the headquarters of UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) addressed concerns related to program funding, urban growth, literacy and historic preservation. Students also learned more about UNESCO’s World Heritage and Biosphere Reserve programs.
The 13 students represented many disciplines at WKU, making this a truly interdisciplinary experience. Jessica Ebelhar of Owensboro is a photojournalism major; Sarah Gill of Bowling Green studies communication disorders; Sarah White of Louisville majors in communication; Joshua and Jonathan Tubbs, both of Bowling Green, are Agriculture majors; Daniel St. Cyr of Louisville and Cliff Skees of Elizabethtown are majoring in geography; Jason Stamm of Vanceburg studies journalism; Katie Cecil of Louisville is a public relations major; Stephen Hunt of Louisville is majoring in geology; Anna Peak of Louisville is a psychology major; Amy Kaiser of Louisville studies advertising; and Anthony Cummings of Louisville is majoring in physical education.
“Study abroad programs provide students with an opportunity not only to learn about unfamiliar places and cultures but also to see themselves through others’ eyes,” explained Dr. Keeling, a veteran of more than 20 study abroad programs and international lecture tours. “Whether in more traditional milieus like England or France or in more exotic locales like Tanzania and China, students have the opportunity to engage with local people and issues to learn how our own society is viewed through their eyes.”
The Leadership in Urban Planning program was offered in partnership with Leadership Studies and the Department of Geography and Geology.
In addition to briefings by local experts, program faculty gave numerous lectures in the field on urban geography and history, the role of agriculture, art and architecture and the urban aesthetic, and contemporary urban planning. Program highlights included a walking tour of London’s East End financial district, a visit to Oxford’s historic colleges to discuss acid rain’s impact on buildings and monuments, and an exploration of Paris through the work of Georges Haussmann.
Amsterdam, Brugge, Brussels and the Chateau at Versailles provided wonderful examples of design, planning and leadership challenges. Students also attended a West End musical in London, visited Anne Frank’s House and the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam, and explored the incredible artwork exhibited in the Louvre.
More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.
For information, contact Debbie Kreitzer at (270) 745-4555.
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