Tuesday, October 12
We all live at Carleton: Student and faculty perspectives
of Carleton as a residential academic community,
panel discussion with
Rob Oden, Carleton College President and Professor of Religion
Jay Levi, Associate Professor of Anthropology,
Director of Latin American Studies
Kaaren Williamsen, Director of Gender & Sexuality Center & LGBT Advisor
Steve Wisener, Associate Director of Residential Life
Cathy Yandell, W.I. and Hulda F. Daniell Professor
of French Literature, Language & Culture
and Sara Ganaha, '06
Executive Summary
by Drew Dara-Abrams '05
Panelists discussed how the college can better unite its academic and residential missions with the goal of strengthening both. Oden and Levi spoke of the benefits of a relaxed environment in which students and teachers can interact outside of the classroom. For example, students can learn how professors came to be interested in their subject matter and have a more personal face to put on academics and scholarship. Faculty and staff become role models whether they realize it or not, said Williamsen. They model for students how one can be an adult in the real world. Other panelists addressed more practical aspects of Carleton as a residential academic community. Yandell described her experiences leading off-campus studies programs. Wisener spoke of the role of Residential Life. Ganaha provided a set of suggestions for simple changes professors could make in their classes to take advantage of the residential side of Carleton.