Muskingum News

Muskingum University students and faculty traveled to London and to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland for the 2023 Spring Break and May Term study abroad trips.

Associate Professor of English Kekoa Kaluhiokalani and Assistant Professor of Media Communication Michael Carvaines led 15 students on the London Spring Break trip, which connected to the “London and Literature” and “Study of Global Cinema” courses.

Buckingham Palace

Dr. Kaluhiokalani explained that “our itinerary was an immersion in art, theatre, and cultural sites. Students made personal connections with film locations and settings of literature we studied in the course work. Our role as faculty members is to enliven the experience and provide context and insights.

“In addition, everyone had an unplanned adventure,” he said. “We gave our students basic information on how to navigate London, and we were so impressed with their adventurousness and willingness to step outside of their comfort zones and put together their own explorations of the city.”

For Emma Jimison ’23, the trip was life-changing. “I was so emotionally moved by the theatre productions we saw; they literally made me cry – in a good way! Those experiences put into perspective how much I love theatre and cemented my desire to explore theatre career options.” 

Emma Jimison '23

Emma graduated in May with majors in Biology and Theatre and a minor in Mathematics; during her time on campus, she  was a cellist with SEOSO and a member of Delta Gamma Theta and multiple honorary societies. She is currently a Biological Field Station Assistant at Stone Laboratory at Put-In-Bay on Lake Erie, conducting research tasks and providing educational outreach programs and workshops for elementary through high school students.

The London trip experiences included performances of the award-winning musical “Six,” Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” performed by an all-female cast, and “Standing At The Sky’s Edge,” a new musical at the National Theatre, as well as visits to the British Museum, British Library, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Museum of London, Greenwich-area museums, Westminster Abbey, the Tower of London, Abbey Road, and other landmark sites.

Abbey Road

Parliament Square

Dr. Kaluhiokalani also led the May Term trip for 8 students to Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Ireland, which connected to the “Contemporary Irish, Northern Irish, and Scottish Literature” and “Archival Research” courses. “Our students experienced locations that brought history and legends to life,” he said. “They explored cities and wild natural areas, saw intricately carved stone architecture, traveled by train through areas of lochs and hills and crossed a Victorian-era bridge, had the opportunity to hike to a mountaintop, and learned about the culture, economics, and politics of the historic shipbuilding industry.”

Edinburgh

Spencer Jarrett ’24 became part of a unique Muskingum-Ireland connection. “During my sophomore year, I interned in the Muskingum archives with Nainsi Houston, Director of the Library,” Spencer explained. “She discovered original Irish documents from the 1700s and 1800s in our collection. After she reached out to her counterparts at the National Archives of Ireland, I had the honor of delivering the documents back to their proper home.

Spencer Jarrett '24

“Seeing the natural beauty on this trip, especially the Cliffs of Moher, Giants Causeway, and the Scottish Highlands, was also an amazing experience for me,” Spencer reflected. “It was a wonderful contrast to my May Term 2022 trip to Italy, where we saw inspiring art and architecture in Rome and Florence.” 

Spencer is majoring in history, sociology, and global studies, is active in Student Senate and Phi Kappa Psi, and was named the 2023 Muskie of Year in recognition of his leadership and engagement with campus programs, organizations, and activities.

The May Term trip included visits to the Scottish Highlands, the city of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood, and the National Museum of Scotland; the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Dublin, Trinity College, and the National Gallery, Archives, and Museum of Ireland; and Belfast, the Titanic Experience, Giant’s Causeway, and the Dark Hedge in Northern Ireland.

Cliffs of Moher