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November 29 Update: Class of 2017

Over Thanksgiving break, the Periclean Class of 2017 received some difficult news from the University of Namibia (UNAM). According to our university contacts, UNAM is no longer able to provide their previously designated portion of financial support for the conference. This means that as a class, we would be responsible for raising an additional US$10,000, a fundraising task that we are simply unable to fulfill.

Bearing such heavy news, we devoted the entirety of our class to debriefing our sentiments and searching for an answer to the question, “so what now?”

As members of the Periclean Scholars program, we are strongly opposed to merely giving money to a charity or cause; this is against the principles and ethics of aid that we have spent so many years studying. It would be both unsustainable and uninvolved, to an extent.

Together, we discussed the current relationships with individuals in Namibia that we already have, as well as options for connections that could be made in the future. Ideas include working with an Elon graduate at N.U.S.T., contacting the First Lady of Namibia since her agenda involves food security, and utilizing other viable contacts.

So, this post does not provide answers, conclusions, or finite plans in moving forward. We cannot say what the next days, weeks, and months will hold as a cohort. However, we will work hard to turn this obstacle into an opportunity.

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Talking in Circles: The Creation of a Syllabus

This week in class we discussed the syllabus for the fall.  In order to create the syllabus, we first had to set expectations for ourselves and each other.  Although there were many things that we were not quick to agree on, we all agreed that participation (in and out of class) is the most important component of the Periclean program.  If the entire class is not actively driven, the group will suffer as a whole.

However, not every element of the syllabus was this easy to decide upon.  We were quickly presented with the challenge of compromising in order to incorporate everyone’s ideas while still creating a balanced curriculum. Working with a large group of such intelligent, yet opinionated individuals is inspiring but also quite trying.

After much discussion, the class finally came to a consensus for the syllabus that everyone contributed to. Once the mindset shifted from what would benefit us as individuals to what would be ultimately best for the group, the conversation became more productive. Overall, we hope to retain this mindset for all future decisions, making discussions more efficient.

We look forward to getting into the content of the course!

Claire Rayburn, Caila Yates & Courtney Weber

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Claire Rayburn Introduction

Claire Spring_4-14-3013_16x20_N1Q5276

Hi my name is Claire Rayburn! To start off with a brief introduction, I’m from Davenport, Iowa. I am currently deciding between a major in either International Studies or Public Health and am minoring in French. At Elon, I am also a tour guide, was an Orientation Leader, and am involved in Intervarsity and Greek Life.

I chose to apply for Periclean Scholars because I am interested in international human rights and enjoy learning about current events and cultures worldwide. The Periclean Scholars program provides a unique link between extracurricular activities, in-class learning, and global responsibility that I find so fascinating. Additionally, I love the idea of working with the same cohort of students for multiple years because the group dynamic is able to grow and progress.

I am able to offer various skills to our unit of Periclean Scholars. In high school, I was involved in Girls Learn International, an international non-profit that promotes equal access to education by partnering schools in the United States with those in developing countries. Because of this opportunity, I believe that I have helpful background knowledge in leadership and non-profits. Additionally, I have had various leadership and team experiences in my time at Elon that help me work with groups cohesively.

My most basic and primary expectation for the course is to learn about Namibia. Currently, I do not know very much about the country and its culture. In order to proceed with our work with Periclean Scholars, an extensive knowledge of Namibia is really necessary. I also expect to get to know the other Periclean Scholars and learn how to work together; I’m very excited to work with a group of students my age with such diverse skills and interests. Everyone brings something very interesting to the class discussions. Even though I have lots of experience working in groups, I hope to improve my skills on group work and collaboration. Overall, I am really looking forward to the experience of being a Periclean Scholar and everything it will offer throughout this semester and the following years!

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