2023-2024
Campus Protest at PSU Abington, 1960-1975
This ACURA Project will chronicle the student protest movement at Abington College during the mid-1960-1970s period to implement African American Studies courses. Using oral reports by activist alumni, organizational records, and periodical literature, the students will provide a descriptive account of the protesters’ goals and tactics as well as the University’s response. It will also contextualize this movement within the larger scheme of national and University events. The end-product will be an article that promotes and serves as a definitive account of the struggles to bring both academic and programmatic change to the Campus.
Requirements: Preferably completed or enrolled in AfAm #100, AfAm #110N, AfAm 101N, or have a strong interest in the civil rights protests of this era.
Duration: Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Faculty: Valeria Harvell ([email protected])
Prevalence of Spiritual, Mystical, and Religious Experiences at Abington
A surprisingly high percentage of the population reports having had a spiritual, mystical, or religious experience. However, this statistic is highly variable by culture. In the US, according to one study, the rate is 49% (Pew Research). In Brazil, on the other hand, it is 92% (Monteiro de Barros et al). Abington College is a highly multicultural and multilingual place. What percentage of the Abington population will report having had a spiritual, mystical, or religious experience? Are there differences between faculty, staff, and students? How can such experiences be measured accurately, anyway? And what might the answers to these questions tell us about our diverse community?
Requirements: None
Duration: Fall 2023, Spring 2024
Faculty: Pierce Salguero ([email protected])