"HIS 299/499 Turkish Civilization" to study in Turkey

C-SC students will study abroad in Turkey this December.

A group of Culver-Stockton students and faculty will study abroad as they travel in Turkey from December 8-19, 2008. For four days during the trip, students will explore Istanbul, the only city in the world built on two continents.

"For over 1000 years, Turkey was the heartland of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire, with Constantinople as its capital," said Dr. Patrick Hotle, coordinator of C-SC study abroad programs and associate professor of history. "Turkey is a very important element to the history of Europe and the Middle East."

Hotle has been the study abroad coordinator for five years and has taken students on six trips. "We plan to arrange more than two trips a year as part of the EXP@CSC curriculum in the future," added Hotle.

With the new curriculum, students can use the three-week short term to take a travel abroad course while earning three credit hours.

While in Istanbul, the group will learn about the Byzantine history and monuments at the Bosphorus University. A stop will be made in Troy where students will see its legendary walls and the replica of the famous wooden horse. Then the group will visit Asklepion, the ancient Healing Center, that served as a hospital. Famous pharmacist, Galenos, lived and died at this hospital and taught his first healing techniques to the local people. Other stops include Acropolis, a city built by one of the generals of Alexander the Great. A stop will be made in Ephesus, the most famous ancient Roman city in Turkey, and to Pamukkale, which means "cotton castle." The trip will end at the Eminonu pier to embark on a local boat to cruise along the famous Bosphorus Strait.  

"We encourage students to take this opportunity to travel to another country and become absorbed in the educational and historical elements that Turkey has to offer," Hotle said.

Culver-Stockton offers some financial aid opportunities to help students participate in study abroad programs during the two, three-week short terms each year. Five $500 Adams Sigma Phi Epsilon Awards and one Lipka Sigma Epsilon Award are given to students each year.

This year's recipient of the Lipka Sigma Epsilon Award is Megan Wellman, a junior English and psychology major from Kahoka, Mo. The recipients of the Adams Sigma Phi Epsilon Awards are Ariana Calderaro, a junior history and political science and criminal justice major from Hazelwood, Mo.; Kendra Feld, a senior arts and music major from Quincy, Ill.; Erin McLaughlin, a sophomore arts education major from Winfield, Mo.; Molly Glawe, a junior arts and theatre major from Farmer City, Ill.; and Daniel Coffman, a junior dance major from Eldridge, Iowa.

For more information about C-SC's study abroad program, go to www.culver.edu/academics/studyabroad/ . 

Bringer joins C-SC as director of campus safety

Mike Bringer, C-SC class of 1993, is the new director of campus safety at Culver-Stockton College. He is also a graduate of Canton R-V High School. "Campus safety is a high priority at Culver-Stockton, and we will continue to educate our students about safety for the remainder of this year and next," said Bringer. Before joining C-SC, he served as Canton police officer and as police chief. He also served with the Canton R-V Fire Department as assistant chief, captain, and training officer. In addition to serving locally, he previously worked as a police officer in Columbia, Mo., and as a narcotics investigator in Hannibal, Mo. Bringer owns a local landscaping business called Professional Touch Landscaping in addition to being C-SC's director of campus safety.

"We are pleased to have Mike join our staff. He brings a wealth of professional law enforcement experience, as well as familiarity with both the campus and the tri-state area. He will provide excellent leadership as we work together in this region to sustain and enhance the safety of our campus and community," said R. Joseph Dieker, vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college.

When he isn't working, Bringer enjoys basketball, fishing, weightlifting, and jogging. He lives in Monticello, Mo., with his wife and four children.