Student Highlights
- Anthropology student spends summer studying ancient tombs in northern Bolivia
- Political science students serve as delegates at Model U.N. conference
- Grad student earns degrees through partnership with Scotland university
- CMU student navigates cloud forest in Peru
My Journey to Bolivia
Anthropology student spends summer studying ancient tombs in northern Bolivia
By Renée June Pascouau
This summer I was fortunate to participate in an international and interdisciplinary research effort in northern Bolivia among the indigenous Aymara people in the Lake Titicaca region. The project is co-directed by my advisor and mentor, Dr. Sergio Chavez, a faculty member from the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Social Work at Central Michigan University.
Every day in Bolivia was an ethnographic experience, far beyond our archaeological field work. The friendships that I made put meaning into the archaeology, both as a way of understanding the past in its own right and by helping to restore and legitimize the cultural heritage of the indigenous people who live there today.
To prepare for the trip, I completed extensive literature reviews and attended weekly meetings with Dr. Chavez and two additional CMU students who participated in the summer field study. Our preparation included watching videos, practicing Spanish, learning native customs, and completing intensive cardiovascular exercise to stave off the effects of altitude sickness.>
Arriving in Bolivia
The landscape in Bolivia was like something from a dream. Everything I had seen previously paled in comparison. Upon arriving in El Alto, we stepped off the plane to be greeted by snow-capped mountains scraping the sunrise. The three-hour drive to our destination in Copacabana was magnificent. We drove down hillsides on narrow roads with sweeping curves into the Lake Titicaca region.
I arrived in Bolivia ready to open myself to the culture and people. I certainly was nervous, but it quickly began to feel like home. I have never met people so welcoming, courteous and friendly all while being protective of their culture and their families.
One memorable local custom follows an old tradition where each person stands up after a meal to thank by name each individual who joined in that meal. At first it seemed a bit silly and unnecessarily time consuming, but then you realize how incredibly respectful it is. It requires patience, being genuine, and remembering the names of everyone seated with you.
Participating in this tradition, whether at gatherings of a few people for lunch or an entire village in a fiesta, was important to my understanding of the way respect is expressed in the society.
Uncovering ancient tomb
Dr. Sergio Chavez has led an interdisciplinary research project in the Lake Titicaca Basin of Bolivia since 1992. Over the years, well-known specialists in the fields of archaeology, botany, zoology, ethnohistory, geology, ethnography and human biology have participated in the project. Local citizens have been hired and trained to participate in most processes of the field and laboratory research. In addition, students from CMU and other universities participate in various aspects of the research through field study programs.>
Our current excavation site, Cundisa, is in the heart of the town of Copacabana, which rests on a peninsula extending into Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world. Our home and laboratory are located right at the water's edge, so we walked home to the most spectacular sunsets each day.>
While I cannot discuss the specific findings because of the rights of the data to the Bolivian state, I can say that we look to have found the largest collection of Tiwanaku-era burials ever in Bolivia. The tombs and artifacts are estimated to be 1,000 years old and many have striking, finely-crafted, complete pottery. The finds are incredible, and more are uncovered daily.>
Building diplomacy efforts
The Cundisa site was in jeopardy for the majority of the time we worked there. Citizens from more than 30 communities in the local province were at odds over how the site should be used.
Some wanted to use the space for a farmer's market, a construction project that would have leveled the site. Others viewed the site as an important link to preserving and legitimizing the cultural heritage of the region's indigenous people.
This debate continued over television, radio and in public demonstration for a month before we began and then continuously while we excavated the site.
We spent days engaging in careful conversation, building alliances and educating the local communities about their past and our archaeology efforts. We searched for alternative locations for the farmer's market and communicated with all the "movers and shakers" in local politics.
These efforts resulted in earning a majority of local support for our project. In addition, we received extensive local, national, and international press coverage of our work and the conflict over the site. This led to statements of support from the national government and President Evo Morales, Bolivia's first indigenous president.
After years of rule by white, wealthy governments that were oppressive of indigenous majority groups, it is understandable that many are suspicious of any actions that prevent them from using land for economic gain. It is only through the efforts of skilled anthropologists and strong, long-term indigenous contacts that an anthropological site such as Cundisa can be protected from new development.
Reflecting on my journey
Working at Cundisa was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life. Many of the local citizens working at the site had been working on the research and excavation project for years. Dr. Chavez refers to the site leaders as "Ph.D.s without degrees" because of their experience, meticulous attention to detail, leadership qualities and scientific thinking. Working with people who had never set foot in a university, but who lived and breathed archaeology was a refreshing experience. They pushed me to learn more and work harder, and I will forever consider them good friends.
Laughter was contagious at the site and jokes about artifacts and workers spread rapidly from trench to trench. With these friendships I was able to ask the ethnographic questions that interested me and was often moved to tears by the answers I received.>
What I took away from this experience is a new and exciting knowledge of archaeology, how an archaeological project is run, and the conflicts that so often arise. I learned the importance of making contacts with local people, solidifying friendships, and making an effort to understand and appreciate the host culture while excavating in their lands.
Renée Pascouau will graduate from CMU in 2010 with a double-major in anthropology and pre-medicine.
Political science students serve as delegates at Model U.N. conference
A group of Central Michigan University students gained real-world experience as global ambassadors by stepping out of the classroom and into the United Nations headquarters in New York in March.
Eighteen CMU students attended the National Model United Nations Conference, the culmination of preparations completed in two Model U.N. courses taught by political science professor and Model U.N. course adviser David Jesuit.
At the beginning of the class, students from each participating university are assigned a country to research, represent and adopt the position of that country on various issues. This year, 16 CMU students represented the Republic of Kazakhstan, while two others acted on behalf of the United Kingdom.
"These students were truly assuming the role of a diplomat, down to the fact that they were sitting in the Great Hall of the General Assembly in the same seats that the ambassadors use," said Jesuit. "By adopting the role of another country, it gives students great experience with international relations and allows them to view important issues through a new perspective."
Tracy Biskup, who graduated from CMU in May with a bachelor's degree in political science, was one of two delegates who represented the United Kingdom on the Model U.N. Security Council. She spent months preparing for the conference by writing speeches and creating fact sheets and reports about the U.K.'s government, economy, military, and involvement in the U.N.
"You spend so much time studying and working on these topics that the simulation becomes real," said Biskup. "Our discussion on climate change and global security created a lot of frustration and dissention among the delegates because Russia and the United States did not want to discuss this topic and were very cautious about how the resolutions were drafted."
Biskup also experienced a sense of the power that the U.K. holds on the world stage.
"Representing the U.K. gives you a feeling of authority because the Security Council cannot pass any resolution without your approval. You become an important person for others to seek out," she said.
For Michael Cutino, who served as head delegate of the Kazakhstan committee, the experience served as a real-life exercise in diplomacy when the delegates met with a U.N. dignitary from Kazakhstan.
"Our delegation was fortunate enough to visit the Kazakhstani Mission to the U.N. where we were briefed by Mrs. Byrganym Aitimova, the Permanent Representative of Kazakhstan to the U.N.," said Cutino, who graduated from CMU in May with a bachelor's degree in political science.
"It was an informative session, and we were able to ask questions to further clarify and support our research. To meet and speak with an actual diplomat who works everyday within the organization we are attempting to simulate was an incredible experience for our entire delegation," he said.
Although Cutino admits that many of the students had little knowledge of Kazakhstan at the beginning of the semester, they developed a strong feeling of national pride for the world's ninth largest country during their rigorous preparations for the conference.
"Kazakhstan has become a model for religious toleration, nuclear disarmament and avoiding violent conflicts. The nation currently has no known enemies, and its leaders work diligently to facilitate cooperation and bridge the cultural gap between the East and the West. This gave us a wide range of possibilities for working with other delegates during the model U.N. conference," Cutino said.
Jesuit observes a sense of pride in his students each semester as they move from completing classroom work to actually applying their skills in such an authentic and prestigious setting.
"By preparing for and participating in the Model U.N. conferences, my students gain valuable experience in public speaking, debate, critical thinking and dispute-resolution skills.
"The discussions and resolutions that they work through with the other delegates are unpredictable, challenging and rewarding all at once. The students feel a tremendous amount of satisfaction from applying their knowledge and experiences in a practical and meaningful format," Jesuit said.
More than 4,000 college students from around the world served as U.N. delegates during the two conferences hosted by the National Model United Nations in 2008. For more information about the NMUN and the annual conference, visit http://www.nmun.org.
Grad student earns degrees through partnership with Scotland university
When graduate student Elizabeth Koprowski received a 65 on one of the first essays she submitted during her time as a student at the University of Strathclyde in Scotland, she started to panic.
"Thankfully, one of my Scottish friends explained to me that at Strathclyde, the grades are given on a 100 point scale, but a 70 is the equivalent of an A," said Koprowski. "My score of 65 was actually very good, whew!"
Koprowski spent one year studying in Glasgow, Scotland, through a partnership between the University of Strathclyde and Central Michigan University. The collaborative program offers students at both universities an opportunity to pursue a joint master of arts and Ph.D. degree in transnational history by completing course work at both universities.
The master of arts program courses serve as the main course work phase for the Ph.D. program. Students must complete the requirements for the joint master's degree to be admitted to the Ph.D. program.
"The structure and style of lessons between the two universities had some differences, but not many. In general, Strathclyde classes met far less often than at CMU-sometimes only once every other week-but that meant students were expected to be far more self-motivated at completing course-work," Koprowski said.
She arrived in Scotland in September of 2007 and returned to the U.S. in June, earning a master's degree from CMU and a diploma from the University of Strathclyde. She is now pursuing a Ph.D. in history from CMU.
"Studying abroad has been the most valuable part of my education. It has given me confidence, independence and a new perspective on the world. It also can be a humbling experience because you discover that you still have so much to learn," she said.
Koprowski believes it is particularly important for history students to study abroad because it gives them a chance to live the history.
"I always tell my students that it's one thing to read about the murder of David Rizzio, advisor to Mary, Queen of Scots, but it's an entirely different experience to visit Holyrood Castle and see the bloodstain on the floor.
"Likewise, studying abroad allows history students to learn about U.S. history from a different prospective. It's a chance to learn about our place in the global community, including the conceptions and misconceptions that other cultures have towards our country," she said.
While in Scotland, Koprowski had classes on Wednesday mornings and evenings and Friday afternoons. She also worked at a local shop selling soap and bath ballistics. On days off, she often took a train to Edinburgh to do research at the National Library or spent time with friends in Glasgow.
Koprowski embraced opportunities to participate in the cultural experiences available to her. She lived in university housing on campus with five other girls-a mixture of foreign and national students.
"We were located near the center of the city and close to many notable sites, including shopping centers, the world's tallest cinema, clubs, pubs, museums and parks. The flats were self-catering and we had our own bedrooms with shared living and bath rooms. I spent a lot of time cooking meals, watching movies and playing games with my flatmates," she said.
On weekends and during holidays, Koprowski traveled around Scotland to visit places such as Loch Ness, St. Andrews, the North Sea and the Scotland Highlands.
"The Isle of Skye was one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen, and driving on single-track dirt roads between narrow mountain passes and along wind-swept cliffs is something I will never forget," said Koprowski.
"I think my favorite place in Scotland was the tiny town of Aberfoyle, where I snapped pictures in a ruined church-yard and climbed a faerie-hill. It was everything I expected Scotland to be-tiny cottages, mountains towering over the landscape, and that peculiar magic that seems to surround the British Isles."
Elizabeth Koprowski received a bachelor's degree from CMU in 2006 with a double-major in instrumental music and world literature and a minor in history. After graduate school, she hopes to teach medieval studies or work in international education.
CMU student navigates cloud forest in Peru
For most Central Michigan University students, clearing a path through a dense cloud forest with a machete isn't part of their typical homework assignments. But that's exactly how Armada senior Keith Miller spent part of his summer last year while conducting field research near San Ramon, Peru.
Miller joined Charles Hastings, an associate professor of anthropology at CMU, on an archaeological assignment in Peru for 17 days during the summer of 2007.
"To reach some of the archeological sites, we had to trek through a dense forest with only Dr. Hastings' bearings and our machetes," said Miller. "It was pretty amazing to cut our own path and experience the rugged natural habitat of a cloud forest."
Miller, who will graduate from CMU in 2010 with a major in biology: natural resources and a minor in anthropology, said it's essential to have field work experience in his areas of study.
"The cloud forest-named for its low-level cloud cover-is one of the most diverse habitats for both flora and fauna, and there is still much unknown about it," said Miller. "Its environment provides a unique location to conduct research on wildlife, especially for a researcher traveling from the less-exotic Central Michigan area."
When they weren't clearing paths with machetes, the CMU researchers still found travel to be a challenge in the mountainous region.
"Travel is at the mercy of the landscape. Most of the roads follow the river valleys, so if the river curves back and forth, so does the road. Likewise, the mountain roads cross back and forth frequently to overcome the steep inclines. The distance between two destinations may look short on a map, but it often takes hours to travel that span," Miller said.
Upon reaching the sites, Miller searched for pottery shards or other man-made objects. He took meticulous notes and photographed each artifact that he discovered.
"It's exciting to see how capable the Inca civilization was at surviving in these areas of dense forest and high elevations-places where people choose not to live today," Miller said.
To prepare for the trip, Miller exercised regularly and spent weeks studying Spanish language books and seeking out online Spanish lessons. He also had to get several vaccinations and complete a series of malaria medications. His supplies included good hiking boots and socks, rain gear and strong insect repellent.
"Finding lost artifacts is an unforgettable and exciting experience," said Miller. "We still have so much to learn about past civilizations, and this trip has motivated me to continue seeking answers about how people survive and adapt to the world around them."
Keith Miller plans to pursue a master's degree in wildlife biology with the goal of becoming a wildlife biologist.
