Author: Forbes

Today was another study-filled day, but we made sure to leave room for fun.  Students read three documents for today’s lecture, and in some cases used that context to flesh out their close reading essays further.  After lunch, Charlotte Goodman (a graduate TA), Professor Pinsker, and the undergraduate interns took the students on the Dickinson and Slavery tour developed by House Divided.  Using markers throughout Dickinson’s campus, the instructors educated the students about the college’s founders and their connections to slavery, the impact Dickinsonians made on the Dred Scott decision, a gate named after the first formerly-enslaved person formally honored by the college, and Dickinson’s first Black employees.  The tour ended with an exploration of the House Divided studio itself, and the students were able to learn more about Dickinson and Carlisle’s history and inspect reproductions of historical artifacts, such as Dred and Harriet Scott’s freedom files.  Several of them also located a hat similar to Abraham Lincoln’s, and of course, that required immediate trials of its fit.

Arianna in Lincoln Hat, Vincent Jealous of Her Style

Ava Harnessing Lincoln’s Power

Robert Embodying Lincoln’s Spirit

Other students chose to inspect early editions of plaques stored in the studio, or photos on the wall of Freedom Courtyard (located behind the studio).

Ben Studying Original Plaques for Noah Pinkney

Anderson, Finn, Erik, and Anthony Being Studious

The entire tour was an enlightening experience which the students enjoyed before heading off to an admissions workshop.  That mini-class informed them about how best to prepare for college essays and interviews.  The students had been working on their close reading posts for the last few days, and they were finally due this evening.  All of the undergraduate tutors were available for video or writing assistance up until the deadline for any student who requested help.

At nine o’clock, the students gathered in the 4th-floor common room for a ‘PowerPoint night’ event.  Anyone who wished (including TAs and interns) could choose a topic in which they were interested, prepare a funny slideshow, and then present it to everyone in the room.  After clearing their presentations with the TAs or interns, the students were free to teach everyone about their niche interests.  Watching everyone’s presentations was a wonderful way for the students to let off some steam after being so dedicated to their close reading posts.  A special all-day field trip to Washington, D.C. was scheduled tomorrow, so after the slideshows were done, everyone prepared themselves to get some rest for what would surely be an event-packed, educational day.

Finn Ending His Persuasive PowerPoint

Cooper Standing Next to His Lookalike

After contemplating the text and context of Thursday’s documents – Sojourner Truth’s women’s rights speech and Frederick Douglass’ Fifth of July speech – the students headed off to their discussion sections to delve deeper into the subtext.  These small group sessions were certainly insightful, but the highlight of the day came in the afternoon.  After lunch, the students had the unique opportunity to attend an Underground Railroad site in downtown Carlisle.

Cooper Addressing the Students Outside the Courthouse

Graduate TA and published author Cooper Wingert guided the students through the legacy of Carlisle’s courthouse.  He described the famous McClintock Riot trial which took place in that very courtroom, and delved into the discrepancies between the federally-mandated Fugitive Slave Act and state-level decisions about forcibly returning freedom seekers.  At the end of his talk, Cooper implored the students to ponder whether they would consider the courthouse an Underground Railroad site.  Was the essence of the Underground Railroad secrecy, or simply the mission to free as many enslaved people as possible?

Students Listening to Cooper in the Courtroom

After Cooper concluded, the students were allowed to take pictures posing in the courtroom (while being careful to avoid the historical wooden chairs in a sectioned-off portion).  Several were elated about the opportunity to hold the gavel used in Carlisle court cases.

Vanessa Wielding the Gavel

Anthony and Finn Posing on the Witness Stand

Vanessa, Vincent, Erik, and Ava Posing in the Judges’ Seats at the Historic Courthouse

The Courthouse mini-field-trip was an enjoyable way to tie the historical concepts about which the students had been learning to a tangible, nearby building.  After this, the students attended a workshop which walked them through the different elements of the college admissions process, including familiarization with the Common App.  The day ended with a hearty dining hall dinner.  From 7-9 pm, the students met with their graduate TAs in-dorm to brainstorm for their close-reading assignments.  Tomorrow, there will be a campus-wide historical scavenger hunt; stay tuned.

Monday was a great introduction to what our Teagle Seminar is going to be all about.  Sunday evening, the students read ‘On Being Brought From Africa’ by Phillis Wheatley and the Declaration of Independence by Thomas Jefferson.  On Monday morning, they attended a lecture led by Professors Johnson and Mealy, which presented them with relevant context and subtext for the two documents and allowed them to develop new ways of thinking about the motivations Wheatley and Jefferson may have had while writing.  After a quick snack break, the students broke into groups to discuss the readings in a more in-depth manner.

Students in Denny Hall 317 during Context Lecture

Spirited discussion led to lunchtime in Dickinson’s dining hall, and after lunch was Professor Pinsker’s Close Reading Workshop, during which the professor checked in on how the students were settling into the dorm before discussing how their upcoming assignments should be completed.  After that workshop, the students who wished to attend the Kline Fitness Center completed a short orientation before touching base briefly at the High Street residence.  Our final activity before dinner was a tour of campus, and along the way we traveled through Rector (one of the science-focused buildings on campus), the HUB (a central building which houses the dining hall, bookstore, and juice-bar, among other resources), and the library.  The students ended the day back at the dorm, hanging out and reading tomorrow’s source materials.  It was a busy and fun first day, and we can’t wait to see what the rest of the week brings.