Category: Seminar Blog Page 1 of 2

Arriving at D.C. and the Lincoln Memorial

Growing up in a history-loving household had its benefits, such as going to Washington D.C. as often as time would allow it. However, it is not everyday that I got to go to D.C. truly knowing why certain quotes were etched into marble in the Lincoln Memorial. So, of course, when Professor Pinsker stood below the “The Gettysburg Address” explaining the context, I felt truly inspired. Who knew that Lincoln revised the speech three times after it was delivered? Certainly not me. Professor Pinsker also made it notable to mention the current “cultural wars” raging behind the scenes, and how certain signs may be hung up asking for feedback. This raised several questions to my mind: why are we erasing history? Who said that history needed to make us comfortable? What can I do about this? Of course, my thoughts were quickly swept away as we made our way down the smooth steps of the Lincoln Memorial and marched in double time to the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial.

MLK Jr. Memorial

As I stood in front of a granite wall with a quote staring back at me, I continued my pondering. This whole seminar was about reflection, and now I had the perfect chance to take a jab at it. The MLK Jr. quote that spoke to me the most, especially in the current political climate, was the following: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.” I have read this quote a plethora of times in school, but reading it in the capitol of the United States, on a historical college seminar, in the year of 2025 felt more impactful than ever. I stood there at the wall for several minutes, my throat seeming to close up at the reality of the nationwide situation. Then it hit me: I had the same amount of opportunity and power to change the world as any activist or historical figure that I would tear up reading about today. I left the memorial feeling awestruck, inspired, and called to action.

The National African American History Museum

I had been to the NHAAHM once or twice before, but I had spent most of my time on the upper floors. This museum is one of those museums where you could walk around for over two days and still have information to learn. I immediately knew I wanted to spend the majority of my time in the historical gallery in the basement, and I was not disappointed. The whole time, I had the looming question of “what can I do to make their challenges and strife worth it?” I can confirm I was not the only person thinking this, as by the time my friends and I had reached the second concourse, all of our faces were wet and snotty. In a hidden corner of the concourse, however, was a small memorial for what some say was the kickstart of the Civil Rights Movement as we know it: the brutal murder of Emmett Till. I had spent a full day of my AP United States History class talking about this case, but seeing images face to face was just an indescribable feeling words cannot describe. In fact, the whole historical gallery left me incredibly emotional. I am usually told I ask too many questions, but I genuinely could not shake the question of what can I do to stop the current atrocities plaguing the nation, especially with how similar they are to the past? On a brighter note, it was incredibly amusing to see my friends appreciating the museum as much as I did. It was even more amusing to have them wave at me when they were in the model train car and I was sobbing beneath them.

The Emancipation Memorial and Heading Home

Our final stop for the day was the Emancipation Memorial in Lincoln Park. While we were there, Professor Pinsker had us do an empathy test in order to understand why the memorial was still up even after major controversy, and why people would want it down in the first

place. This exercise really brought together the thought process I had been lingering on all day. Empathy. The power of empathy is truly underused. I believe that many issues in the current world would be fixed if the general population took a lesson in empathy. I also realized that we have these memorials because of strong surges of empathy and admiration for the people that are erected. For example, without empathy, I do not believe there would have been an Emmett Till Memorial. Without empathy, there would not be a Lincoln Memorial. I would dare to say that without empathy, the 13th Amendment would not exist without empathy, either. Overall, the lesson I took from today was empathy and how it is used in history. That leaves me with one final question: how will history see my efforts in empathy?

The following post came from a participant in the 2023 Knowledge for Freedom seminar. It is a model for students in this summer’s program to consider as we prepare for our visit to Washington.

My First Trip to DC:  Today our seminar group went on a trip to Washington D.C. All I have to say is that it was amazing, inspiring, and breathtaking. Throughout Washington, we stopped at many places. First, we went to the Lincoln Memorial and got to see Lincoln sitting in the chair with a famous quote above him but also with his great speeches to the left and right wall of the building. The pictures you look up online are nothing compared to what it’s like in person. In person, it’s so much bigger and detailed.  The experience really captures the significance of Lincoln and the building. Not far away, there’s a memorial park to MLK Jr. called Out of The Mountain of Despair. A Stone of Hope, that contains inspiring peaceful quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. along with MLK Jr. carved out 3D style. Second, we went to the the National Archives Museum. We couldn’t take pictures but we got to see the original Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Needless to say, those clerks had amazing handwriting. The artwork above the  original documents was really eye catching and interesting to learn more about. The museum exhibits also had a lot of information to look at and more opportunities to learn about historic topics. Third, we went to the Smithsonian African American Museum where we got to learn so much about African American culture, from music old and new, sports from then vs now, and about people I never knew about before. I loved that I got to see Whitney Houston dress, which was captivating by the way.My favorite thing I got to see being there was the suit from the Black Panther movie.

Lastly we went to the Emancipation Memorial, which is very controversial, and I understand and see it, too. But the context proves the significance. Thomas Ball was the artist who created the statue. Charlotte Scott was the first person to donate $5 to the cause. Archer Alexander was represented as the slave in the monument.  He was a free man but had been the last enslaved man in Missouri captured under the fugitive slave law. The vision is supposed to be the now freed slave positioning himself to standing up while Lincoln in his right hand has the emancipation proclamation. But with that, it’s up to the future now whether the statue stays, moves location, or gets recreated. Overall I had an amazing experience, and 100% enjoyed it.

Students spent the morning discussing the compromises that had to be made after the Civil War. To fuel their discussions, they read the Reconstruction Amendments, “New Colossus” by Emma Lazarus, and “On Democracy” by E.B. White. Professor Mealy and Professor Pinsker debated on if there were too many compromises after the Civil War. Professor Pinsker, on the negative side, won. After lunch, student were hard at work on preparing for Friday’s debate before heading to an admissions session to learn how to nail the college essay and interview. Because of the big D.C. trip tomorrow, students relaxed during the evening with a movie. Predictably, students chose to watch Lincoln.

Movie night!

Today, the groups for the Friday Lincoln-Douglass debate were decided by a coin flip. Team Lincoln will consist of Ada, Mark, Hasset, Sasha, Mia, Sam, and Chelsea, while Aleyna, Muhammed, Jackson, Toma, Dominic, Kyleigh, and Sabine will make up Team Douglass as they debate approaches to ending 19th century slavery.

Team Lincoln convenes after coin flip

An afternoon workshop introduced students to resources for first-generation students at Dickinson, and then it was time for project work, debate prep, and dinner. To celebrate finishing their Close Reading Assignments, everyone was treated to frozen custard at Massey’s, and returned to the dorm for Hamilton karaoke!

Finishing those essays!

Frozen Custard at Massey’s

Karaoke!

Standing by real Civil War cannons

Yesterday was our much-anticipated trip to Gettysburg! Cooper led us through the three days of the battle and highlighted not only troop movements and strategies, but also stories of individual stories of soldiers present, questions about displaying Confederate monuments, and the Confederate presence in Carlisle that preceded the Gettysburg battle. At the Eternal Peace Monument, Professor Pinsker told us about meeting a Carlisle man who had shaken the hands of Gettysburg veterans, making the battle seem not so far away.

On the battlefield

We later moved to visiting McPherson Ridge, Little Round Top, and Cemetery Ridge. Getting to walk among these spots gave us a sense of the battle’s huge scale and insight into what motivated the generals to make the defensive choices they did. We wrapped up by visiting the National Cemetery (where Lincoln gave his famous speech) and took a quiet moment among the graves of all of the unidentified soldiers from the battle. 

Jackson is ready to serve

After a quick lunch break, we headed into the museum to look at recreations of a soldier’s camp, walk through exhibits on the cause of the Civil War, and even try on Union uniforms. We then watched a movie that brought the battle to life and viewed the Cyclorama, a circular painting nearly 400 feet that depicts Pickett’s Charge. Before we headed back to Carlisle, we took our annual picture with the statue of Lincoln. In the evening, students were still not done and continued to work on their close reading essays. All in all, it was an incredible day, especially for people like me who had never visited Gettysburg.

Posing with Abe!

The students began their day with breakfast and a morning lecture by Prof. Pinsker. In the afternoon, they attended a workshop by the League of Women Voters. Arguably the highlight of the day was the evening scavenger hunt which sent students all around Dickinson, testing their knowledge of our campus. All students won candy and Dickinson merch, but Jackson, Ada, and Muhammad’s group came in first place! After showers and dinner, the group laughed and chattered on as they baked a cake together (which came out delicious), bringing the day to a sweet conclusion.

Students pose by Civil War marker on campus

On Thursday, students got up in the morning, had breakfast and walked to their daily morning lecture.

Students walk through the academic quad on their way to class.

Shortly after lunch, the students walked with Prof. Pinsker and the staff to the Cumberland County Historic Courthouse, where Assistant Program Director Cooper Wingert gave a lecture on its history. Students went inside the air-conditioned courthouse, where they were able to relax away from the heat outside and listen to Cooper.

Assistant Program Director Cooper Wingert begins his tour of the Courthouse.

Inside the Courthouse, Cooper is asked a question by one of the students.

Students pose in the courthouse at the end of Cooper’s tour.

After the visit to the courthouse, students and staff walked back to the campus grounds, where they began the House Divided Project’s very own Dickinson and Slavery Walking Tour. Interns Olivia, Sarah, and Andrew each covered their own tour stops. Olivia covered Dickinson’s history on the issue of slavery during the earliest years of the campus, Sarah covered the infamous Dred Scott decision where Dickinson alumnus Roger B. Taney was the Chief Justice, while Andrew covered many of the notable formerly enslaved black people who worked at Dickinson during the Nineteenth Century. Students ended their tour visiting the museum-styled House Divided Studio, where they looked at many photos related to Civil War era topics and slavery.

Intern Olivia speaks to students about Dickinson’s history on the issue of slavery.

Intern Sarah speaks to students about the infamous Dred Scott decision (1857)

Intern Andrew speaks to students about Noah and Carrie Pinkney, a formerly enslaved couple who worked in Carlisle during the Nineteenth Century.

Intern Andrew continues his tour right outside the House Divided Studio in the freedom courtyard, which is dedicated to free black or formerly enslaved employees such as Henry Spradley or Robert Young.

On Wednesday, students started the day off by learning about texts from Frederick Douglass, Frances Harper, and Sojourner Truth in class with Professor Pinsker and Professor Mealy. The group discussed how Douglass fashioned his famous “Fifth of July” speech to address specific audiences. 

Don’t look down!

After lunch, we headed out on a mini road trip to the Pennsylvania State Capitol, complete with The Greatest Showman karaoke and the alphabet game. When we arrived, everybody was awed by the building’s paintings, glass domes, and chandeliers. Our tour guide told us the history of the building and the artists who made it, as well as showing us the Senate, House of Representatives, and Supreme Court Chambers. It was amazing to see the rooms where such important decisions are made.

Learning about the House of Representatives

Stepping into history

We also stopped at the A Gathering at the Crossroads monument to talk about some of Harrisburg’s Black leaders in the 1800s and poet Frances Ellen Watkins Harper. Students stood in the middle of the memorial, representing how today they can be part of the next generation of civic leaders who fight for what they believe is right, just like the historical figures. 

On Tuesday, students participated in lectures by Professor Mealy and Professor Pinsker before going on a short field trip to the Cumberland County Historical Society. The group stopped at some of Carlisle’s historical markers on the walk over to discuss topics such as the American Revolution and Whiskey Rebellion.

Students engaged in lectures on Tuesday

At the CCHS museum, students explored the impressive permanent exhibit featuring artifacts from the Carlisle Indian Industrial School (1879-1918) and many other Cumberland County artifacts from the 18th century onward. Later that afternoon, Dickinson Admissions Counselor Kristina Lang led an information session about college admissions and answered questions on the college application process. The day concluded out on the grass where students played football, volleyball, and cornhole.

Students pose by Carlisle historical mural on the way to Cumberland County Historical Society

Students examine military artifacts at CCHS Museum

Students explore CCHS exhibit

Students participate in outdoor games on the grass

Students listening to Prof. Pinsker during his lecture.

On Day One, students got up bright and early to go to breakfast in the HUB. They began their learning experience in Denny Hall, where history classes are usually held during the college semester. During their first class, they discussed the texts On Being Brought From Africa (1773) by Phillis Wheatley, and the Declaration of Independence (1776) by Thomas Jefferson, while the Age of Enlightenment was the main topic in this lecture. Afterwards, the students went downstairs to another classroom where they discussed Subtext with Professor Mealy. After this discussion, the students were taken to lunch by the interns and grad RAs, again at the HUB. After lunch, the students attended a Workshop alongside the staff members, where they registered their laptops and other devices on the campus network, and some also completed the Kline Center online fitness orientation, which is required to go to the gym. After taking a campus tour through admissions, the staff accompanied the students to dinner, and all of us went to Massey’s, the ice cream shop down the road shortly after. Afterward, some of us watched the Home Run Derby in one of the High Street common rooms, while other students studied hard at work. Overall, a very successful day and lots of fun too!

Students and some of our Staff enjoy watching the 2025 MLB Home Run Derby in one of the High Street common rooms.

Some of the students enjoying Massey’s ice cream, as well as the vibe!