(MINNEAPOLIS) — The 29th annual Nobel Peace Prize Forum, an international peace congress, is September 15-16 in Minneapolis. The 2017 Forum will focus on dialogue as a bridge to cross lines of difference on a range of contentious issues, from instability in North Africa and the Middle East, to gun violence reduction and the partisan “Red-Blue” divide in the United States. The Forum will also honor the 2015 laureate, the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet, recognized for its work toward building a pluralistic democracy in Tunisia.

PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS:

Sept. 15

• 9 – 10:45 a.m. – “The Power of Dialogue: A Conversation with the Tunisian National Dialogue Quartet.” Quartet members Mohamed Fadhel Mahfoudh, Hassine Abassi and Abdesattar Ben Moussa will explain how they brought together parties in a deeply divided country to forge a new democracy in the wake of the Arab Spring.
• 1:45 – 3 p.m. –“Health Care and Peace Building in Africa: Charting a Path Forward.” Panelists including Barbara Bush, CEO of Global Health Corps, will discuss improving health care delivery in Africa from the perspectives of non-profit, private sector, academic and other stakeholders.

Sept. 16

• 11:15 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – “Gun Violence Prevention: Prospects for Progress.” Former U.S. Rep. Gabby Giffords and Capt. Mark Kelly will discuss their work on efforts to reduce gun violence and the pressing aspects of that work in light of recent political changes.
• 7 a.m. – 6 p.m. – “Concentric Dialogue” art installations. In the spirit of fostering engagement, local and national artists have collaborated to create an outdoor exhibition of installations across the Augsburg University campus. Free and open to the public on September 16 and 17.

The 2017 Nobel Peace Prize Forum will be held at the Augsburg University campus, 2211 Riverside Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55454. Information and tickets are available at the website.

MEDIA CONTACT

Lida Poletz at lpoletz@gmail.com or 612-839-7489.

ABOUT THE NOBEL PEACE PRIZE FORUM

The Nobel Peace Prize Forum, hosted and presented by Augsburg University, brings together students and community members with Nobel Peace Prize laureates, world leaders and accomplished peacemakers to work on building a world in which people can live full, rich, meaningful lives. Under the auspices of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, the Nobel Peace Prize Forum inspires peacemaking by focusing on the work of laureates and international peacemakers and peacebuilders. More at .

ABOUT �鶹ԭ�� UNIVERSITY

Augsburg University offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 3,600 students of diverse backgrounds at its campus in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and the Rochester site. Augsburg educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

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(MINNEAPOLIS) – After a semester living, studying and traveling from St. Paul to New Orleans on the Mississippi River, students in the nation’s first-ever River Semester – created by Professor Joe Underhill – return to Minnesota on Sunday, Dec. 13.

The students, who departed St. Paul on Sept. 1 in 24-foot voyageur canoes for their journey to the Gulf of Mexico, are scheduled to arrive at 10 p.m. at St. Paul Union Depot. The group will be greeted by family, friends, and members of the Augsburg College community.

Visit Amtrak’s website for updated information on the track on which the train will arrive. Click the tab on the box that says “train status” and then look for the link in the bottom of the box that says “check status by city.” Enter “CHI” as the origination point and “MSP” as the destination.

River Semester Gallery Opening

The River Semester will be celebrated at a gallery opening from 5-7 p.m., December 16, and that will feature art, design, and typography that gives visitors a glimpse into the daily life of the River Semester students. The River Semester was incorporated into multiple classrooms led by Professor Christopher Houltberg, and as a way to help students understand how local, national, and global issues to highlight how design can act as a catalyst for change.

Christensen Center Student Art Gallery
Augsburg College, Christensen Center
22nd Avenue South at 7 1/2 Street, Minneapolis

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The River Semester kickoff garnered a range of attention. Gov. Mark Dayton proclaimed September 1 “Augsburg College River Semester Day” and many media outlets covered the launch of the class.

Since the students and faculty departed on their voyage, print and broadcast media have been sharing the story of this hands-on, interdisciplinary program. In fact, multiple stories have been picked up by the Associated Press and shared through the AP’s member media throughout the nation.

A snapshot of the ongoing media coverage is below. As additional coverage occurs, it will be added to this post.

November 9

• Shorewood native spending college semester paddling Mississippi River, Shorewood (Wisconsin) Now

October 16

• The Mississippi River is their classroom, The Hawk Eye, Burlington (Iowa)

October 15

• College student trekking down the Mississippi, White Bear (Minnesota) Press

October 8

• , WVIK Public Radio, Quad Cities

September 29

• College students take their semester to the river, KWWL (NBC) TV in Dubuque, Iowa
• , Mankato (Minnesota) Free Press

September 28

• Semester on Mississippi River brings college students to Dubuque, KCRG (ABC) TV in Cedar Rapids, Iowa

September 19

• , Minnesota Public Radio
• Open-Air Classroom: During River Semester, all of outdoors is classroom, Star Tribune
• During River Semester, all of outdoors is classroom, WRAL TV in Raleigh, North Carolina
•  of the story by the Associated Press that was shared by print and broadcast media outlets including the Military Times and outlets in Minnesota and South Dakota.

September 17

• , WCCO (CBS) TV

September 16

• , Bismarck (North Dakota) Tribune

September 15

• , Page 1, Winona (Minnesota) Daily News

September 9

• , Page 1, Red Wing (Minnesota) Republican Eagle

September 1

• Augsburg launches “River Semester” on Mississippi, KSTP(ABC) TV
• , Minnesota Public Radio
• , Page 1, Pioneer Press
• Gallery: Nation’s first-ever River Semester, Star Tribune
• , including of the story by the Associated Press that was shared by print and broadcast media outlets in Indiana, Minnesota, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

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WHAT

After nine weeks living, studying and traveling on the Mississippi River in a flotilla of 24-foot voyageur canoes and paddling nearly 600 miles, a group of Augsburg College students is slated to land on at the Gateway Arch at 1 p.m., Saturday. The students, who departed St. Paul on Sept. 1 as part of their semester-long journey to the Gulf of Mexico, will land in St. Louis just as the city is discussing the grade of D+ given on the Mississippi River Basin “report card” by a consortium of environmental organizations and as the city celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Gateway Arch.

WHEN

1 p.m., Saturday

WHERE

, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, 100 Washington Ave., St. Louis 63102

ABOUT THE RIVER SEMESTER

The students participating in this semester-long learning program will earn as many as 16 credits in biology, environmental studies, health and physical education, and political science.  During the trip, students will:

• Conduct a field research project on a topic such as water pollution, the Clean Water Act, sustainable agriculture in the watershed, political organizing around environmental issues, race relations and social justice, or urban riverfront revitalization.
• Explore the history, literature, food, music and culture of the Mississippi River.
• Gain skills tailored to meet the needs of partner organizations, including businesses,  graduate schools, nonprofits and government agencies.
• Attend town hall meetings and meet with environmental organizations along the river.
• Hear from guest lecturers about invasive carp, habitat restoration, authors Mark Twain and William Faulkner, ancient river civilizations, American Indian communities and their fight for justice, and the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

An overview of the trip can be found on the River Semester website at

ABOUT �鶹ԭ�� COLLEGE

Augsburg College, a private liberal arts college in Minneapolis, offered the River Semester in partnership with Wilderness Inquiry, a nonprofit and inclusive travel provider that specializes in experiential programming and outdoor travel for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Augsburg College offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 3,600 students of diverse backgrounds at its campuses located in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and in Rochester. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

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(MINNEAPOLIS) – After nine weeks living, studying and traveling on the Mississippi River in 24-foot voyageur canoes and paddling nearly 600 miles, a group of Augsburg College students is slated to land on Saturday at the St. Louis Gateway Arch.

The students, who departed St. Paul on Sept. 1 as part of their semester-long journey to the Gulf of Mexico, will land in St. Louis just as that city is discussing the grade of D+ given on the Mississippi River Basin “report card” by a consortium of environmental organizations and as the city celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Gateway Arch.

“Students on this trip are seeing and learning first-hand some of the reasons communities along the river are grappling with a watershed grade of D+. The river is used for many purposes and this puts a strain on the ecosystem, the infrastructure, and recreation,” said Joe Underhill, associate professor of political science and creator of this high-impact learning program.

“We have students who, for their individual class projects throughout the trip, are taking water quality samples, looking at chemical concentrations in the river, water treatment and light pollution. Paddling and camping along the river, we have observed first-hand problems with water quality, runoff from farms and factories, and current state of the locks and bridges along the way. This is part of a complex set of political considerations around how to balance all these competing interests on the nation’s iconic river.”

Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow will meet with the class in St. Louis on Sunday, Nov. 1 and Monday, Nov. 2.

The students participating in this semester-long learning program will earn as many as 16 credits in biology, environmental studies, health and physical education, and political science.

During the trip, students will:

• Conduct a field research project on a topic such as water pollution, the Clean Water Act, sustainable agriculture in the watershed, political organizing around environmental issues, race relations and social justice, or urban riverfront revitalization.
• Explore the history, literature, food, music and culture of the Mississippi River.
• Gain skills tailored to meet the needs of partner organizations, including businesses,  graduate schools, nonprofits and government agencies.
• Attend town hall meetings and meet with environmental organizations along the river.
• Hear from guest lecturers about invasive carp, habitat restoration, authors Mark Twain and William Faulkner, ancient river civilizations, American Indian communities and their fight for justice, and the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

The class will arrive in New Orleans around Thanksgiving. The group will return to the Twin Cities via train in mid-December and will arrive at St. Paul Union Depot.

An overview of the trip can be found on the River Semester website at .

About Augsburg College

Augsburg College, a private liberal arts college in Minneapolis, offered the River Semester in partnership with Wilderness Inquiry, a nonprofit and inclusive travel provider that specializes in experiential programming and outdoor travel for people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities. Augsburg College offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate degrees to nearly 3,600 students of diverse backgrounds at its campuses located in the vibrant center of the Twin Cities and in Rochester. Augsburg College educates students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders. The Augsburg experience is supported by an engaged community committed to intentional diversity in its life and work. An Augsburg education is defined by excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies, guided by the faith and values of the Lutheran church, and shaped by its urban and global settings.

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(MINNEAPOLIS) – A class of 16 Augsburg College students led by Professor Joe Underhill will depart Sept. 1 in 24-foot voyageur canoes to spend the semester studying, researching and living on the river. The students taking part in the nation’s first-ever River Semester will travel nearly 2,000 miles of the 2,350-mile-long Mississippi River to New Orleans and the Gulf of Mexico. The group will depart from in a launch event that is open to the public.

Students participating in this hands-on, interdisciplinary program will earn as many as 16 credits studying biology, environmental studies, health and physical education, and political science.

“The River Semester is a great example of the interdisciplinary, hands-on education for which Augsburg College is known. It shows the dedication of our faculty to build and deliver engaging learning programs that foster civic engagement,” said Augsburg College President Paul C. Pribbenow.

During the trip, students will:

• Conduct a field research project on a topic such as water pollution, the Clean Water Act, agriculture in the watershed, political organizing around environmental issues, race relations and social justice, or urban riverfront revitalization.
• Explore the history, literature, food, music and culture of the Mississippi River.
• Gain skills tailored to meet the needs of partner organizations, including businesses,  graduate schools, nonprofits and government agencies.
• Attend town hall meetings and meet with environmental organizations along the river.
• Hear from guest lecturers about authors Mark Twain and William Faulkner, ancient river civilizations, American Indian communities and their fight for justice, and the Dead Zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

To deliver the program, Augsburg is partnering with , a nonprofit and inclusive travel provider that specializes in educational programming and outdoor travel for persons with disabilities.

“Wilderness Inquiry has a decades-long commitment to place-based and environmental education. We’re thrilled to be part of this innovative, experiential program that is a first in higher education,” said Jeff Kemnitz, outreach director for Wilderness Inquiry.

Students will return to the Twin Cities via train on Dec. 17 and will arrive at St. Paul Union Depot.

, paddling about two hours from St. Paul to South St. Paul as part of a flotilla of 13 voyageur canoes that will include the Augsburg students, parents, high school students and members of the Augsburg community. Transportation will be provided from South St. Paul back to Kelley’s Landing.

An can be found on the River Semester website.

CONTACTS

• Stephanie Weiss, Augsburg College Director of News and Media Services, 612.330.1476
• Jeffrey Kemnitz, Wilderness Inquiry Outreach Director, 612.676.9427

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A group of students from Augsburg College traveled this year to Egypt to explore the impact of grassroots civic engagement and the challenges modern Egypt faces in the wake of its largely youth-led 2011 revolution.

The trip, led by Joe Underhill, associate professor and chair of political science, and Mohamed Sallam, director of Pan-Afrikan Student Services, was the first opportunity for some students to travel outside the United States. The cultural differences between the U.S. and Egypt were especially pronounced for these individuals, who during post-trip presentations discussed Egyptians’ impressive hospitality while also recalling the humor of trying to learn a barter system only after purchasing over-priced merchandise.

For Sallam, examining the difference between contemporary Egypt and the country he recalls from his youth was equally interesting. Sallam’s family moved to the United States from Egypt before he was born, but as a child he regularly visited the nation. He is fluent in Arabic, which helped he and Underhill organize the trip.

“I was always aware of the changes that were taking place from year to year,” Sallam said. “However, what made this time different was the excitement that the people we encountered expressed about the growing public discourse around social problems and politics. For me, those experiences were the most outstanding.”

Trip fosters critical thinking and civic engagement, helps develop of global citizens

Egypt’s political changes have been an axis through which several Augsburg programs, lectures, and travel experiences have connected. This year Augsburg offered students a course through which student delegates represented Egypt at the organization’s conference in New York City. The College also hosted the Batalden Symposium on Applied Ethics, and the convocation presentation featured founders of the Engaging and Empowering Egyptian Youth (EYouth) project. The three EYouth members who visited the College delivered a lecture on their experiences as protesters, presented observations on the process of political change, and participated in additional forums and workshops.

When Augsburg’s study abroad participants visited Egypt, they met with the EYouth students who had traveled to the Twin Cities. The groups continued the dialogue that began on Augsburg’s campus, identifying and discussing complex societal issues as well as the common threads that unite young people, such as hopes for the future and post-graduation goals. The students challenged preconceptions regarding each other’s culture, and the Augsburg students benefited from candid discussions that focused on the Egyptians’ civic participation and contribution to social change.

“Our students learned about civic engagement, which is a key part of Augsburg’s mission statement,” Underhill said. “We exposed them to people who are living civil duties to the extreme. It doesn’t get much more influential than putting your life on the line for a revolution.”

In post-revolution Egypt, civic engagement gives people a renewed sense of ownership in their country, according to Sallam. “Previously most private citizens were excluded from participating in public political life,” he said. Now, “people use their creativity and talents to make their lives and the lives of other Egyptians more meaningful.”

In addition to learning about Egyptian politics, the Augsburg students researched environmental sustainability, Muslim-Christian relations, and the effects of tourism, among other topics. Trip participants met with representatives from more than a dozen youth activism, economic development and environmental organizations that work to improve Egypt in its present time of political and societal transition. These visits expanded the knowledge students previously gained in the Augsburg classroom.

Underhill and Sallam partnered with the College’s award-winning to offer the trip. “Nurturing personal and professional connections makes our program meaningful and sustainable,” said Sallam. He and Underhill used their academic expertise, skills, backgrounds, and networks of international contacts to enrich students’ travel experiences by granting them access to unique and infrequently visited destinations.

Read about Augsburg alumna

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The Augsburg Choir

On May 6, the Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Peter Hendrickson ’76, departed for a 12-day tour of the Midwest. With stops in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington state, the Choir will perform nine concerts and have opportunities to connect with potential Auggies and their families as well as alumni and friends of the College.

Teaching English as a Second Language in Thailand with Kathryn Swanson

This is the fifth year that English professor Kathy Swanson and her husband, Jack, have taken students to teach English in Thailand as part of a short-term study abroad course through the Center for Global Education. Years ago, the Swansons served in the Peace Corps in Thailand for two years and still have connections in the small town where they once taught.

Before departing, students learn about language and culture in Thailand and practice speaking some “survival Thai,” Swanson said. For the teaching week, students learn the pedagogy of teaching English as a second language—essentially what and how to teach. Some students on the program are English or education majors, but others are from other majors including business, religion, and the sciences. Students take Swanson’s class, she said, not only to learn more about teaching English to language learners but also to experience life in a country half way around the world from the U.S.

For the three weeks they are in Thailand, Swanson said the group has an intense schedule filled with a variety of experiences. They travel by plane, boat, train, taxi, subway, tuk-tuks (a small open motorized vehicle, like a rickshaw), and even have a chance to ride elephants. They also take in tourist activities such as visiting temples, rafting on the river, and visiting pottery and silk makers. Then for ten days, they teach in Prachuap Khirikhan, the town where the Swansons taught while in the Peace Corps.

Swanson said the students often comment in their travel journals that they are completely shocked by their experiences in Thailand—by the sights and sounds and by the stark contrast between the poverty and opulence that can be seen there. “The only way to understand anything about the world is to do it,” she said. “Word of mouth among students is that it’s exhausting but it’s worth it.”

Pictured above: Students on the 2008 Thailand program. See photos from the program on flickr.

Youth Movements and Social Change in Egypt with Joe Underhill and Mohamed Sallam

In this combined course in political science and history, students will explore the roots of Egypt’s largely youth-led revolution and ongoing efforts to rebuild Egypt. Students will examine the effects that the 2011 revolution has had on public discourse about environmental sustainability, police brutality, Muslim-Christian relations, and access to basic services. They will also observe the historic presidential elections taking place in late May, visit mosques and pyramids, Nubian villages, an ecotourism resort on the Red Sea, and a Bedouin camp in the desert.

Read about the group’s experiences on the authored by Joe Underhill.

International Management and Finance in Germany with Marc McIntosh

For four weeks in May and June, a group of German students and professors from Karlsruhe paired with Augsburg students and assistant business professor Marc McIntosh to study international business practices.

The group met for the first two weeks in Europe, visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg and witnessing firsthand the financial crisis that was coming to a head in Europe at that time. They also went to the Frankfurt stock exchange and experienced the volatility in the financial market as a result of the crisis, McIntosh said.

While in the U.S., the students visited three companies with strong ties to Germany and gained insights into how to do business in overseas markets. Finally, the students participated in an intensive business simulation game with teams competing to maximize shareholder value through the launches of multiple product offerings.

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The first of these opportunities is the Batalden Symposium on Applied Ethics which will feature three members of the EYouth (Engaging and Empowering Egyptian Youth) project. The lecture on Monday, Feb. 13 at 10 a.m., is free and open to the public.

Said Joe Underhill, professor of political science and adviser for Augsburg’s Model UN course, “We are hoping these events will provide students with a rich and inter-related set of learning experiences that will inspire and empower our students to be informed citizens, thoughtful stewards, critical thinkers, and responsible leaders.”

Opportunities for community and student engagement include the following:

Feb. 13-16:  The Batalden Symposium on Applied Ethics featuring Alaa Abd El-Rahman, Nada Yehia, and Noor Hafez of the EYouth project

Convocation lecture: Monday, Feb. 13, 10 a.m., Hoversten Chapel, Foss Center

Workshop: Feb. 13, 1:30-4:30, East Commons, Christensen Center

Interfaith dialogue on political action: Feb. 13, 7:30 p.m., Trinity Lutheran Building (corner of Riverside and 20th Ave S)

The convocation presentation by Mr. El-Rahman, Ms. Hafez, and Ms. Yehia will describe their experiences as part of the protests and observations about the process of youth-led political change in Egypt. In addition to the convocation, the speakers will work with Augsburg students on projects of common interest (such as collaboration on a public opinion survey for youth on civic engagement), a town hall forum and interfaith dialogue on social change, and a workshop on youth leadership development.

Mar. 1-3 Nobel Peace Prize Forum

Events and workshops related to youth empowerment and social change (including in Egypt, Somalia, India, and in the Twin Cities). Featured speakers and performers include former South African president F. W. de Klerk, human rights activist Naomi Tutu, and rapper Dessa. The Forum includes tracks in business, arts and music, education, and global studies. Learn more at the .

The Model UN Course at Augsburg 

This year delegates will represent Egypt at the Model UN Conference in New York City in May. They will also meet with the Egyptian Mission to the UN and Council on Foreign Relations expert Ed Husain.

May 19-June 11: Youth Movements and Social Change in Egypt

In this summer study abroad course, Augsburg students will meet with the Egyptians from the EYouth Movement to continue building the partnerships and collaborative relationships around youth empowerment. Students will also study the revolution and sustainable development in Egypt. Deadline to sign up for this seminar is February 10.

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