Student Bios
Listed below are the students who are currently taking "The Politics and History of World War II" sophomore seminar.
Name:
James R. Atkinson
Major:
History and economics
Project Topic:
Internment camps during World War II, specifically, "I plan on examining everyday life in the internment camps and the effect it had on that demographic."
Why I took this class: "
I took the class because... I've always been fascinated by the era. I have done a fair amount of outside reading on the subject as well as watching history channel programs and movies."
Name:
Alexis Buscaglia
Major:
Economics and French
Project Topic:
The Battle of the Bulge, specifically "the war tactics used by both sides during this battle."
Why I took this class:
"I, unlike many people, have no close ties to WW II. I have very distant relatives who served in the war, but no one significant in my life. This class gives me the opportunity to sort of live vicariously through other people's stories."
Name:
Courtney Chapman
Major:
Biochemistry
Project Topic:
Social change, specifically, "propaganda on the homefront."
Why I took this class:
"I am and always have been fascinated by World War II, the ideological tendencies, and the ease with which to turn it into good versus evil."
Name:
Sondra Conti
Major:
Public Policy with a biology minor
Project Topic:
Russia's role during World War II, specifically, "Russian arts - mainly classical music - and how it enhanced and bolstered nationality and the great feeling of Soviet Pride during the war."
Why I took this class:
"I really ignored history until college - I never appreciated it until now. And my dad is a huge history - mainly civil war and WWII - fanatic so he got me interested. Also my grandmother lived in London during the war."
Name:
Lauren Fisher
Major:
Sociology (intended)
Project Topic:
Japanese internment camps, specifically, "historical memory of Japanese internment."
Why I took this class:
"I'm interested in the era and looking forward to the Europe trip."
Name:
Catherine Garrison
Major:
Government
Project Topic:
The Battle of the Bulge, specifically, "the combat experience... and how it affected the efficiency of the Allied response."
Why I took this class: "
I decided to take this class because although both of my grandfathers and my great-aunt served in the war, I had little previous knowledge of the conflict. I hope that by studying the war, I will gain a better understanding of the event that affected their lives so deeply, and in turn gain even more respect for the sacrifices they made through their participation in the war."
Name:
Ann Hapanowicz
Major:
Economics and government
Project Topic:
Social change, specifically, "women in the workforce."
Why I took this class:
"I took this class because I have always been interested in World War II, and I have many relatives that are veterans of the war. It is an interesting topic and I am eager to learn more about [it]."
Name:
Adam Kinney
Major:
History with a government minor
Project Topic:
Resistance movements, specifically, "Pro-Axis sentiment in the United States immediately prior to the War and during. I will be paying special attention to the America First Committee and the German-American Bund."
Why I took this class:
"I decided to take this class because it was one of the only Sophomore Seminars that was historically oriented."
Name:
Dana Kirchoff
Major:
History
Project Topic:
Social change during World War II, specifically, "the experiences and social changes of African Americans on the homefront."
Why I took this class:
"I'm taking this class because I have always had an interest in WWII. Both of my grandfathers were involved in the war, one was a clerk in England, and the other was training to be a bomber [pilot] in Puerto Rico, but never actually went to war. I would always ask them questions about the war and what it was like back then. One of my grandfather's brothers who served in the army was captured in Normandy and spent nine months in a German POW camp until the end of the war. These stories always interested me."
Name:
Katrina Lexa
Major:
Public Policy
Project Topic:
Russia, specifically, "the repression of the people there contrasted to the repression by the Nazis, and how the Russians managed to fight a popular war, even under the watch of the NKVD."
Why I took this class:
"I took this class because World War II has always fascinated me. I've been doing reports on it since I was a little girl, perhaps because my grandfather spent the war fighting in the Pacific as an Army pilot... He [my grandfather] died at the end of last year, so this class is one way for me to honor his memory."
Name:
Mark Lutenski
Major:
Economics
Project Topic:
The Battle of the Bulge, specifically, "the German decision to engage in the Ardennes Counteroffensive, the deployment of their forces, the reasons for its failure, and the direct consequences to the war effort."
Why I took this class:
"Both of my grandfathers were ready to ship out to the front when the war ended and their inexperience with battle made it such that they didn't mind discussing the conflict. The fabricated stories they told always sparked my interest and the WWII movies and documentaries that I've seen since have continued to fuel my curiosity. The state that America was left in politically and economically at the war's end have continued to contribute to the country's success internationally and I feel that the changes in policy America adopted by the war's conclusion can be seen in many of the stands it takes on global issues today. Even [President] Bush's "Axis of Evil" holds parallels to that great conflict which occurred 50 years ago. Just by studying the war, I think I can learn a great deal regarding current issues because the very shockwaves of the event have carried on to affect our lives today. Like many people, I have also been to Normandy before and want to re-experience the reality you feel when walking the beaches."
Name:
Shauna Masi
Major:
History
Project Topic:
Social change during World War II, specifically, "African Americans in the military."
Why I took this class:
"I took this class because both my grandfathers were veterans and because of an overall interest in the topic."
Name:
Alyssa Menegat
Major:
Government and art history
Project Topic:
Internment camps during World War II, specifically, "the constitutionality of the internment [camps] and any Supreme Court cases brought up."
Why I took this class:
"World War II is an important part of history, both in the United States and worldwide, so I thought it was a good idea to know as much about it as possible. Also, it is interesting with regard to [my] personal ancestry; what would have happened if my family had not emigrated from Italy? There are many hypothetical and rhetorical questions that can be asked about WWII, and hopefully this class will encourage thinking and discussion about those questions."
Unique Experience:
"My grandfather served in the war for the Navy in the Pacific before becoming a Lieutenant Colonel for the Army, so this is also a way for me to learn more about his experiences."
Name:
Michael Osborne
Major:
Government and economics
Project Topic:
Implements of war, specifically, "the role of submarines [during World War II]."
Why I took this class:
"I have always had an interest in WWII. From reading the Diary of Anne Frank and other stories about the Holocaust, I have grown an interest in learning more about this historic period in our country's history. I have an uncle who is currently in the military, and his involvement has always sparked an interest in the military. I also had a grandfather [who] serve[d] in the Navy in the Pacific during the war."
Name:
Noah Philip Plakun
Major:
Philosophy with a French minor
Project Topic:
The Battle of the Bulge, specifically, "the importance of Bastogne."
Why I took this class:
"My great-uncle fought at the Battle of the Bulge. He never much liked to talk about his experiences because they were more often than not rough times. I took this class to honor my great-uncle and gain a better understanding of what he endured for his family and his country."
Name:
Gary Satow
Major:
History major with an education minor
Project Topic:
Internment camps during World War II, specifically, "the internees who volunteered to fight for the US in Europe."
Why I took this class:
N/A
Name:
Sharlene Slagen
Major:
History
Project Topic:
Social change during World War II, specifically, "the effects of the war on American women on the home front."
Why I took this class:
"I took this course... because [it was one of] the more intriguing Sophomore Seminars being offered. I have always found WWII very interesting. Ideologically, it was a war that had a clear-cut mission--the fight against "evil"--and I find that to be fascinating. I also have three family members who served in the war: my grandfather worked at a navy shipyard in Boston, my other grandfather was in the Army Medical Corps in the Philippines, and my uncle served in the army and worked in tanks, mostly in France."
Name:
Sean Thorsen
Major:
Public Policy
Project Topic:
Implements of war, specifically, "the influence that tanks had on the war. I will discuss the technological advances associated with the tank that came directly before and during WWII. I plan to show how these technological advances influenced tactics during the war. And finally, I will discuss how the Allies were able to defeat their enemies, even though the Axis powers (especially Germany) enjoyed tactical superiority in this area for most of the war."
Why I took this class:
"I took this class because I wanted to learn more about the largest and most influential war in modern history."
Name:
Benjamin F. Turner
Major:
History
Project Topic:
"Behind the Lines, specifically, Operation Double Cross."
Why I took this class:
"[The History of] World War II seemed fascinating and I really enjoy [Professor] Klinkner's teaching."
Name:
Benjamin Zanfagna
Major:
Government
Project Topic:
Implements of war, specifically, "the U.S. Air Force and its technological advancements during the period as well as [its] application of
technology and tactics."
Why I took this class:
"Both of my grandfathers served in
WWII, [and] the opportunity to travel is a huge bonus."
Name:
Stephen E. Zeek
Major:
German
Project Topic:
Russia, specifically, "the Battle of Stalingrad- the Russian experience there."
Why I took this class:
"[I've] been reading about the war since I was young [and] I used to hear stories from veterans."