Honors Program to offer trip to Rome, Greece and Washington, D.C.

The University Honors program offers many opportunities for students to enrich their learning. One such chance for students is a trip to Rome, Greece and Washington, D.C.

The trip will follow two classes that are to be offered in the spring of 2009 through the University Honors program. The University Honors class titled Dante's "Inferno" is an overview of the epic tale Dante's "Inferno," which will cover the book as well as talk about the historical significance of Rome and Greece in the book.

The second class will be "Quest for Democracy," and will follow the origin of democracy through Rome and Greece. Both classes will have the opportunity to go on the trip together.

The course and tour will be led by Honors Director Greg Bierly, associate professor of climate and geography, Linda Maule, associate professor of political science and Marilyn Bisch, language, literature and linguistics instructor.

At the end of the semester, students have the option of going on a tour through Rome, Greece and Washington, D.C. Students don't have to go on the trip to take the class and students don't have to take the class to go on the trip. While encouraged to do both, all ISU faculty, students and staff are welcome to join on the trip.

"It's a really amazing chance to visit the origins of democracy and to see the nation's capital," Bisch said. "The fact that it goes along with the class is going to give students a chance to experience new countries and travel, as well as take the honors course."

"I hope students can join the course and realize how important culture is in their life," Bisch said.

Students will leave Washington, D.C. on May 14 and travel to Athens, Greece.

In Greece they will visit Athens, Delphi and then take an Aegean cruise for four days to Turkey, Santorini, Crete and Mykonos. Rome will be the next stop on the trip and a trip to Vatican City is also on the itinerary.

On May 30 the group will travel back to Washington, D.C., where students will explore the U.S. Capitol, White House, Supreme Court and National Archives.

"The honors program is really creating a lot of opportunities for students," said Analyssa Noe, a junior legal studies major and honors student. "Although cost may be inquired, I don't know if I will have an opportunity like this again."

The estimated total cost of the trip is between $5,000-$6,000 for all transportation, hotels, meals and planned museum and attraction visits.

"I'm really looking forward to the trip; it's everything that I would have wanted to do, from the location to the cruise, it's like this trip was made for me," Noe said.

More information can be found at Explorica's Web site, www.explorica.com. Enter the code Bisch-4740 to check out the tour itinerary. Explorica is the company that arranged ISU Honors Spring Break study trips to Rome in 2006 and to Rome and Florence in 2008.

( For more information about "Dante's Inferno" or the "Quest for Democracy," contact Marilyn Bisch at mbisch@indstate.edu.)

( Paula Lowry is a senior political science major. She can be reached at sascamed@isugw.indstate.edu.)