​The group gathers by their poster, on display in the Rayburn House Office Building on
Capitol Hill. From the left, Ruth Wachter-Nelson, Julienna Hagen, Michael Bixby, Valerie
Barsket and John Lenz.
5/15/2012
 

UW-Stevens Point students present research in Washington D.C.

Three history students at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point were selected to take part in the Council on Undergraduate Research Posters on the Hill event held in Washington D.C. last month.

John Lenz of Oshkosh, Julienna Hagan of Fond du Lac, and Michael Bixby of Wisconsin Dells presented “UWSP Archives on East Asia: Analyzing Works from the Malcolm L. Rosholt Collection,” one of 74 projects chosen from more than 850 applications, and just one of 12 posters based on humanities research. UW-Eau Claire was the only other Wisconsin university that presented.

“The students represented UW-Stevens Point and the state of Wisconsin to a national audience with enthusiasm and professionalism,” said their adviser, Assistant Professor of History Valerie Barske, who accompanied them. “In these tight budgetary times, the students spoke articulately about the necessity of funding for research in the humanities and the vital role interdisciplinary studies must play in shaping current policy decisions.”

Also accompanying the group was a co-adviser, Assistant Professor Ruth Wachter-Nelson of the UW-Stevens Point Nelis R. Kampenga Archives & Area Research Center, where Rosholt’s narratives, journals and artifacts are kept. The students used the materials to highlight his days as a journalist in China in the 1930s and as a liaison officer for the Flying Tigers, a group of American pilots that flew for the Chinese Air Force during World War II.

“Our research revealed that the notion of an adversarial U.S.-China relationship is a recent construction of the last 30-40 years,” reported the students. “The rich historical works found in the Rosholt archive reveal China to be a nation engaged in serious democratic processes and popular revolutions throughout contemporary history.”

The students were also able to discuss their work with representatives from the state, including Education Specialist Jessica Foulk in Senator Herb Kohl’s office. Hagen also met with a congressional specialist who deals with U.S. policy in Tibet, which is one of her special interests.

More information may be found at www.cur.org/postersession.html.