Fifteen students from West Chester University are freshly back from a study abroad stint that took them on a deep political dive through Germany, Belgium, and France. The nine-day trip aimed to delve into the United States and Europe's intricate transatlantic relationships, providing students with a hands-on education in international institutions and policies. Dr. Peter Loedel and Dr. Travis Blemings, professors in the Political Science department at WCU, led the program. They linked up with the European Academy Otzenhausen (EAO) to bring students a semester-long class that climaxed with this European trek.
Given the time, the students got to witness and discuss, in real time, the fallout of major U.S. policy movements impacting NATO and European security. "Every day before we left, things were happening that would shape our discussions. Whether it was debates over NATO, tariffs on the European Union, or the war on Ukraine, there was a blizzard of information coming our way," Dr. Loedel told West Chester University's newsroom. Students were to watch headlines drop even as they jetted across the Atlantic, making their academic pursuits tangibly relevant.
In conversations with European peers and policy-makers, the students got down to the brass tacks of international relations, debunking some preconceived notions. WCU junior Eli Moore reflected, "One of the biggest takeaways for me was that transatlantic security relations aren’t as tenuous as they might seem from the U.S.," as per the university's report. Moore found that Europe perceives recent tensions as a call to action for self-reliance in security matters, a sentiment echoed in candid dialogues that unfolded far from the classroom.
Amidst structured discussions and official visits, students found value in everyday encounters, like a NATO food court's mix of cultures. "It was such a collaboration of cultures and different nations in this one little place," Moore said, capturing the essence of international cooperation in a snapshot. Junior Gwyn Bartholomew shared a similar sentiment, noticing how the gathering of different nationalities "proves that friendship and trust are possible even when you’re coming from different places." The moments shared over casual lunches and group work helped to anchor the learning experience in a tapestry of international camaraderie.
The trip's finale was marked by a unique art display in Otzenhausen, where students collaboratively created pieces for the sculpture “Tide,” symbolizing the dynamic flow of relationships. Bartholomew, who partnered with a Czech student to contribute to the art piece, described the work as emblematic of the values uniting the U.S. and Europe: communication, diplomacy, democracy, and trust. Their effort did not go unnoticed, drawing coverage from a German state news program emphasizing the significance of international exchanges.
Beyond academics, the experience offered some students a glimpse into what might lie ahead. Both Moore and Bartholomew are now considering international career paths, spurred by their engagements during the trip. Bartholomew pointed out that the journey rekindled her passion for international relations and her interest in representing the U.S. to the European Union. Moore found new potential in a field he previously hadn't considered. For half of the students, this was their first real international dive, underscoring the importance of such programs, especially for those yet to venture beyond their borders, according to Dr. Loedel's insights shared with the university's newsroom.
