The Wesleyan community explores the meaning of home through intriguing courses, travel, and special events during Winter Session 2015
By Stephanie Smaglo | January 9, 2015
What is “home”? Is it the country from which you hail? The place you hang your hat? What does it mean to be without a home? These are the types of questions that will be explored throughout Virginia Wesleyan’s 2015 Winter Session (Jan. 5-23), which opened this week with a special performance by Ben Seidl ’04, who returned to his “VWC home” to play alongside his wife and friends as the lead singer, songwriter and guitarist for the German indie folk project, roemer.
This year’s Winter Session theme, “What is Home?”, is an interesting topic for Seidl, who graduated with degrees in reglious studies and German. A native of Leesburg, Virginia, he relocated to Berlin after studying abroad and meeting his future wife, Jasmin, during his junior year at VWC. Though logistically his residential status is somewhat fluid, there is no question about where “home” is for Seidl. As it turns out, it is indeed where the heart is.
“I equate home to relationships,” he says. “My home is Jasmin, my wife. Wherever we are, is home. Wherever she is, is definitely home. Home is a place where you are known, and I would hope that it’s a place that you feel welcome and accepted. That can be a relationship, a geographical location; It can be anywhere.”
Having studied as part of Winter Session twice during his time at VWC, Seidl understands the meaning and value behind this intensive three-week academic term. It is a chance for students to explore unusual subjects, immerse themselves in unique experiences, or even learn through travel while earning credits toward graduation.
A record number of students are enrolled in Winter Session 2015—687 to be exact, about half of the student population. Some students are traveling around Greece and Rome for on-site study of ancient Greco-Roman history as part of the course, “Classical Studies Abroad.” Back at home, other Marlins are exploring "Psychology in Film, Memoir, and Science," “Tropical Ecology,” and “Latin American Music and Dance,” embracing the opportunity to get ahead academically by completing a needed course.
“Unusual courses allow students to study fields they might not have had the opportunity to pursue otherwise,” says VWC Director of Winter Session Susan Wansink. “Students concentrate intensively on one course for several hours each day. Friendships are forged. Academic success is high.”
Virginia Wesleyan’s On-Campus Winter Homeless Shelter, one of the only shelters of its kind operated on a college campus in the U.S., continues to be a key feature of Winter Session. In its ninth year, the shelter will bring together more than 170 VWC student, faculty and staff volunteers Jan. 11-18 to provide homeless men and women with hot meals, fun activities and a secure, warm place to sleep in partnership with Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless.
In addition to Seidl’s indie folk performance, this Winter Session will bring a series of special events, lectures and eclectic performances, most of which are free and open to the public: Drawings and paintings by Appalachian fiddler and banjoist Mark Campbell are on display in VWC's Neil Britton Gallery through Feb. 5 as part of an exhibition titled “The James River from the Mountains to the Sea;” There will be a reading and musical presentation by Kai Reininghaus (Jan. 16), author of 168 Hours in the USA; And special guest speaker Wayne Proffitt will discuss what it means to be homeless as part of Professor Sharon Payne's course, "Homeless in America" (Jan. 20).
Appalachian and traditional music presentations this year include Mark Campbell and the Campbell Family Band (Jan. 8); banjoist Seth Swingle (Jan. 15); fiddle and mandolin master Adam Tanner (Jan. 20); and a duet between old-time fiddler Erynn Marshall and Carl Jones on mandolin, guitar and banjo (Jan. 22). A Southern Appalachian Square Dance with Michael Ismerio will take place Jan. 13. See the complete list of Winter Session Special Events.
For more information about Winter Session, contact Director of Winter Session Susan Wansink at swansink@vwu.edu or 757.455.3235.