JR
Jansen Ring
  • undeclared
  • Class of 2017
  • Elysburg, Pa.

Ring Builds Community in Ireland

2016 Jul 18

Jansen Ring was one of 16 students from Susquehanna University who recently joined the youth of Northern Ireland in building foundations for peace in an area traumatized by a recently violent past. Peace, Youth and Reconciliation in Northern Ireland is part of the university's Global Opportunities (GO) program.

Participating students traveled to Belfast, Dublin, and the Coast of Northern Ireland. As part of their study tour, community development organizations partnered with the students to perform service work in cross-community settings. The group met with local politicians, ex-members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) and Ulster Defense Association (UDA), and peace activists to learn more about the region's legacy.

As a cross-cultural requirement, study away is an integral part of a Susquehanna education. All students spend at least two weeks off campus, immersed in a culture different from their own, in the U.S. or abroad. Students reflect upon their experiences when they return, guided by faculty members and coursework that promotes discovery and personal growth. Susquehanna students can choose from study-away programs, ranging from a few weeks to a full semester, in Africa, Asia, Australia, South America, Europe, Puerto Rico and Hawaii, among other options. For more information, visit www.susqu.edu/GO.