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The McKelvy House Scholars invite the campus to join them in a dinner discussion exploring maps and geographic illiteracy Sept. 27.
The meal will begin at 6 p.m. at McKelvy House, 200 High Street. Marquis Scholar Mike Werner ’07 (Neenah, Wis.), a double major in geology and biology, will lead the discussion at 6:30 p.m.
“A map is our window into the world,” says Werner. “Through this scope we can interpret the juxtaposition of world cultures, regions of political strife, and deviations in resource distribution. Unfortunately, imperfections in this lens are amplified into gross misunderstandings of peoples and states.”
The discussion will focus on how people’s worldviews are highly fallible and many times too egocentric, often ignoring neighbors and the rest of the world. He believes that in the age of globalism, only sound geographic understanding will navigate the world’s various nations through the intricacies of diplomacy and partnership.
Since 1962, the McKelvy House Scholars program has brought together Lafayette students with a wide range of majors and interests to reside in a historic off-campus house and share in intellectual and social activities. Weekly Sunday, and occasional Wednesday, dinner discussions that engage the students in debate and exchange of ideas are the hallmark of the program. Most members also contribute to the annual McKelvy Papers, written on a topic of each person’s choice. McKelvy Scholars participate in activities together such as field trips to plays, concerts, and exhibits, and sponsor events for the campus as well.
Previous discussions:
Sept. 20 – Performance Enhancing Drugs
Last semester’s discussions:
April 30 – Immigration
April 23 – Sports
April 9 – Infinity
April 2 – Transhumanism
March 26 – Meaning of Life
March 5 – Fashion as Expression of Identity
Feb.19 – Social Darwinism
Feb.12 – Stereotypes
Feb. 5 – Reading as a Virtue