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Since March, Sarah Stanlick ’04 (Wharton, N.J.) has been serving the Everett Public Service Internship in Washington, D.C., researching non-proliferation and nuclear weapons issues and preparing informational packets for review by members of Congress.
Her interest in those issues was sparked at Lafayette, where Stanlick conducted independent research projects on the nuclear power policies of the European Union and Germany’s move away from nuclear power. She presented her findings at the 17th annual National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) in Salt Lake City, Utah. Her findings were published in the conference proceedings; only ten percent of presenters receive this honor.
Stanlick, who earned her B.A. degree a semester early, also conducted research on the persecution of Romas — or as they are often labeled, “gypsies” – in the Czech Republic.
An international affairs major, she was guided by Katalin Fabian, assistant professor of government and law, who sparked her interest through a course, Politics of Central and Eastern Europe. Fabian recently received grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, and the International Research and Exchanges Board to conduct research in Central Europe on domestic violence in the region.
Stanlick presented her findings at the 18th annual NCUR. Hosted April 15-17 by Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis, the event showcased the work of nearly 2,000 undergraduates.
“I had about 25 people in the room [during the presentation],” she says, explaining that most presentations had about 10 observers. “I was surprised at the number of questions.”
Stanlick’s presentation covered nationalism and how the Czech Republic thinks of itself as an accepting and open-minded culture, even though the Romas are treated as outcasts. Romas are not taught the language or integrated into society, she explains, which has been an ongoing problem since the 10th century.
“It seems like they don’t view the Romas as people,” Stanlick says.
One example of how Czechs condone the shunning of the Romas occurred during a beauty pageant. When a contestant was asked what she wanted to do in the future, she said that she wanted to persecute the “gypsies.”
“She got full applause,” Stanlick says.
“’Gypsy’ is a negative term,” she explains, adding that it is correct to call them Romas.
Stanlick notes that Lafayette prides itself on helping students conduct independent research.
“The best time I had at Lafayette was doing research,” she says. “And, it’s the best work I’ve done at school.”
Stanlick also says that the College’s Values and Science/Technology requirements sparked her interest in further investigation of political issues relating to nuclear power.
“In the classroom, you get a chance to learn about many topics,” she says.
Professors like Fabian pushed Stanlick to work hard.
“She was so invested in the course, and she is an interesting professor,” she says.
Fabian is also dedicated, she adds, allowing students to call her at home.
“She is equal parts friend and professor,” Stanlick says.
Stanlick was a member of the German Club and the European Union Simulation team, as well as president of the Tri-Delta sorority. She also worked on The Lafayette, the college’s newspaper, and was employed by the foreign languages and literatures department.
“Lafayette prepared me to be passionate about what I believe, and to stand up for it,” she says. “Lafayette challenged me academically.”
She is a graduate of Jefferson Township High School.