MC Humanities, Social Sciences and Center for Global Engagement to present ‘Ukraine in Context’ roundtable and panel discussion
It was Vladimir Lenin, ironically enough, who said “there are decades when nothing happens; and there are weeks when decades happen.”
The world seems to be in a period of the latter given the fast-moving cycle of news out of Ukraine, and in order to help Maryville College students, faculty, staff and the community make sense of it, the Maryville College Center for Global Engagement, the MC Division of Humanities and the MC Division of Social Sciences will present “Ukraine in Context,” a presentation and roundtable discussion set for 3:30 p.m. Friday, March 4, in the Lawson Auditorium of Fayerweather Hall on the MC campus.
While open only to MC students, faculty and staff, the event will be livestreamed on the Maryville College Facebook page for public consumption.
“Part of what the liberal arts does well is to help provide a broader context for the things we experience and hear about every day,” said Dr. Phillip Sherman, chair of the Division of Humanities and associate professor of religion at Maryville College. “That context, we hope, will inoculate students against misinformation, as well as allow them to be more informed and critical thinkers about the issues of our day.”
The roundtable will feature seven faculty members speaking for roughly 5 minutes each, with time for audience questions as well. Speakers include Dr. Doug Sofer, associate professor of history and one of the organizers of the panel; Dr. Aaron Astor, associate professor of history; Dr Naji Bsisu, assistant professor of political science; Dr. Scott Henson, associate professor of political science; Ted Higgs, adjunct instructor of English, history, Italian and Latin; Dr. Anna Engelsone, a native of Latvia and assistant professor of mathematics at MC; and Dr. Mark O’Gorman, professor of political science.
“What we’re asking from each speaker is, ‘Tell us what it is that you know, that provides a piece of context that explains what’s happening in Ukraine right now,’” Sherman said. “For example, Dr. Astor will be talking about insurgencies — why they work, why they fail, and related topics. Dr. Sofer will talk about the importance of nationalism, particularly in the 19th and early 20th centuries in that part of the world. Dr. O’Gorman will talk about oil and gas and the economic or financial costs of this conflict.
“None of these topics are designed to give a complete picture of what’s happening in Ukraine, but each perspective will provide some unique insight into various components of the situation from the perspectives of history, economics and political science that will give participants a clearer picture.”
And in some ways, for the students of Maryville College at least, that may be even more important. Friday’s roundtable is part of a broader initiative presented by the Center for Global Engagement. International Education Month, celebrated March 1-31, is designed to showcase opportunities for MC students to study abroad, as well as bring the world to the MC campus.
“The Global+ program is happy to collaborate with Humanities and Social Sciences to co-host this roundtable discussion on the Ukraine-Russia conflict,” said Kirsten Sheppard, director of the Center. “Global competence is fundamental to a liberal arts education. We want all students to have the capacity to understand and appreciate local and global issues, diverse perspectives and worldviews in order to interact appropriately and effectively with people from different cultures and identities.
“This presentation and discussion will approach the topic in a way that will have students think globally and better understand the context of the conflict. It is an opportunity for us to come together as a community and look at this issue from multiple perspectives and disciplines.”
As Maryville College President Dr. Bryan F. Coker is fond of pointing out, Sherman added, “we are all connected.” In a digital era where college students can open TikTok on their phones and watch a similar-aged peer climb inside an abandoned Russian armored vehicle and drive it down a Ukrainian street, experiences are what separates the people of the world more so than the miles, he said. And when those experiences have far-reaching consequences, as the ongoing crisis in Ukraine continues to do, it’s a world event that needs to be examined.
“We are witnessing a potential historical realignment of the geopolitical order as it’s existed since 1945 in some fashion, and in the midst of this moment, it’s hard to get your bearings,” Sherman said. “Events like this don’t happen often, and it’s clear that something is changing — and the story of what it means to be us is shifting as well.
“From an educational perspective, we want to give students the ability to be of service to the world, but you can’t be of service if you don’t understand the conflicts people are facing and the experiences they’re going through.”