By Jonathan Goff
Design Editor
“An oath, an oath, I have an oath in heaven:
Shall I lay perjury upon my soul?
No, not for Venice.”
So says the character Shylock in Act IV of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice.” This particular play is one of several literary works Bryan’s English department is highlighting in its “Springtime in Italy” study abroad program May 9-26.
According to Dr. Ray Legg, head of the English department, this unique opportunity stems from an effort to provide “signature programs” in order to set Bryan’s English department apart from other majors, schools, etc.
“We’re always trying to ask, ‘What can we add to make it richer?’” Legg said, “We just want to get students as involved as we can in these enrichment opportunities.”
According to Legg, students will be utilizing Bryan’s already firm connections with Saints Bible Institute of San Lorenzo, located just an hour outside of Venice, as a base of operations for the trip.
“You have an opportunity to see the world the way God sees it,” Legg said.
For junior Alissa Passburg, an English Literature/Piano Pedagogy double major, one of the most helpful things about this experience is its brief 17-day length. “We don’t have time to do something as big as the semester abroad,” she said. “I just don’t have enough room for all those electives.”
Participating students take two out of three courses offered specifically in collaboration with this experience, although students need not travel abroad to be enrolled in the classes. This semester’s courses included Shakespeare, Creative Writing, and Renaissance Literature: Italy.
“Considering we are studying ‘Romeo and Juliet’ in Verona, where it is set, I think [the trip] will add to our understanding of the text and make the play come alive a bit more,” said sophomore English major Brian Livingston.
Seven students and four faculty members will be embarking on this first trip. Legg plans to repeat this experience next year, then offering short-term study abroad opportunities alternate years.
Legg also mentioned a future special opportunity to partner with a sister institution in producing a study abroad experience in Ireland. Student response? Passburg, also an avid Irish dancer, commented, “If there’s any way I can go [to Ireland], I am definitely going.”
Legg says that the Ireland trip would eventually take place every four years, alternating with the trip to Italy.
For more information on how you can get involved with “Springtime in Italy,” contact Legg at leggra@bryan.edu.
Tags: Alissa Passburg, Brian Livingston, Creative Writing, English Department, Ireland, Ray Legg, Renaissance Literature: Italy, Saints Bible Institute, San Lorenzo, Shakespeare, Springtime in Italy, study abroad program, Venice, Verona, “The Merchant of Venice”
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