WLAIP Audio Essays, 7/25/2019
The audio essay is the final assignment for students during the Wabash Liberal Arts Immersion Program's (WLAIP) summer events and spotlights the students' closing efforts. In these recordings, students reflect on what they’ve learned in the course about written and oral communication, as well as articulate the goals they have for themselves as writers and thinkers going into the fall. Pictured here are the students, peer mentors, and writing tutors who were essential to welcoming the fifth cohort of the WLAIP -- members of the Class of 2023 -- to campus.
Casamiro Soliz '23 was all smiles as the campus community was welcomed into the library for a listening party.
Here, writing tutor Anthony Mendez '20 listens to an essay.
Javier Que '23 watches as attendees grab a set of headphones.
Associate Professor of History Rick Warner listens intently.
Jordan Reel '23 samples a classmate's essay.
Students (from left) Shewa Gared '23, Jeremy Norvell Jr. '23, and Malik Barnes '23 share a moment with Associate Professor of English Eric Freeze. In his essay, Norvell equated the feelings surrounding the delivery of a speech to that or a roller coaster.
Juan Montenegro '23 (standing) awaits a reaction as Alfredo Mar '23 listens to his essay. Montenegro discovered some of the pain of revision over the summer, stating 'somehow (my work) goes from black and white to black and white and red' during revisions. He went on to say that the WLAIP 'helped me become better than I deserved to be;' and said of his fellow students, 'our differences brought us closer together.'
If only we were in on the joke: (from left) Trizton Carson '23, Eugene Bhattanai '23, and Reel enjoy a well-delivered punch line. Bhattani remembered the words of his father in his essay -- 'You must work twice as hard as everyone else.' -- as he spoke of adjusting to life in the U.S. from his native Nepal. He said, 'The (WLAIP) has been super helpful to me. Wabash is possible if you have enough grit and hard work.'
Barnes talks with WLAIP Director and Professor of Psychology Bobby Horton. Barnes, a self-proclaimed lover of poetry, says he lets 'the words slink inside my head...trying to understand who I am as a man,' and delivered his essay with a dash of poetry, rhetoric, and style.
Associate Professor of Chemistry Wally Novak was among the first to arrive.
Willy Shepler '23 (center) listens to Associate Professor of Theater Jim Cherry as (from left) peer mentor Anthony Williams '20, Gabriel Sobrevilla '23, and Associate Professor of English Crystal Benedicks stand by.
Hayley Blonsley, Wabash Democracy and Public Discourse Program Associate, enjoys a student's effort.
Dean of the College Scott Feller finds a comfortable spot to listen. Feller is always in attendance for the WLAIP audio essays.
Mark Magnon '23 surveys the room.
Horacio Garcia-Rojas '23 (right) shares a moment with Adan Villeda '23.
Horton was one of many who took the time to listen to every audio essay.
Chris French '23 chats with Videographer Adam Phipps '11. French's essay began with the words 'hear me out,' as he wrestled with the question of when is the right time to speak up.
Allen Johnson Jr. '23 explains a few points of his essay to Football Coach Don Morel. Johnson discovered that code switching 'has been useful to my personal growth in college,' and reading pieces like Gloria Anzaldua's How To Tame A Wild Tongue 'made this summer an amazing summer.'
Head Track and Field Coach Emeritus Robert Johnson does what is necessary to concentrate.
Zach Alvarado '23 makes a point with French.
(near to far) Bhattanai, Gared, and Barnes plot points on the map in the Lilly Library.
Carson and Jude Rodriguez '23 talk as the listening party winds down.
Peer mentor Joe Garcia '21 (center) shares something from his phone with Gared as Alvarado looks on.