Author: Jonathan Ruseski

Religious Diversity of Northampton

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Religious Diversity of Northampton. The United States is one of the most religiously diverse nations on earth. This project, undertaken by students at Smith College and Professor David J. Howlett, investigates that diversity by featuring eight religious communities in Northampton, Massachusetts. As you explore this website, you can take a virtual walking tour of these communities. Read the student research about each site and its place within its wider religious tradition.  Click on the 360 degree photos to explore the interiors of these sites. And click on points within these photos to investigate various objects important to these religious traditions. Instructor: David J. Howlett, Religion

The Plath Conservatory

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The Plath Conservatory. In a Spring 2023 Anthropology course, Smith College students majoring in Biological Science, English, Environmental Science and Policy, Computer Science, Anthropology, Government, and more gathered together to investigate the possibility that conservatories are relevant to our understanding of the human condition, focusing on Sylvia Plath’s (‘55) botanical encounters at Lyman in the 1950s. Student essays examine one plant species that features in Plath’s work, accounting for its ecology, geography, and taxonomy; the symbolic work it does in Plath’s writing; and the historical context in which Plath came to know it. Instructor: Colin Hoag, Anthropology

Teaching Romance Languages

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Teaching Romance Languages. Students in FRN/ITL/POR/SPN299 explored the resources for language learning in Neilson Library to develop multimedia online resources for language instruction in Italian, Portuguese, French, and Spanish. Student collaborated on the design of a resource website and created multimedia learning resources for different languages. Accessible only via Smith credentials. Instructor: Simone Gugliotta, Education & Child Study + Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French

My Music: Writing Musical Lives

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My Music: Writing Musical Lives. Students in FYS 100 created a capstone oral history project telling the musical life story of a chosen individual, usually a parent, grandparent, or equivalent. The students gathered their data through one-on-one interviews and then created a narrative by weaving their interlocutor’s words together with their own interpretations. Accessible only via Smith credentials. Instructor: Margaret Sarkissian, Music