Students get chance to study English at Oxford
by Matthew Ligrani
UHCLIDIAN STAFF

This summer, five UH-Clear Lake graduate students and one alumnus are taking advantage of a once in a lifetime opportunity by traveling to Europe to study English literature at the University of Oxford.

“This program is a marvelous opportunity for students to see one of the world’s greatest universities from the inside,” said Gretchen Mieszkowski, director of Humanities and professor of literature.

Mieszkowski began the program last summer by sending Rex Perrard, an inspired literature major, to Oxford. Perrard did such an excellent job of representing UH-Clear Lake that Mieszkowski decided to offer the program to students again this summer.

“I decided to participate in the program because I realized it might be an opportunity that would never cross my path again,” Perrard said. “To experience the Oxford style of teaching, and what you can take from having been there, will last a lifetime.”

Perrard’s experiences encouraged five more of Mieszkowski literature students and one alumnus to participate in this year’s summer study program. These students are: Barbara Bolt, Linda Higginbotham, Ileana Dejuan, Sancar Sallanti and Jamie Grayson. John Eberhart is the alumnus chosen to go.

“Rex went last year and just thoroughly enjoyed himself,” Bolt said. “His success, I believe, encouraged all of us to apply this year.”

There are six intense literature courses offered that are especially designed for graduate students, high school teachers and professionals interested in studying at university levels. The courses will discuss seven centuries of renowned literary figures including William Shakespeare, Geoffrey Chaucer and Jane Austin.

To prepare for the program, the students are assigned a list of reading material that they are required to complete for discussion purposes.

“The aspect I look forward to the most is just being there and soaking up the academic atmosphere,” Bolt said. “To study British literature from a British point of view should be very interesting.”

The program also offers students the opportunity to visit places that are relevant to the material studied in the programs. These places include the Royal Shakespeare Theatre in Stratford Upon Avon, and Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.

“I’ve never been to England, and since I also have a passion for history, I’m looking forward to sightseeing,” Higginbotham said. “It will be exciting to see some of the places that the British authors I’m studying lived and wrote about. This is a once in a lifetime chance that no one interested in literature would pass up.”

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