The Lacroute Initiative for Advancing the Liberal Arts, a multidisciplinary group dedicated to promoting understanding, empathy and unity within the Linfield community, will continue funding events, classes and more through the 2022-23 school year.
Founded in 2019 via the generosity of long-time Linfield champion Ronni Lacroute, the Lacroute Initiative’s primary focus has been projects that build interconnectedness on Linfield’s three campuses and colleges.
This year marks the return of the Northwest Ecology and Environmental Writing course from John Syring, professor of biology, and Joe Wilkins, professor of English, environmental writing and creative writing. During the fall 2022 semester, students are traveling to unique Oregon biomes, learning about the ecosystem, then cataloging and studying. Those trips serve as inspiration for creative writing coursework. Learn more about the course at https://youtu.be/O4ZRSIX-2ng.
Political science Professor Nick Buccola also resumes the Collaboration for Urban Rural Engagement this year. His project seeks to bring together Linfield students from diverse backgrounds to examine political thought in America, which will prepare them to mentor 12-16 exceptional high school students during a McMinnville campus symposium that draws inspiration from Columbia University’s “Freedom and Citizenship” seminar. The first major CURE event will be a student colloquium on the new book, “Rescuing Socrates: How the Great Books Changed My Life and Why They Matter for a New Generation,” by Roosevelt Montás, after which students will work collaboratively to understand the transformational power of education within their own lives. Those intersted in participating should email nbuccol@linfield.edu.
These are just a few of the many projects that the Lacroute Initiative supports throughout the year. Proposals are still being accepted for incubator grants ($500), micro grants ($1,000), macro grants (up to $5,000) and grants specifically earmarked for visiting scholars and entrepreneurs. For more information, visit inside.linfield.edu/lacroute or email lacrouteinitiative@linfield.edu.
