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Student journalists, staff depart for Russia Two students along with two faculty members will spend spring break in Moscow, Russia publishing a student newspaper at Moscow State University. Tolena Mahlum and Karie Anderson, both IAS seniors concentrating in Mass Communications were chosen from 20 applicants for an all expense paid trip to Russia. Mahlum and Anderson will create a student newspaper with other students from MSU during their eight day stay. IAS Director William Richardson and Dr. Chris Demaske, professor of Mass Communications, are the faculty members that will also be going. Both students have had internships and work experience with professional weekly newspapers and currently hold editorial positions on The Ledger. “We wanted people who had a good track record in terms of writing, activities in the university and who obviously were mature and would be good representatives for the university. We also needed students who could handle a busy week,” said Richardson. “This trip will have a huge impact on my life because it’s an experience that I would not have otherwise had. This is so amazing to be able to go and do this, and to be doing something inside of my career is awesome,” Mahlum said. “Think about how something like this will look on my newspaper resume, think about my clips. I’m going to have clips from Russia!” The majority of the grant money for this academic trip came from the Marc Lindenberg Center for Humanitarian Action, International Development and Global Citizenship International Mobility Grant Program. “It’s awesome that students get this opportunity to go to Russia,” said Demaske. Moscow State University’s journalism department, which produces a daily and weekly edition of The Ahurnalist, has completed projects like this with other universities in Europe. However, this is the first time that MSU has worked with American students. “Students at Moscow State University are very sophisticated and the journalism department does a lot with a limited amount of resources. I think it will be good for these two students to see what Russian students accomplish,” Richardson said. “I wanted to go to Russia for the academic and learning opportunity that this trip is going to create. Producing a joint newspaper with Moscow State University is an absolutely excellent opportunity not only for The Ledger and me, but also for the university in general. This opportunity will allow UWT and Moscow University to build a partnership that will hopefully last for a long time,” Anderson said. “I think that it’s an invaluable learning experience to be immersed into a new culture and have a limited amount of time to complete a quality newspaper,” Mahlum said. “The challenge appeals to me more than anything else.” “At the end of the week I hope they’ve improved their journalism and become more in-depth reporters,” Demaske said. “I want this trip to have an effect on their lives other than just journalistically. I want them to learn something from the culture and become more conscientious, better people.” “Being immersed in a new culture is always fascinating and great for character. I know that this trip will produce some memories that will always stay with me,” Anderson said. “Just like a sponge, I want to make sure I suck every ounce of the experience in and keep it with me long after I graduate.” Moscow State University is regarded as the oldest Russian university and was established in 1775. The campus has more than 600 buildings and facilities with an overall area of one million square meters. More then 42,000 students attend the university. |
“Karie
and Tolena have extensive experience with the student newspaper
on campus. It takes a lot of drive, effort and extra time commitment
from these students that other students don’t have, especially since
they also have outside jobs,” Demaske said. 
