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M.B. Costea, Abbey student and former Associate
Editor of the Free Lance (the student newspaper,) is
currentiy studying at the Institut d’Etudes Francoises
pour Estudiants Estrangers.
Mary Beth Costea
Spending Junior
Year in France
Increasing interest is being manifested by Abbey
students in the College’s Junior Year Abroad Program
which, after much planning, is now under active
development.
Over a period of years, several students have taken
advantage of the opportunities the program affords.
This year there are four in Europe: Charles Roy is at
the University of Kent in Canterbury, England; Harold
Egan, Mary Beth Costea, and Richard McClintick are
studying at the Institut d’Etudes Francoises pour
Etudiants Etrangers, a division of the University of
Aix-Marseille in Aix-en-Provence, France.
The author of this article, currently in Southern
France, has enjoyed observing not only general
cultural differences but also those in the system of
higher education. The institut is designed to receive a
special genre of student, i.e. foreign, non-French
speakers, but its administration is similar to the
“facultes,” or main university divisions, and is ac
tually a section of the faculte du droit at Aix. Classes
are taught in French on three levels of study deter
mined by students’ capabilities. To receive credit
from the Abbey, one must study on the superior level.
Due to the nature of the courses and the numbers
enrolled, there is little emphasis placed on formal
instruction in the spoken French language, a regret
table defect recognized by teachers, administrators,
and students. One has, thus, to make a conscious effort
outside the classroom to improve one’s facility in the
language.
Students at the Institut are encouraged to audit
classes in any of the three university divisions:
Science Politique, Lettres, Droit. Through attendance
at such a variety of lectures, one can become
acquainted with the overall university system and can
more intimately perceive the experience of the
average French student.
Classes resemble those in the larger American
universities where vast numbers hear general lectures
and make practical application of the subject matter in
smaller discussion groups. Formal class hours are
fewer than in America with a greater emphasis here
placed on independent student research for disser
tations and oral exposes of texts in classes. They are
generally only two sets of tests given each year. Those
in February are optional, but the required June exams
are comprehensive and both oral and written.
The social life of French students (and of foreign
students in France) is greatly different from that on
April, 1978, CROSSROADS, page 3
American campus, largely because students must
fashion their private lives independently from any
organized body. There are for example, no student
unions, as such; no campus ministries, fraternities', or
even student publications other than such pamphlets
as are distributed by communist or other left-wing
propagandist groups. Also, there is no “cut-system”
and fewer reminders about homework from teachers:
exams are what count and, for the Institut, the final
oral exam is the ultimate determination for those who
vish to receive the “diplome” which qualifies the
nearer to teach French in any country outside France.
It is awarded only on the superior level.
The city of Aix is situated in the Provence region of
France and boasts of Roman origin, dry and temperate
Mediterranean climate, and an abundance of fountains
because of its location above thermal springs. It lies in
a small valley in the shadow of Cezanne’s Mt. St.
Victoire, 20 kilometers from Marseille and the coast,
four and a half hours by bus to Nice, Monaco and the
Italian border. Five hours by train takes you to the
Spanish frontier.
Aix is a relatively small town in area with a large
population, mostly of students and retirees, who enjoy
its pleasant climate. The true Aixois is a bourgeois
minority, a small closed community that outsiders find
hard to enter.
Life in Aix is slow, tranquil, and expensive. Institut
students are gener^ly housed in the town in private
homes, apartments or single rooms which makes it
possible to witness closely the daily life of a French
family and to converse constantly with native
inhabitants.
The Junior Year Abroad Program guarantees
Abbey students a full year’s credit, i.e. 30 hours,
contingent upon the quality of performance and the
completion of certain obligatory courses set up and
reviewed by the advising faculty member and the
academic dean. There is also an honors program for
this year abroad, requiring a determined grade point
average, an oral exam on the culture and life of the
country (to determine conversational proficiency if a
foreign language is in question) and a written memoire
on some aspect of life observed during the year.
The Abbey students now involved in the program in
France are by and large finding it quite satisfactory
and are profiting especially from the responsibility of
total independence. by Mary Beth Costea
Dr, Hartford
Reviews Book
by
Barry Commoner
“One of the most
complete and objective
treatments of the world
energy problem to be
published to date,” is the
comment of Dr. Winslow
H. Hartford, associate
professor of En
vironmental Science at
Belmont Abbey College
on the Barry Commoner
book. Energy, which is
now appearing serially in
the New Yorker.
Dr. Hartford reviewed
the book at a special
seminar held in the
auditorium of the
William Gaston Science
Hall at Belmont Abbey
College on Friday,
February 20.
Educators found the
talk of special interest.
Dr. Commoner, chair
man of the Botany
Department at
Washington University,
has long been known as
one of America’s out-
standing en-
vironmentalists, and his
books, “The Closing
Circle” and “Science and
Survival,” have enjoyed,
wide circulation.
Abbey Centennial Fund
(Cont. from P. 1)
Martin, Jr., President of
Textiles, Inc., of
Gastonia.
Serving as ex-officio
members of the Advisory
Cabinet are Abbot Jude
Cleary, O.S.B., Chan
cellor; and Rev. John P.
Bradley, President of
Belmont Abbey College.
President Bradley
commented, “These men
understand the needs of
the College, and they
recognize the importance
of this institution to the
cultural and economic
health of this area. We
feel indeed fortunate
because they have
agreed to accept
positions of leadership
and responsibility in this
campaign.”
GOALS SET
The announced goal for
the first phase of the ten-
year program of
development has been set
at $750,000. This amount
reflects the urgent
minimum needs of the
College including $300,000
for scholarship funds and
student aid programs;
$200,000 is needed for
faculty and staff
development; $250,000 is
needed for restoration of
the Administration
Building which houses
administrative offices
and 11 classrooms. No
new - construction is
planned at this time.
The campus section of
the Centennial Fund
campaign began a few
weeks ago under the
Chairmanship of Dr.
George Herndl with
representatives from
faculty, staff, and ad
ministration serving on
the Campus Committee.
The committee accepted
the goal of $35,000 and
gifts amounting to $36,243
are pledged. “Our people
have set a fine example
through their
generosity,’’ said Dr.
Herndl. “We hope their
enthusiasm is con
tagious.”
First Gifts Accepted
Mr. James P. Cherry,
President of Goodwill
Publishers, Inc. of
Gastonia, presented a
gift of $150,000 to the
Belmont Abbey College
Centennial Fund,
Thursday.
Immediately following
the public announcement
of the Campaign Ad
visory Cabinet, Mr. E.F.
Gallagher, II, Cabinet
Chairman, accepted the
lead gift at a special
meeting of the Board of
Advisors bringing the
total contributions
pledged to $341,743.
On the same occasion
Abbot Jude Cleary,
O.S.B., Chancellor of the
College, announced that
$27,500 has been pledged
by the monks of the
Belmont Abbey . Com
munity. This gift, added
to $36,243 pledged by
faculty, administration
and staff members,
brings the total from the
^Campus Campaign to
$63,743 exceeding by far
the target of $35,000.
Abbot Jude commented
that this gift of the
Benedictine monks is a
special contribution in
addition to the annual
support c* nearly $200,000
provideo y the College
by the monastery.
Golf Contest
Planned
There are tentative
plans underway for an
alumni golf tournament
to be held in the
Washington, D.C. area.
Anyone who is interested,
please contact the
Alumni Office, Belmont
'Abbey College, Belmont,
N.C., 28012; or Jay
Briody, 8236 Carrleigh
Parkway, Springfield,
Va., 22152.