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Most college students dream of being able to go to Italy. For some Barton students that dream will become a reality when they spend their spring break in Italy.
This year some Barton students will be spending their spring break in Italy. The trip will begin on Thursday, March 3, and conclude on Friday, March 10.
Fifteen students along with three adults will be going on the trip. Two of the adults going are current or former faculty members.
Dr. Alan Lane, associate professor of history, is coordinating the trip. Lane’s wife Mary McLees-Lane will be joining the group.
Lane said, “The trips I organize are intended to be dominated by students. On the trip to London in 2013, we took only students, but having a few extra people cut the cost considerably this time.”
“I believe it is important for Barton to offer cheaper, student based trips, not primarily community trips,” added Lane. “We can do both, but student trips are essential.”
Students who are going on the trip are earning credit for this trip. In order to be able participate in the trip to Italy students are required to take History 003.
The students going on the trip will meet weekly leading up to the trip to learn about the history and arts of Florence, Pisa and Rome to plan for the trip. After the trip students will prepare a presentation about the trip.
The cost of the tip is $2,772 per person. The cost includes the flight to Italy, the hotels, the trains and some meals. A lot of students have scholarships, which will pay for part of the cost of the trip.
“We will concentrate on the sites and art from the Roman Empire and renaissance Rome and Florence,” said Lane.
“Thus we will look at the Colosseum, Forum and Pantheon in Rome along with the art and structures created during the Renaissance in both cities” according to Lane
“We let students do a lot of the planning of things they personally would like to add it the trip,” he said. “We’ll take one brief side-trip to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa, the most famous architectural mistake in history.”
Samantha Larkin, sophomore mass communications major, said, “I’ve never been out of the country before and I am excited to experience that.
“I’ve always wanted to go to Italy because it seems so beautiful and it has a lot of history and I love Italian food,” said Larkin.
Larkin is excited about the Leaning Tower of Pisa and spending a day in Rome. We are spending most of our time in Florence. She hopes to be able to visit Italy again one day.
By Jessica Pate
Staff Writer
