Abigail Dunagan, Campus Carrier features editor

Cammie Wilks, Campus Carrier asst. features editor

Each year in April, Berry College hosts the student symposium as an opportunity for students to present any academic or creative work that they have completed during their time here. This event is open to all students from all departments, and these presentations can range from oral speeches, scientific research, art exhibitions and humanities essays. To the delight of all students, classes are cancelled for the entire day of symposium to give participants and viewers ample opportunity to view and engage with each area of research. 

Senior animal science and art major Sarah Agullo’s presentation combines her passion for creative artwork with her love for animals. This project originally started as her thesis for her art major, and this will be her first time presenting at symposium. The project is titled “The Horse Compendium,” and it consists of Agullo’s own digital and traditional artistic studies of horse anatomy. Along with creating the art, Agullo has worked closely with the Gunby Equine Center to conduct life-studies of horses and to learn more about workers’ experiences. While animal science and art are not typically associated with one another, Agullo has found splitting her time working in such different fields has given her a variety of skills across these different fields.

“When I am in a room with other animal science majors, I can be the best artist,” Agullo said. “When I am in a room with other artists, I am the most informed about animal science.” 

Agullo initially chose to major in animal science because she wanted to work as a veterinarian, however as she began shadowing animal clinics and taking courses, she realized that working in the field wasn’t right for her. Instead of pursuing a career as a veterinarian, Agullo became interested in the field of medical and scientific illustration. This study combines her interest in animals and art; those in this field are required to be artistically skilled while also knowledgeable in animal anatomy, as they will be creating the illustrations for textbooks and medical journals. 

While this project initially began as a part of her thesis for the art major, it also aligns with the course Agullo is currently taking for her animal science major, ANS 424: Horse Systems and Management. Prior to taking this class, Agullo said she had little experience working with horses, but taking this class and working on this project has given her new experiences handling these animals.

“You just kind of treat them like you would any other domesticated animal,” Agullo said. “They live in this really interesting intersection between a pet, a companion and livestock. It’s interesting to learn how to respect them, and to have them do what you need them to do stay happy and healthy.” 

Senior English and communication major Victoria Severiche’s research focuses on Jeff Vandermeer’s 2014 environmental sci-fi novel, “Annihilation.” This book follows four women as they venture into an abandoned area of the world. In her essay Severiche argues that the main character not only goes undergo a physical transformation, but a mental one due to escaping a harmful and capitalistic society. Her research highlights how we should hold on to our humanity and not allow our jobs to control us. 

Severiche’s was able to present her work at an international panel for undergraduate English majors in Pittsburg, PA. Since she had gained experience presenting at these conventions, Severiche was encouraged by Professor of Englsih Jim Watkins to apply for Berry’s symposium. After getting in, she presented her work on a literature panel.

“I think any and all literature analysis is important because literature, and art in general, is a tool that allows someone to say something they may not be able to articulate clearly,” Severiche said. “Saying a message through the lens of literature helps the message make sense to everyone.”

Senior political science and sociology major Hannah Boler has done research that combines both of her majors and her minor in women and gender studies.  She presented her paper titled,“Don’t ask me: Evangelical Women and their Unwillingness to Answer Certain Survey Questions,” which is about the political and religious cross pressures that women face in surveys. With the help and encouragement of her past advisor, she began doing research, which was challenging because there wasn’t much existing research on the subject.

“Once I was looking into it, I thought it was very interesting,” Boler said. “I hadn’t really thought about cross pressures and identities and how they fit into certain things. The topic fit well with things I was already interested in. Also, with our current political movement, it’s important to understand the inclinations of religious women.”

Though Boler’s paper had only started out as an honors thesis, she is now working on submitting publication. Presenting her work at different conferences eventually led her to applying for symposium, and the experience she gained from the conferences helped her get approved.

“Symposium helps give the experience of an academic conference setting for those who traveling somewhere isn’t normally accessible for,” Boler said. “It gives experience to those who may not be prepared to attend an academic conference just yet, and it also gives a good opportunity for everyone at Berry to see what others are doing.”

Symposium is an enriching opportunity provided to all Berry students, either by presenting or attending. Learning something new from other students, no matter what subject it is, can unify Berry’s student body in the pursuit of knowledge.

“Symposium celebrates other people’s research, and it puts them on a wide floor that anyone can go to,” Severiche said. “Symposium gives students the opportunity to take a peek into a world they might be too busy to look at otherwise.”