Spirit in Action review

1. Home
Archives
Submit An Article
Publication Info
Subscribe: Posts | Comments
Arcadia University Bulletin
Enter search keyword
Announcements
Campus News
Events
Press Room » »
Scholarly & Creative Accomplishments
Sports
Study Abroad
Student Brings Jane Addams Biographer to Arcadia
Fri, Sep 17, 2010
Campus News
By Sarah R. Schwartz ’10
Amanda Nosel (second from left) and
Louise Knight (third from left)
On Thursday, Sept. 16, more than 65 people showed up to listen to a discussion by Louise Knight, a noted

2. biographer of Jane Addams. The event happened as a result of the efforts of International Studies and Spanish
major Amanda Nosel ’11, who spent the summer interning at the Philadelphia Chapter of the Women’s
International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF). Nosel used the connections she cultivated at WILPF
to secure Knight for an event at Arcadia.
“People were enthusiastic and interested in what Knight had to say and were surprised to learn everything
Jane Addams accomplished during a time when the freedoms awarded to women had not yet come to
fruition,” says Nosel of the event. ”It was wonderful to be able to finally meet and listen to someone that I
had corresponded with for the past few months, and provide her with an audience that was interested in her
topic of discussion. I am extremely grateful to have had the help and support of Arcadia staff and faculty, and
am very pleased with how the event turned out.”
Last spring, Nosel decided that a summer internship would be beneficial to her as she approached her senior
year and to help her with her plans to enter a post-graduate program or find an entry-level position in the field
of Foreign Affairs. She sent her résumé to WILPF, an organization that strives toward racial, social and
economic justice through education, challenging biases, and strengthening relationships and movements for
justice, peace and racial democracy. Soon after Nosel was contacted by the co-chair for the Philadelphia
branch who informed her that though interns typically only worked in the Boston branch, she was impressed
with her résumé. After an interview, Nosel was offered an internship.
“WILPF really embraced my role and my opinions, and have really allowed me to focus on areas of
particular interest to me, as well as to the organization,” says Nosel. “I couldn’t have asked for a better
organization to be working with.”
Nosel spent her time helping the members of WILPF research modern-day issues in an effort to broaden the
organization’s exposure to younger generations.
As she educated herself on WILPF’s evolution since 1915, she found herself learning about Jane Addams, an
integral figure in the women’s suffrage movement and founder of the precursor to the WILPF, the Women’s
Peace Party.
“One of my goals is to notify younger generations about the issues that WILPF addresses. WILPF asked me
to organize a venue for Knight to discuss her new book, and I thought Arcadia would not only be convenient,
but appropriate as well,” says Nosel. “Addams was very dedicated to the global community, as well as
domestic issues, and spent much of her career fighting for world peace and an end to the international
conflicts taking place at the time, which led to her receiving the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931. I’m hoping that
Knight’s presentation will help me garner more awareness, more support and possibly new members.”
She notes the event would not have been possible without the support and insight of Dr. Warren Haffar,
Assistant Professor and Director of International Peace and Conflict Resolution, Dr. Jeffrey Shultz, Professor
of Education and Assistant Provost for Special Projects, and Judith Dalton, Assistant Dean for Multicultural
Affairs. She adds, “I think it really is very important for people to realize that in certain circumstances, they
have to be co-dependent on others, and therefore work well with others.”
Knight’s newest biography, Jane Addams: Spirit in Action, was published in August by W.W. Norton. To see
more before Knight’s appearance, watch an interview with two Revolutionary War historians.
2010/09/17 Issue

3. Leave a Reply
Name (required)
Mail (will not be published) (required)
Website
Submit Comment
« Previous Entries
Next Entries »
View Online Events Calendar
Login to MyArcadia to see complete MyArcadia Calendar of Events.
Latest Flickr photos

4. Upcoming Campus Events
Volleyball (A) (10/18/2010)
Men's Soccer (A) (10/16/2010)
Women's Soccer (A) (10/16/2010)
Field Hockey (A) (10/16/2010)
Writers Return to Campus: Frankie Diane Mallis (10/15/2010)

5. Volleyball (H) (10/13/2010)
Women's Soccer (H) (10/13/2010)
Field Hockey (A) (10/13/2010)
Men's Soccer (H) (10/12/2010)
A Lot of Nothing Exhibition (10/12/2010)
News Releases
Arcadia University Praxis II Prep Seminars Start Oct. 23 September 22, 2010
Arcadia University’s National Award Winning Theater Opens Season with Vanities, Oct. 21 September
15, 2010
Arcadia University Names Vice President for Development September 9, 2010
Arcadia University’s Writers Return to Campus Presents Frankie Diane Mallis, Oct. 15 September 9,
2010
Links
Arcadia University Web Site
Bulletin Past Issues (2009 and earlier)
MyArcadia

6. © 2010 Arcadia University Bulletin.
215-572-2900 | 1-877-ARCADIA (1-877-272-2342) | 450 S. Easton Road, Glenside, PA 19038 |
Powered by Wordpress.