1995-12-07

              PAGE 4 • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 7,1995 • INDEPENDENT

"The Expedition of the Americas" takes off Saturday

Three SJU men and their two-wheelers to make 10,000-mile trek

byKeDyBruce

Independent staff witter

Three ambitious pioneers from SL John's University will embark on a two-wheeled journey Saturday called The Expedition of the Americas," which is dedicated to interpersonal communication, global peace and cultural education for local SL Cloud children.

The three cyclists that are making a dream come true are SJU alumni S.R. Nithy and Jeffrey A. Glover, and SJU senior David Johnson.

This is a dream to discover and to cultivate human relationships," Nithy, the expedition leader, said. "It's about sharing, smiling and shaking hands between cultures."

Nithy is the founder and Project Manager of the Center for Global Adventure. Through this project he has allowed others to experience the world, including Glover.

MI want to see the world," the 24-year-old Glover said. This is the kind of stuff I dream abouL"

¦ Glover has spent the last semester preparing for the expedition and working for SJU Campus Ministry as associate director. The preparation before the trip is mostly physical and Johnson agrees that this trip win be more than just biking.

Tor nine months I will pedal across the Americas...I will laugh, ay, suffer and celebrate with the rest of the world," Johnson said.

The estimated 10,000 mile unstructured bicycle journey will begin in Ushuaia, Tierra Del Fuego, Argentina and finish in Col-kgevffle in SepL 1996. This approximate nine-month trek covers some almost unbearable terrain and unfamiliar cultures.

"Being honest and sincere when exploring is a key aspect in the success of this journey," Nithy said.

The expedition itself will be the biggest diaflenge to the three pioneers. They plan to average 50 miles a day, cycling over mountains, rain forests, deserts and often roadless terrain.

The first one-third of the expedition will cany them along the East Coast of Argentina, which to date, has never been traveled by an expeditionary team of this sorL They will then travel north toward Central America. Finally they will enter the United States through Texas and head north to Minnesota.

TTiroughout this unpredictable odyssey, the trio plans to keep in close contact with the children of SL Cloud School District 742 via e-mail. The three men have been visiting and explaining their trip to the kids for the past few weeks.

"Ym excited about the opportunity to e-mail the kids. My goals for this trip relate directly to these kids. They are what makes this expedition unique," Glover said. tWrt trying to tell the children to go after their dreams and be accepting of many different situations,

PHOTO COURTESY OF SJU CENTER FOR GLOBAL ADVENTURE

Nithy (left), Dave Johnson (center), and Jeff Glover will depart Saturday for their 'Expedition of the Americas."

good and bad by sharing with them our adventure."

Nithy shared similar sentiments.

The curriculum with the children is the key aspect in this expedition," Nithy said. "We want the children to know that they are a part of this adventure."

This special long distance connection was made possible by the hard work of the three cyclists and various supporters and organizers in SL Cloud.

With the SL Cloud School District, and sponsored and funded by Target stores, the Center for Global Adventure at SJU has created a unique curriculum for the elementary students.

The actual curriculum was developed by Kate TYewick, the expedition's education director and former curriculum specialist for District 742. Dr. Lynn Moore, assistant professor of education at the College of SL Benedict, also contributed to the innovative curriculum.

The curriculum will-incorporate specific knowledge erf the countries and cultures that the team will pass through on two wheels, and will touch on the specific academic areas of math, social studies and science.

The young students will have regular e-mail correspondence with the cyclists, and will follow the journey via Internet and with bimonthly radio spots on KNSR, Minnesota Public Radio network, 88.9 FM.

This adventure is not about personal gain for these three men.

"This has nothing to do with making a world record," Mthysaid.

Rather, for these three, the expedition is about something much deeper than setting a new world record, which is well within their grasp.

"I want to learn from Jeff and David, and all come back with many smiles and sorrows and to always be honest with ourselves," Nithy said.

Twenty-nine year old Nithy has participated in several notable events including the 1990 Olympic Festival, the 1991 International Special Olympic Festival, the Committee on Eliminating Racial Discrimination, and many other world events. Nithy has also explored the world by bicycle on seven previous journeys.

"A two-wheeled, non-motorized journey that will cover 10,000 miles of fat tires in an odyssey, traversing some of the hottest, most challenging and scenic tenrain on earth, to explore the New Wforld and cultivate the science of human relationships," Nitty said as he described his view of the adventure.

Glover also has extensive travel experience. While at SJU he participated in a January term study abroad program that took him through Israel, Egypt and Italy. He has spent a semester studying in China, traveled through the former Soviet Union and worked for nine months as a volunteer teaching high school in Belize.

Johnson is active in causes concerning social justice. He has participated in the SJU Social Justice Team, initiated and organized the 1995 Cultural Plunge Program, and belongs to Member of Houses, a social justice organization concerned with issues related to poverty. Johnson also lived and studied abroad in Greece and Italy last fell.                                          -         "

The objective of The Expedition of the Americas" is also a part of the mission for SJUs Center for Global Adventure.

The center was founded by Nithy in Feb. 1994 as a non-profit organization instituted with the intention of promoting global awareness on an individual basis.

Moreover, the center focuses on the empowerment of ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary things.

This expedition is not a physical adventurer Nithy said. It is a heart mind and soul adventure."                                              q.

While this pedaling, peace-promoting journey may be one of great importance and seriousness to this community, Glover already knows the first thing he is going to do when they arrive in Col-legeville in September.

Tm going to ride my bike right into Lake Sag," Glover said.

Horsebarn on its last leg

byFYancisBarbosa Independent staff writer

The Horsebam has been the site of the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University students1 first social experiences for almost 20 years.

Since the administration at CSB decided to raze the old red bam, this year's first-year students may be the last group to go through the big building.

Physical Plant'Director Merlyn Jerzak gave reasons for the administration's decision.

"In the name of progress. That's always the reason, isn't it?," Jerzak said. The feet is, the bam has become an eyesore."

Some students think that aesthetic reasons are not enough to tear the building down.

But the administration's reasons for removing the 30-year-old building go beyond aesthetics, according to Mike Ryan, Vice President of Administrative Services.

"The primary reason is money," Ryan said. "It is Just impractical to maintain it"

The structure was a temporary facility, not intended strategically or architecturally for thirty years of use.

Cost vs. benefit estimates suggest it would cost $20,000 to $40,000 to restore and improve the building.

"Unless we are willing to put a lot of money into it, the structure will continue to deteriorate and we are unwilling to do that" Ryan said.

The barn was built in the early 1970s to house what was then an equestrian program at the college at an approximate cost of $5,000. The equestrian program, long since abandoned by the college left the temporary building empty. It has since been used by several departments such as the Physical Plant and Student Activities.

In past years, the bam has housed four annual events including the first-year student orientation bam dance, the Millstream Art Festival, J-Term broomball and Senior Disorlentatioa

There are no alternative locations for these events," said St Ben's senator Wendy Wuebben

But administration sees the termination of the building as a way of enhancing the campus facilities.

The destruction of the Horsebam will allow the college to reinstall several facilities that were removed for the building of the S. L Haehn Campus Center Center.

The space created by the razing of the Horsebam will be devoted almost exclusively to the development of athletic facilities, including a soccer field, sand volleyball courts and an eight-* plex outdoor tennis court.

The remaining space will be devoted to additional parting along the new College entrance.

However, the plans for the Horsebam demolition are not as appealing to all CSB community members.

"Some students are not happy because it is a unique feature on cam51 pus and two major events occur there: when students first get to CSB and when they leave," Wuebben said.

Currently, the student senates are working to maintain the old structure forthe sake of tradition

It is unlikely, however, that their efforts will be successful since the administration feels the college stands to gain for more by destroying an old, temporary building.

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