Students – History

Ken Bartelt’s Work Recognized

Susan Wagner — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:23:16 +0000

Here is coverage from the Shepherd-Express of the exhibit about Beckum-Stapleton Little League that our own History PhD student Ken Bartelt co-curated at MSOE’s Grohmann’ Museum. Congratulations Ken!

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Associate Professor Carter Publishes New Book

Susan Wagner — Wed, 09 Apr 2025 15:24:41 +0000

The Star Wars saga takes place in a galaxy far, far away, but its social structures—in particular its racial realities—are thoroughly American. So argues Greg Carter in this thought-provoking analysis, which blends historical and theoretical treatments of science fiction cinema and Star Wars fandom to explore the subtle mirroring between fantasy and the communities that create and consume it.

I’d Just as Soon Kiss a Wookiee draws on insights from prominent scholars to examine fictional relationships between groups perceived to be biologically different. Three areas of commonality between the United States and Star Wars arise: stiff regulation of racial mixture; racialized servitude, with nonhumans placed in positions of bondage; and the presumption of white male supremacy. None of these are functions of the of the Star Wars story; rather, they index the expectations of US society. But expectations have also shifted since Star Wars launched in 1977, and the franchise with it. Carter gauges minority and mainstream fan reactions, finding that, while science fiction enthusiasts have a reputation for progressiveness, the truth turns out to be as complicated as US racism itself.

Learn more from the 51�� interview

Congratulations Dr. Carter!

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Sugarbush Outing

Susan Wagner — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:57:38 +0000

On March 3, 2025, AIS/HIst 474 went to University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Field Station- Cedarburg Bog and started iskigamizigan, sugarbush. The students each found an ininatig, sugar maple, that they would tap to obtain the gift of the sweet sap from the ininatigoog, sugar maples plural. In all we tapped 25 ininatigoog and collected around 150 gallons of sap in a two-week period. We had two boils, the first was on March 12. We boiled around 100 gallons of sap to make roughly 5 quarts of syrup. The staff from Electa Quinney Institute brought in buffalo, venison, and a variety of vegetables to make a soup for the boil. Sap was also added to the broth, while the students stirred and filtered the sap. When the soup was done everyone who was there feasted while we continued to boil the sap into syrup. The second boil took place on March 20. We boiled the last of the sap collected, another 50 gallons which boiled down to roughly 3 quarts of syrup. All syrup is used for the Honor for All breakfast for the Indigenous graduates, everyone is invited to celebrate and enjoy the syrup. April 26 at OHOW at 9 am.

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