University of Minnesota
Center for Austrian Studies
casahy@umn.edu
612-642-9811


Austrian Studies' home page.

Home > Outreach : Student

Student Outreach

During the academic 2004-05 year the Center for Austrian Studies launched a new social group for students interested in Austria. Linda Andrean, the Center’s administrative manager, and Kristin Vogtenhuber, an Austrian who is a doctoral candidate at the University of Minnesota, conceived the idea. Linda saw the opportunity to develop a group consisting of students from Austria and the surrounding countries as well as American students who have studied in Austria. When Mirjam Marits, the BMBWK Research Assistant from Austria, arrived in September, the group found a major supporter and organizer.

In 2005-06, the group continued to meet, gaining new members from Austrian students arriving for that academic year. The 2005-06 BMBWK RA, Silke Stern, quickly became Linda’s partner in organizing student events, and this duty has become a permanent part of the BMBWK RA’s job.

2008-09

Events organized by Thomas and Linda included:

  • The fall Pizza Party get-acquainted event.
  • The December 6 holiday party, hosted again by Erika and Herb Kahler, including an appearance of Nikolaus.
  • Visit trips to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts
  • Regular Bowling events at the Bryant Lake Bowl
  • A bicycle tour around the lakes

2007-08

Events organized by Simon and Linda included:

  • "Painting the Bridge" over the Mississippi at the beginning of Fall semester.
  • The fall Pizza Party get-acquainted event.
  • The October road trip to Duluth and Gooseberry Falls in northern Minnesota.
  • A road trip to New Ulm in south-central Minnesota in October.
  • The December 6 holiday party, hosted again by Erika and Herb Kahler.

2006-07

Events organized by Barbara and Linda included:

  • A "welcome" pizza party at the end of September.
  • A CAS-sponsored trip to Duluth and Gooseberry Falls in September.
  • A CAS-sponsored trip to Northfield and New Ulm in October.
  • Promotion of the December 6 holiday party, hosted again by Erika and Herb Kahler. Once again, there was an excellent turnout for the dinner - approximately fifty people.
  • A movie night in spring, where Barbara showed Fargo, the classic movie about Minnesota.
  • Besides Barbara organized a monthly Stammtisch that regularly had as many as twenty-five members.

2005-06

Events organized by Silke and Linda included:

  • A CAS-sponsored trip to Duluth, Split Rock Lighthouse, and Gooseberry Falls in October. This group also included Austrians and Germans attending St. Paul’s Macalester College.
  • A CAS-sponsored trip to Northfield, Carleton College, and St. Olaf College.
  • Promotion of the December 6 holiday party, hosted again by Erika and Herb Kahler. Once more, thanks to Silke and Linda’s promotional efforts, the turnout was superb–over 50, and students were well represented again.
  • A trip to New Ulm in southern Minnesota in the spring.
  • A year-end pizza party with David Good, Linda, Silke, and various students.

2004-05

Events organized by Mirjam and Linda included:

  • A CAS-sponsored trip to Duluth and Gooseberry Falls in October, including a boat tour of the Duluth harbor.
  • Promotion of the CAS annual holiday celebration on December 6, St. Nikolaus Day, hosted by Erika and Herb Kahler. Thanks to the established student network and Mirjam’s promotional efforts, it had the highest attendance of any CAS holiday party in years–nearly 50 people, including a large number of students.
  • A "Stammtisch," held in February at the Kitty Cat Club in Dinkytown.
  • A taste of Minnesota "culture": a pizza dinner and a showing of the movie "Fargo" on April 1.
  • A farewell party on May 4 for the students before they went their various ways. CAS director Gary Cohen presented each attendee with a gift to remember the Center and their stay at the University of Minnesota.