“Renaissance” is defined as “A revival of, or renewal of interest in, something; (also) the process by which this occurs.”

Many of us experienced interruptions to our research during the last two years and we would like to return to that research with fresh eyes and new energy. Some of us made plans to present our research at symposia or conferences but the events were cancelled or postponed. Perhaps recent global events have caused us to look at our research from a new perspective and we would like to return that research from a different direction. We may want to reform previously held opinions which guided our research. As we return to an in-person symposium for the first time since 2019, let us reflect back on old work in a new way.

The Graduate Early Modern Student Society (GEMSS) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will feature papers that represent a renewing or a rebirth of ideas or research to be presented at its fifth annual symposium. Revivals of papers that have been presented at past conferences are welcomed. We seek to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue among graduate students interested in early modernity however defined.

The MadLit Graduate Student Conference is a graduate student conference centered around the idea of "para-crisis": In the midst of this proliferating focus on conditions of catastrophe, however, we might also ask what modes of life, affect, and community formation persist even beyond, alongside, or within crisis. Students who participate and attend will be exposed to new perspectives on the multiple meanings and cultural responses to crises. They will learn about different ways literature (broadly defined as any sort of text from novels, to music, to video games) can help provide insight into the possibility of reclaiming space for joy, community, and new forms of life even while confronting larger forces of systemic turmoil.

In this year’s conference, Language, Culture, and Globalization: Transdisciplinary Perspectives, we would like to draw attention to the role of culture in language development and education in the current era of globalization, characterized by increased transnational migration and use of communication technologies that allow for intercultural exchanges. We also recognize that while language and culture have been inextricably linked in language studies, this relationship has been framed and addressed from different theoretical and methodological perspectives. We invite presenters to explore the connection between language and culture in SLA and other areas of language studies, in a world where the local and global increasingly intersect and shape each other and give rise to a number of issues related to language learning and use.

ALPs is a student organization that offers workshops that utilize adventure based activities (teambuilding initiatives, high and low ropes courses) to help participants learn more about themselves and one another. All workshops are interactive and experiential and are suitable for all ages, abilities, and groups. We offer four different types of workshops and all are tailored to meet the needs and goals of the group:Teambuilding (ground) workshop--Usually 1-4 hours in length. The goals for this workshop can include community building, leadership, trust, and communication to name a few. The workshops consist of activities that happen "on the ground" and consist of teambuilding initiatives, problem solving activities, energizers, and get to know you activities. This workshop can facilitated anywhere--on campus, off campus, inside, or outside. As of January 13, 2021, our teambuilding workshops are offered only online due to the COVID-19 pandemic. These virtual teambuilding workshops are the only workshops we are currently offering. We will return to normal programming once it is approved by the University to do so. Roving workshop--Usually 2-4 hours in length. The goals of these workshops are similar to those of our teambuilding (ground) workshops. The longer the workshop, the better! This workshop takes the components of the teambuilding (ground) workshop and combines it with the adventure of traveling from place to place on campus (or wherever your group is located). The group is given a riddle/clue that they need to decipher in order to determine the next stop on the journey. At each stop, the group will do a teambuilding activity and, once completed, move on to the next stop.Low ropes course workshop--Usually 4 hours in length. This workshop delves more deeply into trust and increases the level of challenge. All of the elements (obstacles) are from knee height to 12 feet off of the ground and require groups to work together, take care of one another, and trust each other to complete the task. Groups focus on community building, trust, communication, and leadership in this workshop.High Ropes course workshop--Usually 8 hours in length. The high ropes course consists of elements (obstacles) constructed on 40 foot telephone poles and requires the participant to wear a harness and be clipped into a rope safety system. The ropes course is more individualistic and allows participants the opportunity for work through their fear and learn more about themselves--their strengths, how to work through challenging situations, and how to utilize their resources--while being supported by their group. Goals for this day can include leadership development, trust, communication, and community building.This workshop series is free for UW-Madison students. This service is also open to non-UW Madison units but there is a cost. Please contact us for more information.

ALPs is a student organization that provides team-building and high and low ropes course workshops for groups. Each Fall and Spring, ALPs hires up to 15 students to become facilitators in the organization. They learn how to facilitate team building workshops and the technical skills necessary to operate and facilitate high and low ropes courses. Students will develop their leadership, communication, presentation, and teambuilding skills as a result of being a facilitator. In addition to the role of a facilitator, we offer other leadership positions that can further develop a student's leadership ability. Lead Challenge Course Instructor--facilitators who have put in extra time and effort to expand their knowledge in the technical aspects of the low and high ropes course. They are responsible for set up and take down of the course, managing the risk of the participants, managing their peers and making sure they are doing things correctly, and are the go-to expert when a ropes course workshop is occurring. Student Directors--facilitators who oversee and manage the program, which is basically like running a small non-profit or business. They lead staff meetings, interact professionally with clients, schedule and staff workshops, develop and manage a $180,000 budget, present this budget for approval to a group of their peers, and any other tasks that are necessary to keep the organization running smoothly. They are essentially the "face" of the organization. Staff Training Coordinator--a facilitator who has taken on the role of planning all of our staff trainings--which totals 40 hours of training a year. They organize the training agenda, recruit and direct trainers, organize logistics including food and transportation, contact outside trainers for special training events, review our ropes course staff manual, and review all incidents that have occurred in our workshops. Trainers--facilitators who are skilled in the art of facilitation and/or ropes course technical knowledge and are tasked with training all of our staff, from new staff to our veteran staff. They develop lesson plans, lead training, and are the front lines of developing our staff. Committee Chairs--We have 5 committees that manage key pieces of our organization. The chairs are responsible for organizing their committee into roles to accomplish decided upon goals, run meetings, be a part of a leadership council for the organization, and keep our staff motivated and engaged. Hiring Committee--facilitators who volunteer to hire for all of our positions, which includes hiring all of our new staff--reading 40 plus applications and conducting interviews. It is a great human resources development opportunity!