With the installation of its chapter on campus, DePauw University has became the first liberal arts university to be part of the thinktank, European Horizons.
European Horizons is the largest United States based European thinktank and has chapters at Harvard University, Stanford University and other top-ranked universities.
European Horizons functions much-like model United Nations. Participants of the thinktank draft policies over various global topics like foreign relations or the environment. These policies are then presented at an annual European Student Horizons conference held on Feb. 1 at Yale University. The drafted policies are then discussed, debated, and presented to government officials and policy makers. Attending officials include former United States ambassador to the European Union ,William Kennard, Ambassador of the European Union to the United States, David O’Sullivan and director of the European Parliament liaison office with the U.S Congress, Antoine Ripoll.
European Horizons was originally conceived at Yale University in 2015, and since its birth, it’s grown to encompass 32 chapters across the United States. DePauw senior Ia Tserodze is one of few individuals in the U.S. who is credited with the original founding and implementation of European Horizons.
During Tserodze’s study abroad at the University of Oxford in Oxford, England, she was approached by Yale University to initiate a chapter of European Horizons at Oxford, which she successfully completed. Tserodze has now established the beginnings of a chapter of European Horizons here on DePauw’s campus.
However, establishing a chapter on campus was not an easy process. “It became a lengthy process for DePauw because I was the only person from DePauw who was a part of the founding and could implement it,” Tserodze said.
In order to establish a chapter on campus, Tserodze had to write a constitution and enlist the aid of various different faculty members in the Political Science, Peace and Conflict Studies, and European Studies departments.
Other factors that made it difficult for DePauw to establish a chapter include its size and status. Many of the schools that are involved in the thinktank are amongst the best in the world and have a large student population.
Director of European Studies and professor of Philosophy, Daniel Shannon, also shared similar concerns about the efficacy of an established chapter on campus. “It is great, but not likely to do well here,” Shannon said. “The problem is in order for it to happen, you need a dedicated and large body of students.”
Junior Maya Cotton, who worked with Tserodze to launch European Horizons on campus, remains positive about the possible success of the newly established chapter. “I think it’s a valid concern, although I can’t guarantee dedicated members in the future,” Cotton said. “I don’t see why we can’t try.”
Amidst doubt and concern, Tserodze remains undeterred. “I want DePauw students to get more from class and theoretical knowledge,” she said. “I want to share, I want to make sure other students benefit from this opportunity.” Tserodze also plans to hold an information session for interested students who want to be involved in European Horizons after thanksgiving break.
Tserodze believes that for many students who are interested in European Horizons, the experience will apply to the theories they learn in class.
Most of all, Tserodze hopes to inspire other students to engage in beginning new initiatives here on campus.
“I want to make sure our school stands out and make sure DePauw students can access these resources,” Tserodze said. “It sends a positive message to other students that they can start a new initiative.”