The January Interim term at Wofford is a time for students to slow down and think deeply. Some courses ask students to consider things as vast as outer space and global food systems or as detailed as a “War and Peace” and Egyptian hieroglyphs.
One course asks participants to reconsider one of the most basic tasks of everyday life: getting dressed in the morning.
“Slow and Steady Green Fashion: Designing, Up-Cycling and Sewing,” taught by Dr. Catherine Schmitz, professor of French, is focused on introducing students to sustainable practices in fashion. Many of these are implemented at the supply chain level, such as transparent manufacturing and the use of natural dyes. Some can be practiced at home with the help of a sewing machine.
Sewing is not a new topic of choice for Schmitz. She first began teaching it during Interim 20 years ago with Dr. Anne Rodrick, Reeves Family Professor of History, and this is her 12th time teaching Wofford students to sew while considering the philosophy and practices of the fashion industry.
“Crafting and making things have always been in my family — we are a family of makers,” Schmitz says. “When it was time to create a new Interim after my very first one, in which I assisted a colleague, the topic of sewing came to my mind. I like making things, fixing things and being creative. Sewing requires a different way of thinking and solving problems.”
Schmitz’s Interim course now aims to show how sewing can be a tool to help solve problems facing our world.
According to Schmitz, fast fashion is bigger than ever, and it’s having an outsized effect on the environment. Two related numbers have stuck with her over the years: 85% of textiles end up in a landfill because of production surplus and overconsumption of inexpensive clothes, and, on average, we wear only 30% of the clothes we own. Mending and tailoring clothes and recycling fabrics for use in refreshed outfits can help combat this.
“After thinking about how to implement a green sewing course for a while, I finally taught it in 2021 with a colleague, Dr. Patricia Nuriel,” Schmitz says. “For the first time in 2021, JAN-Green Sewing introduced students to the craft of up-cycling used clothes and textile items by repurposing them. The course was a success; students made beautiful and original pieces!”
Schmitz says the act of sewing also engages students’ creativity. “It’s nice to see students not being afraid of trying something new, making mistakes and solving their mistakes. Sewing can teach you a lot of problem-solving skills and patience. I always look forward to seeing what students can create after a week or two of classes.”
This course is just one of many experiential on-campus Interim classes offered this January. Others include:
Fire Ecology (Dr. Cissy Fowler, professor and chair of sociology and anthropology) – This course explores the relationship between people, fires and the environment, including perspectives from the past and concerns for the future. Students learn about fire management strategies across private property, state lands, national parks and other protected areas, and they hear from fire-related specialists, including land managers, scientists and park rangers.
Can You Endure? (Benjamin Cartwright, assistant professor of accounting) – Students learn about the physiological and psychological impact of endurance events, which include ultra-running, long-distance cycling and hiking long trails. The preparation and coursework lead up to a four-hour endurance event at the end of the Interim.
Console Culture: Nintendo from Past to Present (Rebecca Forstater, assistant professor of studio art, and Jessica Scott-Felder, associate professor of studio art) – This course charts the rise of Nintendo from its humble beginning selling playing cards into a multibillion-dollar video game company. Students will learn about the future of digital media and entertainment and will get hands-on experience with the Nintendo Switch, the company’s latest home console.
Keep the Devil Down in the Hole: Listening Carefully to ‘The Wire’ (Dr. A.K. Anderson, professor of religion) – Students will watch and discuss “The Wire,” widely regarded as one of the greatest TV series of all time. The Interim goes beyond the show with deep discussions of major issues affecting society today and the role of media, government, law enforcement and more.
Listening for the Sacred: How to Hear the Voices of Others (Dr. Philip Dorroll, associate professor of religion, and Ingrid Lilly, assistant professor of religion) – This course is designed to help students combat the chaotic pace of everyday life with an effort to understand what is sacred to others and elaborate on what is sacred to oneself. Students will learn the basic techniques of reflective listening.
Reel Science: Discussing the Portrayal of Science in Cinema (Dr. Katie Putney, assistant professor of biology, and Dr. Amy Sweitzer, professor of English) – From “Jurassic Park” to “Ex Machina” and beyond, science has been a frequent subject of major movies. This course will investigate how real-life scientific methods, scientists and scientific concepts are presented in popular cinema and how these depictions can shape society’s views.
In addition to the on-campus course options, the college offers career exploration during Interim. Interim coordinator Dr. Karen Goodchild, Chapman Family Professor of Humanities, says more than 130 students have been accepted to participate in the Learning Work guided internship program during Interim, which is the biggest group yet. Examples of Learning Work opportunities this January include public health internships in Ghana, economic research in Spartanburg and hunting and lodging management experience in Arkansas.
Professional internships during the Interim include pre-law, pre-medicine, pre-dentistry, real estate, public policy and the Capitol Hill internship program.
Students may also choose to carry out approved independent study projects during the Interim. This year’s examples include astrophysics imaging, computer app development and history research on women aviators.
Study abroad opportunities during Interim are also popular. This year Wofford students are completing short-term study abroad experiences in Argentina, the Cayman Islands, Chile, the Galapagos Islands, France, Germany, Morocco, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Norway, Poland, South Africa, Spain and the United Kingdom.