A Consequential Education: Anti-Slavery Activism at Gettysburg College

College campuses have historically existed as spaces of political activity. The academic environment of a college campus encourages students to question the status quo, propose new ideas, and critically engage with the political issues of the day. Gettysburg College, originally known as Pennsylvania College, was no exception. Throughout the antebellum era, the campus became embroiled in the national debate over slavery. Students argued with each other about slavery’s immorality. Professors publicly spoke out against slavery and founded local abolitionist organizations. From the janitorial staff to the Board of Trustees to an entire fraternity, members of the campus community risked imprisonment to help escaped slaves on the Underground Railroad. And when the Civil War raged across their campus, Pennsylvania College students fought to determine whether the institution of slavery would persist. The College’s geographic position between the North and the South allowed for northern students to confront slavery and for southern students to be exposed to opposing ideas in a unique way not possible on most other campuses. Their consequential years at the College prepared students to take action against the injustices of slavery

Faculty Meeting Minutes - January 23, 2025

Minutes of the Gettysburg College Faculty Meeting, January 23, 2025

Perpetuating a “Frontier Myth:” The Long Winter and a “Weather Frontier”

Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series has long been the subject of scholarly debate regarding its role in shaping perceptions of the American frontier. The Long Winter (1940) is a key text within these discussions, particularly when focusing on how the environment serves as a historical actor in shaping frontier experiences. Traditional frontier narratives, such as those proposed by Frederick Jackson Turner, emphasize individualism and perseverance in the face of adversity. While Wilder’s work reflects these ideals, it also reveals the harsh realities of environmental challenges on the frontier, particularly through its depiction of the winter of 1880-81 in the Dakota Territory. Through an analysis of The Long Winter, this paper explores how Wilder’s narrative both upholds and complicates the “frontier myth.” Scholars such as Anne K. Phillips and Amanda Zastrow argue that Wilder’s work challenges male-dominated frontier narratives by highlighting women’s perspectives and resilience. Meanwhile, Anita Clair Fellman critiques the series for perpetuating an idealized version of self-sufficiency, questioning its historical accuracy. Richard Maxwell Brown’s concept of the “weather frontier” provides a framework for understanding how climate and natural disasters played a defining role in frontier life. By contextualizing Wilder’s portrayal of the 1880-81 winter within historical accounts and newspaper reports, this study illustrates how environmental hardship shaped frontier settlers’ experiences and survival strategies. The repeated blizzards, supply shortages, and reliance on communal ingenuity underscore the precariousness of frontier life

Why are Youtubers Bad at Apologizing?

There has been an increasing number of youtuber apology videos in the past few years, but almost all the youtubers fail at apologizing. My poster delves deeper into why are youtubers so bad at apologizing and how they can improve

“We’re Librarians”: Using TikTok to Connect Students with Information Literacy Skills

This poster presentation details the ways that Musselman Library has utilized TikTok and other short form video apps to engage with their users and teach bite-sized information literacy concepts. The poster reviews relevant pedagogy and gives suggestions to other libraries looking to start their own TikTok accounts

APPC Minutes – April 15, 2025

Minutes of the Academic Policy and Program Committee Meeting, April 15, 2025

APPC Minutes – February 4, 2025

Minutes of the Academic Policy and Program Committee Meeting, February 4, 2025

Faculty Meeting Minutes - February 20, 2025

Minutes of the Gettysburg College Faculty Meeting, February 20, 202

APPC Minutes – March 25, 2025

Minutes of the Academic Policy and Program Committee Meeting, March 25, 2025