By: Riley Harker
The annual event, A Walk Down Language Lane occurred for the second year on Friday April 21.
All along Kurtz Lane from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. there was sidewalk chalk for anyone walking through to share thoughts, poems, stories, quotes or simple translations in any language other than English. Those that do not know another language were encouraged to add unique artwork.
Last year was the first time this event was held, and by the end of the day, the entire lane was covered with more than 25 languages represented.
“The idea is to bring our campus together and create a very visible multicultural centerpiece,” said Greg Severyn the professor who runs the event. He and his Spanish 202 students facilitate the event and encourage passersby to participate by adding a simple word or phrase in another language.
Many of the students were surprised at the diversity of languages that made its way the Kurtz Lane. “There’s a lot of languages I never thought I’d read here.” said ons Spanish 202 student, Jared Lowrance. Some languages included were Spanish, German, French, Hebrew, Japanese and Korean among many others. Someone even wrote “I love you” in American Sign Language by drawing out the hands. People spend anything from a few seconds to half an hour crafting a message.
Lowrance believes that events like this prove that the language requirement at Susquehanna is helpful and that most students are able to write at least some phrases in another language even if it’s as simple as “Me gusta la leche” (I like milk). “It’s cool to know that people take something out of it,” Lowrance said.
