Students to sample Russian culture

Approximately 14 University students will be able to visit the former Soviet Union for under $30 a day. For the second year in a row, Peter Steiner, chairperson of the Slavic Languages and Literatures Department, will lead an exchange program between the University and Moscow State University. Steiner said this week that the trip -- which will only cost $400 because it is subsidized by the University -- aims to "introduce the students to Russia." "[It is meant to be] an educational experience -- not just tourism," Steiner said. The students will spend time with Moscow State students and stay with them in their dorms during the two-week visit in May. Steiner said the students will visit museums and monuments, attend lectures and take part in other programming prepared by Moscow State. He added that he hopes the group will be able to take some trips to places such as Leningrad, but he said traveling in Russia is difficult. But traveling is not the only problem the program will be facing in the former Soviet Union right now, Steiner said. He added the economy abroad has had its effect on the program. "The economic situation has changed the nature of the exchange," he said. Steiner said the Moscow State students originally planned to travel to the University this month, as they did a year ago, but the price of airfare was too high and the students could not afford to make the trip. Assistant Provost Jean Morse said yesterday while she is unsure whether the second part of the exchange will be completed, "we have invited them to come next fall." Applications for the exchange program are available in the Slavic Languages and Literatures Department and are due by April 3. The applications require a parent's signature. Steiner said he encourages freshmen, sophomores and juniors from all schools of the University -- including those who are not specialists in Russian or Russian History -- to apply. Steiner added many students who went on the trip last year benefited greatly from the experience. "It was a very nice exchange," he said. "I was surprised at the depth of the experience."

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