Katherine Ptaszek Presents Undergraduate Research at Beloit College Symposium Day

BELOIT, WI (04/24/2012)(readMedia)-- Katherine Ptaszek '14 of Mokena, Ill., presented her research on "Alonzo W. Pond and the Issues of Morality in WWI Soldiers' Entertainment" at the 36th Annual Beloit College Symposium on Thursday, April 12. She is a history major and French minor.

Symposium Day at Beloit College is an academic forum at which students publicly present their research to the college community. All classes are cancelled to allow students, faculty and staff to attend the presentations. Topics range from scientific studies to interpretations of literary works. Each of the nearly 90 students participating in the program prepare a half-hour oral presentation or make poster presentations of original research conducted during the 2011-2012 academic year. Symposium Day participants are honored at a closing reception.

Looking through the lens of Beloit College student Alonzo W. Pond who kept a diary of his experiences as an ambulance driver in France, Ptaszek discussed her research into the licentiousness of European culture that so alarmed Americans, as well as the groups who responded to the petitions of citizens to provide American values-conforming activities.

Beloit College is a residential, liberal arts college offering 40 majors to its 1,250 students. Located 90 miles northwest of Chicago, Beloit is one of the nation's most international colleges, drawing students from 41 nations as well as 49 states.