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Letter from the Editors

Volume 1, Issue 1

Dear Readers:

PRIMA has been established with three main goals in mind. The first of these objectives is to provide a forum for Davidson students, faculty, and alumni to make their work in international studies public. The publication process offers many opportunities for learning on the part of students, from contributing to editing, from idea generation to production. It also links the faculty more closely with the students, creating a place where students and faculty can interact as partners in learning. Involving alumni in this project maintains and deepens the connections among Davidsonians. Keeping one another up-to-date on our activities fosters better relationships and creates fertile ground for future partnerships. 

PRIMA has been developed also to extend Davidson’s reach onto the World Wide Web and to make links more easily with international programs at other universities and institutes. PRIMA draws on the exciting possibilities of the information age and the amazingly rapid and wide dissemination of knowledge which occurs on the Internet.

Finally, while the two purposes mentioned above target academics already integrated into the international studies arena, this new journal’s objectives extend beyond this established readership. PRIMA also seeks to engage other members of the public. By searching out articles of a general nature from disciplines across the spectrum, the journal promotes accessibility to a much wider audience.

To achieve these goals PRIMA draws on a number of strengths. Based out of a small liberal arts college, PRIMA has access to an environment where the faculty’s interest in students’ success, and vice versa, is a given. The liberal arts education is also a natural foundation for the generalist work PRIMA is looking for. The staff of PRIMA also believes that a tremendous source of intellectual curiosity is available at its home, much of it prompted by the rapidly evolving object of the journal’s study.

As its first year in publication, PRIMA required a significant investment of time and energy.  We want to extend thanks to several people without which this publication would not be what it is today.  First, we want to thank our entire student editorial board for all the long hours spent making this a success.  Second, a sincere thanks goes out to our faculty board, which has provided advice, direction, and suggestions, particularly while PRIMA was in its formative stages.  Third, we want to thank the Dean Rusk Program for its sponsorship; Ambassador Ken Brown, Director of the Dean Rusk Program; and Irene Middleton, Assistant to the Director.  Irene's personal commitment to the publication and frequent help was invaluable. 

We hope that this is just the first of many successful issues of PRIMA, and we look forward to your continued interest and feedback.

                                                            Sincerely,

                                                            Katie Wilson and Derek Politzer