With the help of the International Education and Development department, a team of four teachers from four different departments traveled to Cuba over Spring Break.

Jeff C. Boyer, Laurie R. Semmes, Renee G. Scherlen and Scott P. Ludwig are part of a larger mission to re-establish relationships with Cuban colleges.

These relationships will help re-open study abroad and faculty exchange programs.

“We had them [study abroad and exchange programs] before, but it was closed down in early 2000,” anthropology instructor Boyer said.

Political science instructor Scherlen, explained why the programs were closed and why they are opening again.

“The U.S. government gives licenses to schools so that they can do exchanges with Cuba,” Scherlen said. “In early 2000, Appalachian did have a license. Then the Bush administration changed the regulations and Appalachian’s license was not renewed.”

With the Obama administration announcing some changes in its relationship with Cuba, Appalachian was able to receive a license again in September, Scherlen said.

Teachers from different colleges at Appalachian are preparing for the study abroad programs by visiting Cuban colleges in their respective areas of interests.

Ludwig, art instructor at Appalachian, is helping in “establishing connections to develop student/faculty travel programs, research, and potential visiting artist exchanges.”

Teachers are also going beyond relationship-building by doing goodwill.

Boyer will be helping the Cuban Institute of Anthropology to get lapel pins for their conference.

Semmes, a music instructor, will be helping the National Symphony Orchestra of Cuba and Instituto of Superior de Arte by sending them much needed supplies.

Valve oil (a lubricant for valves of brass instruments), tuning forks (acoustic resonators in the form of a two-pronged, U-shaped fork made of elastic metal), brass mouth pieces, and music sheets are only some of the supplies Semmes, with the help of many people in the music department including the music fraternity Sigma Alpha Iota, is collecting until May 2.

Students and community members who wish to help can drop off music sheets in boxes outside the elevators in the Broyhill Music Center or other supplies in the main office.

Monetary donations will be used to buy supplies, as well.

Semmes discussed the issue of lacking supplies with the concertmaster, house manager and administrators of the institute.

“I asked them, ‘Why can’t you get these things? Why is this hard?’ And they said, very politely, ‘Because they’re made in the United States.’” Semmes said. “And that was embarrassing, to sit there and hear that and be a representative of the U.S., of the country that makes the stuff they need but can’t get from us.”

First imposed in 1960, the embargo against Cuba has many elements to it.

The travel ban prohibits U.S. citizens to travel to Cuba without special permissions (a study abroad license, for example).

The commercial trade ban, prohibits Cubans to get many U.S. products or makes the products incredibly expensive.

Cuban schools also find it hard to receive donations. Rather, they find it easier to accept them from someone who travels to Cuba to personally donate it.

Scherlen will be returning to Cuba in May to return Semmes’ package of music supplies and to bring another team of Appalachian teachers.

“If we help them in the way we say we will then they will have reason to trust us,” Semmes said.  She hopes to continue helping the Cuban music institutes and orchestra by donating supplies regularly.

Boyer had a similar to Semmes. Despite the long political conflict the U.S. government has had with Cuba, students should try to understand and trust the Cuban people.

“They are people with wants, needs and happiness and sadness just like the rest of us,” said Boyer. “And they should be accorded with their human dignity.”
Scherlen added she thinks the U.S. relationship with Cuba will be changing.

“It’s important that citizens in this country will have an idea about Cuba in order to be able to make informed decisions about where they want the future of their relationship to go,” Scherlen said.

To learn more about studying in Cuba, students can go to the Office of International Education and Development or contact Scherlen.

Story: SAMANTHA BAGOOD, Intern Lifestyles Reporter