by Blair Mills
UNL’s second annual Winter Wonderland party, hosted by the Czech Komenský Club, Global Studies Program, and Russian Club, offered students and professors a much-needed break from the strains of class last Thursday, November 29. Students from the Global Studies and Modern Languages department spent the evening snacking on Eastern European dishes, crafting ornaments for the Christmas tree, and socializing with classmates and alumni. The party was also an opportunity for faculty of the Modern Languages department and Global Studies program to give their heartfelt thanks to Dr. Radha Balasubramanian, the director of the Global Studies program since 2015 and a professor of Russian at UNL since 1990. Former and current students of Dr. Balasubramanian attended to see off the professor and mentor who has impacted the lives of thousands of students during her career at UNL. During her time at UNL, Radha has impacted the lives of her students within her classes as well as outside her classes, often helping students obtain highly competitive scholarships and fellowships within the field of foreign language study. These sentiments were often expressed during the event by students of Dr. Balasubramanian:
■ Radha has always been so welcoming and friendly that the Russian program feels more like a family than a class. - Current student within the Russian department
■ Radha has always been my pillar of strength as I weather my way through the Russian program. - Current student within the Russian department
The annual Winter Wonderland party is a great opportunity for students to socialize and network across Modern Languages and Global Studies department. The departments plan to host a third party next year to continue this cross-departmental tradition.
