A professor and student from Grove City College co-authored an article that was featured recently in a prominent Polish newspaper. Dr. Paul Kengor, professor of political science and executive director of the Center for Vision & Values, worked closely with Josh Delk ’17, a political science major, on the story.
The article about this year’s American presidential race aimed to present Polish readers, many of whom are not well-versed in American politics, with an impartial overview of the election, the major candidates and their positions of some of the issues, including the war on terror, immigration and gun violence.
The paper, Nasz Dziennik, is a prominent Polish paper for which Kengor has written several other articles, especially during past election years. Kengor was eager to have the chance to write a piece about this year’s campaign, but due to his busy schedule, called on Delk to help him research and write the article.
“When they asked me this time, I was totally overwhelmed with other work and didn’t know if I could find the time to write a lengthy, substantive piece,” says Kengor. “Josh offered to step in and co-author. I asked him to do the first draft, which he did magnificently. I made very few changes.”
Delk, whose grandfather is a native of Poland, was equally enthusiastic about the opportunity.
“It was truly an honor to work with Dr. Kengor on this project. He is a widely respected scholar and professor, and he has been a great help to me in pursuing a career in politics and journalism. I was happy to take advantage of the opportunity to work with one of my favorite professors and be published in a quality foreign publication. Writing to a foreign audience proved to be both challenging and enjoyable. This experience helped me to become a more skilled and thoughtful writer,” Delk said.
Delk is also a staff writer for The Collegian, Grove City College’s student newspaper.
Members of the faculty in Grove City’s Political Science Department are often presented the chance for co-authorship with students, an opportunity that Kengor sees as instrumental to the growth of not only the students, but also for the institution as a whole.
“I think it’s consistent with how we always need to be looking for ways to showcase our students and the kind of work they can do while here. This is obviously good for their career, for future internships, jobs, grad school. It speaks for itself. A prospective student or parent of a prospective student visiting our website can see things like this and say, ‘Hey, look at the kind of thing that poli-sci majors can do at Grove City College.’ We are always looking to raise the national and even international profile of Grove City. This kind of thing helps to do that.”
For more information on the political science department at Grove City, visit www.gcc.edu/pols.