Classics and History Double Major, Alex Bathrick
Junior undergraduate student Alex Bathrick, a classics and history double major, worked with Dr. Emily Metzgar, Ph.D., to perform research through the SURE program in 2022. They will be shifting their research focus for the SURE 2023 program and will be performing research with Professor Matthew Crawford, Ph.D.
During the 2022 year, she aided Dr. Metzgar in research for the writing of a book. She was interested in looking at various classical authors and how their thoughts and opinions are interpreted in modern-day society. Focusing primarily on Ovid, a Roman poet with controversial ideas of gender roles and relationships, she concluded that there are several aspects of Ancient Greco-Roman cultures that are worth sharing, especially due to the inaccessibility to the modern reader of classical literature.
In order to help make this literature more accessible, they are making a podcast entitled Pandora’s Vox in which they assume the role of the mythical figure Pandora to tell the stories and add some of their own perspective as a modern, queer woman. They are currently in the process of recording the first few episodes and hope to release the podcast soon.
As they discussed their research, they described being featured on an episode of The Research Review, a podcast run by Kent State University student Jonathan Evanick, as their proudest moment in research so far. They said, “He really shines a light on undergraduate researchers who are not as well-recognized as our graduate peers. Because of that, I have actually been asked about my research by other students who have recognized my name from that episode, which feels absolutely unreal to me in such a positive way.”
Alex's podcast episode on The Research Review can be found on the podcast's page on Spotify.
As she transitions to this upcoming summer, under mentorship of Professor Crawford, she will be studying the history of treatment in medical and social settings of the mentally ill, specifically in the United States. Taking inspiration from her coursework this semester, she will be researching the transition between asylums meant to contain the “insane” to more modern-day hospitals which focus on the treatment of the mentally ill instead of isolation. In addition to researching this transition process, she will be looking into the archives of the American Psychological Association held at the University of Akron.
Deeper research on a topic inspired by coursework is one of the many benefits of undergraduate research Professor Crawford mentioned. He said, “Participating in a research project and doing research gives students unparalleled insight into their discipline (in my case, history). Our history courses do an excellent job of teaching students not only about the past but also about how we study and interpret the sources that tell us about the past. With the SURE program, history majors and minors can see how the actual work of historical research gets done.”
The research done by undergraduate student researchers not only allows the students to broaden their research experience and connection to their coursework, but it can allow them to aid in the development of course content. Professor Crawford said, “Research is a vital part of my job as a faculty member and a historian. My research not only enriches our understanding of the past but also enriches my teaching as I am able to use the finding of my research in my courses and use my courses to generate new research questions and problems. Research is the production of new knowledge; it is a vital part of what universities do and the results of university research have an impact in our society in many ways.”
Alex also described some of the many benefits they have received through the SURE program. “So far, the SURE program has taught me research methods which have been invaluable even in my undergraduate studies and provided me with connections to faculty that I highly value. I really could not recommend this program more to those who want to develop their scholarly skills.”
Alex encourages other students to get involved in research as well. She said, “The SURE program is a really great way to explore your field of study, engage with helpful faculty members, and get your foot in the door of academia. It requires hard work and discipline, but is extremely rewarding, and I would recommend it to anyone interested in research or looking to engage more actively with their field of study.”
Written by: Griffin Wold