First  Year  Students

The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Indian Removal

Simpson Colloquium SC-101-F Trail of Tears
M W TH F  1- 2 PM

Nearly one-fourth of Cherokee Indians died during the tribe’s forced removal by the U.S. government in what’s now commonly referred to as the “Trail of Tears.” Students will examine the underlying policy issues of the growing U.S. democratic nation in the early 1800 Westward Expansion. Students will also review the impact on individual Cherokee families and the uniqueness of the Cherokee Nation, both then and now. Students will critically analyze the various positions on the forced removal through reports, court cases, laws, newspaper accounts and films and current websites.

The Trail of Tears has been designated as a National Historic Trail by the U.S. National Park Service.  Students will participate in a “no frills” trip along the Trail of Tears from Georgia to Oklahoma during fall break.  Students will miss 3 class days for travel. Students will meet members of the Cherokee tribe, learn some basic Cherokee language, visit sites along the trail, and learn about issues the Cherokee Nation faces in today’s society.

Students must be adventurous and willing to use sleeping bags on church floors, help cook meals, eat sandwiches, and travel in cramped vans. Students will be charged an estimated $350 fee for the fall break trip (may apply for student financial aid).

  • The first assignment for this course, which should be completed during the summer,  is to read Walking the Trail: One Man's Journey by Jerry Ellis, ISBN - 0-803267436.     For more details about this assignment please contact your instructor or DL.   Books will be available for purchase in the Simpson College Bookstore during summer orientation.   

Carolyn DallingerMeet Your Professor
Carolyn Dallinger, J.D., M.S.W.
Associate Professor of Social Work and Criminal Justice

Carolyn enjoys incorporating service learning components within her classroom teaching whenever possible. Two examples include having social policy students serve meals to hungry or homeless people, and pairing sociology student "buddies" with elementary school students who speak English as a second language. 

A Simpson graduate, Carolyn enjoys attending Simpson sporting and extracurricular events. Outside Simpson, she serves as a junior/senior high youth group leader for her church. The youth group has taken several mission trips across the country to serve less fortunate people. She also serves in the church choir and as church accompanist.
              
Carolyn Dallinger was named Iowa Professor of the Year 2010 by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education.
"I'm humbled to think about the multitude of great professors here at Simpson College, let alone across the State of Iowa," Dallinger said. "This award affirms my commitment to teaching both inside and outside the walls of the classroom through service learning opportunities for my students. I'm truly honored to receive such a prestigious award."

Simpson College also honored Dallinger in 2009 by naming her the recipient of the Distinguished Junior Faculty Award.

Pedro Rosa IIIMeet Your Destination Leader
 Pedro Rosa

Hello my name is Pedro Rosa III and I will be your Destination Leader for the SC course “Trail of Tears!” I am from Chicago, Illinois; this is my second year here at Simpson College; I transferred from College of DuPage in Wheaton, Illinois.

I’ll be a senior for the 2012-2013 school year, and I am a Criminal Justice major with a minor in Sociology. I am a member of the baseball team, Student Support Services (SSS), and Sigma Alpha Epsilon (SAE). I’m an outgoing, approachable, cool, calm and collected type of guy and I am always open to talk about anything. School related or not, my door is always open and I’m easy to get a hold of.

I love Sports (especially baseball and basketball!), ESPN and Law and Order are my top shows to watch. I have an older sister, and an eight year old nephew along with both of my parents and my dog named Lucky back home in Chicago. I am also a very family oriented person; my family means everything to me!

Find me on Facebook, Twitter (@PRosa_III), or send me an email pedro.rosa@my.simpson.edu if you have ANY questions. I would really like to speak with and get to know you all before our meetings start this summer. Have a good summer and I hope you all are ready for a good first year here at Simpson College! 

Meet Your Writing FellowLiz Carr
Elisabeth Carr

Hi everyone! My name is Liz Carr and I’m going to be your Writing Fellow for the Trail of Tears class this coming fall.

I’ll be a senior this upcoming year, majoring in Sociology with an emphasis in Social Work, with minors in Psychology and Spanish. Next year, I hope to go to graduate school to get my Masters in Social Work. I’m from Bloomington, Minnesota, which is a suburb of the Twin Cities. Adjusting from city life to small town Iowa was quite a change, but I love all the friendships and experiences that I’ve gained here. I have kept busy these past three years being involved in Greek life, Panhellenic council, tutoring through Upward Bound, working in the computer labs and off-campus, intramurals, volunteering, Student Conduct Board, and studying abroad in London.

I’m really looking forward to this fall and can’t wait to meet everyone!

Last Updated: 5/1/12