By Jake Householder, a History senior

Last January 20th, 2017, I presented a poster at the Undergraduate Symposium on Diversity, organized by the Center for Undergraduate Research and Scholarship. The poster was about the discrimination, suspicions, and questions of loyalty most Americans had for German-Americans and German immigrants during the First World War. I looked at many newspapers from both general publications and German ethnic newspapers in midwestern states like Michigan, Indiana, Wisconsin, etc. I found out that paranoia was everywhere in many communities throughout these states where the majority of people living there were of German descent. German ethnic newspapers voiced many responses to these questions of loyalty that the majority American public had for them.

My experience was very enriching in many ways. I previously wrote a research paper on the topic, but the poster presentation allowed me to delve deeper into it. The symposium was a very well done event. Two speakers opened the event with provoking thoughts. Still, my favorite part was seeing all of the posters. Posters were varied and well executed, in my opinion. Overall, I’m very glad that I decided to be a part of this symposium and I recommend to others to do the same.