Movements That Matter – Summer Liberal Arts Institute

Movements That Matter | July 5–24, 2026

Activism from Theory to Action

In this three-week program, students explore the history and impact of social and political activism across the globe. We will examine key theories that explain how activism develops and creates change.

Using these theories as a framework, we will dive into compelling case studies of past and present movements, from local grassroots efforts to international campaigns. The course culminates in a final project where students apply what they have learned to a local issue they care about. Students will develop an action plan for a potential activist project in their community, considering its goals, strategies, and potential impact.

This hands-on project will empower students to move from theory to action, giving them the tools to make a difference in their world.

Four students sit on a bench at Faribault Mills, smiling at the camera

A student sits, explaining her project to two other students who are listening with their backs facing the camera

Academic Credit

Summer Carls can earn up to six Carleton course credits (typically transfers as three semester credits) for successfully meeting faculty expectations and completing course requirements. In addition to receiving written feedback about course performance from faculty, students will receive one of the following three possible grade designations: satisfactory (S), credit (Cr), or no credit (NC). Formal academic transcripts are available upon request for Summer Carl alumni and will reflect the name of the course and grade earned.

Want to experience Carleton without a graded outcome? Check out our 1-Week Non-Credit Programs!

Disciplines and Faculty

The program is guided by co-directors in Political Science and German Studies, with additional faculty in Anthropology, International Relations, Neuroscience, and American Studies & History.

Coffee and Political Activism

Coffee has served as a touchstone and symbol for political activism in modern European History since its introduction and first widespread use in the 17th century. Its production, the manner and place of its consumption, its cultural significance as stimulant, status symbol and social glue have put the humble coffee bean at the center of a force field where the push and pull of market forces, of climate change, urbanization and social class meet and occasionally clash.

In this part of the course we will examine the social history of coffee alongside some hands-on experiences. How did coffee become a symbol of political ferment in the coffeehouses of 18th century London? What made it the beverage of choice in the salons that became symbolic of the public sphere during the European Enlightenment and after? Have the forces of mass marketization extinguished coffee’s potential to act as a catalyst for social and political movements today?

Program Co-Director: Paul Petzschmann, Director of European Studies, Carleton College

Born in East Berlin and trained as a political theorist, Paul Petzschmann specializes in the history of modern European political thought and the political institutions of European democracies and the European Union.

He has published on crisis politics and the transatlantic history of welfare and defense bureaucracies. In his spare time you can find him on the local trails riding his mountain bike or the tennis court.

Noise and Silence: Music, Memory, and Contested Spaces

This part of the course examines sonic landscapes and architectural spaces where dissent and identity are forged, exploring music as a profound force for political engagement, historical memory, and counter-cultural critique.

We focus on two major case studies: first, the German band Rammstein, analyzing their controversial, provocative stage shows and music that engage with borders, memory politics, and national identity. We will then investigate the Gewandhaus in Leipzig, connecting its architectural space and classical music to the history of the GDR, particularly the People’s Uprising and subsequent demonstrations, and drawing parallels to contemporary German protest movements.

Through these studies, we will analyze the broader themes of memory politics and the complex issues that arise when grassroots activism clashes with the concept of Staatsräson (Reason of State) in modern Germany.

Program Co-Director: Juliane Schicker, Associate Professor of German, Carleton College

Born in East Germany, Juliane Schicker grew up in a family of educators, and is now an award-winning teacher and scholar in North American academia. She teaches classes on East Germany, music, social justice issues, and German language skills.

She received her Ph.D. in German at Pennsylvania State University and also holds an M.A. in German from Texas Tech University with a minor in Linguistics, as well as a teaching certification for Secondary Education for German and English with minors in pedagogy and didactics from the Otto-von-Guericke-University in Magdeburg (Germany).

In her research, Juliane is particularly interested in the connections between artistic expressions, socio-political issues, and human well-being. She has published, among other things, about the German band Rammstein, the classical composer Gustav Mahler, and East German film. She also translates children’s books.

In her spare time, she pretends to live in a European city, bikes everywhere with her amazing daughter, bakes German bread, and enjoys music, good food, and conversation.

International Relations

Dev Gupta, Professor of Political Science, Carleton College

Professor Gupta explores how social movements are integral to a democratic society, providing regular citizens with tools to bring attention to issues they care about and demand action from those in power.

Students will examine how movements organize, mobilize, and influence change—shaping laws, social attitudes, and the broader struggle for justice in societies around the world.

Anthropology

Constanza Ocampo-Raeder, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Carleton College

Professor Ocampo-Raeder introduces students to the profound impact of coffee, showcasing how this single crop connects cultures and economies worldwide. Far beyond a daily beverage, coffee has shaped global histories of labor, identity, and trade.

Students will trace its journey from its origins to its role in contemporary movements for environmental sustainability and social justice across the tropical regions where it continues to be cultivated.

Neuroscience

Sarah Meerts, Professor of Neuroscience and Psychology, Carleton College

In this part of the course, we will investigate complex issues driven by the interaction of hormones and the brain on behavior.

We explore critical topics like the biological basis of sex and gender and animal and human behavior, including experiential effects on female rat sexual function. We consider how insights from neuroscience can inform social movements and collective action that promote well-being and social change.

American Studies & History

Meredith McCoy, Associate Professor of American Studies and History, Carleton College

Professor McCoy (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) examines histories of Indigenous organizing around education, schools, and policy in the United States.

Using examples from Minnesota and the Midwest, students will examine an array of activism strategies and address the distinct considerations for tribal sovereignty and self-determination in Indigenous social justice movements.

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