11-10-99 Eastern Echo

George Klein jazzes up your college experience with Travel Abroad (Great People at EMU series)

(Editor's note: This is the third in a continuing series of articles on people who have made positive contributions to the community of EMU.)   Tucked away in the Business and Finance Building behind Pease Auditorium are the offices of Academic Programs Abroad, a program that is nationally renowned for it's Cultural History Tours of the world, but virtually unknown to the campus at large. The driving force behind this exceptional program is Dr. George Klein; although it's likely you know him better as the host of the weekly jazz radio program he hosts on WEMU, called the "Groove Yard." The main office of the Academic Programs Abroad is a busy place. Two walls are dominated by dry-erase boards that list the names of students who are currently enrolled in study tours of Europe and Asia. Approximately 20 percent of these students are from EMU, the remainder come from universities around the country. Klein is eager to talk about the study abroad programs. He says, "The cultural history tours are really different. No one else does this type of program, we are completely unique in the world in [these] kinds of programs." Klein says the norm for study abroad is to spend the semester in one place, taking the experience of this university and replicating it at a foreign university. Eastern's Cultural History Tours are travel based, designed to take students to many sites, exposing them to all aspects of culture in the various cities and countries they visit. They take public transportation, stay in youth hostels or other "reasonable" accommodations, experience local foods, customs, and entertainment-all in the name of college credit. "It's a grueling physical experience, as well as an intellectually challenging experience," says Klein, with a smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Clearly, he is excited by the prospect of offering students the opportunity to see the world and challenge themselves intellectually; this done through a large dose of interdisciplinary studies. Klein spent 6 years teaching in the Interdisciplinary Studies Department at Wayne State University before coming to EMU in 1986 to take the reins of the Academic Programs Abroad. He is a firm believer in creating diverse experiences to teach the interconnectedness of various subjects. This background made the position of director a perfect fit for Klein's convictions. "An important goal of the Cultural History Tours is to see the relationship between [various] disciplines," Klein says. "The subjects [studied in the tour] get integrated in a way that provides a more coherent, larger context where you can see things more clearly against a bigger backdrop." Art, politics, literature and history are some of the subjects students will study while on tour. As Klein says, "class time is all the time," and every opportunity is used to discuss what the travelers have seen and experienced that day. Klein makes it clear, though, that the tours are not for everyone. What makes a student successful in this highly demanding curriculum has little to do with academic achievement. "The student who does best on a tour has an adventurous spirit, is open to new experiences, is very flexible and adaptable, can adjust to strange environments and irregular schedules," he says, "and also someone who gets along with others. This is a group experience, and there is very little private time." Academic Programs Abroad also offers other opportunities to experience the world. There are intensive language programs, exchange programs, and special focus programs in art and social work, to name a few. Klein encourages anyone interested in more information to visit the web site at www.emich.edu/abroad, or visit the semi-annual Study Abroad Fair (see accompanying information). In Klein's office the energizing sounds of jazz pours from the portable stereo perched on the shelf over his desk. Alongside there are several dozen CD's and tapes-mostly jazz music, but some CD's of "blues" are also evident. The other passion in Klein's life is music, specifically, jazz music. Klein began his radio career at WEMU after approaching the former director of the station, Jim Dulzo, about doing a show. Dulzo, who later went on to be producer of the celebrated Detroit Montreux Jazz Festival, was happy to offer Klein the opportunity-and in 1982 the "Groove Yard" was born. "One of the things I want to do is break down the mystique about [jazz] music and tell people that you don't have to know a lot about it to enjoy it," Klein says. Linda Yohn, the music program director for WEMU, says "George makes jazz understandable. He brings his considerable teaching skills, and his love of the music, to his program. He can help listeners gain a whole new appreciation for jazz-a jazz that is non-intimidating, accessible, and understandable." In closing, she also said, "George RULES!" Station manager, Art Timco, echoes Linda's enthusiasm for Klein's skills as a host and also as an esteemed member of the EMU community. "George loves the music and loves to share it with people. He's a real asset to this station and the entire university," Timco says. The "Groove Yard" can be heard Sundays, from 1 to 3 P.M., and focuses on jazz from the 50's and 60's. WEMU now broadcasts live via the Internet, through RealAudio, at www.wemu.org. Klein's love of the music has also inspired him to create special topics course for the music department that will be offered next semester, aptly titled, "Jazz in America." Klein says the class is "my attempt to connect the history of jazz with 20th century America, to see the conditions that create the music in the culture at large. I'll try to make it as interdisciplinary as I can." George Klein has two passions in life. One is his dedication to all forms of interdisciplinary studies, manifested in his leadership role in the program that "offers the world" to adventure-loving students. The other is his devotion to jazz. Great passion is often linked to great accomplishments, and George Klein has demonstrated both.   (Benita Goldman, program associate for the Academic Programs Abroad, nominated Dr. Klein for this series. She says, "Dr. Klein has an astonishing impact on people, yet he's completely behind the scenes. He directs this amazing office, and is on the radio---but I bet 99 percent of campus hasn't any idea of what he looks like." If you would like to nominate someone for this series, please contact Linda Haffey at [email protected] or drop a letter at the Echo offices, 18-B Goddard Hall.)