On November 11, 2015 students in RSSS 195A: The Other Kazakhstan held a lively debate on several issues concerning recent political events. Judges of the debate included Professor John Leafgren (Russian and Slavic Studies), Ms. Barbara Chinworth (Former Chair, Tucson-Almaty Sister Cities Committee), and graduate student Jacob Osborn (Russian and Slavic Studies).
According to Ms. Chinworth, the course has a long tradition of inspiring UA students to engage with Kazakh culture and history. After the debate, Ms. Chinworth wrote that "if not for this class students likely would not have any reason to know where [Kazakhstan] is, nor anything about its strides towards independence, nor its many paths of reaching out to the international community. Adjunct Professor Ms. Dotton has created a good feeling towards learning about her native country." Congratuatlions to all the students in RSSS 195A on a successful debate!