2008 Woodie Awards
Campus activist opens up about study abroad
Amy Wright
Issue date: 10/6/08 Section: News
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A campus leader in his own right, he has also spent time out of the country giving him additional insight in our ever-expanding worldview.
Bohrer spent the last spring semester studying European Municipal Policy in the Czech Republic at Masaryk University, the country's second largest university.
"It's a true urban campus," said Bohrer of Masaryk University. "Buildings are spread throughout the city of Brno."
He assured the distance mattered very little, because the city's impeccable mass transit made it feel as close as UMKC's small campus.
"It's apples and rocks," Bohrer said, referring to UMKC and Masaryk University. "They cannot be compared."
Bohrer said the Czechs are gentle people, stating the city is "virtually free of violent crime." He said he would highly recommend studying abroad, adding his own trip was one of the best things he has ever done.
As for our university, Bohrer is helping lead the way to sustainability at UMKC.
An activist in many regards, he is involved in numerous campus groups including the Environmental Science Student Association; Think, Work, Inspire, Grow (TWIG) and helping create an International Student Mentorship program, among others.
Last year Bohrer personally founded the Urban Studies Consortium and currently functions as the group's president. In addition, he recently spent six months studying artists with Michael Frisch, UMKC professor of Urban Planning.
Together, the two produced an analytical description of housing, migration and social characteristics of artists for the Arts Council of Kansas City.
A major part of Bohrer's activism efforts goes to the Clean Commute program through the Bridging the Gap organization. The program aims to minimize single occupancy vehicle trips to and from campus by using alternative modes of transportation.
This semester, 26 brand new bicycles were loaned to UMKC students in an effort to promote bicycle transportation and they hope to double that amount next semester. Clean Commute also provides free bicycle maintenance at The Hub (5301 Charlotte) for any faculty, staff or student on Fridays from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. and Mondays from 1 to 5 p.m.
"Everything I've been doing is all environmental," said Bohrer of his efforts, "which is very hard to organize on this commuter campus."
He said the recent popularity of green efforts has seriously helped the various activist groups.
"I'm so happy that sustainability is a major trend, and I hope it never dies."
Anyone interested in getting involved with any of the aforementioned student organizations can contact Bohrer at DarrenBohrer@umkc.edu.
awright@unews.com
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