From March 19-21, 2004, I traveled with five students in Pi Sigma Alpha, Ina Acharya, Shain Bestick, Christi Coburn, Takehito Kamata and Jessica McLaren, to Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska for the Midwest Political Science Student Convention. Each student presented a paper at the convention, while I was a discussant on the "Political Culture" panel. The convention itself ended Saturday afternoon, March 20. This left us some time in late afternoon and evening to explore Omaha. We visited the Old Market district and savored Persian cuisine for dinner. Here are some photos from our Omaha trip.
Left to right: MSU students Shain Bestick, Ina Acharya, Jessica McLaren and Christi Coburn by a striking sculpture and the campus chapel at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. Friday, March 19, 2004.
Ina Acharya, presenting her paper "Democracy and Development: Comparative Case Studies." Friday, March 19, 2004.
Jessica McLaren (left) and Christi Coburn (right), immediately after presenting their paper "Sexual Trafficking and the Problem with Respect to Tourism." Saturday, March 20, 2004.
Takehito Kamata, presenting his paper "Russia and China: Comparing Political Cultures." Saturday, March 20, 2004.
Shain Bestick, presenting his paper "The Impact of U.S. Military Aid to Israel Since 1967." Saturday, March 20, 2004.
Ina and Fred just inside the three-level Old Market Passageway. On the ground level are restaurants. Opening off the second and third floor balconies are various arts and gift shops, many with an ethnic theme (i.e. Russian, Native American and others).
We're enjoying Persian food at Ahmad's. Saturday evening, March 20, 2004.
Shain pausing between bites at Ahmad's.
Fred and Shain at the far west end of Creighton University's campus. The old railroad tracks, which run the length of campus (east to west) suggest Omaha's onetime importance in railroad travel across the United States.
The MSU group (minus Takehito) at the opening banquet at the student convention. Friday, March 19, 2004.
MSU students - Christi, Jessica, Shain, Takehito and Ina - at the sign at the entrance to the Creighton University campus. We paused for this shot just as we were leaving the campus following the end of the last panel in the conference. Saturday, March 20, 2004.
After the conference ended Saturday, we explored Omaha's Old Market district and found a rich array of restaurants, bars, shops and galleries there. Here Takehito, Fred, Shain, Jessica and Christi are huddling up against the wind (Ina took the picture). The wind howled throughout our stay in Omaha; on Friday it was a warm wind, but on Saturday it was a cold wind, and Sunday was colder still.
After walking around Old Market a while, we had worked up appetites. We found our way to Ahmad's, a Persian restaurant in Old Market. This picture shows the lively, colorful atmosphere at Ahmad's. There also was Persian music while we ate. The colors, sounds, smells and excellent food made this not just a meal, but a memorable dining experience.
Part of the Omaha skyline, Saturday, March 20, 2004.
Another view of the Omaha skyline, taken late Saturday afternoon and (unfortunately) looking westward into the sun as a result. We left Omaha Sunday morning; the drive to Mankato took about 5-1/2 hours.
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