BRIANNA POWELL
Staff Writer
Dating back to as far as 1996 the Kauffman Museum has featured many special exhibits in their facility located just West of the college. The current special exhibit focuses on issues that are very present in the world today. Director of Kauffman Museum, Andi Andres had some insight to share.
“Our current special exhibition, Vapes: Marketing an Addiction, examines what we know about e-cigarettes–the new alternative to smoking. Vapes tells three intertwining stories: the rise and fall of cigarette smoking and advertising in the 20th century, the emergence of the e-cigarette in the 21st century and new marketing strategies, and the challenges of nicotine addiction and quitting,” Andres said.
The exhibit has been utilized for educational purposes for the students here at Bethel college.
“A number of Bethel Classes have already visited Vapes: Media Analysis, FYS classes, Marketing, 2-D Design, Social Studies Methods. We are so pleased to have a resource that instructors can use in their classes. Moving students out of their normal learning environment can make concepts often learned in a textbook or lecture clearer in a different way. Students are welcome to visit Vapes and the rest of the museum any time during regular business hours (Sat & Sun 1:30-4:30 and Tues-Fri 9:30-4:30),” Andres said.
In other news the Kauffman Museum is also partnering with Bethel's diversity council for an event being hosted in November.
“We are working with the Diversity Council to host an event at the museum in November, Native American Heritage Month. Stay tuned for more information from the Diversity Council about that,” Andres said.
Andres also speaks on the diversity within the Kauffman Museum. The museum does not only just solely serve the Kansas community, but it also has multiple locations worldwide.
“And....did you know that the Kauffman Museum rents exhibits to other museums all over the country? When Vapes comes down in January, it will move on to other locations in Kansas,” Andres said.
Other than the presence that Kauffman Museum has on Bethel’s campus the question of ‘what relevance does Kauffman have on Bethel’s campus’ could also be asked. For this our very own Access Services Librarian, also a former employee at the Kauffman Renae Stucky has some insight on this topic.
“I think that the Kauffman Museum is very relevant to students because it's a great community resource and it tells the story of the area. Students that aren't from here can get a feel of their ‘ new home’ by being able to understand the people here, there is also a chance to learn about the physical landscape along with the culture,” Stucky said
Stucky also talks about the educational advances that can be found for major specific topics.
“The Kauffman Museum is also a place for student workers. You can discover different careers there and also use it for research. If you are a historian, biologist or sociologist there are a ton of opportunities to examine artifacts, to be able to physically hold history in your hands,” Stucky said.
