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AUR Residents and Study Abroad Students publish in Wanted in Rome


The online magazine Wanted in Rome is a fantastic opportunity for resident and study abroad students alike who are interested in writing and journalism. It has been active since 1985 and is the most-read English magazine in Rome. AUR Professor Marco Venturini is a publisher for Wanted in Rome and offers an introductory journalism course as well as a magazine writing practicum. As Wanted in Rome is the most widely known English magazine in the city, only a select few students with the strongest writing are chosen to be featured. During the Fall 2024 semester, Professor Venturini had two students in his introductory journalism course who were published in the online magazine.




Resident Lucia Guerrieri reports that ‘U.S. Voter in Rome Receives $100 from Elon Musk Amid Election Controversy’ 


About a month after Donald Trump secured the U.S. presidential victory, EWLP major and junior Lucia Guerrieri learned of a US voter who received a $100 check in the mail from Elon Musk. Lucia investigated Musk’s “controversial strategy of financially incentivizing voters in swing states” and found an unsettling threat to American democracy today. 


The anonymous voter discovered the opportunity through the American PAC website where Elon Musk was offering the money. All the voter had to do was sign a petition. The $100 check came in the mail to the voter under a fake name which The Philadelphia Inquirer confirmed was the same on at least two other checks reported. Lucia argued that “Musk’s ability to wield his wealth as a tool for political influence” has had a definitive impact on the fate of the United States for the next four years. 

  



Lucia is honored to be featured in Wanted in Rome considering that it is a rather selective publication. As a writer who is interested in broadening her understanding of different styles, Professor Venturini’s concise journalistic background served Lucia well as she drafted this relevant political article. Lucia remarked that being selected by Professor Venturini gave her confidence in her ability to pursue journalism further in the future. She reflected that, “journalism is such a controversial field especially in the modern world, and I felt lucky to get to report on something timely and indicative of the truth of the times we are living in.” 



Study Abroad Alexa Torrejon asks ‘Is Language Affecting Your Italian Vacation?’


Alexa Torrejon, a Peruvian fashion student from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York majoring in Advertising, Marketing, and Communications was immersed in not only the Italian culture, but also the Italian language. Alexa was pleasantly surprised to find that her fluency in Spanish positively impacted how she was welcomed by the Italians stating that, “the language I speak seems to act as a filter, changing how people respond to me and perceive me.” 


Her friends from Mexico also studying abroad remarked that they felt safer in Rome than in America due to their Spanish speaking abilities, and the similarities between the Romance languages fostered more welcoming encounters. The Italians preference for Spanish speakers was confirmed for Alexa when two of her American friends had negative experiences on public transportation because they could not properly explain themselves. It became increasingly apparent to Alexa that Italians seem to harbor a particular distaste for Americans but she couldn't help but wonder who was at fault? 


Alexa had a conversation with an Italian friend and learned that the targeted annoyance toward Americans by Italians is generally felt. This certainly resonated with Alexa as she witnessed American students arriving in Rome with little to no knowledge of the Italian language, automatically assuming that English would be commonplace in such a touristic city. As a result, “the lack of effort to learn even basic local words can come across as disrespectful to locals.”


In addition to the similarities between the Romance languages, Alexa also noticed the similar cultural practices between Hispanics and Italians. The parallels automatically created positive dynamics between Alexa and the native Romans she interacted with during her study abroad semester. Her time in Rome taught her that language may represent a bridge or a barrier, but more importantly, as a visitor in someone else’s local culture, understanding and respect are essential. That is to say, “the key to feeling welcomed might not just be the language you speak but how open you are to connecting with locals and their traditions.”    

    





 
 
 

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