Exchange agreement signed with Italian university

President Mark A. Murray traveled with a Grand Valley delegation to Perugia, Italy, in mid-October to sign an exchange agreement with the University of Perugia. The faculty exchange is between the universities' political science departments and also extends to students. The host cities, Perugia and Grand Rapids, have been sister cities since 1993.

John Constantelos, associate professor of political science, spent much of last year helping develop the exchange.

'Every time I would pass the sister city sign at the entrance to Grand Rapids, I wanted to do something like this,' he said. 'Plus, I have an interest in European Union politics.'

As does his counterpart, Carlo Focarelli, Perugia professor of international law. Focarelli arrived in Grand Rapids last week for a two-week stay.

'In international law, it's very useful and very important to sound out what people around the world think,' he said. 'One cannot confine himself to the thoughts of a specific country.'

During his visit to Grand Valley, Focarelli visited several international relations classes and gave a campus-wide lecture on international law and the Iraq War.

A GVSU professor will travel to Perugia in May. The Italian university was established in 1308; Focarelli said it has one of the country's oldest political science departments, founded in the 1920s.

City of Grand Rapids representatives joined the Grand Valley delegation in Italy, where they renewed the sister cities agreement.