ConnectingCadavers provide up-close experience 172 [academics] When the professors of the Communication Science Disorders Department (CSD) decided to give their students a hands-on experience, most students did not expect to be taken out of town to see the body parts they had been studying up close and personal. But the Bodies Exhibit hosted in Branson, Missouri, was just that: a closer look at vocal folds, nasal cavities and more for a selection of students. Over 20 CSD majors and six faculty sponsors headed to Branson for a day trip to see an exhibit showcasing body parts preserved for scientific purposes and for educational study.The professors in attendance thought the experience would be very beneficial for their students. “Our teachers told us that it was going to be very interesting and that it would be helpful to see actual human body parts that we study in our classes,” senior Communication Science Disorder major Rachel Pugh said. The group left at 7 a.m. on Friday, September 23, and then returned at 7 p.m. Many students felt that the time spent was well worth it. “I got to see how some of the articulators in the human throat were laid out,” senior Cody Smith said. “Also, how muscles and tendons work together, which is key to my field.” Another aspect of the trip was the bond created during the traveling. “I loved that I was able to get to knowmy CSD teachers and fellow students in an atmosphere outside of the classroom,”junior Taylor Lake said.“Even the bus ride itself was fun!” Most of the students had similar feelings about the Branson exhibit. “My favorite parts of the exhibit were seeing things I had studied in my classes, like the larynx and the vocal chords,”Lake said. “We were also able to see the vocal chords with nodes on them, to know what that looks like instead of just looking at a picture.” Pugh said that her favorite part of the exhibit involved the section containing a human brain and showcasing all of the different pieces of the complex organ.Her reasoning for attending the exhibit also had future academic studies in mind. “When I take [Anatomy andPhysiology] forCSD,Iwill be able to remember seeing the actual parts that I am studying, which is great for me because I am a visual learner,”Pugh said. Overall, most of the students and faculty felt that the trip was worth the drive and all of them stated they would happily return to Branson for this scientific experience. “Would I go again?”Smith said.“Yes! In a ‘heartbeat’!” [Katie Ulliman]
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