January 2006

CLA UPDATE FOR FACULTY & STAFF

Tom Adler

Dear Colleagues,

Welcome back from the holiday break! I hope your time away from campus was relaxing and you are refreshed for a new semester.

Of course, one of the most exciting events to unfold this semester is the selection of a new Liberal Arts Dean.

The search committee for the position of Dean of Liberal Arts is narrowing down its pool of applicants to a small group who will visit in person with the committee later this month. A short list of candidates will make two-day visits in late February and early March. Dean Jeff Vitter of the College of Science is chairing the search committee. He notes that "the candidates we're considering have excellent leadership qualities as proponents for the Liberal Arts and catalysts for discovery, learning, and engagement."

Also, as we settle into our semester routine, I would like us all to reflect on how Liberal Arts contributes to Purdue's land-grant mission. The foundation of Purdue is rooted in sharing knowledge and information with the public. Promoting our work is something many professors are not used to, but it's important that our other colleagues on campus, prospective students, alumni, and possible donors learn about our work. It's also our responsibility that the people of Indiana and elsewhere benefit from our College, whether that means being entertained at a theater performance, encouraged to read more books by minority authors, or learning how to protect their hearing.

There are many ways Liberal Arts faculty members share this information, and one such way is working with the news media. During the last year, Liberal Arts faculty appeared in numerous international and national newspapers, radio stations and television news programs. Industrial Design professor Scott Shim's bicycle design also appeared on the cover of Time magazine.

In November, 12 of our colleagues participated in the Purdue News Service's one-day media training. Thank you to the following people for taking time to participate.

Jennifer Bay, English
Barbara Dixon, English
George Hollich, Psychological Sciences
Wei Hong, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Mike Morrison, History
Suzanne Parker, Political Science
Rick Paul, Visual and Performing Arts
Bert Rockman, Political Science
Jack Spencer, Sociology and Anthropology
Darlene Sedlock, Health and Kinesiology
Antonio Tillis, Foreign Languages and Literatures
Bud Weiser, English

Story ideas, especially about current research projects, should be sent to Amy Patterson Neubert, at the Purdue News Service, for possible publicity in the news media, Liberal Arts Magazine, or other Purdue publications.

Our Liberal Arts experts also have the opportunity to share their message in person by working with the Purdue Speakers Bureau. For more information, contact coordinator Gretchen Bertolet, who suggests and finds Liberal Arts speakers to talk to Indiana groups. Another way we share information with alumni and friends of the College is through the Liberal Arts Magazine. I hope you have time to look at the recent issue, which focuses on interdisciplinary efforts in our college.

The College of Liberal Arts' Web site has undergone many changes, and I invite you visit the redesign. The new style will be reflected on departments' sites later this year. Thanks to those at Purdue Marketing Communications for publishing the magazine and redesigning the Web site. Barbara Dixon, assistant dean, works with Purdue communication professionals to promote the College.

The spring semester is always very exciting as we prepare hundreds of our students for graduation and celebrate all of the learning that is taking place in our College. I wish everyone well as they work toward their goals.

Cordially,

Tom Adler

NEWS AND RESEARCH

Students get fresh look at aging

Young graduate students in Karen Fingerman's Gerontology class got a new sense of what it means to grow old when they looked in the mirror and saw an older person looking back.

Ebarb applies stage
makeup to age student

Fingerman, an associate professor in Child Development and Family Studies, teamed up with Joel Ebarb, an assistant professor in Visual and Performing Arts, in an experiment to see how students reacted to looking older. Ebarb used stage makeup techniques to visually age two 25-year-old students.

"I wanted to give the students a sense of how real aging is and that it will happen to them," Fingerman says. "I think it's hard to imagine your face older, especially for someone in their 20s. Seeing themselves as an old person might change that and help them in their work with aging populations once they leave Purdue."

Graduate students
John Apolzan & Karis Pallone

The students were part of a class called Multidisciplinary Perspectives on Aging, a graduate-level course required for students who minor in gerontology. Students major in all areas, including pharmacy, fitness, nutrition, finance, and other disciplines related to aging populations. More

"Imagine" Lennon as more than a Beatle

While many young adults may hang posters of rock legend John Lennon in their rooms, few of them think of Lennon as more than a member of the Beatles, says a History professor.

"Lennon is one of the few artists who blurs the line between pop culture and politics, so we should remember him as someone who transcended music and was involved in political and social issues," says Michael Morrison, an associate professor of History who teaches a class on the history of rock 'n' roll.

Dec. 8 marked the 25th anniversary of the day John Lennon was assassinated in New York City, and Morrison says he is concerned that few young people know of Lennon's legacy beyond the Beatles. Lennon also actively protested against the Vietnam War, and his songwriting also examined important cultural issues such as peace, feminism and racism.

"He was the social conscience of the group, and this really showed during his solo career when he was brutally honest about relationships and politics," Morrison says. "We tend to segregate pop culture into crass commercialism and marketing, but the best of pop culture can reflect what is going on in society and even challenge what is going on. Lennon represents the best of what pop culture can do." More

Despite movie magic, life of a geisha is no fairy tale

Even though Memoirs of a Geisha is a romantic and entertaining story, a Purdue history professor says viewers shouldn't rely on the film or book for an accurate view of modern Japanese women.

Memoirs of a Geisha, which opened Dec. 23, follows the life of a Japanese girl sold by her poor family to a geisha house in 1929. Geisha were Japanese girls trained to serve as sexual companions to men.

"People often enjoy watching movies and hearing stories about the prostitute with the golden heart but, in reality, it's a terrible life, and there are dangers when we romanticize it," says Sally Hastings, an associate professor of History and chair of Asian Studies who studies modern Japan and women's issues. "This story glamorizes the life of a geisha with beautiful clothes and jewels and a happy ending that few geisha ever experienced. In reality, prostitution is damaging to women and constrains their freedom."

Hastings says viewers need to remember that the movie is about the lives of women in the early 20th century, and that the sale of Japanese girls to geisha houses is part of a bygone era. More

Expert tells how to make red, white, and blue democracy more green

Preserving the environment will happen only when more policy decisions come from average citizens instead of just being left to government leaders, says an environmental policy expert.

Bartlett

"Decisions about policy are not just made in government buildings," says Robert V. Bartlett, associate professor of Political Science. "People may not realize it, but policy can be created at a local church, bowling league or garden club. It can start with something as simple as members of a recreational softball team making it a policy to recycle their bottles and cans after their games."

These civil groups provide a great place where people can participate in "deliberate" democracy for the environment, Bartlett says. If people take ownership by talking and working with people about what needs to be done for the environment, then their attitudes about conservation are more likely to improve, he says.

Bartlett co-authored Deliberative Environmental Politics: Democracy and Ecological Rationality with Walter F. Baber, an associate professor in the Graduate Center for Public Policy and Administration at California State University in Long Beach. The book ($24), published in October by the MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) Press, connects political theory with the shaping and implementing of environmental policy. More

Holiday-related news

Expert offers tips for last-minute online shopping

Online shopping may help procrastinators with gift buying, but a technology expert has additional tips gift givers can use when they find themselves on a tight deadline.

Sorin Matei, assistant professor of Communication, says purchasing gifts from Web sites can be more convenient, but buying a poor-quality product can tarnish the thought that counts.

Here are Matei's tips for buying online:

1. Always check out a computer, electronic device or appliance on a review Web site, such as Cnet.com or ConsumerReports.org. Make sure reviewers are not associated with the manufacturer.

2. Compare professional reviews with consumer reviews. The truth is often somewhere between, Matei says.

3. Look for clues in the product description and reviews to see if the product is easy to use or assemble.

4. Pay attention to reviews that criticize the product. Even if nine out of 10 reviews are positive, look closely at the one that is not. One out of 10 represents 10 percent, and that can be interpreted as 10 percent of the products didn't work.

5. Use a basic Google search. You never know what you may find. More

Helping parents understand world of video, computer games

Adults who are not familiar with video and computer games should be cautious about what they buy children, says a video game expert.

Blackmon

"In a perfect world, video games would be rated in terms of content and complexity," says Samantha Blackmon, an assistant professor of English, who studies representations of race and gender in video games. "But the content of video games can be surprising. I recently played a football video game that was rated mature, which is similar to an R rating for a movie, and I never thought a football game would receive that kind of rating. But it did because of the foul language used by the commentator."

Blackmon says young children will often imitate the language they hear, and they also will draw conclusions about how they should see women and minorities represented in the games.

"That's why it is important for adults to take an interest in the games children play," says Blackmon, who owns more than a dozen video game systems and hundreds of games. "Plus, video games can be used as a teaching tool. In my house, we play games with closed captioning and turn the sound off. The subtitles not only improve reading comprehension but also help with reading speed." More

Dickens' "expectations" for Christmas full of food, drink, friends

Overindulging in food, drink and celebration during the Christmas season would make Charles Dickens proud, says an English professor.

"Not only did Charles Dickens jam his novels, such as A Christmas Carol, with food and drink, but he also made the most of the holiday season himself," says William J. Palmer, an English professor who studies Charles Dickens and film.

"His home was always decorated with greenery and mistletoe before Thanksgiving, and his Christmas parties were legendary. Many relatives traveled to spend the holiday season with him and his 10 children."

Dickens (1812-70) published A Christmas Carol in 1843. The story is about a wealthy London miser, Ebenezer Scrooge, who is visited on Christmas Eve by three spirits who warn him that his lack of charity and kindness will lead to an eternity of suffering. More

Warm up holiday season by shrugging off cold shoulder

Holiday Grinches who exclude themselves from parties or gift exchanges may be doing so in self-defense, pre-empting the possibility that family and friends will ignore or disappoint them, says a social psychologist.

In doing so, however, these Grinches only increase their chances of being excluded, says Kipling D. Williams, a professor of Psychological Sciences who studies ostracism.

"During the holidays, there are high expectations about getting together with family, celebrating with friends and gift-giving at the office or with neighbors," he says. "As a result, people are more sensitive. They may avoid or not reply to phone calls from friends or develop a negative attitude, all in an effort to make being ostracized less hurtful but more inevitable."

Williams says that because expectations are high during the holiday season, people should try to be aware of neighbors, friends or co-workers who may be overlooked when making holiday plans. More

EVENTS

The Purdue Galleries will present various works by Wright State University professor emeritus Ray Must and postmodern artwork from the Wright State permanent collection in two new exhibits that will be on display from Jan. 9 to Feb. 19.

"The Invention of
Gun Powder"

"Ray Must: Paintings, Prints & Sketchbooks," featuring a variety of images from the last 20 years, will be presented in the Robert L. Ringel Gallery in Purdue Memorial Union. Must's works include large, abstract paintings on unstretched canvas, figurative drawings, technically inventive prints, and intimate and inspiring daily sketchbooks.

This exhibition is presented through the support of the Ben and Louise Klatch Jewish Arts Series.

The Stewart Center Gallery will feature "reCON(TEXT): Postmodern art from the Wright State University Permanent Collection." In 1989, the Wright State University Art Galleries became a collecting institution focused on works of art created post-1967 and Western in origin.

"The Cocktail Party"

The works selected from the university's collection represent landmark statements of the social, political and economical conditions of our culture during the last third of the 20th century.

The Robert L. Ringel Gallery and the Stewart Center Gallery are open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday; from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Thursday; and from 1-5 p.m. on Sunday. More

Former presidential nominee Gen. Wesley K. Clark will kick off the 2006 Sears Lecture Series on Jan. 17.

The theme for the series is "Do We Really Care About Human Rights? The Balkans, Afghanistan and Africa" and Clark's keynote address, "The Balkans: A Strategic Vision," will be presented at 7:30 p.m. in the Loeb Playhouse at Stewart Center.

"This year's Sears Lecture Series keynote speaker helped move the United States and its NATO allies from indifference to intervention during the 1990s in the Balkan region," says Charlie Ingrao, professor of History and the series organizer.

The Sears Lecture Series is free and open to the public. Tickets to reserve seats are available for the Clark talk at the campus box offices in Stewart Center and Elliott Hall of Music or by calling 494-3933. Seats will be reserved until 7:20 p.m. A reception and book signing will follow Clark's talk, and tickets will be available at the talk to attend the book signing. For more information, contact the Department of History at 494-4122. More

Four professors will speak about the causes and consequences of the war in Iraq from 7-9 p.m. on Jan. 19 in Stewart Center, Room 206.

The forum, which is free and open to the public, will feature Janet Afary, associate professor of History and Women's Studies and an expert in the Middle East; George Horwich, professor emeritus of Economics and an expert in international economics; Keith Shimko, associate professor of Political Science and an expert in foreign policy; and Harry Targ, professor of Political Science and American Studies and an expert in international relations.

WBAA is broadcasting the forum on its AM 920 and 101.3 FM stations. More

Purdue celebrates Martin Luther King Jr.

– Jan. 16. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Day of Service. Students, faculty, staff members and retirees may volunteer for area non-profit organizations in Tippecanoe County. Volunteers must register before Jan. 12 through the Boiler Volunteer Network in Stewart Center, Room G4, or by calling 496-2450.
– Jan. 16. 7 p.m. University celebration with keynote speaker Nancy Giles. Stewart Center's Fowler Hall.
– Jan. 17. 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Video retrospectives and discussion on "Martin Luther King Jr.: From Individual to Cultural Icon." The Diversity Resource Office will screen two one-hour films at 10:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. and hold a one-hour discussion at 12:05 p.m. led by Leonard Harris, professor of Philosophy and African American Studies.
– Jan. 18. 7 p.m. An evening with Spike Lee. Stewart Center's Loeb Playhouse. Film director Spike Lee will speak about "African-American Images in Hollywood" at a free lecture presented by Purdue's Black Cultural Center.
African American Studies and Research Center is collaborating with the Office of the Vice President for Human Relations to sponsor this event. More

55th Books & Coffee series warms February with book selection

Purdue's 55th Books & Coffee series begins with two books about what it is like to be a college student today.

Books & Coffee, which is free and open to the public, begins at 4 p.m. when tea and coffee are available. The half-hour book talks begin at 4:30 p.m.

The discussions include: