July 2008

John Contreni

Core matters

With the ratification by Purdue's Board of Trustees of the University's new Strategic Plan, it's time for the College to consider its new strategic plan. Even a cursory review of the new plan suggests that there are many exciting opportunities for the College to continue to make significant contributions to the multiple missions of Purdue University.

In August I will ask faculty members to contribute to the work of a task force to produce a draft of the College's new strategic plan by the end of the semester. That's an optimistic schedule, but I envision a document that is long on impact, initiative, and inspiration and short on page count. The task force's work will be presented to the CLA Faculty Senate for discussion and ratification in the spring semester, 2009.

Many of the conversations leading up to the University's strategic plan centered on the concept of a set of core experiences for all Purdue students. This will be an interesting and challenging continuing conversation for us all. To prepare myself for ongoing discussions, I brushed up on the College's core curriculum. Some of us remember it as "Curriculum 2000"! Despite its now quaint title, which seemed quite futuristic in the early 1990s when the faculty created the new core, Curriculum 2000 has worn well. It even seems ahead of it times in directing students to courses designed to enhance their understanding of the "global perspective," "racial and ethnic diversity," "gender issues," "social issues," and the "individual and society."

I suspect that our current core will continue to serve us well as we craft our next strategic plan. The faculty has made sure that the core remains current by periodically updating it to reflect our dynamic curriculum. I also suspect that we will need to think creatively about enhancing international experiences, leadership experiences, and off-campus learning opportunities for our students of the 21st century. These are matters that touch the heart of what we do as educators. They are truly core issues to the life of the College.

Sincerely,

John J. Contreni
Justin S. Morrill Dean

CLA will have a new home page beginning in August Please take a few minutes to browse the new site. On the upper right-hand side of the new home page there is a balloon labeled "Give us your feedback." Please click on that to send any comments or suggestions about the new page.

RESEARCH & NEWS

Perception of hole size influenced by performance

Golfers who play well are more likely to see the hole as larger than their poor-playing counterparts, according to a new study.

Jessica K. Witt

"Golfers have said that when they play well the hole looks as big as a bucket or basketball hoop, and when they do not play well they've been quoted as saying the hole looks like a dime or the inside of a doughnut," said Jessica K. Witt, an assistant professor of Psychological Sciences who studies perception in athletes. "What athletes say about how they see the hole and how well they play is true. We found golfers who play better judge the hole to be bigger than golfers who did not play as well.

"We know a relationship exists between performance and perception, but we are uncertain how they affect each other. For example, do golfers see the hole as bigger so they putt better? Or if they putt better, does that mean they see the hole as bigger? I believe it is a cyclical relationship, but more studies are needed to clarify if one affects the other."

Witt's findings are published in the June Psychonomic Bulletin and Reviewjournal. More

Panic, staffing issues, and geographic boundaries are some of the challenges that public health experts need to address as they plan for a possible influenza pandemic, according to a new report from Purdue.

"Most public health experts who are leading planning efforts for an influenza outbreak are focusing on specific geographic areas, usually counties, as defined by political lines," said George Avery, an assistant professor of Health and Kinesiology and member of the Purdue Alternative Care Site Planning Team. "This is problematic because if there is an outbreak, planners need to take into account the people and health-care systems that are or are not around them."

Members of the Purdue Alternative Care Site Planning Team interviewed public health planners in 13 of Indiana's 92 counties from November 2006 to August 2007 as part of a pandemic planning gap analysis.

The team's findings are published online at the Journal of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. More

The man who made it possible for many black performers to appear on television and radio in the 20th century finally has the spotlight shining on him.

Susan Curtis

Lester A. Walton, who also was one of the first African-Americans to work for the Democratic National Committee and as U.S. minister to Liberia before and during World War II, had been missing from American history books, said historian Susan Curtis.

"He knew American celebrities, writers and businessmen," said Curtis, a professor of U.S. History and American Studies. "He played a significant role in race relations. He advised U.S. presidents and industrialists. He was a New York City commissioner for human rights who was instrumental in desegregating housing in the city. So why don't we know this man? Internet searches reveal nothing, and the few books he is briefly mentioned in do not tell his story.

"The easy answer is he was forgotten because he was black. Certainly race is part of the mystery, but politics, archival accidents and the behind-the-scenes nature of his work also contributed to his disappearance."

Curtis is the author of Colored Memories: A Biographer's Quest for the Elusive Lester A. Walton, which was published July 10 by University of Missouri Press. More

Women stage directors still struggle for steady work, recognition

When Anna D. Shapiro walked off June 15 with the 2008 Tony for direction of a Broadway play, she joined a select group of only five women in 61 years to win the award for direction of a play or musical.

Despite advances in other areas, women still struggle to find steady work and recognition as stage directors, says Anne Fliotsos, an associate professor of Theater.

And Broadway, which brings the most money and the brightest spotlight, is even tougher, says Fliotsos, co-author of the new book American Women Stage Directors of the Twentieth Century. More

ELECTION 2008

Political conventions more show than substance

Both the Democratic and Republican national conventions have more to do with the parties' image than the delegates' preferences for president, says a Purdue University political scientist.

James McCann
Watch video

"The conventions are like greeting cards to Americans from their political parties," says James McCann, professor of political science. "There was a time and place when conventions really did matter in candidate selection. Think back to the days of the so-called 'smoke-filled backrooms' where a group of party elites would decide whom to nominate. But that has not been true in our lifetimes.

"That's not to say that conventions are politically inconsequential. They have a lot of symbolic oomph. They are the calling card for their party. They show off the parties' best and brightest to America." More

Concession speeches are more than just talk

A political communication expert says the gist of most concession speeches can be anticipated.

"Most concession speeches have common themes because they generally include a call for national or party unity, thanks to their supporters, praise for the democratic process and acknowledgement for what was accomplished during the campaign," says Stacey Connaughton, an assistant professor of Communication. "However, what is often unknown is how the candidate will portray defeat. For example, will the words, 'I concede,' actually be used? Will the candidate frame defeat as a victory of some sort?"

Two of the most unforgettable concession speeches were delivered in the last decade, Connaughton says. In 2004, presidential candidate John Kerry's vice presidential nominee, John Edwards, spoke first. Instead of openly conceding, he proclaimed that he and Kerry would continue to fight for a better America, encouraging supporters to do the same. Then, Kerry gave his concession speech. More

Communication students to participate in both political conventions

Two Purdue graduate students studying Communication will work in the media offices at both national political conventions this summer.

Kinnari Sejpal and Nandita Shetty, both master's students from Mumbai, are two of 35 university students selected to participate in the Aug. 15 to Sept. 5 Leadership in Communication Program at the National Political Conventions. The Purdue students' participation in the program is funded by a $5,500 scholarship in honor of communication alumnus and C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb, as well as a stipend from the Washington Center. The center sponsors the program.

Sejpal and Shetty will assist media professionals working at the Democratic and Republican national conventions. The Democratic convention is Aug. 25-28 in Denver, and the Republican convention is Sept. 1-4 in St. Paul, Minn. More

OLYMPICS & SPORTS

Prof takes a swing at history of baseball scandals, the modern athlete

Baseball will continue to score with fans despite the national pastime's steroids scandal, says a professor of History.

Randy Roberts
Watch video

"Fans are so jaded because there have been so many scandals involving all kinds of athletes that it doesn't affect baseball or any other sport anymore," says Randy Roberts, distinguished professor of history. "It's still about the game and baseball's competitive spirit. The summer that saved baseball was the summer of 1998 when Mark McGwire and Sammy Sosa were chasing Roger Maris' home-run record. Even though allegations of steroid use overshadow such baseball statistics and records, the fans are still faithful."

But while athletes are still admired, fans' perceptions and expectations of modern athletes have changed, Robert says. More

Religious growth in China fueled by economy

China's religious growth is driven by the rapid development of the country's market economy, says a sociologist who studies religions in China.

Fenggang Yang

"China's role in the economy and international issues have captured the spotlight for many years, but it's only recently, thanks to the Beijing Olympics, that the religious and spiritual trends are drawing attention," says Fenggang Yang, an associate professor of Sociology who spoke May 14 at the Washington, D.C., National Press Club seminar "China, Religion and Human Rights."

"There have been sweeping and rapid changes in China, such as industrialization, urbanization and overall democratization, and there is a religious dimension that affects all these areas of growth," he says. "People have a spiritual need that the government cannot fulfill. Now, all kinds of religions are flourishing in China. It is a common pattern that people turn to religion to seek solace when there are such rapid and dramatic changes in society." More

Students selected to work with media in Beijing during Olympics

Eleven Purdue students and three recent graduates will spend seven weeks in China helping the news media covering the 2008 Olympic Games in China.

"These students were selected from more than 100 Purdue applicants," said Jane Natt, an assistant professor of communication who will lead the group. "They will spend a month in intensive training learning about media services and the sport we will be responsible for, which is bicycling. We will learn about track cycling, motocross racing, mountain bike racing and road racing so we can help gather quotes from the athletes, write recaps of the races and assist media with photography and video needs."

The students will serve as Olympics News Service liaisons for the English-speaking media during the Aug. 8-24 games. More

CLA PROGRAMS

Purdue youth camps scores with name change, partnership

The College of Liberal Arts' award-winning National Youth Sports Program has a new name and partnership thanks to old friends, Drew Brees and Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union.

Drew Brees

The camp will now be known as PALS, Purdue Athletes Life Success Program, and will benefit from its relationship with The Brees Dream Foundation and Purdue Employees Federal Credit Union, which is known as PEFCU.

The Brees Dream Foundation and PEFCU have committed $50,000 from the Brees Dream Foundation Golf Outing in each of the next five years to Purdue's youth sports camp for underprivileged children, ages 10-16.

The former Boilermaker All-America quarterback, current quarterback for the New Orleans Saints and PEFCU spokesperson, has visited the camp annually since 2003 as part of PEFCU's emphasis to support local youth. Funds from last year's golf outing, presented by PEFCU, were donated to the Purdue program. This year's camp was June 12 through July 11, and Brees visited the campers on June 13. More

Operation Purple Camp provides fun, support

More than 40 children from Indiana participated June 1-7 in the free national summer camp aimed at offering support in a fun atmosphere to the children of military families.

Judo activity
Watch video

Campers participated in common summer camp activities including arts and crafts, a ropes course, swimming, fishing, and canoeing, said Bonnie Blankenship, program co-administrator and an associate professor of Health and Kinesiology.

In addition, daily small group sessions focused on stress management and interpersonal communication activities to encourage campers to build trust and friendships among their peers. More

Film students intern at one of the nation's largest music festivals

Sixteen Purdue students participated in a summer internship with entertainment video professionals during the June 5-8 annual Country Music Association's (CMA) Music Festival in Nashville, Tenn.

This year the students played a bigger role in the festival's largest act, the stadium show, as well as handling nearly every aspect of the video production at smaller Riverfront stage, said Bill Callison, manager for academic outreach at the Hall of Music Productions, who teaches the internship course for third- and fourth-year students in the Film/Video Studies program.

The students helped install and operate one of the largest video displays in the world, including using cutting-edge technology that has never been attempted in a live production.

The course is offered in collaboration with the College of Liberal Arts and Hall of Music Productions. More

FACULTY & CLA HONORS

Appointments

♦ JoAnn Miller, professor of Sociology, has been appointed the associate dean for interdisciplinary programs and engagement in the College of Liberal Arts. The appointment is effective July 1, and as associate dean Miller will support the college's 15 interdisciplinary programs, administer periodic program reviews and explore new interdisciplinary initiatives inside and outside of liberal arts. She also will oversee the Purdue Liberal Arts Community Engagement program, also known as PLACE, which is focused on increasing the college's faculty community engagement as well as helping to examine and solve social issues that affect citizens throughout the state.

♦ Emily Allen, an associate professor of English, has been named director of the College of Liberal Arts' Honors Program. In her new role, Allen will be responsible for program and curriculum development, event planning, student advising and honors recruitment. Allen is a scholar on 19th-century British literature, with a focus on the novel, theater, and interdisciplinary cultural studies.

Faculty Fellows for the Center for Humanistic Studies 2008-09

Fall 2008
♦Kevin B. Anderson, Political Science, "Ideological Wars over the Middle East: A Study in Comparative Theory."
♦Alfred J. López, English, "José Martí: An American Life."
♦Marcia Stephenson, Foreign Languages and Literatures, "Natural and Unnatural Histories of Andean Camelids in the Transatlantic World, 1568-1970."

Spring 2009
♦Margie Berns, English, "The Sociolinguistics of English as a Foreign Language: A World Englishes Perspective."
♦Susan Curtis, History, "The Age of Lester A. Walton."
♦Robert Marzec, English, "Of Inhabitancy: A Literary Theory for the 21st Century."

Other CLA Honors

♦ Brant Burleson, professor of Communication, was elected a fellow of the International Communication Association at its May conference in Quebec. The association has more than 3,500 members in 65 countries. Burleson is an expert in supportive forms of communication, such as comforting and the role of emotion in communication and relationships. He has published five edited books and more than 125 scholarly papers.

♦ Meghan McDonough, an assistant professor of Health and Kinesiology, received a 2008 Kinley Trust Award for her project, "Social Relationships in Intervention Outcomes."

♦ Laurel Weldon, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, was given an award for the best paper presented on women and politics at the American Political Science Association Meeting. The title of her paper, co-authored with Mala Htun, is "States and Sex Equality: Why do Governments Promote Women's Rights?"

♦ Nicholas Rauh, professor in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures, has been elected to serve on the Committee on the Gennadius Library for the 2008-2012 term.

♦ CLA faculty for the Teaching for Tomorrow program have been selected for the new academic year. Rich Rand (Visual and Performing Arts) will serve as a senior teaching mentor. Selected as junior faculty teaching mentorees are Paula Leverage (Foreign Languages and Literatures), Dawn Marsh (History) and Michael Ryan (History).

♦ Erina MacGeorge, associate professor in the Department of Communication, received the first annual "ITAP Teaching and Learning Faculty Scholar Award" from Information Technology at Purdue.

♦ Susan Morgan and Mohan Dutta, associate professors in the Department of Communication, have been named "Entrepreneurial Leadership Fellows" for 2008-2009. This program is coordinated through Discovery Park.

♦ Adriela Fernandez, Associate Dean in the College, was nominated by Governor Mitch Daniels to participate in a two-day summit in Washington, D.C., with approximately 400 women from throughout the United States. The group discussed topics such as global competitiveness, education, economic security, health reform, and job creation.

♦ Venetria Patton, chair of African American Studies and associate professor of English, was nominated to serve on the board of directors of the National Council for Black Studies for the 2008-2010 term.

♦ Four of the eight prizes awarded from ITaP's Teaching and Learning Technologies' Instructional Development Center (IDC) went to CLA faculty for developing high-quality distance education classes in 2007. The 2007 CLA winners, their departments, and specific courses are: