December 2008

John Contreni

Wrapping up 2008

The leitmotiv for the semester seems to have been set on Wall Street. Trouble in the mortgage market has cascaded into a worldwide economic downturn, the end of which apparently is not yet in sight. Even the stability of institutions such as universities and the relative stability of states such as Indiana are, well, relative. Wall Street conjures that other street, Main Street, and the pain many Americans are feeling at year's end.

Perhaps all of this is why I seem to hear more people welcoming the snow this season, falling even now as we compile final grades. Is it the magical spectacle of falling snowflakes that so alter the landscape and cover the old and familiar with a seemingly cleansing blanket of the new and refreshed that brightens spirits?

More prosaically, the brisk arrival of winter reminds us that the fall semester truly is over. And what a fall semester it's been. We welcomed a new department, Anthropology, and two new interdisciplinary programs, Asian American Studies and Latino and Latin American Studies to the College, 27 new colleagues to the faculty, 16 new members to our wonderful staff, 231 new graduate students and 1,752 new undergraduate students. James Earl Jones helped us celebrate the arts, humanities, behavioral sciences, and social sciences and an historic, hotly contested presidential election energized campus.

Thanks to everyone who keeps us moving forward. Best wishes for a joyous and restful winter break and a bright New Year!

Sincerely,

John J. Contreni
Justin S. Morrill Dean

Holiday Greetings Winter scene The above image is the winner of the 2008 College of Liberal Arts photography contest. The photo will be used in the College's holiday greeting card. The photographer is Arthur Banton, a second year Ph.D. student in the American Studies program at Purdue with a major field concentration in history. Banton Prior to Purdue he spent more than 10 years in the entertainment industry as a music editor, journalist, publicist, and filmmaker. Mr. Banton's work has appeared in a number of periodicals including Vibe, Beat Down and New Word. He's directed a number of short films and served as a research assistant on several documentaries including the PBS Emmy-nominated film, Citizen King. Mr. Banton holds a BA from Herbert H. Lehman College in Communications; an MFA in Media Arts and an MA in History from the City College of New York. His research interests include 20th-century U.S. history, urban contemporary culture, popular culture, intercollegiate and women's sports. Banton also is a teaching assistant in the African American Studies and Research Center.

RESEARCH & NEWS

Dickens expert: A Christmas Carol highlights Hard Times of 2008

Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol may become an even more relevant tale as people cope with what is expected to be an economically bleak 2008 holiday season, says a Dickens expert.

"Most people think of A Christmas Carol as a sentimental story of spiritual rebirth or a ghost story to illustrate a moral purpose of taking care of fellow human beings," says William J. Palmer, a professor of English. "When Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol, he really wrote it as a harsh indictment of England's Victorian society's treatment of the poor."

"Fast forward to 2008, and America is in an acute economic crisis. There are a number of similar themes, including the increasing gap between the rich and poor. People in the working class are losing their homes or struggling to heat their homes, and we're going into the holiday season with anticipated layoffs and high unemployment. For many, it looks like a pretty dreary Christmas." More

Give infants, toddlers the gift of language this holiday season

The holidays offer many opportunities to share the gift of language with infants and toddlers, says a language development expert.

George Hollich

"Holiday decorating and family stories lend themselves to conversations that provide rich context to a child's developing language skills," says George Hollich, an associate professor of Psychological Sciences. "Most parents talk business with their children, with instructions like, 'Put on your coat' or 'Eat your peas,' but parents who keep a constant running commentary - 'Look at the tree with lights' or 'What color is that present?' - tend to have children with larger vocabularies."

Parents also should engage more with their child when talking, especially by making eye contact, says Hollich, who is director of Purdue's Infant Language Laboratory. "Not only does this help the child hear better, but it strengthens the social connection which is at the heart of communication." More

Think twice before giving kittens, puppies this holiday

Giving a cat or dog as a holiday gift requires the giver to do his or her homework to ensure the pet is a welcome and affordable addition to the family, says a Purdue University ethics expert.

Mark Bernstein

"A child may ask for a puppy or a kitten, or it may sound like the perfect gift for a girlfriend, but there is a tremendous amount of thought and planning that needs to take place before adopting a pet," says Mark Bernstein, a Philosophy professor and the Joyce and Edward E. Brewer Chair in Applied Ethics. "Another consideration, especially this year, is the cost associated with a pet."

Even if the animal is free, there are other costs related to food, veterinary care and boarding that could range in the hundreds of dollars or even more if the animal becomes sick. More

Subjects needed for two voice studies

A professor is seeking individuals with vocal fatigue for two studies at the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

Assistant professor Mahalakshmi Sivasankar, who is leading the studies, is looking for adults in general good health with no speaking or hearing disorders, but who are experiencing tiring of voice after speaking.

For more information, call 496-1723. The studies are funded by the Kinley Foundation at Purdue and the National Institutes of Health. More

Parkinson's speech treatment study looking for subjects

A researcher is seeking Parkinson's disease patients to participate in a speech treatment study at the Department of Speech, Language and Hearing Sciences.

The study, led by associate professor Jessica Huber, will evaluate new treatment for Parkinson's disease related to speech disorders. Participants will be asked to undergo a 14-20-week treatment plan. Some testing requires travel to Purdue, but other tests can be completed in the home. Subjects will be compensated based on participation.

To participate, or for more information on the study, contact Huber at 494-6488. The study is funded by the National Institutes of Health. Huber is an associate professor who studies speech physiology and Parkinson's disease. More

FACULTY & CLA HONORS

Professor receives National Communication Award

– Steven Wilson, professor of communication, received the Bernard J. Brommel Award for Outstanding Scholarship or Distinguished Service in Family Communication from the National Communication Association. Wilson is an expert in interpersonal communication and specializes in communication issues related to family.

EXPERTS IN THE NEWS

Toronto Star –
Can Obama eclipse Kennedy legacy? The anniversary of JFK assassination takes on fresh meaning as new era dawns
(Michael G. Smith, Department of History)

Indianapolis Star –
With 23 trees, Brownsburg family decks the halls, the bedrooms, the bathrooms . . . and living room, and bedrooms, even the bathrooms, in this Brownsburg home
(Andrew Buckser, Department of Anthropology)

Reuters –
Yemen powerless to combat Somali piracy
(Michael Weinstein, Department of Political Science)

Lafayette Journal & Courier, WLFI TV18 –
Kids get Head Start learning 2 languages
(Patricia Hart, Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures)

WLFI TV18, The Arizona Republic –
Volunteering beats holiday blues
(Kenneth Ferraro, Department of Sociology)

The News Journal (Delaware) –
Beyond 'Eat your peas': For parents, keeping their kids healthy is anything but child's play
(Alan Smith, Department of Health and Kinesiology)

Story ideas can be sent to Amy Patterson Neubert at the Purdue News Service, 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu