SBS Newsletter – April 2008
In this issue
Advocacy Work is Lawyer’s Passion |
 Social Psychology Student Receives NSF Predoctoral Fellowship |
 Alumna Wins Top Union Honor in Washington |
 New Partnership Forged to Aid Families in Crisis over Substance Abuse |
Upcoming Events Thursday, May 8, 2008 Friday, May 9, 2008 Monday, May 12, 2008 Friday, May 30, 2008 Ongoing this spring Faculty Notes Steve Fox (journalism) was named a Teaching Fellow in the Indiana University School of Journalism's summer workshop for new journalism teachers. This is a competitive, all expenses paid, weeklong series of teaching programs for newcomers to the academy. Fox joined the journalism faculty in fall 2007. Read more about Fox. The National Center for Technology and Dispute Resolution (NCTDR) has received a small grant from the eBay Foundation to collaborate with the US Army Ombuds Office in developing an Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) option for wounded soldiers. The idea and need for this project, which will soon be launched, was generated by articles in the Washington Post by Dana Priest and Anne Hull who were awarded the 2006 Pulitzer Prize for public service. Nancy Folbre (economics) has started a blog entitled "Care Talk: Coordinating Research on Care Provision." She writes, "This blog aims to mobilize interdisciplinary research on the provision of care. Suggestions about organization–as well as content–are welcome. You can read my little mini-essays in sequence or you can take advantage of some non-bloggy aspects of the site, separate linked pages on distinct themes. Some podcasts and powerpoints are included. As you’ll see, I’m also indulging my interest in graphic design and photography, hoping to make this site look inviting to a wide range of visitors." Richard Wolff (economics) writes, "The Left Forum, Inc. held its annual conference March 14-16 at Cooper Union in Manhattan. Over 2300 individuals attended, including several panelists from the University of Massachusetts Amherst (myself included). Twenty countries as well as most states in the US were represented by about 60% academics and 40% activists around the many issues indentifiable on the website." Wolff serves on the board of directors. Alumni News David Mason '06 (political science and Spanish) is the campaign manager for Jill Derby, a congressional candidate in Nevada. He is a former member of the UMass Amherst Young Democrats. Read profile in PolitickerNV. After Neil Rhein '85 (communication) graduated, he landed in the financial services industry. "In the early years of my career," he says, "I was not particularly satisfied with my choice, as I really wanted to be a writer of some kind. But eventually I was able to make a series of moves at Fidelity Investments and became editor of their quarterly magazine Fidelity Focus). In 2005 I started my own business, Bull’s-eye Communications, which provides customized communications to financial services companies. Jon Korhonen '06 (communication) is an assistant director in the Undergraduate Admissions Office at UMass Amherst, as well as an assistant coach for the Men's & Women's Cross Country/Track & Field programs. He writes, "I have been accepted to Harvard's MEd graduate program, so will leave the Admissions Office this summer, but I have organized a cross-country charitable cycling campaign prior to my enrollment in September. My roommate Andy McCarron '05, MS '08 (engineering) and I will be biking 3500 miles from Boston to San Francisco to raise money and awareness for the Children's Hunger Fund (rated by Forbes magazine as one of the nation's most efficient charities). We have high hopes of raising upwards of $10,000 with our combined efforts. I would like to emphasize that Andy and I will be taking NO profit from the trip, and will pay the expenses for our 40-day journey out of our own pockets (and thus 100% of all money raised will go directly to CHF)." More information is available on their website. SBS in the News Baltimore Sun, 4/22/08. Sanjiv Gupta (sociology) comments in a story about how over the past 40 years men have been increasingly sharing more housework and the time they spend with children. Gupta has conducted research that finds that the more a married woman earns, the less housework she does. MetroWest Daily News, 4/21/08. Senior Matt Giancola '08 (political science) is running for state representative in the 4th Middlesex District of Massachusetts that includes Marlborough. Journal Sentinel [Milwaukee, Wis.], 4/20/08. Ray La Raja (political science) says U.S. Sen. Barack Obama faces a difficult decision on whether to accept public financing if he wins the Democratic presidential nomination. If he takes the public money, he will be restricted in how much he can spend, but if he opts out, his image as a reformer might be badly damaged. Slate, 4/14/08. Ralph W. Whitehead Jr. (journalism) who coined the term “new collar” to describe working class people who are at the lower end of the American “white collar” class, is mentioned in a story about how to define working class Americans today. The debate is prompted by recent remarks made by U.S. Sen. Barack Obama. Cape Cod Times, 4/14/08. Ray La Raja (political science) comments in a story about whether people are paying attention to the presidential election, especially now that the economy is in trouble and with the Democratic race essentially tied several months before the national convention. Asia Times, 4/9/08. A column by UMass Amherst doctoral student Max Fraad Wolff (economics) says the recession in the U.S. is just beginning and it will cause considerable pain for ordinary households who will not receive government help and bailouts. Americanchronicle.com, 4/7/08. An article cites a report by the Political Economy Research Institute (PERI) that shows what "could have been paid for" if the 2007 budget for Iraq of $138 billion were available to spend on America's domestic needs and infrastructure. It goes on to show a simple example created by Robert Pollin (economics) on how, given the same size pot of money as that going to build the military's Camp Victory in Baghdad, weatherizing homes in New England could provide more long-term infrastructure investment in the US (and more jobs) than the building of the military facility in Iraq. New York Times, 4/6/08. Nilanjana Dasgupta (psychology) comments about unconscious biases people have directed at African-Americans and women and how this is a factor in this year’s presidential election. Forbes.com, 4/2/08. Associate Dean Robert Feldman (psychology) says men and women both tell lies, but they do it for different reasons. Women often lie to make others feel good while men lie to make themselves look better, he says. Business Daily Africa, 4/2/08. A column co-authored by Mwangi wa Githinji (economics) discusses the reforms needed to get the government and economy of Kenya back on track. Mass High Tech, 3/28/08. Art Clifford, a lecturer in the UMass Amherst journalism program’s online program, comments on the growing use of e-textbooks, especially for online courses. A Word from SBS Gifts from alumni and friends are vital to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. Your investment allows us to create remarkable opportunities for today’s—and tomorrow's—students. If you are already a donor, please accept our sincere thanks. If not, please consider a donation to SBS for your department, student financial aid, or a purpose that speaks to your personal experiences and priorities. To make a gift online, click here. Questions? Contact: We welcome feedback related to this newsletter, the college in general, specific concerns, or topics of interest. Please address all correspondence, including story ideas, to Sabine Cray, marketing and communication specialist. If you wish to add your name to the mailing list, or if you wish to unsubscribe, please contact us. If you have had a change of address, email or other personal information, you can update it online. The College of Social and Behavioral Sciences respects your privacy. Your contact information will not be shared with anyone unrelated to the University of Massachusetts Amherst. |
