SBS Newsletter – December 2009/January 2010
In this issue
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Upcoming Events Alumni News Gary Cook '76 (sociology) is in his 31st year at Wilbraham & Monson Academy, teaching history and coaching soccer and basketball. He's been department chair and freshman dean, and established the Model UN program. His boys' varsity soccer teams are perennial post-season contenders in the New England Tournament. Technical director (New England) and an associate national staff coach for the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, Cook holds the NSCAA advanced national and premier diplomas, and has coordinated several local diploma courses for the NSCAA. Henry L. Barr '68 (government) is featured in the Gutsy Leaders section of the Grand Circle Foundation's website for his work with Boston's West End House Boys & Girls Club. Read more... Francis (Frank) Wright '81 (communication), in his third term as alderman for Melrose, MA, is serving as president of the Board of Aldermen this year. When a Heart Turns Rock Solid: The Lives of Three Puerto Rican Brothers On and Off the Streets by Timothy Black MA '88, PhD '94 (sociology) and When Everything Changed: The Amazing Journey of American Women from 1960 to the Present by Gail Collins '70 (political science) were on the Washington Post's Holiday Guide 2009: Best Book list. Wade Tarzia '80 (anthropology), who teaches English at Naugatuck Community College, writes, "I am enjoying my first sabbatical leave by capturing all the themes I started at UMass: draft out a science fiction novel; start a creative nonfiction focusing on humor and sailing (In Search of Tim Severin); and return to Ireland (traveling by bicycle) to continue my folklore/ethnography of a region of Co. Cavan. I've enjoyed being a 'gentleman scholar-adventurer' and have brought in much that I learned or started from the vantage points of the UMass anthropology, English, and comparative literature departments.The goals of a liberal education are not dead yet!" Jill Mullin '00 (psychology) has published a new book: Drawing Autism (Mark Batty Publishers). The book celebrates the artistry and self-expression found in the drawings, paintings and collages created by individuals diagnosed with autism. The work of over 50 international contributors exhibits unique perspectives on how these individuals see the world and their places in it, and the range of talent and stories behind each artist is incredible. More importantly, however, the book is a collection of the artistic products emitted from the minds of individuals on the autistic spectrum, showcasing what these children and adults feel and see and how they translate it to paper and craft. The art in this book truly demonstrates the range of the autistic mind. Bobbi-Sue Doyle Hazard '04 (legal studies, sports management) has a new position at New England Cryogenic Center, Inc., a biotechnology company in Newton, MA, as their first in-house corporate counsel. "I was hired in October," she writes. "The director of the company saw a cover story in the Boston Business Journal featuring me and a few other newer attorneys looking for work and what we were doing instead. He called the writer of the article and then hired me. NECC has never had an in-house counsel. I am responsible not only for NECC’s legal issues but also the related companies: New England Cord Blood Bank, New England Cell Repository and National Dental Pulp Laboratory." After graduation Bobbi-Sue went to Dickinson School of Law in Carlisle, PA and received her JD in 2007. "After interning with the government in PA during my last year of school, I decided to come home to Massachusetts, passed the Massachusetts Bar, and was licensed in June 2008." Louis Schoolcraft '98 (sociology) received the 2009 K.O. Hodgson Distinguished Service Award from the New England Water Works Association (NEWWA), the region's largest and oldest not-for-profit organization of water works professionals. Schoolcraft, controller of Ferguson Waterworks in Canton, MA, is on the board of the NEWWA. The award recognizes exemplary service and dedication to the New England Water Works Association and the water works profession. Kelleann Foster '86 MLA (landscape architecture), associate professor of landscape architecture at Penn State, is author of Becoming a Landscape Architect: A Guide to Careers in Design (John Wiley & Sons), based on her extensive experience teaching professional practice and working on student recruitment issues. The book is a resource for high school students interested in the landscape architecture profession, professionals considering a career change and current college students pursuing landscape architecture degrees. After the DVD of her Lake Reflections book (Paragon Studios, 2007) brought such a big response, award-winning poet Jackie F. Jones '70 (sociology) was invited to do many in-person readings. Those programs too were well received, so she took a logical next step: she auditioned for a voiceover course. In July 2008, she was accepted to attend Dan Levine’s special master class for voiceover artists at his Such A Voice studio in Burlington, VT. With professional coaching, Jackie recorded narrative and commercial demos and learned that her writing skills gave her another way to help voiceover clients. Meanwhile, Jackie, who lives in Davidson, NC, has continued attending writing workshops and publishing poems. On her website you can learn more about her writings and listen to her voiceover samples. Only three times in the history of the Longsjo Classic, a Fitchburg, MA cycling race that just celebrated its 50th anniversary, have officials awarded the “Got Sisu” award. In November Ronald M. Ansin, longtime friend of SBS and father of two alumni, received the award, in recognition of his unwavering commitment to the largest and second-oldest pro/am cycling competition in America. Sisu, a Finnish word, means strength of will, determination and perseverance. The race commemorates Art Longsjo’s life and accomplishments. Longsjo, with his Finnish heritage, was the first American to qualify for both the Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year, 1956. Ansin was thanked not only for supporting the race, but for his support of dozens of important community initiatives. On another note, Ansin is a judge for the second annual Enterprise Bank Celebration of Excellence. They will select individuals, businesses, and community organizations that are fueling the local economy, giving back in measureable ways, or creating more vibrant communities by impacting the civic, social, educational, and cultural lives of our neighbors and friends. Tedy Bruschi, NFL superstar and stroke survivor, will deliver the keynote address at the gala presentation on May 5. John White '94 (communication) is the new vice president for development and alumni relations at Springfield College. Since joining the college in 2001, White has served in a number of key positions. As major gifts officer, he was part of a team that raised $44.5 million for the most successful campaign in the college's history: 11% over the original goal. In addition, White oversaw the completion of a $1 million fundraising "mini-challenge" to name an outdoor sports complex, played a significant role in establishing the college's major gifts program, and until assuming his new role on Oct. 1, served as interim director of development. Neal Mann '67, MA '68 (speech) writes, "Retired part time in 2000 and full time from audiology in 2005. While employed part time as an audiologist, I took the tests for my commercial driver's license and started driving trucks delivering wine and juice just because I wanted to." Martin Comack MA '99 (labor relations) is an ABD doctoral candidate in political science at Northeastern University. Mona L. Hirata '95 (communication, economics) is president and co-founder of Weddings by Grace and Mona, one of Hawaii's leading boutique-style wedding planning companies. She recently accepted a new venture, teaching the first wedding planning certification course offered at Kapiolani Community College, in collaboration with the Wedding Planning Institute. The course began in September with 19 students. Mona will give these students a practical perspective by sharing her experiences as a wedding planner and by bringing in guest speakers from vendors within the wedding industry. Hirata also addressed the Fundamentals of Entrepreneurship class at Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaii, as a featured entrepreneur. Wellesley Marsh '04 (legal studies, art) writes, "Taschen Books recently published the Music Icon series which features my photo layout and research work. So far, the series includes books on Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Michael Jackson, John Lennon, and Jimi Hendrix. Working with one of the best publishers in the world has been a wonderful experience." Daniel Friedmann '76 (political science) has partnered with two colleagues to form D2M Consulting LLC, a company that provides start-up and small companies with a range of supportive consulting services, including strategic financial planning, direct marketing, Internet marketing, e-commerce, business process improvements, software related advice, and project management. They also launched an e-commerce website, where, he says, "you can get great deals on tickets to events." Paul Mullins PhD '96 (anthropology), associate professor and chair of the Department of Anthropology at Indiana University-Purdue University, Indianapolis, is president-elect of the Society for Historical Archaeology. Henri Hebert '94 (communication) is on a filmmaking team that went into public schools for over a year to find out why schools are failing and how to change this for future children. In October Dream with Me: A Documentary About One Year in America's Public Schools was featured on the "Hollywood Dailies Show" on the REELZ Channel. Wicked Good Year: How the Red Sox, Patriots, and Celtics turned the Hub of the Universe into the Capitol of Sports (HarperCollins) by Stephen Buckley '78 (communication) was published in November. Steve is a sports writer for the Boston Herald and a frequent guest of WEEI radio. Please send us your news! Also, view upcoming alumni events, sponsored by the Alumni Assocation, on their Events Listing. And check out MaroonCentral, the Alumni Association's online community. This is a FREE social networking service that encourages communication and professional networking among alumni and students through class notes, profiles, a searchable directory, and more. Faculty/Department News Jane Fountain (political science and public policy), director of the National Center for Digital Government, gave a keynote address at eGOVsharE 2009: “eTransformation in Public Administration from e-Government to e-Governance: Sharing Experience,” held Dec. 8-11 in Antalya, Turkey. Read more... Prof. Emeritus Suzanne Model (sociology), who studies international migration, has received a Fulbright Scholar grant to conduct research at Academia Sinica in Taiwan during the spring semester. Read more... John R. Mullin (landscape architecture and regional planning), dean of the Graduate School, received a $159,500 grant from the Economic Development Administration/US Department of Commerce for the Center for Economic Development's University Center
Program. M.V. Lee Badgett (economics), director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration, received a $50,000 grant for research services from the Williams Institute UCLA Law School. Prof. Emeritus Gerard Braunthal (political science) is the author of the book Right-Wing Extremism in Contemporary Germany (Palgrave/Macmillan, 2009). This volume surveys the right-extremist scene in Germany primarily since unification in 1990. It covers the three major rightist parties, the neo-Nazi groups, and the skinhead gangs that are challenging the political status quo. Read more... The Labor Center hosted a lively conference on immigration and the future of work in Massachusetts in November, featuring new research and updates from activists and keynote addresses from Robyn Rodriguez, assistant professor of sociology at Rutgers University, and Eddie Acosta, national worker center coordinator for the AFL-CIO. More than 60 people attended the event, including UMass trustee Ed Collins and Massachusetts AFL-CIO president Robert Haynes. Read more... "Not an 'Angel', Not a 'Whore'" by PhD candidate Amrita Pande (sociology) was published in the May-August 2009 issue of Indian Journal of Gender Studies. Her research and teaching interests include gender and globalization, gendered bodies and gendered workspaces, assisted reproductive technologies and social movements. She is currently working on an ethnography of transnational commercial surrogacy in Gujarat, India. The paper "Race and Childlessness in America, 1988-2002" by Jennifer Hickes Lundquist, Michelle J. Budig, and Anna Curtis was published in the Journal of Marriage and Family (71[3]:74155). In November Rebecca Lisi, a Ph.D. candidate in political science, won re-election as City Councilor at-Large in Holyoke, MA. Undergrad Caroline Koch '10 (political science) spoke with her about the experience. Read more... Jan Servaes (communication) says that most of the Communication for Sustainable Social Change seminars have been uploaded on Amherst Community TV (ACTV) website, available on demand. The Center has also started an interview series, 'Encounters." The first in the series is Prof. Tim Kennedy, author Where the Rivers Meet the Sky: A Collaborative Approach to Participatory Development.
To watch, click here. SBS in the News Fox Business News, 1/11/10. A study done by James K. Boyce (economics) says residents of California could see energy and other prices increase by about 1.3% if the state charges greenhouse gas emitters $20 per ton of carbon dioxide under state law. The law sets up a cap-and-trade mechanism for controlling greenhouse gases. Istockanalysis.com, 12/14/09. Boyce discusses a new proposal that could break the legislative impasse on Capitol Hill over energy and climate change regulations. He argues that a new approach offered by Sen. Susan Collins of Maine and Sen. Maria Cantwell of Washington is a sounder plan than the bill approved this fall by the U.S. House. The Real News Network, 1/10/10; Firedoglake.com, 1/11/10. James Crotty (economics), an associate with the Political Economy Research Institute on campus, discusses the recent financial collapse and why he believes it was caused by speculative bubbles based on “false values” and “structural blackmail” within huge financial firms. The Real News Network, 1/6/10. Robert Pollin (economics), co-director of the Political Economy Research Institute, talks about why he believes there should be a federal tax levied on speculative financial transactions. He says such a tax would help prevent speculative bubbles in the economy. Bnet.com, 12/21/09. Pollin comments in a story about the impact a tax on security trading would have on the national economy. He says a 0.5% federal tax would raise large amounts of revenue and would discourage the kinds of speculative excesses that have created the current economic crisis. Examiner.com, 12/7/09. Pollin says federal economic stimulus money targeted for green jobs has so far had very little impact on the wind and alternative energy sectors. He also notes that most of the federal funding has yet to be released but when it is, it should transform alternative energy research and use. PRI “Living on Earth,” 11/30/09. Pollin is interviewed about the impact the climate bill pending before the U.S. Senate will have on job creation. Pollin argues that spending on energy conservation, clean energy and moving away from fossil fuels will create 1.7 million clean energy jobs. Opponents of the legislation say it will cause major job losses.
El Paso Times, 1/4/10. C.N. Le (sociology) says in addition to counting the population, the U.S. Census generates information that serves as the basis for making political and social decisions that have an impact on peoples’ daily lives. New American Media, 12/30/09. In an interview Jillian Schwedler (political science), author of Faith in Moderation: Islamist Parties in Jordan and Yemen, offers insights on what is going on among fundamentalist clerics and the government in Yemen. She says the nation has extremists, but a basic concern is that the government has lost control of large areas where Islamic radicals may operate. MassLive.com, 12/27/09. Stephen J. Fox (journalism), who follows new media, speaks about the rapid advance of "must have" mobile technology in the last decade. “The idea of waiting and seeing if it catches on has been replaced by ‘let me jump in and check this out,’” he says. NPR “Talk of the Nation,” 12/22/09. Tom Juravich (labor studies) comments in a story about when job retraining programs work and when they don’t. He says the key is to make sure workers are given training for jobs that actually exist. Boston Globe, 12/21/09. Ray La Raja (political science) notes that the candidates running for the open U.S. Senate seat from Massachusetts face a daunting task in trying to engage voters during the holiday season. He says this may be even more difficult for Republican candidate Scott Brown who is an underdog and lacks the statewide name recognition enjoyed by Democrat Martha Coakley, the current attorney general. Wall Street Journal, 12/8/09. La Raja comments in a story about a case pending before the U.S. Supreme Court that could overturn state bans on the use of corporate funds to influence state elections and races for Congress or the presidency. La Raja says if the ban is overturned by the court, it will likely be felt most in states with “very aggressive politics.” About half of the states have laws restricting the use of corporate funding in elections. MSN Health & Fitness, 12/17/09. Nancy Folbre (economics) comments in a story that focuses on how some women are responding to the economic downturn by selling their eggs, renting their bodies to carry other people’s babies to term and selling breast milk. She says women feel the economic strain more acutely than men because they earn less in the market place and have less money in savings. IndianExpress.com, 12/17/09. Folbre was a guest lecturer at Delhi University’s Institute of Economic Growth, giving a talk on how to value unpaid family work, especially care work for children, the sick and elderly, which was often not adequately measured in labor surveys, leading to profoundly wrong measurements of living standards and economic output. New York Times, 12/14/09. Folbre writes a column about the roles men and women play in care-giving, especially when it involves long-term care for the elderly. She argues that women most often find themselves in care-giving roles because of gender stereotypes and economic disadvantage. About 67% of care-givers are women, according to a recent survey, Folbre says. Medical News Today, 12/2/09. Folbre writes about the possible impact of an amendment to the House-passed health reform bill that would place some restrictions on the availability of abortion services, especially for low-income women. Her comments are excerpted from a blog she writes for the New York Times. Asia Times, 12/11/09. Max Fraad Wolf, a doctoral student in economics, writes a column about the widening wealth gap in the U.S. Dollars & Sense, November/December 2009. An article by Gerald Friedman (economics) discusses how state and local governments are feeling the impact of the national economic downturn much more than the federal government because they are required to balance budgets in a time of shrinking revenue. Besides amplifiying negative aspects of the slumping economy, such cuts in services and infrastructure last longer because reserve funds rarely are able to make up for lost revenues. USA Today, 12/9/09. In a feature on celebrity imposters and lying, SBS Dean Robert Feldman, author of The Liar in Your Life, speculates that the couple who recently crashed a White House party are extremely status conscious and probably entered gradually into deceptions until they reached a point where they couldn’t turn back. Indian Country Today [pdf], 12/9/08. Front page article features the efforts of Ventura Perez (anthropology), an expert in individual and societal violence and trauma, and others who were instrumental in bringing the remains of 12 Yaqui warriors home to Mexico 107 years after their massacre and removal from the site to New York's American Museum of Natural History where they were placed in storage. Upon their repatriation, they were buried with honors and ceremonies by their welcoming descendants. The experience, Perez say, has reaffirmed his belief that anthropology is to be conducted in service of the people. Pittsburgh Business Times, 12/4/09. Jeannette Wicks-Lim (Political Economy Research Institute) says creation of a living wage ordinance in Pittsburgh doesn’t have the “negative employment effect” often cited by opponents of such measures. Business Week, 12/4/09. M.V. Lee Badgett (economics), director of the Center for Public Policy and Administration, comments in a story about how businesses certified by the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce are finding the designation beneficial to their enterprises. She says it can help overcome various forms of discrimination that have an impact on gays and lesbians seeking to start new businesses. New York Times, 12/2/09. Peter Haas (political science) says the European Union lacks the political clout to determine the outcome of the climate change conference that was held in Copenhagen. Instead, the conference is shaping up to be dominated by the U.S. and China, the two largest emitters of greenhouse gases. Haas says the E.U. still has a stake in the outcome, and still has influence because Europeans have made progress toward creating a low-carbon economy and want to reap some benefits from those efforts. 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. Or, send a check to the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Draper Hall, University of Massachusetts Amherst, 40 Campus Center Way, Amherst, MA 01003-9244. Questions? Contact James Mallet, 413.545.3945. 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, director of communications and marketing. If you wish to add your name to the mailing list, or if you wish to unsubscribe, please contact us. 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