Views from the hill
Who on campus has influenced or changed your way of thinking?
 “I took Politics and Moral Vision with Barry Shain; he also led our Geneva study group. I had never taken any theory or philosophy classes before his, so he really opened up my mind to a whole new way of thinking about politics. Also, going abroad with him has given me a fresh perspective on international organizations and international politics. While we traveled all over Europe as a group, he challenged a lot of our preconceived notions and encouraged us to be more independent.”
–Natalie Beato ’09, international relations and economics major
 “My roommate, Mike Chamberlain ’12, is a really smart guy, and so we debate philosophy together a lot.”
–Simon Dolginow ’12
 “Professor Eliza Kent and the class Sex, Love, and God: Religion and Queer Studies have really broadened my view of the world.”
–Sehee Yang ’12, major undecided, psychology minor
Go figure –
Faculty fast facts
80 Percent have taught a core class
52 New faculty members arrived last fall
207 Articles and book chapters published in 2006–2007
$1.6 Million in grants awarded from foundations and government agencies for research projects in 2007–2008
20,000 Pounds of stony creek granite, at sculptor DeWitt Godfrey’s studio at the Paul J. Schupf Studio Arts Center; some of it is intended for a commissioned piece
45 Kiloseconds awarded to physicist/astronomist Jeff Bary by NASA to spend on the Chandra X-ray Observatory for his study on the formation of stars
8 Religions of the world taught in courses
66 Opus number of Mendelssohn’s Piano Trio No. 2, to be performed February 14 by Laura Klugherz, violin; Florent Renard-Payen, cello; and Christine DiWyk, piano
Talking Points
“The
greatest single problem in Israel is [that] both sides disbelieve;
neither side believes that a peace agreement is possible.”
“The
spread of religion is a Darwinian anomaly, in that religion is so
widespread but also seemingly so maladaptive. What could explain the
persistence of a trait that leads people to things like lifelong
celibacy? This is not a fitness-enhancing strategy.”
—
Michael J. Murray, Arthur and Katherine Shadek Professor in humanities
and philosophy at Franklin and Marshall College, discussing
evolutionary religious studies in his talk titled “Scientific
Explanations of Religion and Justification of Religious Belief”
 “He
[Plato] thinks that young people should be informed about what is
respected and valued, and what will in turn produce value; and that a
great deal of exposure to indulgences and corruption — that is to say,
to forms that corrupt the soul — may well destroy.”
—
Jerry Balmuth, Harry Emerson Fosdick Professor of philosophy and
religion, in his Core 151: Western Traditions lecture series talk, “Why
We Read Plato"
Brown Bag
Alumna helps shape environmental policy as a legislative fellow
“In Washington, information is power, and scientists can provide that information,” Martha McConnell ’97 said in her Geology
Seminar Series presentation “From Foarams to Congressional Fellow: Climate Change and Public Policy.” McConnell is a geology doctorate student who was a legislative fellow for U.S. Sen. Frank R. Lautenberg (D-N.J.).
As a legislative fellow, McConnell authored the FOARAM (Federal Ocean Acidification Research and Monitoring) Act of 2007, which Lautenberg co-sponsored. If passed, the bill establishes an interagency committee that will develop an ocean acidification research and monitoring plan.
Ocean acidification caused by greenhouse gas emissions is an issue that hits close to home for New Jersey. As carbon dioxide levels increase, the pH of salt water decreases and essentially becomes corrosive to marine organisms. McConnell used her work on this issue as an example to show that in order to have an impact, scientists must not simply communicate research, but also recognize issues with possible policy implications.
While working for Sen. Lautenberg,
McConnell identified the need for scientists to better communicate with Congress. To create viable climate-change policy, she said it is essential that scientists reach out to the general public and policymakers in an understandable way.
McConnell’s current research interests at the University of South Carolina include paleoclimatology and rapid climate change.
Also recently discussed…
What China is Doing Right Environmentally
Phil McKenna, East Asia and environment correspondent for New Scientist magazine (Environmental studies bag luncheon)
Poetically Minded
Dedication of the new Poetically Minded Library at the ALANA Cultural Center and poetry slam presentation
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