IU School of Liberal Arts

In the News - January 2012

News Categories: African American and African Diaspora Studies | Anthropology | History | Museum Studies | Political Science | Religious Studies

Experts from Liberal Arts departments and centers are regularly cited in the local, national, and international media. A selection from online sources provides a sampling of the types of issues and kinds of research Liberal Arts faculty are called upon to talk about in the public sphere. Also included is general Liberal Arts news covered by the media.

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Politics Infuse White Case

The Indianapolis Star, January 4, 2012
A judge ruled Secretary of State Charlie White ineligible to run for Secretary of State in 2010 because he was registered to vote in a precinct where he did not live. This decision means White must be removed from Office and that his opponent, Vop Osili, may replace him. Brian Vargus, Political Science Professor, asserts the Democrats will emphasize the fact that their party will gain the Secretary of State seat. Governor Mitch Daniels, however, is interested in appointing his own candidate. [Article must be accessed through archives]

Expert on U.S. Muslim Relations to Open Danforth Center on Religion & Politics Lecture Series

Washington University in St. Louis, January 9, 2012
Edward Curtis IV, Professor of Religious Studies, will give the first lecture in the spring 2012 lecture series sponsored by the John C. Danforth Center on Religion & Politics at Washington University in St. Louis, January 18 at 4:30 pm.The lecture, “Muslim-American Dissent and U.S. Politics Before and After 9/11”, was be free and open to the public. [Article]

Why the Capitol Clamor? Money

The Indianapolis Star, January 9, 2012
Collective-bargaining rules, labeled as “the right to work” by Republicans and “right to work for less” by Democrats, are dividing Hoosiers. Republicans believe that this legislation will bring more jobs to Indiana, while Democrats believe it will create lower wages. Brian Vargus, Professor of Political Science, stated that the political party that spends the most money wins about ninety percent of the time. [Article]

Q & A With Curator Kisha Tandy

The Indianapolis Star, January 15, 2012
Kisha Tandy, an IUPUI graduate with a B.A. in American History and a M.A. in Library Science, is the curator for a new exhibit, Represent, at the Indiana State Museum.She explains that the exhibit emphasizes presenting African American history “accurately, with documentation and respect”. [Article]

Adopted Children Bring Chinese New Year Celebration with Them

The Indianapolis Star, January 15, 2012
Jennifer Huang, participant in IUPUI Chinese School (a Liberal Arts affiliate), performed the fan dance onstage with other members of IUPUI Chinese School in celebration of the Chinese New Year. Many adopted Chinese children find this event to be an important cultural festivity to engage in every year. [Article]

Black Aviators Made a Stand

The Indianapolis Star, January 16, 2012

This year’s Martin Luther King Jr. celebration influenced a new exhibit, Tuskegee Airman, at the Indiana War Memorial in downtown Indianapolis. This exhibit emphasizes the significant roles African Americans played in the Freeman Field Mutiny non-violent protests in 1945 at the end of World War II. Monroe H. Little, Professor of History and Africana Studies, commented on the 1945 protests stating many protests centered on the integration of the military, but that the onset of the Cold War had a more significant impact on integration then those protests. However, Little agrees that the Tuskegee event was significant: “They took on a difficult task, and they prevailed.” [Article]

SOPA Blackout:Why Wikipedia Needs Women

Huff Post, January 18, 2012
Sarah Stierch, 2009 Museum Studies graduate and avid Wikipedian, posted a blog in response to the January 18, 2012, Wikipedia blackout. The blackout raised awareness of the significance the free online encyclopedia has on its users. Stierch’s blog informs women of their important contributions, and encourages women to participate to help keep this free encyclopedia in the hands of the user. Only nine percent of people who contribute articles to Wikipedia are women. [Article]

Religious Liberty

History of Christianity, January
Peter Theusen, Professor and Chair of Religious Studies, blogs on the Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School vs. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, a case involving employment discrimination. [Article]

Noblesville Filmmaker Premiers Movie Friday

The Times, January 19, 2012
Clayton Jennings, a Senior in the Department of Communication Studies, will be premiered his first independent film, Strayland, at Harbour Shores Church. Strayland is the story of Rafe, a young man who returns to his native town to bury his brother, but before leaving realizes he needs to help his brother’s son.As his life begins to fall apart, a path of rediscovery begins for Rafe. [Article must be accessed through archives]

Fear, Distrust of Muslims Predates 9/11, Expert Says

St. Louis Beacon, January 19, 2012
Edward Curtis, Professor of Religious Studies, says the current distrust of Muslims in America predates 9/11. He explains that federal agencies have used various means, such as denying First Amendment protection to Muslim prisoners, to combat a rise in Muslim-American influence. He agrees that many aspects of American life have changed since 9/11, but asserts that this is an extension of what happened previously throughout American history. [Article]

Indiana Lawmakers Consider Some Laws that are just Plain Puzzling

The Indianapolis Star, January 22, 2012
The Indiana General Assembly will be looking at laws that may seem out of the ordinary. Brian Vargus, Political Science professor, explains that some laws that seem strange to some may be very important to others. Vargus believes lawmakers are showing that they are pursuing interests important to their constituents. [Article]

Thinking is Feeling

HUMANities, January 2012
Each month the writers at HUMANities ask someone how he or she thinks, reads, and talks. This month Karen Kovacik, Professor of English and Indiana State Poet Laureate, was chosen. Kovacik says poet Louise Gluck said it best that “thinking is feeling,” because it challenges one to think and respond to others on a deeper level. [Article]

Charlie White’s Freedom, Political Future on the Line

The Indianapolis Star, January 29, 2012

After being indicted on several felony charges, Secretary of State Charlie White challenged his political future by talking to the media, something his top advisor told him not to do. In his impromptu speech to the media, he discussed his theory that the charges were politically motivated. Brian Vargus, Political Science Professor, states that neither Democrats nor Republicans will forget the controversy White has produced. [Article]

** Articles compiled by Angela Vinci-Booher

** Links to articles are only available for a limited time.

Published on: February 13, 2012