IU School of Liberal Arts

In the News - May 2011

News Categories: Centers | Economics | English | Faculty and Staff | History | International | Medical Humanities | Philanthropic Studies | Political Science | Religious Studies | Research | Women's 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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The Civil War and Nursing
Nurse.com April 29, 2011
The work of Civil War nurses proved that contrary to Victorian notions of the time, women could provide excellent care for men they weren’t related to without damaging delicate sensibilities or reputations, say nursing and Civil War historians. "The Civil War launched the profession of nursing in the United States," says Jane E. Schultz, PhD, professor of English, American studies, women’s studies and medical humanities in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI and the author of "Women at the Front: Hospital Workers in Civil War America" and "This Birth Place of Souls: The Civil War Nursing Diary of Harriet Eaton."
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Chi Sherman on thinking, reading and talking
Indiana Humanities May 2, 2011
Chi Sherman, a poet and essayist who graduated with her B.A. in English from IUPUI in 2002, is featured as an Indiana Humanities Friend in the "How do you identify with the humanities" section of Indiana Humanities e-newsletter.
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Indiana Based Muslim Groups: Killing Justice for 9/11 Victims
TheIndyChannel.com May 3, 2011
Islamic leaders in Indiana said Monday they’re thankful Osama bin Laden has been killed, providing some closure to the victims of 9/11 and the country as a whole. Edward Curtis, a professor of religious studies in the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, said he believes most Muslims welcome the death of bin Laden."They see (him) as their enemy. Osama bin Laden killed a lot more Muslims than non-Muslims," he said. "They’ll welcome that. This will not be perceived as an anti-Muslim activity."
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Dan Carpenter: Serving, one cup at a time
Indystar.com May 3, 2011 
Like Greg Mortenson, or at least the Mortenson of best-seller books, Scott Pegg is revered in the Third World area where he has worked to make education a common good. "I’m much more forgiving of dates being slightly wrong, or literary license, than with taking a charity’s money to fly you around to speaking tours," says the man whose day job is teaching political science IUPUI. Pegg hastened to add he wasn’t passing judgment on Mortenson, whose messianic aura has been clouded by accusations against the veracity of his blockbuster book "Three Cups of Tea" and against the altruism of the foundation that grew out of it—and grew and grew.
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Indianapolis pundit predicts Governor Daniels ‘will run’ for president
Fox 59 WXIN May 3, 2011
Governor Mitch Daniels has publicly stated he is close to making his decision whether he’ll run for president. At least one local political pundit predicts the decision will be yes. Brian Vargus, IUPUI political science professor, pointed out that Daniels has three speeches planned in the next several days. "I do believe this upcoming trip on the East Coast, which is going on next week, indicates he’s going to run. I just feel people don’t realize how close he is to saying he will."
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Melina Kennedy to take on Greg Ballard this fall for Indy mayor
Indystar.com May. 4, 2011
Melina Kennedy notched an easy win in Tuesday’s low-turnout Democratic primary for Indianapolis mayor, but the path to victory in November won’t be so simple. She has disputed Ballard’s handling of public safety, economic development and unemployment.  Bill Blomquist, a political science professor and dean of Liberal Arts at IUPUI, points out: "It’s not clear that (those issues) break clearly in one direction or the other right now."
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After 9/11 memorial, Obama’s next stop is Indiana
Indystar.com May 6, 2011
Obama will focus on the economy during his trip to Indy. President Barack Obama is enjoying a burst of public approval after the killing of Osama bin Laden, but his visit to Indianapolis illustrates that the political maxim coined in 1992 remains true: "It’s the economy, stupid." The timing is politically fortuitous for Obama, said Bill Blomquist, dean of liberal arts and a political science professor IUPUI. "It’s time to try to connect him, while he’s got a little bit of a lift, back to the issue on which he needs a little bit of a lift."
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Being Mormon: Does it matter in public eye?
The Seattle Times May 7, 2011
Two names that keep coming up as serious candidates for the U.S. presidency are former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. Both happen to be Mormon.  Jan Shipps, professor emeritus of history and religious studies at IUPUI, describes the history of Mormonism in America.  She states, "In the 19th century, Mormons were persecuted for their  beliefs and were regarded by most Americans as a fringe group, especially for their practice of polygamy. But beginning about 1890, when the church banned polygamy, attitudes toward Mormons began to soften. During the Great Depression, many Americans saw Mormons as self-sufficient, and in the 1960s, many liked their clean-cut image."  
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American Indians Irate over Bin Laden Code Name "Geronimo"
Religious Dispatches May 11, 2011
Johnny P. Flynn, a Potawatomi Indian and faculty member in the Department of Religious Studies at IUPUI, writes a fascinating piece which states that the use of "Geronimo" as the military code name for the architect of the 9/11 attack has ignited a firestorm of criticism from American Indians across the country.  Flynn goes on to describe Geronimo as a renowned Chiricahua Apache leader who personally fought to defend his people, territory, and way of life. Unlike the coward Osama bin Laden, Geronimo faced his enemy in numerous battles and engagements. He is perhaps one of the greatest symbols of Native American resistance in the history of the United States, says Flynn in this piece.
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EC native from Highland named state’s next poet laureate
Post-Tribune May 13, 2011
Indiana’s next poet laureate plans to write a literary blog on Hoosier writers, create a downloadable poetry-teaching toolkit for the Indiana Humanities Council and sponsor events at schools and libraries across the state. IUPUI Professor Karen Kovacik, who was born in East Chicago and grew up in Highland, will serve a two-year-term beginning next January. Kovacik is a professor of English, director of the creative writing program and adjunct professor of women’s studies at IUPUI. She was selected for the position recently by the Indiana Arts Commission. "I want to break down barriers and get diverse groups of poets talking together," Kovacik said in a press release from the Indiana Arts Commission.
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Experts Skeptical of Predicted Gas Price Drop
WRTV Indianapolis May 13, 2011
Analysts predicted the cost at the pump would continue to fall thismonth, but prices are on the rise again across Indiana, and helping drive inflation nationwide. Subir Chakrabarti, an economics professor at IUPUI, said global demand, especially from China, India and tsunami-damaged Japan, is fueling higher prices. "When there’s enough volatility in the market, sellers will take advantage and will keep prices at levels which are relatively high," he said.
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Geronimo: Bin Laden’s problematic code name
The Baltimore Sun May 16, 2011
By giving Osama bin Laden the code name of the great American Indian chief Geronimo, the Pentagon has unnecessarily raised the ire of Native Americans. Johnny P. Flynn, a Potawatomi Indian who is in the religious Studies Department of the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI describes Geronimo as "the Apache spiritual leader" whose real name was Goyalthlay, renamed by Mexicans he fought who had killed his mother, wife and three children.
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‘Soul of Yoga’ at Stake in Texas Regulation Push
Religious Dispatches May 18, 2011
Andrea R. Jain, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at IUPUI, writes a captivating piece about a Texas bill which recently passed both the Senate and the House committee on Economic & Small Business Development.  The bill would exclude yoga from the definition of "post-secondary education," thus exempting yoga teacher training programs from career school licensing requirements.
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Hoosiers Don’t Buy Doomsday Prediction
WRTV Indianapolis May 20, 2011
Intensely skeptical: Those are probably the best words to describe Hoosiers’ reaction to a religious leader’s proclamation that the end of the world will begin Saturday. Peter Thuesen, a professor of religious studies at IUPUI, said there is a general skepticism that exists, in part, because so many apocalyptic predictions have been wrong. "American history is littered with failed predictions of the end of the world, and this seems to be simply the latest of a long string of predictions," he said.
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Daniels, Hoosiers say family comes before ambition
Chicago Tribune May 22, 2011
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels has become the latest big-name Hoosier to say family concerns trump his political ambitions citing concern for his wife, Cheri, and their four daughters as the reason he won’t join the race for the Republican nomination for president in 2012. The Daniels’ got an early taste of the national scrutiny they would feel at a Republican Party fundraiser about two weeks previous.  "Obviously Mitch does not want to revisit [the rough patch in his family history], he was very careful in what he’s said, that it was a good love story, and it may be that many people do not want to talk about those things," said Brian Vargus, professor of political science at IUPUI.
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Ind. GOP chair: Daniels to help shape 2012 debate
Chicago Tribune May 23, 2011
Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels will continue to influence the national debate surrounding the 2012 presidential campaign even though he isn’t a candidate, the leader of Indiana’s Republican Party said Monday. Brian Vargus, a professor of political science IUPUI, expects Daniels to eventually endorse a Republican candidate and do some campaigning. He said he could end up with a cabinet position under a Republican president if he doesn’t want to run for vice president.
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Philanthropy professor Payton dies at 84
The Journal Gazette May 25, 2011
Robert L. Payton, the country’s first professor of philanthropic studies and former director of Indiana University’s Center on Philanthropy in the School of Liberal Arts, has died. He was 84. He remained a professor emeritus of philanthropic studies and senior research fellow at the center, and helped establish a philanthropic studies library collection called "the premier  collection in the world in this field." "Bob Payton was a brilliant, humble giant in the philanthropic sector whose impact on philanthropy is immeasurable and will be indelible," said Patrick M. Rooney, the center’s executive director.
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Senior uses smarts, charisma to solve problems
Indystar.com May 28, 2011 
Iman Cooper was going to have to take a lead role in restarting the tutoring program for young readers at Indianapolis Public School 43. The International School senior had a good idea of how much work and which skills would be required. Two summers ago, her history teacher took her and other students to a Model European Union event intended for college students at IUPUI, organized by John McCormick, Professor of Political Science. It never dawned on the older students that Cooper was in high school.
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More Indiana chambers of commerce seeking bigger voice in local politics
The Republic May 30, 2011
Officials say more chambers are shifting away from just advocating positions and are beginning to issue endorsements in mayoral races. However, IUPUI political science professor Brian Vargus says there is no data that shows such endorsements make a big difference.
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Published on: June 06, 2011