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Phi Beta Kappa elects key members--Eleven MHC seniors were elected to membership in Phi Beta Kappa on October 23 by the Theta Chapter of Massachusetts. These elections to the prestigious academic honor society were based on six semesters of study at Mount Holyoke. The new members are: Wei Ding (an economics and mathematics major), Teodora Gouneva (economics and mathematics), Jorjeta Jetcheva (computer science and mathematics), Yihua Jing (economics and applied mathematics), Anna Paszczuk (biochemistry and psychology), Kimberly Patten (mathematics and medieval studies), Sarah Principato (geology), Preethi Ramani (computer science), Irena Tumova (philosophy and politics), Lulin Xia (biochemistry), and Jiayin Xiang (economics and statistics).
A dance called Wanda--The world premiere of "Wanda," a modern dance piece choreographed this past summer by professors Terese Freedman and Jim Coleman for the Rhode Island modern dance company Fusionworks, will be presented November 1 at UMass's Hampden Theater. Freedman and Coleman's newest piece, a duet, will also debut at the same performance, part of the university's Fine Arts Center series.
Pondering changes in Islamic thought--Assistant professor of religion Daniel Brown's book Rethink- ing Tradition in Modern Islamic Thought was recently published as part of a Cambridge University Press series on Middle East studies. Brown "traces the emergence of modern debates over sunna [Islamic practices based on Muhammad's words and deeds]" and "assesses the implications of new approaches to the law on contemporary movements of Islamic revival." He also considers how "adherents of any great tradition deal with change and explores the impact of modernity on attitudes toward religious authority generally," according to the book jacket.
Millette discusses linking physical and social science data--On October 30, assistant professor of geography Thomas L. Millette discussed his research in Nepal at the annual Geological Society of America (GSA) meeting in Denver. Unique to his work in remote sensing analysis is combining the use of physical and social science data for image analysis. In his paper, "Linking Natural and Social Systems to Inform Remote Sensing Analysis: Lessons Taken from the Middle Mountains of the Nepal Himalayas," Millette explains how both the physical and social data from this region can be combined to identify human impact on fragile lands. Through his use of satellites, computer models, and this linking of information, Millette has worked for four years to understand such issues as deforestation and agricultural production in Nepal.
Everybody's a critic--Tom Wartenberg, chair of the film studies program, and periodicals editor (and Valley Advocate film reviewer) Emily Harrison Weir will be panelists at a November 2 film criticism seminar at the Academy of Music in Northampton. As part of the Northampton Film Festival, they will screen and discuss film clips and answer audience questions about what makes a movie worth watching.
Working against racism--On October 15, Beverly Daniel Tatum gave a workshop for faculty at the University of Michigan's Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, led a discussion for the women's studies department, and then gave a campus lecture entitled "Outside the Circle: The Relational Implications for White Women Working against Racism." Her visit was sponsored by the women's studies program, the Center for Research on Learning and Teaching, the psychology department, the King/Chavez/Parks Visiting Professor Program, and the Office of Academic and Multicultural Initiatives. Tatum is a specialist in the development of racial identity in adolescents and is a professor in the psychology and education department. She will also be the general session speaker at the annual joint conference of the Massachusetts Association of School Committees and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents on November 7. She'll speak about the role of school leadership in student success.
Classic conversations--Lecturer in music Kathryn Ananda-Owens spent fall break teaching in a southerly venue. In her second season as lecturer for the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra's "Classic Conversations" series, Ananda-Owens gave a preconcert talk on October 11 highlighting features of John Harbison's chamber concerto The Most-Used Chords; Mozart's Piano Concerto no. 23 in A Major, K. 488; and Bartok's Concerto for Orchestra. She will return to Baltimore in January to speak at a BSO concert featuring Barry Tuckwell.
Statistically misspeaking--Mount Holyoke criminologist and National Public Radio commentator Richard Moran ventured South on October 23 to speak to a gathering hosted by the Virginia Employment Commission. His topic was "Manipulation of Statistics by Advocacy Groups to Serve Political and Personal Interests." One of the questions raised by Moran was: Do even the good guys stretch the truth to sway public opinion?
Let there be ethnomusicology--Michael Veal has been named a Five College Fellow in the music department this year. A doctoral candidate in ethnomusicology at Wesleyan University, he is currently working on a thesis entitled "What about the Half That Never Been Told: Lee Perry, King Tubby, Black Deconstruction and Postmodern Culture." Veal is also a performing musician whose group, Aqua Ife, fuses West African and Afro-Caribbean styles. He will participate in teaching Music D101: Music in (and out of) Context, this spring.
What's new with you?--Send news for "New & Notable" to Emily Weir, Office of Communications, or email eweir.