June 2004

SLA UPDATE FOR FACULTY & STAFF

Toby Parcel

Another great semester is over, and Liberal Arts proudly added 969 to the ranks of Purdue alumni; 839 earned bachelor's degrees, 103 received master's and 27 were honored as doctors of philosophy. SLA also sponsored two honorary degree recipients, Lu Ann Aday, Houston, Texas, a distinguished professor at the University of Texas School of Public Health-Houston, and Henry L. Roediger III, St. Louis, chair of the Department of Psychology at Washington University.

During commencement, President Jischke based his speech on next year's 400th anniversary of Cervantes' book Don Quixote and urged our graduates to dream big. The seeds of that speech were planted by Spanish professor Howard Mancing, who included Dr. Jischke as a reader during a 48-hour marathon recitation of the classic this past April.

Just before graduation, Dr. Jischke visited the School of Liberal Arts to learn more about our efforts and hear presentations about studies in our departments, such as organizational decision making in psychological sciences and Web blogs in English.

The president also reminded Liberal Arts faculty about the importance of speaking to community groups in Indiana. His goal is to start a dialogue across the state in which our faculty are not only spokespeople for the univeristy, but also good listeners who bring back Hoosier ideas and concerns to campus.

Two people can help you with this initiative. Contact Associate Dean Howard Zelaznik at 494-3666, zelaznik@sla.purdue.edu. Dean Zelaznik can help find appropriate speaking opportunities, and provide information about financial support. You also may wish to contact Gretchen Bertolet at 494-9318, gbertolet@purdue.edu to register with the Purdue Speakers Bureau, which also pairs faculty with community groups for speaking opportunities and reports Liberal Arts' efforts to Dean Zelaznik.

In just a few days you will notice new Purdue students and their families here for Day on Campus. Liberal arts advisers will see an average of 90 incoming students daily from mid-June to mid-July. For some of the 1,200 liberal arts students and many of their parents, Day on Campus is their first time at Purdue.

Also, I want to remind everyone to take some time to peruse the most recent edition of the Liberal Arts Magazine. This issue focuses on discovery and engagement and includes many leading examples of faculty and student outreach.

And finally, I want to congratulate Liberal Arts' three new faculty scholars: Roseann Lyle, professor of health and kinesiology; Michael Bergmann, associate professor of philosophy; and Duane Wegener, professor of psychological sciences. These three are great examples of faculty who excel in their scholarship.

Best wishes for an enjoyable summer.

Toby L. Parcel

SPECIAL REPORTS

Merging hearing technologies sounds good to researcher

A Purdue audiology researcher is combining two technologies - hearing aids and cochlear implants - to help improve speech understanding and sound quality for cochlear implant users.

King Chung's hearing research

Research by King Chung, an assistant professor in audiology, and colleagues shows that by applying advanced hearing aid technologies, such as preprocessors, to cochlear implants, background noise can be reduced, speech understanding enhanced and sound quality improved for cochlear implant users. Chung collaborated with Fan-Gang Zeng, a professor at the University of California, and Susan Waltzman, a professor at New York University School of Medicine.

"The common goals of hearing aids and cochlear implants are to enhance users' speech understanding and listening comfort, as well as improve the convenience of device use," says Chung, who studies issues related to hearing amplification and communication. "To achieve these goals, hearing aid and cochlear implant manufacturers have gone through different research and development paths." More

Lure of jobs, not voters, keeps politicians honest

Politicians' concern about reputations, not elections, keeps them honest, says a Purdue political scientist.

Parker's Self-Policing in Politics

"Politicians' actions cannot be effectively policed by voters," says Glenn R. Parker, Distinguished Professor of Political Science. "But my research shows that out of concern for their reputations, we can expect most politicians to police their own behavior and refrain from engaging in activities for private gain at the expense of the voters."

Parker's research results are published in Self-Policing in Politics: The Political Economy of Reputational Controls on Politicians. The book, $35, was published by Princeton University Press and can be ordered through the press. Parker's analysis draws on public opinion based in congressional constituencies and collected by the University of Michigan's national election study surveys between 1978 and 1994. More

Panel shares analyses about Israeli security needs

A panel led by a Purdue scholar has announced its recommendations for Israel's strategic future and how it should handle the threat of nuclear terrorism, war and weapons of mass destruction.

The Ariel Center for Strategic Studies in Israel has published the Project Daniel paper on its NATIV Web site. Included in its findings is an analysis of a doctrine for preemption or anticipatory self-defense, as well as issues of Israeli nuclear deterrence and war-fighting.

"The panel examined the changing strategic environment for Israel in the Middle East, focusing on the threat of being attacked with weapons of mass destruction," says Louis Rene Beres, a Purdue professor of political science and international law who chaired Project Daniel. "Many of the issues in the report are tied to United States foreign policy. More

NEWS TIPS

Early Olympics inspired poetic sponsorships, endorsements (Keith Dickson, professor of classics in the Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures)

Audiology and Speech Science Tips

• Shhhh! Lower your voice or risk losing it (Barbara Solomon, director of the Speech-Language Clinic)
• Sounds of summer not so sweet to the ear (Robert Novak, clinical professor and director of clinical education in audiology)
• Progress in therapy begins when patients accept stuttering (Bill Murphy, a speech pathologist in Purdue's Speech-Language Clinic)
• Aging, neurological disorders may be hard to swallow (Joanne Gutek, a clinical supervisor in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences)

Brown vs. Board of Education Purdue experts list

• Constitutional concerns (William McLauchlan, associate professor of political science)

FACULTY AND BOOKS

Purdue honors university faculty scholars

Purdue recently recognized 16 faculty with designated professorships from the Faculty Scholars Program.

Three are from the School of Liberal Arts - Michael Bergmann, associate professor of philosophy; Roseann Lyle, professor of health and kinesiology; and Duane Wegener, professor of psychological sciences.

"The program is designed to recognize outstanding faculty who are on an accelerated path for academic distinction," said Provost Sally Mason. "Even in its early stages, the program is assisting Purdue with its mission to attract and retain leading scholars." More

-- The A.H. Ismail Center for Health, Exercise and Nutrition in the Department of Health and Kinesiology was recognized by Fitness Management Magazine as a finalist for "Best Innovation in Fitness Prescription and Assessment." Director Cody Sipe and assistant director Ken Baldwin received the certificate of excellence from Fitness Management Magazine at the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association Conference.

-- Lorraine Kisselburgh, director of the Office of Information Technology in the School of Liberal Arts, received the the 2004 Violet Haas Award. The award honors individuals, programs or departments that have made an outstanding effort for the advancement of women at the university, whether in hiring, promotion, education, salary or generally enhancing a positive professional climate for women.

-- Barbara Solomon, director of the Speech-Language Clinic in the Department of Audiology and Speech Sciences, received the honors award for her outstanding contributions to the field of speech-language pathology from the Indiana Speech-Language and Hearing Association at its state convention.

-- Zipora Ostroy, academic adviser in the School of Liberal Arts, has been awarded the Outstanding Advising Certificate of Merit from the National Academic Advising Association.

-- Robert Novak, professor of audiology and director of clinical education in audiology, was elected as the next chair of the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association's Council of Clinical Certification in Speech-Language Pathology and Audiology. This council oversees the national clinical certification of all speech-language pathologists and audiologists.

-- Thomas Templin, professor and chair of the Department of Health and Kinesiology, gave the commencement address for the Kinesiology Awards Ceremony at the University of Michigan on April 30.

Books:

-- Dry Bones and Indian Sermons: Praying Indians in Colonial America, by Kristina Bross, assistant professor of English. Published by Cornell Paperbacks.

-- Asian American Religions: The Making and Remaking of Borders and Boundaries, co-edited by Fenggang Yang, assistant professor of sociology. Published by New York University Press.

-- Orlando Innamorato: Orlando in Love, translated by Charles Ross, professor of English. Published by Parlo Press.

STUDENT HONORS

Participation in ROTC steadily increases nationwide since 9/11

Heightened patriotism after terrorist attacks on the United States in 2001 is among several reasons cited for a steady growth in participation in ROTC programs across the nation.

Grant in combat scuba training

Justin Grant, 23, of Decatur, Ind., a health and fitness major at Purdue, was commissioned on May 14 as an Army second lieutenant in a joint forces commissioning ceremony with about 30 other graduates at Purdue. He will then start his four-year commitment to the Army as a field artillery officer. His short-term goals are to complete Ranger school and go into Special Forces. His long-term goals are to join the CIA and work in a position that uses the same skills he'll learn in Special Forces. More

UPCOMING EVENTS

Purdue's National Youth Sports Program has helped improve the fitness habits of children the past two years, and now the camp is adding math, science and writing components to give the campers' brains a workout.

NYSP Medical screenings

"The camp has an audience of 300 children, so why not go beyond our present curriculum and add activities that reinforce and expand their studies in math and science, as well as writing?" says Thomas Templin, director of the Department of Health and Kinesiology and program administrator. "These subjects will be added with healthy living in mind. Writing will be assigned in health education classes. Science field trips, planned for local parks and nature centers, will include some walking. The bottom line is that we are finding ways to engage children in healthy lifestyles that will result in better life decision-making skills."

Children, ages 10-16, will attend Purdue's third National Youth Sports Program weekdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on June 17 to July 23. Last year 240 children participated. The camp is free for campers who were referred by their schools in Tippecanoe County. More

Summer class to offer college 'survival' tips

Purdue is offering a summer class to help current and future college students survive in the classroom. The School of Liberal Arts will offer the eight-week class, "How to Survive at College," starting June 15 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6-8:50 p.m. The class is open to anyone, including adults returning to school, incoming college students and college seniors preparing for graduate school.

"Too many students spin their wheels when they study," says Sara J. Coffman, instructional development specialist and course instructor. "Putting information into their brains is like trying to put sticky notes on their foreheads, but the sticky notes don't have enough glue on them. In this course, students learn to input and retrieve information so it sticks." More

PAST EVENTS

Purdue anthropologist led volunteers in 1920s Sears House dig

A Purdue anthropology professor led amateur archaeologists and enthusiasts back to the early 20th century during a local excavation on May 17-21.

Sears House Project

Deborah Rotman and three students from Purdue's archaeology field school excavated a house site at 2114 N. Ninth St. The home, which was donated by the city of Lafayette, was constructed in 1921 from a kit sold by Sears, Roebuck and Co. After the excavation, which is being conducted as part of The Museum at Prophetstown programming, the city plans to move the house to the museum, which features a Woodland Native American Village, Wabash Valley Living History farm and a prairie. This will be the museum's first original Sears House.

"Archaeology excites people about the past and provides them hands-on contact with history," says Rotman, who specializes in anthropology, the holistic study of human cultures, past and present. "Through these volunteers' participation, we hope they learned about the importance of preservation. Archaeology is not about Indiana Jones. It's about exploring and understanding the past." More

Purdue offered free hearing, speech screenings

As part of May's Better Hearing and Speech Month, Purdue's nationally ranked audiology and speech-language program offered free hearing and speech screenings on May 24 and May 26 for people of all ages.

Speech screening

"Most adults have not had a hearing or speech screening since they attended public school," says Barbara Solomon, director of the Speech-Language Clinic. "This service was a great opportunity to increase public awareness about hearing loss, the effects of noise on hearing, and speech and language development. Screening participants also learned about the diagnostic and treatment options available for speech, language and hearing problems." More

Coalition launched first public event for older adults

Purdue health researchers helped older adults take their first steps toward a healthy lifestyle during the Living Well After 50 Coalition's first public event.

Living well

The "Movement" Movement, on May 19, attracted dozens of adults at James F. Riehle Plaza. The free event featured informational displays about physical activity and a walk to the Wabash Heritage Trail Lafayette and West Lafayette entrances. More

EXPERTS IN THE NEWS

MSNBC.com –
Snow White's dark side: Fairy tales stress beauty over brains, researchers say (Liz Grauerholz, Department of Sociology and Anthropology)

The Chronicle of Higher Education (Subscription Required) –
Purdue Professor Offers E-Book With Adaptations of 18th-Century Writings to Modern Issues (Alan McKenzie, Department of English)

Lafayette Journal and Courier –
Spring Works features the technology of dance (Carol Cunningham, Patti and Rusty Rueff Department of Visual and Performing Arts)

Lafayette Journal and Courier –
The lesson in our own history when America, too, was a 'rogue' nation (Robert May, Department of History)

Indianapolis Star –
Experts: Ruling's relevance has faded: Today's emphasis on test scores has pushed desegregation issues to the back burner. (William McLauchlan, Department of Political Science)

Lafayette Journal and Courier –
Some people can say, 'my house came from Sears' (Deborah Rotman, Department of Sociology and Anthropology)

Ft. Wayne Journal Gazette –
America bids its 'Friends' farewell (Glenn Sparks, Department of Communication)

San Diego Union Tribune –
Faith and the Fork (Ken Ferraro, Department of Sociology and Anthropology)

Charleston Regional Business Journal –
Office wellness can save health care $ $ $ (Roger Seehafer, Department of Health and Kinesiology)

Richmond Times Dispatch –
Moving is scarier for children, but parents can smooth the way (Glenn Sparks, Department of Communication)

Indianapolis Star –
ROTC luring more recruits (Student from the Department of Health and Kinesiology)

Any story ideas or news tips can be sent to Amy Patterson-Neubert at the Purdue News Service, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu