CHSBS in the News
Writing Center attendance steadily increasing
By Alayna Smith, CM Life - February 2, 2012
Read article on CM Life
A full, bright future: Two CMU students may teach overseas through prestigious Fulbright Program
By Ben Harris, CM Life - February 1, 2012
Read article on CM Life
Conference participants respond to the book 'Academically Adrift'
By Kelsey De Haan, CM Life - January 30, 2012
Read article on CM Life
CMU student places second in 'Students Reinventing Michigan Competition'
Auburn freshman Lauren Grotkowski placed second in the statewide "Students Reinventing Michigan Competition" for her proposal to create the Michigan Infrastructure Improvement Fund by making amendments to the Michigan Sales Tax Code. She will receive the $5,000 prize during an award ceremony at the Capitol February 21st, where she will present her proposal to a joint hearing of the state's Senate and House transportation committees.
The competition was sponsored by the Shea family (P.K. Contracting) in cooperation with Michigan legislators to develop innovative solutions for funding infrastructure needs in the state's transportation system. The competition is open to high school and undergraduate students attending a school in Michigan. The panel of judges, headed by Senator Tom Casperson, Chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, and Representative Paul E. Opsommer, Chairman of the House Transportation Committee, reviewed 39 proposal submissions.
Tom Rohrer, director of the Great Lakes Institute for Sustainable Systems at CMU, served as Grotkowski's faculty advisor. For more information about the competition, visit http://studentsreinventingmichigan.com/.
Anthropology professor Rachel Caspari pioneers field of anthropology through research on human life spans, longevity
By Shelby Miller, CM Life - January 17, 2012
View article on CM Life
CMU nominates CHSBS student to compete for Fulbright Program
January 9, 2012
CMU senior Stephanie Jaczkowski has been nominated to compete for the Fulbright English Teaching Assistantship (ETA) Program to serve in Poland. The Fulbright Program is regarded as the largest US international education exchange program designed to increase mutual understanding between people of the U.S. and people of other countries.
The Fulbright ETA Program places US students as English teaching assistants in schools and universities overseas. Placements offer students the opportunity to increase their foreign language skills and knowledge of the host country while improving foreign students' English language abilities and knowledge of the U.S. ETAs may also pursue individual study/research plans in addition to their teaching responsibilities.
Jaczkowski, an Honors student and Centralis Scholar from Clinton Township, is a Political Science and Integrative Public Relations major and Legal Studies minor.
She studied International Politics at the Warsaw School of Economics in Poland in 2010, completed a research internship at the Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research at the University of Michigan in 2010, and interned at the National Taxpayers Union in Washington DC in 2011. Jaczkowski has been active with the Michigan Republican Party since 2009 and the College Republications since 2008.
Jaczkowski volunteers with the Honors Program and mentors honors freshmen. She spent many years volunteering weekly at the American Polish Assistance Association in Eastpointe, Mich., where she helped organize packages to support orphanages in Eastern Europe. Jaczkowski was a student teacher for the Zajaczek Dance Ensemble in Sterling Heights, Mich. and danced with the Song and Dance Ensemble at the Warsaw School of Economics.
If awarded, Jaczkowski will be placed as an assistant teacher in English classes at a Polish university. Her position will combine teaching and educational advising, and she will work on an independent study/research project.
Two students, professor travel to United Nations for Assembly of States Parties
January 9, 2012 - By Caitlin Cheevers, CM Life
Click here to read the article on CM Life.
Book edited by Daniel Patterson named a 2011 Boston Globe best science book
December 18, 2011
By Anthony Doerr, The Boston Globe
A book edited by Daniel Patterson, a faculty member in the Department of English Language and Literature, was recently named one of the best science books of 2011 by The Boston Globe.
On selecting John James Audubon's Journal of 1826: The Voyage to The Birds of America (University of Nebraska Press, 2011) for this prestigous honor, Globe contributor Anthony Doerr writes:
"This is the diary of a lovesick, grandiloquent woodsman who travels to England in 1826 to see whether a European publisher will transform his gorgeous and startling paintings of American birds into the greatest art book ever made. It's a compelling reminder that the stories about how scientific or artistic achievements come to light are usually as interesting as the achievements themselves."
Audubon, an early American naturalist and painter, produced one of the greatest works of natural history and art of the nineteenth century, The Birds of America. As the record of the interior story of the making of this monumental work, his journal of 1826 is one of the richest documents in the history of American culture.
Patterson's publication is the first accurate transcription of Audubon's 1826 journal. His edition corrects many of the errors, both intentional and unintentional, found in previous editions.
CHSBS events available for free download on iTunes U
By Hailee Sattavara, CM Life
December 7, 2011
Eight College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences events are now available for free download through iTunes U.
These events feature Stephen Prothero, 9/11 Speak Up, Speak Out, Melvin Small, Bart Stupak, Richard Arum and Josipa Roska, Griffin Policy Forum, Dee Ann Sherwood and Guy Stern.
Sarah Buckley, marketing, web and publications coordinator of CHSBS, said in an email they have been posting audio and video recordings on iTunes U for the past two years.
"We post all of the Griffin Policy Forums as well as public speaking events hosted by the Abel Lecture Series, the Dennison Professorship and the Hart-Milliken Speaker Series," Buckley said. "We try to record all of the major college events each semester, as well as some guest speakers hosted by our departments."
Through posting on iTunes U, Buckley said CHSBS can decide if the recordings are open to the public or only those with a Central Michigan University global login.
All of the recordings are free through iTunes U.
Dee Ann Sherwood, Denison visiting professor of Native American studies, said recorded content should be free to enable sharing and learning in higher education.
"Many more students, faculty and staff will be able to access the information and this is a topic that is generally not covered in textbooks," Sherwood said. "I think iTunes U is an instrumental tool in promoting intercultural understanding."
Sherwood's November 1 event, Bimaadiziwin to Boarding Schools: American Indians and Education, is available on CMU's iTunes U.
"Some of the events are filmed by the CHSBS technology support staff and others are filmed by FaCIT," Buckley said.
The events are filmed in their entirety, Buckley said, including question and answer portions.
Forty-one audio and video recordings of events are available through iTunes U.
CHSBS faculty and staff can submit requests to film speakers or professional development workshops through the CHSBS technology support office or FaCIT.
The support office can be reached at 774-1229.
Click here to read the article on CM Life.
Visiting professor discusses global impact of American Indian boarding schools
By Hailee Sattavara, CM Life
Click here to read story on CM Life
MPA program featured on GOVPRO website
Nov. 29, 2011, GOVPRO
Central Michigan University offers MPA degree courses at a variety of U.S. locations
As part of our series on Master's of Public Administration (MPA) degree programs and their value to government administrators, Govpro.com looked into the MPA degree offerings of Mount Pleasant, Mich.-based Central Michigan University (CMU).
Established in 1892, CMU is one of the 100 largest public universities in the U.S. and the fourth largest in Michigan, with more than 28,000 students in Mount Pleasant, Mich., online and at more than 50 locations worldwide. CMU offers more than 200 academic programs at the undergraduate through doctoral levels and is establishing a medical college.
In its MPA degree program, CMU's core faculty members bring public administrative service experience to their classrooms, and the program's adjunct faculty are individuals who are currently working in the public administration field.
Lawrence Sych, CMU's MPA program director provided Govpro with some information on CMU's offerings. <read more>
Foreign Language department publishes fall 2011 newsletter
The Department of Foreign Languages, Literatures and Cultures has posted its Fall 2011 newsletter to the department website. Click here to read the digital newsletter.
CHSBS archaeologist works with Tribe to preserve Mount Pleasant Center property
By Hailee Sattavara, CM Life - November 4, 2011
Read article on CM Life
Forum on environmental sustainability sparks elongated SUSO discussion
By Alayna Smith, CM Life - November 15, 2011
Read article on CM Life
Students, faculty, international guests attend Human Rights Conference
By Hailee Sattavara, CM Life - November 13, 2011
Read article on CM Life
Holocaust survivor speaks at UC Wednesday, fills auditorium
By Shelby Miller, CM Life - November 9, 2011
View article on CM Life
Yusef Shakur speaks to students about his life and racism
Video by CM Life, November 8, 2011
View video on CM Life
Yusef Shakur speaks to students about his life and racism from CMLifeVideo on Vimeo.
Philosopher to discuss arguments on immigration
November 7, 2011 - By Ben Harris, CM Life
Read article on CM Life
Writer's reading packs Baber Room
By Ben Harris, CM Life - November 4, 2011
View article on CM Life
Professors' book receives School Library Association award
November 4, 2011
A book co-authored by English professors Ari Berk and Kristen McDermott received the Children's Choice Award from the United Kingdom's School Library Association. The Life and Times of William Shakespeare was named overall winner in the Children's Choice category and in the age 12 to 16 category.
The School Library Association celebrated the first annual Information Book Award event Nov. 2 at the Free Word Centre in London. The SLA Information Book Award is an annual event celebrating information books and is designed to support school libraries and to reinforce the importance of non-fiction while highlighting the high standard of resources available.
Between August and mid October, schools cast votes for the favorite book in each category (Under 7s, 7-12 and 12-16) and for their overall favorite. For more information, visit the SLA website.
SUSO discusses gender, sexual identity
By Annie Harrison, CM Life, October 19, 2011
Click here to view article on CM Life
Griffin Policy forum panelists say state should provide more funding to higher education
By Alayna Smith, CM Life - October 12, 2011
Click here to view article on CM Life.
Photo courtesy of John Meiu, Legal News
CHSBS names first recipients of Mester Family Scholarship
October 7, 2011
Central Michigan University recently awarded the first two student scholarships funded by The Honorable Fred M. and Lynne M. Mester Family Endowment. Social work major Sarah Ann Coston of Mount Pleasant and social studies major Jacqueline Wing of Haslett each received a $1,000 scholarship.
The Mester Family Endowment was established to recognize students who have demonstrated leadership roles in community service and a spirit of actively trying to better the world around them. The scholarship provides financial support to full-time undergraduate CMU students enrolled in the departments of English, Political Science, or Sociology, Anthropology, and Social Work.
"Sarah Ann Coston and Jacqueline Wing are outstanding students and active volunteers," said Pamela Gates, dean of the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences at CMU. "We are proud to name them the first recipients of the Mester Family Endowed Scholarship."
Coston says she's always strived to help people. As a child, she began volunteering at the local Kiwanis Club and the Isabella Community Soup Kitchen with her grandmother. Each year in June, she volunteers at the Michigan Special Olympics summer games held at CMU.
The first in her family to attend college, Coston is grateful for the financial support from the Mester family.
"I struggle financially every day, but I will not allow costs to stop me from achieving my dreams. The Mester Family Scholarship will help me to pursue my degree and live my dreams of helping others through my career," said Coston.
Wing plans to teach middle school history, economics and geography, and she has a passion for incorporating her volunteer experiences into the classroom.
"Community service has been a part of my life since my freshman year of high school," said Wing. "I joined my local 4-H club for social reasons, but I left with more knowledge and skills and the enthusiasm to seek other volunteer opportunities.
Wing's community service efforts include working to beautify Riverside Park in Lansing, including helping to design their original website, and joining a mentor program for elementary students while in high school.
The College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences hosted a luncheon in October for Judge Mester and his wife, Lynne, to meet the scholarship recipients.
"When Dean Pamela Gates invited us to meet the scholarship recipients for lunch, we could not have been more honored," said Judge Mester. "Sarah and Jacqueline are two very bright students who are committed to improving our communities."
Judge Mester, a 1959 graduate of Central Michigan University, retired in 2009 following 26 years of judicial service, most recently as a judge for the 6th Judicial Circuit Court in Oakland County. Lynne Mester, who also graduated from CMU in 1959, is a retired teacher.
Judge Mester and his family remain grateful for the contributions from colleagues, family and friends who helped fund the endowment.
"We want to say thank you and express our appreciation of the value they are giving back to our society through their kindness and generosity in the support of this endowment," said Judge Mester.
For more information about the Mester Family Scholarship, contact Lesa Smith, CHSBS Director of Development, at 989-774-3341 or CHSBS@cmich.edu.
Speakers say colleges not providing learning improvement
By Sammy Dubin, CM Life - October 5, 2011
Joyce Baugh joins panel discussion on historic Detroit schools desegregation and bussing plan
Political Science professor Joyce Baugh joined a panel of state dignitaries to discuss the significance and continuing impact of
Milliken v. Bradley, the historic 1974 United States Supreme Court case that addressed a plan for desegregation of schools and busing in Detroit and its suburbs.
The panel, which took place September 16 at the Hyatt Regency in Dearborn, was organized by the State Bar of Michigan as part of its Michigan Legal Milestones dedication ceremony to unveil a bronze plaque outlining the issues in Milliken v. Bradley. The plaque will be displayed in the federal courthouse in Detroit.
In its decision the Supreme Court rejected inter-district school busing as a solution to the segregation of Detroit schools and found that there was no evidence that the multiple districts outside Detroit had deliberately engaged in a policy of segregation. This verdict, based on a controversial 5-4 decision, came four years after a class-action lawsuit was filed against the state by the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People on behalf of parents of students in the Detroit school system. They alleged that the district was racially segregated due to official policies, and that this violated the principles of the Supreme Court's 1954 decision in Brown v. Board of Education.
Baugh is the author of The Detroit School Busing Case: Milliken v. Bradley and the Controversy over Desegregation (University Press of Kansas, 2011) and teaches courses on constitutional law, civil liberties, and the judicial process.
Other panelists included:
- Thomas M. Costello Jr., Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion president/CEO
- Frank J. Kelley, former Michigan attorney general, argued the case at the U.S. Supreme Court
- Prof. John Mogk, former Detroit Board of Education member, Wayne State University Law School professor emeritus
- Daniel R. Ray, Thomas M. Cooley Law School professor
- George T. Roumell, Jr., former Detroit Board of Education attorney, argued the case when it returned to the Supreme Court in 1977. Mr. Roumell founded the Michigan Legal Milestones program.
- William Saxton, counsel, director emeritus, and former chairman and CEO of Butzel Long, who argued the case on behalf of the suburban school districts
Former CMU football player, civil rights campaigner hosts talk
By Jalisa Cannon, CM Life - September 29, 2011
View article on CM Life
Former congressman Bart Stupak speaks on integrity in politics
By Octavia Carson, CM Life, September 27, 2011
Photo by Chris Bacarella
Spanish guitarist Francesc de Paula Soler accompanies poetry performance
By David Oltean, CM Life - September 23, 2011
- View photo gallery of Maestro Soler's concert
- View photo gallery of Poetry & Music
- Read article on CM Life
Retired Wayne State professor discusses lasting importance of Watergate
By Octavia Carson, CM Life - September 20, 2011
View article on CM Life
DEER Center tests potential drivers' abilities behind the wheel in simulation
By David Oltean, CM Life - September 16, 2011
View article on CM Life
Speaker Stephen Prothero urges students to challenge, question their views of Jesus
By Catey Traylor, CM Life - September 13, 2011
Schoolhouse tours give students glimpse of learning in early 1900s
By Catey Traylor, CM Life, - September 12, 2011
View article on CM Life
Chippewa River Writing Project hosts summer institute for teachers
August 10, 2011
Each summer, the Chippewa River Writing Project at Central Michigan University hosts a four-week institute for K-16 teachers from mid- and northern Michigan to participate in an immersive professional development experience. CRWP is a site of the National Writing Project and follow's the model of "teachers teaching teachers" with the goal of improving the teaching and learning of writing in Michigan's schools and local communities.
"(The summer institute) allows teachers to come together and to collaborate on lesson plans, to offer feedback on each other's teaching, and provides the kind of professional development not offered any place else," said Susan Steffel, CMU English professor.
In addition to intensive workshoping, lesson development, and collaborative writing, teachers learn about incorporating technology resources--including wikis, audio podcasting, video streaming, and Google Docs--into their classrooms. Teachers can earn a graduate credit for particapting.
The summer institute is funded by the National Writing Project, the College of Humanities and Social and Behavioral Sciences, the College of Education and Human Services, College of Graduate Studies, and the Office of the Provost at Central Michigan University.
Anthropology professor's research published in Scientific American
August 8, 2011
Anthropology professor Rachel Caspari's research on the role of grandparents in the survival of early modern human groups appeared in the August 2011 issue of Scientific American.
Editors invited Caspari to submit an overview of her research, which uses new micro-CT methods to study the internal structure of fossilized teeth to better assess the age of death. Those findings corroborate her earlier research based on dental wear that few early humans survived to become grandparents until recently, in evolutionary time.
"A large increase in the number of older people occurs about 30,000 years ago in an archeological period called the Upper Paleolithic," said Caspari. "Hallmarks of the Upper Paleolithic include a burgeoning of cultural activity - cave art, body decorations and jewelry, carved representations of people and animals, and utilization of exotic raw materials."
Before this period, most adults did not survive beyond the age of 30. Caspari believes the significant increase in the number of older people is likely linked to this cultural explosion.
"Older people help transmit cultural information across generations," said Caspari. "Additionally, the demographic changes associated with increased longevity--population growth and expansion--are tied to cultural development. Increased life expectancy leads to more offspring, and care of grandchildren leads to increased survivorship of youngsters. These factors promote population growth, which leads to more intergroup contact and innovation."
Caspari also notes that with increased longevity, innovations become common and are sustained through generations, thus improving the survivorship of modern humans.
"There is a clear distinction between archaic life history patterns and the modern life history patterns that emerged from the Upper Paleolithic period, and the modern pattern has much higher survivorship rates."
To learn more about Caspari's research, click here to read the Scientific American article.
Students blog trip to Netherlands
Five Central Michigan University students are traveling to The Netherlands this summer to learn more about the International Criminal Court.
The course, PHL 397: Human Rights Theory and Practice: An In Depth Look at the International Criminal Court (ICC), is taught by philosophy professor Hope May.
