Obituaries Announcements ASA Forum andApplied Settings So From theExecutive Officer Science Policy 9 7 4 3 ciologists inResearch China. 30 years of “re-establishment” in hashadaproductiveSociology Symbol for Sociology? What IstheChinese DHS’s HumanFactors Division. ahead ofthebadguys at the stays Rausch onestepSharla Homeland Security in A Sociologist education. for andlackofdiversity inscience addressed briefing theneed A Hill Scientific Workforce Diversity inthe economic recovery process. view ofthefederal government’s The ASACongressional Fellow’s New Deal orNoNew Deal? ...... inside ......
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7 2 2 Volume 37 • Number 5 • May/June 2009 first-year student residential houses and has large. Tony largest heads the of Vanderbilt’s universityin the and profession inthe at involves inleadership them roles locally practice an “glocalism” academic that of Vanderbilt’s Department of Sociology. daily vibrant inthe and synergistic culture disciplined. Their team spirit is nourished arethey at once organized, collegial, and and student research associates. As ateam, andplinary international group of faculty laborated with alarge, diverse, interdisci Asmethods. researchers, have they col quantitative, historical, and qualitative conducted research witharray a wide of subfieldsthan 25sociological and have editorship.write They and teach in more ofa sense fairness that inform will their tion, embrace awide of discipline, the and ment to excellence academic and innova discipline. Together, bring they acommit accomplished and pushing frontiers of the individualtheir bios show, eachis highly imaginationcal to ASR the editorship. As engaging, creative, and erudite sociologi guished department colleagues bring an Randy Hodson and Vincent J. Roscigno. January 2010and follows editorship the of Association.three-year Their begins in term Review next editors of ASA’s ofall Vanderbilt University, the be will T characterized healing asand both sub Diane diPrimaerings, beat which poet gave away at food countercultural gath of to worldview. their food The Diggers through agriculture,the centrality reflects commune that reform sought social name, from taken a17 change.of social Indeed, Diggers’ the very as Diggers the as an cast food integral part anti-capitalist activist-performers known Area. In 1960s,agroup the of radically its roots deepest to San the Francisco Bay alternative agriculture can some trace of Madison, WI,and Ann Arbor, MI,but The ofAlternative Roots Agriculture vibrant, engaged civically communities. mental sustainability, justice, and social iterated refrain, can contribute to environ our comes food from,” to an use often culture Proponents that believe an distribution.farming food and local movementthis to promote seeks organic tions and dependent on chemical inputs, tem dominated by transnational corpora ofCritical an industrial agribusiness sys produce, distribute, and consume food. citizens has worked to alter ways the we O Incoming Editors of Brown, Donato, Isaac andMcCammon Are by Alison Alkon, University of the Pacific Larry W.Larry Isaac, and Holly J. McCammon, ony N.Brown, Katharine M.Donato, As ASR new the sociologists, editors Individually and collectively, my distin Early movement strongholds include ing movement of farmers, chefs, and ver past the four agrow decades, by Daniel B. Cornfield, Vanderbilt in which consumers inwhich know “where (ASR), flagship the journal the of Food Justice Francisco intheSan Bay Area Alternative Agriculture and Local Flavor: Looking Forward Francisco to the2009Annual MeetinginSan University American Sociological AmericanSociological th centuryBritish alternative agri ------cially diverse,cially Plaza, cel which and Ferry city’sthe oldest and perhaps most ethnora Francisco’s most renowned are Alemany, nearly 90farmers’ markets. Among San culture movement.Bay The boastsArea manysee of fruits alternative the agri The View from theASA Farm Workers. rather boycotted than those by United the members purchased from farmers these conspiracy” buying club through which In activistsbegana“food 1966,Berkeley some of region’s the first organic farms. to land,” the wherewould they found many Diggersthe city left to “back go producing food” (1989).At same the time, “seizure of public land for of purpose the referredBelasco to strategy as this the garden. Noted historian food Warren earliesttheir installations was an organic bulldozed but never developed. One of land that university the had bought and ists squatted on and claimed apiece of Park, student and community activ University of California-Berkeley’s People’s during 1969protests the that created more agrarianpolitics. For food example, of eating. production, group this act politicizedthe to imagine alternatives to industrial food versive. Although had not they yet begun the Russellthe Sage Foundation committeesof advisory for department and is amember chairs Vanderbilt the sociology Black Americans. Katharine Program for Research on Universitythe of Michigan’s an active participantbeen at Anne, MD, and his PhD from University the historically black university inPrincess University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, a his bachelor’s from the degree insociology at VanderbiltSociology University. He earned Brown in Nashville’s many parks and greenways. increasinglyeditorial be team will sighted ging, and Perhaps running. mobile anew share also els), they alove of jog walking, Lisbon, and Holly—reading mystery nov in Mexico, verde Larry—sipping vinho in Cajun Katharine—tasting food, tequila unique pastimes (e.g., Tony—cooking Although eachteam member enjoys Movement Section. of the ASA’s Collective Behavior and Social research at Vanderbilt and as 2007-08Chair dean to strengthen education doctoral and Society. Holly as an associate has served as President of the Southern Sociological editorial boards, and just finished a term rial-board years on 11 journal atotal of 37editohas served Vanderbilt University Press, editorialthe board of the on has served Project. Larry and Mexican the Migration
Sociologists visitingSociologists San Francisco can city, the Beyond activistsembraced a Tony N.Brown is Associate Professor of This is an aerobically editorialfit team. American Sociological ReviewAmerican Sociological - McCammon, Tony N.Brown, M.Donato. andKatherine The ASReditors to (from right)are: left Larry W. Isaac, HollyJ. ------
through customers which purchase a Supported Agriculture programs (CSAs), at markets these offerCommunity also city. inthe best Many farms featured alternative local the which paper named vibrant Heart of City the Farmers Market, Annual Meeting held is be scruffy, the will waterfront. Not far from where ASA the produce against city’s the picturesque ebrates exceptional the quality of regional of Berkeley’s landmark Panisse, Chez who most renowned isWaters, Alice founder alternativeports agriculture. Perhaps the far from only the chef sup heartily who Area chef Jessica Prentice. But, Prentice is of year. the This word was coined Bayby one as its foods, eats who 2007word local named itDictionary mainstreamso that Oxford the English mere of selling commodities. cooperationsufficiency and than rather the ofmodes production that emphasize self- Community gardens and CSAs create ity plots to lease for cultivation. food residents without access to land abil the community gardens, offer which urban gists may spot one of San Francisco’s 52 city’s residential neighborhoods, sociolo weekly basket of produce. “share” farm’s inthe and harvest receive a psychological He theories. is actively involved and mainstreamby racetheory critical social of mental His health. approach is informed of raceinBrazil, and conceptualization the encounters,medical construction social the ization, physician-patient communication in identity,racial social ethnic/race childhood of race-related stressors, meaning the of projects investigate mental the impact health chy, identity, and stratification. Tony’scurrent of mental and health; hierarsociology racial race, racism, and the and racism, especially: chological meaning and consequence of race psy and social addresses sociological the by National the Institute of Mental Health, His research, supported has which been Vanderbiltthe University in2001. faculty Institute Research, for Tony Social joined Americans at University the of Michigan’s ship at the Program for Research on Black nal. After completingpostdoctoral a fellow Fellow an to be editor of amajor ASA jour an ASA MFPFellow and is first the former of Michigan. As agraduate student, he was Alternative agriculture has become Additionally, wandering while the See locavore San Francisco, San See , meaning ASR, page6 page8 ------2 footnotes • May/June 2009
from the executive officer
scholarly writing accessible by knowledge Sociology’s own pocket-sized writ- Only One Way to Write. Right? seekers beyond a discipline’s cognoscenti. ing “bible,” the American Sociological Writing guides are especially useful Association Style Guide, provides invaluable he unpretentious, yet world-famous a Supreme Court Justice’s famous quote when they help writers confront the realiza- advice on grammar, composition, word use, Tpaperback The Elements of Style cel- about pornography: “Readable writing? I tion that intuitive understanding of one’s and punctuation, along with specialized ebrated a half century of publication in know it when I see it.” spoken language is often insufficient to -pro guidance for writers preparing manuscripts April and emerged anew in the public con- Strunk and White’s central message is duce good prose. A writing guide should for ASA journals. TheChicago Manual of sciousness. Its influence on generations of for the ages and easily recognized when instill curiosity about one’s own language Style and the APA Style Manual provide teachers, students, and the writing public is it is applied: Good writing provides an and evoke questions about the usefulness of more comprehensive guides for social sci- documented in several recent tributes and effortless connection with the desired communication tools such as word choice, entists writing research papers. But general critiques in mainstream media. The reign audience(s). For sociologists, it leverages phrasing, and compositional options in writing guides such as Strunk and White of the pocket-sized guide to the awesome power of lan- producing a text that informs correctly and provide us all with a critical service: They better writing, by William guage to focus others’ think- communicates effectively. There are few ask us to be self-reflective about our writ- Strunk, Jr. and E. B. White, ing and actions on one’s substitutes for understanding a language’s ing, to seek answers to our writing quanda- might seem disproportion- research findings; to convey technical aspects in unshackling ourselves ries, and to be inquisitive about the power ate to its humble origins as sociological concepts and as writers from comfortable oral conven- of our language to communicate. English professor Strunk’s knowledge to students (who tions that are not always helpful in con- Music to Our Ears self-published 1919 writing [whom?] we know from structing writing that is accurate, engaging, guide for Cornell University students. But ASA research are thrilled by them); or to and connects with the intended audience. If even a small proportion of soci- this is a mighty if small book. share the meaningful research insights to a ologists and our students adhered to a Writing for Sociology Ten million copies have sold since its client, court, or policy maker. handful of the tenets in Strunk and White, first commercial publication in 1959. A Like any social, physical, or biologi- Scientific and other scholarly writers we would understand each other more reader-friendly “how to” guide, Strunk and cal process, language is characterized by face many complex issues when we write, effectively. Legitimate criticisms aside, White (as it is universally known) provides evolutionary change driven by forces that but one is deciding whom we are address- The Elements of Style is so popular that writers with advice on how to connect include culture, geography, demography, ing. This seems obvious when deciding if it inspired a musical adaptation in 2005, effectively with their audiences. True to its technology, science, and myriad other the audience is one’s disciplinary peers or with a promise of an operatic rendition. message of straight-forward writing, the social phenomena. As any good editor a general readership. Research domains While to my knowledge the opera has not manual “weighs in” at a mere 100 pages in knows, immutable rules of grammar or develop and reward the easy flow of spe- materialized, perhaps before long we will most editions. usage—no matter how authoritative—will cialized jargon that conveys precision and be treated to a promising summer block- But the recent tributes are not with- not make a language stand still. Good familiarity with the discipline or sub-disci- buster movie preview . . . “Imagine a world out critics, such as Geoffrey K. Pullum editing is a fine balance between abiding pline. But even here there are treacherous without The Elements of Style!” (Chronicle of Higher Education, April 17, by rules and helping writers connect with waters: Is the audience that rewards your 2009) and Jan Freeman (Boston Globe, their audience. Readable text can be found writing one’s departmental peers, the dean October 23, 2005). They defuse the golden in good-quality newspapers and publica- (who is of a different discipline), a larger Sally T. Hillsman is the anniversary festiveness with some legiti- tions, but don’t attempt to analyze the cross-disciplinary academic body, or all of Executive Officer of ASA. mate questions about over-simplification writing against Strunk and White! Even these? How does one write for this broader She can be reached by and the consistency and accuracy of Strunk at its best, it won’t measure up. Writing academic marketplace? What if that aca- email at executive.office@ and White’s grammar lessons. Many main- standards help us think carefully about demic marketplace also includes under- asanet.org. tain that the “Little Book” has nonetheless how we communicate effectively, but they graduate students or non-majors? If one widely and permanently raised the gram- are rarely the final word. of your professional goals is bringing your mar and composition consciousness of writ- scholarship into the non-academic mar- Losing and Gaining Discriminatory ers in academia, journalism, and the general ketplace of ideas, must you rewrite your Power public during the second half of the 20th content, or is the technology of search century. It achieved this, they say, partly Editors and writers who have been dili- engines applied to scholarship openly through its eccentricities and humor. gently enforcing semantic distinctions for available to the general reader sufficient? There are many useful writing guides, decades are dismayed as dictionary pub- There are no simple answers. Published monthly with combined issues but this succinct gem, with its concurrent lishers progressively “cave in” to popular There is also a paradox in sociology in May/June, July/August, and September/ authority and celebrity, is generally consid- usage. But new words emerge, new mean- that the complexity of social phenomena October. Mailed free to all ASA members. ered a necessary tool by those who take the ings attach to words, and evolution moves needs to be described in accessible writing, Subscription, $40. Single copies, $3. written word seriously. I am comfortable on. Questions arise about whether English even if it is only to benefit the discipline, Editor: Sally T. Hillsman acknowledging that I occasionally consult is losing its power to convey fine semantic but especially if we are to disseminate Associate Editor: K. Lee Herring Strunk and White; but I am less confident distinctions, as written English yields to our knowledge more broadly. There are Managing Editor: Johanna Olexy writing about it, considering how fre- the conventions of less formal, spoken attempts at this. ASA’s magazine Contexts: Secretary: Donald Tomaskovic-Devey quently I violate its advice! language. What does this process mean for Understanding people in their social worlds Article submissions are limited to 1,000 Should I be intimidated? Not according the scholarly writer? If scientific writing is one. And, Social Psychology Quarterly words and must have journalistic value to Pullum or Freeman. But their specific capitulates to less complex language, does now provides “Tighter, abbreviated ver- (e.g., timeliness, significant impact, general criticisms aside, my message—during this it lose its power to convey precise infor- sions of articles emphasizing relevance interest) rather than be research oriented window of opportunity of Strunk and mation by seeking to be understandable and readability” online. International or scholarly in nature. Submissions will be White’s 50th year—is the importance of to broader audiences? This is a growing initiatives such as “Writing across the reviewed by the editorial board for pos- good writing. A cliché? Yes, but one worth conundrum as scholarship increasingly Curriculum” seek to cultivate logical writ- sible publication. “ASA Forum” (including letters to the editor) contributions are repeating. Borrowing shamelessly from goes online and search engines make ing by undergraduates. limited to 400–600 words; “Obituaries,” 500–700 words; and “Announcements,” science policy 200 words. All submissions should include a contact name and, if possible, an e-mail How to prevent the decline in cognitive individuals, families, communi- Chicago, presented findings on address. ASA reserves the right to edit all ability in the elderly: Medical treat- ties, and the nation. At the semi- the neighborhood and social material published for style and length. ment, education, and social networks nar sponsored by the NIA and networks effect. For more The deadline for all material is the first of At a March 18 seminar in Washington, U.S. Health and Human Services, information, see
economic recovery. For instance, Assessing History in the Making economist Jamie Galbraith noted by Elisabeth Jacobs, and breadth of the current recession and The proponents of the recovery bill in recent testimony to the Senate ASA Congressional Fellow the Great Depression, and parallels between prevailed, but the continued erosion of Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Obama’s aggressive agenda for recovery and the labor market poses a challenge for the Committee that one of the most he American economy is in the midst of a Roosevelt’s New Deal policies, the debate legislation’s supporters. The impact of the important accomplishments of the Tcrisis of historic proportions. The bursting was heated on the Hill this winter. recovery bill is likely to take quite some New Deal was its “physical, moral, and of the housing bubble and the ensuing col- Academic (and not-so-academic) time to wind its way through the economy artistic reconstruction of the nation.” lapse of the financial markets have wreaked accounts of government policies’ failure and into the labor market. For example, While much attention has been havoc on the labor market. The economy to jump-start the ailing economy of the unemployment rates are a lagging indica- focused on traditional economic indi- has faced the loss of 5.1 million jobs since 1930s provided talking points for foes of tor of economic health, so the job market cators (e.g. unemployment rates and the recession began in December 2007, with the current government intervention. For can remain quite feeble even as the nation’s GDP), scholars would be wise to iden- almost two-thirds of the decrease coming in example, a 1990s study by two economists economy is on its way to recovery. tify other critically important indica- the last five months. The unemployment rate gained prominence in the conserva- tors of a prosperous nation, providing Academic Social Scientists and the stands at 8.5 percent, 13.2 million Americans tive Human Events newspaper, which is clear theoretical (and, where possible, Economy are unemployed, and nearly one in four of circulated to all congressional offices and empirical) explanations for why the unemployed have been looking for work widely read by the Senate and House staff- In light of the continued uncertainty such indicators matter. For instance, for at least six months. Job losses that were ers who play a critical role in providing that characterizes the economy and its consumer confidence and its relation- once concentrated in manufacturing and decision-makers with talking points and future direction, the first round of debates ship to labor markets and economic construction have spread to all sectors of the information on which to base decisions. over economic recovery legislation pro- growth could serve as rich terrain for economy. Rising unemployment means ris- Wall Street Journal columnist Amity Shlaes vides three important lessons about the sociological inquiry. Similarly, sociol- ing demand for government services, while argued that the Depression-era unemploy- role of academic social scientists: ogy’s longstanding disciplinary interest state and local governments are in the red. ment rate continued to climb because of 1. Studies of the success and failure of in neighborhood effects on various The federal government has responded Roosevelt’s New Deal policy interventions, government policies matters. Empirical economic outcomes could serve as a to the economic storm with policies of or, as she writes, because of “the notion evaluation of policy interventions can powerful framework for discussing the extraordinary breadth. TheAmerican that government could engineer economic play a critical role in the debate over a impact of the housing crisis. Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, recovery by favoring the public sector at policy, as evidenced in the use of for- None of these points are purely aca- signed into law by President Obama on the expense of the private sector.” merly obscure academic arguments on demic, of course. As the debate this winter February 17, 2009, represents an unprec- In response, proponents of the recovery the inside-the-beltway Sunday talk shows illustrated, social scientists’ thinking can edented policy intervention committing legislation turned to academic studies as and on the floor of the House and Senate. play a key role in shaping policy debates. $787 billion in federal dollars via a com- well. Research by the Chair of the Council Once considered an academic exercise Moreover, many in Washington believe an bination of aid to the states, tax cuts, and of Economic Advisors Christina Romer in history, research on the impacts of the additional round of stimulus will be neces- safety net spending. Combined with the (formerly of the University of California- New Deal has an important role to play sary if the economy continues to slide. monetary interventions currently under- Berkeley) and by Federal Reserve Chair in contemporary debates. For instance, critics from the left, includ- way via the Troubled Asset Relief Program Ben Bernanke (formerly of Princeton 2. Studies of the efficacy of the current ing New York Times columnist and Nobel authorized by Congress in 2008 to address University) highlighted the importance recovery bill are critical. In the short- Prize-winning economist Paul Krugman, the subprime mortgage crisis and a host of of Roosevelt’s New Deal monetary policy term, creative thinking that captures have argued that the recovery bill was “too monetary interventions undertaken by the decisions as critical to bringing the Great elements of the recovery bill’s impact by small,” and suggest that a second stimulus U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve, the Depression to an end, and Romer has modeling an appropriate counterfactual bill is likely to be necessary this year. government response to the current reces- repeatedly testified to Congress that could prove invaluable to understand- Making the case for or against an addi- sion rivals any seen since Roosevelt’s New Roosevelt’s failure in the realm of fiscal ing which government policies work tional injection of fiscal stimulus to the Deal-era economic policies. policy was his timidity, not his aggression. and why. Moreover, scholars should nation’s economy requires evidence, and Research by historian Eric Rauchway played begin to pay attention today—thinking providing that evidence is an important A Not-So-New Deal a key role in helping supporters make the creatively, developing models, and col- public service that could be performed by The debate over theAmerican Recovery case that the New Deal helped slow the lecting data—in order to provide the academics across the nation. and Reinvestment Act on the floors of the increase in the unemployment rate. All more definitive analysis that will only be Elisabeth Jacobs, 2008 ASA Congressional House and Senate and in the pages of major three scholars’ research suggests that the possible in the longer term. Fellow, served on the Senate Committee news outlets included numerous accounts “mini-recession” of 1938 was precipitated 3. Finally, and perhaps of critical impor- on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions of the “dangers” of the New Deal. Spurred by Roosevelt’s desire to balance the budget tance for sociologists, scholars should (HELP), which is chaired by Senator by repeated comparisons between the depth vis-à-vis a decrease in spending. think creatively about indicators of Edward Kennedy (D-MA).
Sociologists Take the “Science of Science Policy” to Capitol Hill Annual science fest exposes legislators and policymakers to range of NSF-supported research
team of University of Maryland-College Sociologists Jerald Hage, director at Approximately 300 attendees APark sociologists brought research Maryland’s Center for Innovation, and toured the exhibits, including several on the science of science and innovation Jonathon Mote, an assistant research scientist members of Congress and their staff, policy to Capitol Hill on March 24 for also at the center, displayed their NSF-backed key congressional committee staff, the 15th Annual Coalition for National research exploring the science of managing NSF leadership (e.g., Director Arden Science Funding (CNSF) Exhibition and innovation in public research laboratories. Bement), and representatives from Reception. Sponsored by ASA, the four For background on NSF’s “Science of Science other policymaking and research sociologists were at least the ninth group of & Innovation Policy” (SciSIP) initiative, see agencies. Congressmen Vernon National Science Foundation-funded sci- the March 2007 and January 2009 Footnotes Ehlers (R-MI) and Rush Holt entists that ASA has brought to this yearly (p. 2 and 3, respectively). (D-NJ) visited the ASA-sponsored CNSF “science fest” in the nation’s capital. Hage and Mote, joined by University of poster, and other representatives NSF-funded sociologist Jerry Hage listens as Speaker Maryland graduate student Aleia in attendance included Bill Foster Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) addresses attendees at the Coalition for National Science Funding Exhibition. Clark as well as Gretchen Jordan (D-IL), Bob Filner (D-CA), and Bart of Sandia National Laboratories, Gordon (D-TN), Chair of the House literacy, income dynamics, and the earth’s are currently in the process of data Committee on Science and Technology. interior. A complete listing of the posters collection to identify best practices House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is available at
he Sociologists for Women in Society ate degrees in sociology. ASA’s research doctoral-granting sociology departments. University, Northwestern University, T(SWS) recently awarded a number of department found that while women’s Taken together, these measures represent Cornell University, Duke University, Ohio PhD-granting sociology departments representation in sociology depart- a department’s openness to women and to State University, and Yale University. On three different “Seals of Approval” ments at all types of institutions has been gender research and teaching. The report the other side of the spectrum, 13 per- based on: Their gender equity in the increasing, it has been at a very gradual was based on data collected from the 112 cent of sociology departments have less areas of faculty ratio, gender scholar- pace (see the December 2008 Footnotes). PhD-granting departments listed in the than 30 percent women faculty, and two ship, as well as progress toward achiev- According to NSF data, in 2005, 64 ASA 2007 Guide to Graduate Departments departments have less than 20 percent ing both equitable faculty ratio and percent of new sociologists were women. of Sociology. female faculty. gender scholarship. The SWS Report Other research has found that women are Faculty Gender Equality Gender Scholarship Card on Gender Scholarship and Equity overrepresented among the lowest-paid, in Sociology Departments: Revision to part-time positions. In addition, a num- The most positive news in the report Sociology departments with a central the Report Card on Gender and Women ber of previous studies have found that was the increase in women in tenure- focus of research on gender or inequality Friendly Institutions is an update to the the higher one moves along the academic track positions. Sixty-five percent (73) of research with an intersectional approach original 2004 report, which detailed the ladder, the fewer women there are, and doctoral-granting sociology departments received the SWS Seal of Approval for state of women and gender scholarship the less diversity overall. The SWSReport met the standards to be awarded the Gender Scholarship. This award was in the discipline (see the November 2004 Card found some positive news in the SWS Seal of Approval for Faculty Gender given to departments in which more Footnotes). great deal of departmental variation, even Equity, which was given to all depart- than 25 percent of the faculty name some In the four years between the original among the upper ranks, indicating posi- ments in which 40 percent or more of form of gender or inequality studies report and this latest revision, “the pres- tive changes for women, feminists, and the faculty are women. This means that among their specialties. Twenty-four ence of women and gender scholarship gender scholars. that a high ratio of female professors in departments met the standards of scholar- has changed dramatically,” with many Seeking to provide a different rank- sociology departments is now the norm. ship to be awarded the seal of approval, more departments awarded the seals of ing system from the U.S. News & World In 2004, 37 graduate departments met representing 21 percent of the sociology honor in 2008, according to the recent Report on graduate programs, the SWS this standard, representing 33 percent departments. In 2008, the SWS awarded report’s authors Barbara Risman and report’s goal was to recognize departments of the doctoral-granting departments. 37 departments the seal, representing 33 Lisa Berube, both of the University of that excelled at providing a welcoming Of the 20 most prestigious depart- percent of the sociology departments. Illinois-Chicago. While there is reason climate for women and feminist scholars ments in the country (among the top 20 Of the most prestigious departments, for optimism, there is still under-rep- as well as recognize an improvement in departments as ranked by the 2006 U.S. two universities qualified for the gender resentation of women in tenure-track equity. The SWS report ranks doctoral- News & World Report), nine received scholarship seal: Stanford University positions and gender scholarship, they granting departments on the “percentage this Seal of Approval. This is triple the and Cornell University. This was a slight maintain. of tenure-track faculty who are women” number of those receiving the seal in increase from 2004 when no depart- According to data from the National and the “percentage of tenure-track faculty 2004. Those universities were: University ments received this distinction. Science Foundation (NSF), females are with research and teaching specialties in of California-Berkeley, University of outpacing males in earning doctor- the areas of gender and inequality” within Michigan, Stanford University, Indiana See Gender-friendly, on page 7
are programs where “diversity is a central Kington that “this is ultimately about of diversity could justify some race- and Diverse Research element that is embedded within the thrust [using] the research and the evidence base ethnicity-conscious practices were pivotal in from previous page of the entire program,” she explained. to then drive good results.” the Michigan case. “There was social science Newer directions NSF has What is the evidence? Coleman sug- evidence, there was institutional evidence, Meeting the National Need taken include its Innovation gested that “good policy development, while there were specific perspectives brought to Ward discussed NSF’s role in through Institutional Integration importantly focused on the legal sphere, has the table that convinced, in that case five meeting the national need for program. This program allows to be correspondingly focused on the ques- justices out of nine.” a robust scientific workforce in the agency to address areas such tion of research and data.” He said, however, Why do we care about diversity as an the 21st century. She explained as centrally broadening participa- that “the perfect cannot be the enemy of educational enterprise? Coleman answered, that she assumes that “there is tion and addressing the issue of the good” and that “we know more than we “If you understand the ultimate theory that a national imperative and that critical educational junctures, sometimes give ourselves credit for.” diverse teams actually push and challenge diversity does, in fact, strengthen the integration of research in Coleman stated that in addition to the and force new perspectives that lead to the scientific enterprise by the education, a globally engaged best research and data, it is also important better thinking, that lead to better solutions, Wanda E. Ward, NSF intellectual diversity of thought.” Acting Assistant workforce, as well as research and to focus “on building stakeholder under- and ultimately lead to better outcomes, you Agreeing with Kington, Ward Director for the evaluation as a cross-cut to all of standing and public will and support.” actually understand that there’s no specific emphasized that there continues Education and these issues. All of this, Ward said, He explained that the dynamic is shift- area around where diversity works and to be a crisis in the “underrepre- Human Resources occurs in the context of a global and ing from the “court of law to the court of doesn’t,” he answered. And, he argued, “this sentation of certain U.S. groups in Directorate cyber-enabled world. Basically, the public opinion.” Echoing Kington’s point isn’t just about the educational benefits . . . the STEM [science, technology, program was designed to challenge on the imperative of “tackling hard and but this is about the economic imperative, engineering, and mathematics] fields— faculty, administrators, and institutions of unpleasant evidence,” he emphasized that thematically,” as laid out by Kington and mainly women students, faculty of color, higher education “to think more strategically it is important to “let facts, as opposed to Ward. It is also about national security and and persons with disabilities.” about the creative integration of NSF-funded ideology, drive this conversation.” the United States having the kind of military Focusing on innovation, which remains awards, toward a whole that exceeded the Citing the Supreme Court affirmative it needs, Coleman concluded. the engine of U.S. economic competitive- sum of its parts,” she explained. The agency’s action decisions in Grutter v. Bollinger A transcript of the briefing and the ness, Ward suggested the role of diverse approach, increasingly, is to look across the and Gratz v. Bollinger, Coleman observed speakers’ presentations are available at intellectual capital is a topic of great Foundation to see what it is doing in this that these University of Michigan cases
these were Milton Gordon, Lewis Killian, Over 60 Years of Sociology at UMass-Amherst Charles Page, Alice Rossi, and Peter Rossi by Randall Stokes, University of of the rural population.” At the time, MAC led by Sumner. Butterfield’s sympathies (both to become ASA Presidents), Hans Massachusetts-Amherst had a total enrollment of exactly 239 men were unequivocally with the former. Within Speier, William J. Wilson (also a former and 2 women. 10 years of the first sociology course, the ASA President), and Jay Demerath, who o the surprise of almost all of its current Division of Social Science was offering both came from Wisconsin as chairperson. A Progressive Enterprise Tfaculty members, the Department of an MA and a PhD in sociology. The first Under the directorship of Doug Anderton, Sociology at the University of Massachusetts- Shortly after this initial offering, in 1909, UMass MA degree in sociology was awarded the Department’s Social and Demographic Amherst (UMass) has a history consider- Butterfield instituted a completely new unit in 1921 to Aaron Smith and the first PhD in Research Institute (SADRI) continues on ably longer than the 60 or so post-WW II he named the Division of Social Science, cen- 1932 to Ezra Morgan. the path blazed by Pete Rossi, and even years it has been generally accorded. At its tered around the departments of rural sociol- In addition to Butterfield, faculty before earlier by Butterfield, with the mandate recent winter banquet, the department not ogy and agricultural economics. From its WWI included professors Newell Sims, to carry out empirical and applied policy only boasted and roasted its retiring former inception, the Division of Social Science was James Cutler, John Phelan, Joseph Novitski, research on issues of broad public concern Chair, Jay Demerath, but was apprised of the a self-consciously uplifting and progressive and John Skinner. Like Butterfield, all were (see www.umass.edu/sadri). The Demerath nearly vanished first 40 years of a century of enterprise. Many of the courses were explicitly activists in the progressive movement. era was capped in 1983 when the National sociology at UMass by another former Chair, dedicated to improving the lot of rural work- Sims, for example, left Massachusetts for Research Council report on graduate pro- th Randall Stokes, leading to an additional ers and small farmers. By the early 1920s, as the University of Florida where, in 1920, his grams ranked UMass sociology 18 in the focus of the celebration. many as eight undergraduate courses in rural house was raided by Department of Justice nation, eleventh among public universities. The first sociology course at the sociology were being offered each semester, representatives in search of “radical” litera- Now we are beginning our second hun- University of Massachusetts was taught including such staples as “Rural Village and ture. Various tracts advocating racial and dred years with a burst of new energy and a in 1908 by Kenyon Leech Butterfield, Town Sociology,” “Rural Government,” and class equality were discovered, and he was continued dedication to Butterfield’s vision of President of the university from 1906 “Rural Organization.” Major topics in these forced to resign his faculty position. sociology as a discipline that can and should through 1924. Butterfield came to the uni- three courses included the forming of class make a difference. Like many departments Post-War Sociology versity, then the Massachusetts Agricultural consciousness, criticism and evaluation of that experienced extremely rapid growth dur- College (MAC), after a brief stint as plans for improvement, and political institu- The modern era of sociology at UMass ing the War on Poverty years, the department President of the Rhode Island Agricultural tions and rural betterment. began with Henry Korson’s arrival from Yale is now in the midst of a generational turnover College and with an established commit- To appreciate Butterfield’s view that in 1944. At this time, the university still had and reconfiguration, under the guidance ment to sociology. His undergraduate (BA, sociology had a mission to improve people’s fewer than 1,000 students. Korson became of our current Chair Donald Tomaskovic- Michigan) and graduate degrees (PhD, lives, one has only to look a bit south to the head and only member of a new free- Devey. Fourteen of our 24 current tenure- MAC) were in rural sociology, and he New Haven, CT, where in 1908, American standing UMass Department of Sociology. track faculty received their PhDs after 2000, brought with him a nearly messianic pas- Sociological Society President and Yale Within a few years John Manfredi, Edwin and the mounting number of recent major sion to improve the lives of the then-widely Professor William Graham Sumner was Driver, and T.O. Wilkinson joined Korson, publications, grants, and awards suggests that impoverished small family farmers and still waging war on the notion that anyone and these four formed the core of the depart- sociology’s best days lie ahead. UMass sociol- rural workers. His first course was titled ought to attempt any sort of social better- ment until the explosive growth of sociology ogy remains tied to our progressive origins, “The Rural Community,” and its progres- ment for fear of disturbing the processes that began in the early 1960s. blending the tools of contemporary sociologi- sive leanings were hinted at in the course of natural selection that ensured societal Between 1963 and 1974, faculty size cal research with our historical legacy. description. Among the topics covered progress. Sociological loyalties then were increased from 10 to 31, including a For more information on the University of were “the present social conditions of farm largely divided between the progressives, led number of people who were already or Massachusetts-Amherst, see
has also been very interested in how the continuities with multiple methods, includ- cal sociology, and gender, and she has long ASR processes of health and migration unfold ing textual and pictorial analysis, historical been a student of collective action. Holly is from page 1 over the life course, especially how Mexican case studies, cross-national analysis, archival especially interested in the types of tactics and in funded projects that investigate whites’ migration influences child health outcomes analysis, interviews and surveys, Boolean- strategies that groups employ as they challenge racial attitudes, cultural competencies, and (see
hostile intent and helping communities better prepare for Sociologists in Research and and respond to catastrophic events. It’s about incorporating the human factor into the development and deployment of Applied Settings technology. In short, it’s a messy problem—it involves the human element.” his occasional column focuses on the interesting career paths and achievements It also is a cross-cutting division, informing and play- Tof sociologists whose primary work in sociology is not in the academy or whose ing a role in the development of technologies (and science) “extracurricular” work outside academic settings is noteworthy for its societal or policy throughout the Directorate. For instance, the Explosives impact. These sociologists are engaged directly with the public, applying methods of Division’s detection technology is informed by research on science and their sociological expertise terrorists and their behavior, as well as by the application of Sharla Rausch human systems research and engineering to maximize system effectiveness, safety, usability, and public acceptance. A Sociologist Tackles It is more about the “science” of terrorism, not the “psychology” of terrorism as all the social and behavioral sciences play a role, Rausch has noted. In a learned nod Homeland Security to her former life, she wants to improve the analytical capability at DHS in order to understand terrorist motivation and behavior. She wants to systematically incorpo- by John S. Verrico, Department of Homeland Security, rate user and public input when looking at the problems, and she wants to under- Science and Technology Directorate stand the social, psychological and economic aspects of community resilience if “the bomber does get through,” or if we are hit with natural disasters, because “natural harla Rausch leads the research efforts in the “harder” science at the U.S. disasters, too, are on our plate.” SDepartment of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate Rausch and her expert staff of psychologists, sociologists, economists, lawyers, (S&T), where she is head of S&T’s Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences Division statisticians, physicists, and engineers understand that everything ultimately comes (HF/BSD). While many have claimed Human Factors is the “soft” science, Rausch down to the human aspect. They tackle topics ranging from understanding the respectfully disagrees. “It’s the harder science,” she explains, meaning the most dif- intent and motivation of terrorist individuals/groups and how radicalization leads ficult to understand and research. “Chemicals you can predict,” she says. “People are to violence, to how we address catastrophic events, and the way we develop tech- another story.” nologies that are not only effective, but publicly acceptable. They are tackling a very Rausch is a trained sociologist, with many years experience in the federal gov- unwieldy constellation of difficulties. ernment, including research and management positions at the U.S. Department of Numerous research projects, programs, and technologies are being funded by Justice’s National Institute of Justice, the National Institute of Corrections, and the Rausch’s team. They manage to wrap their arms around some amazingly thorny Federal Bureau of Prisons. She holds both a master’s and a doctoral degree in sociol- challenges. Some of the projects that the HF/BSD researchers are currently tackling ogy and has had numerous works published in various academic and professional include the following: journals. Before joining the federal government in 1987, Rausch taught college-level • “Counter-Improvised Explosives Devices Predictive Screening Project,” which courses for the University of Connecticut and Eastern Connecticut University. She will derive observable behaviors that precede a suicide bombing attack and also was on the research staff for the Psychology Department at the University of develop extraction algorithms to identify and alert personnel to indicators of Connecticut and had her own research consulting business. When the September suicide bombing behavior. 11 attacks occurred, terrorism became a national challenge, and she came to DHS • “Violent Intent Modeling and Simulation Project,” which uses advanced in 2003, within months of its establishment, serving as the Deputy for the Office of modeling and simulation techniques that integrate social and behavioral sci- Systems Engineering and Development. ence data and theories to improve the efficiency and accuracy of intelligence Rausch was the initial architect for S&T’s Human Factors/Behavioral Sciences estimates of the likelihood of a group to engage in violence. It also seeks to Division, laying its foundation, constructing its vision, and developing the methods by determine the factors (e.g., ideological, contextual, and organizational) that which it would seek to improve detection, analysis, and understanding of the threats may increase the probability of violent strategies. (There currently is an open- posed by radical elements; to enhance societal resilience; and to integrate human capa- ing in HF/BSD for this area.) bilities into the development of technology. She was appointed to the Senior Executive • “Mobile Biometrics Project,” which develops multi-modal biometric sensors Service, the highest level that career federal employees can achieve, in October 2006. and technologies to provide accurate identification capabilities for screening at Her background in social-behavioral research has served her very well at DHS, remote sites along U.S. borders, during disasters and terrorist incidents, at sea, as have the rest of her experiences, both professional and personal (transitional and in other places where communications access is limited. skills she calls them). When the then-Under Secretary for S&T, Jay Cohen, came on It is a full plate, but as Rausch points out, “we don’t do it alone.” We work closely board in 2006, he laid out a new organization for disciplines in the S&T Directorate, with DHS operational components, such as the Transportation Security Agency, with Human Factors being one of them. As a whole, the Directorate was to bring Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Customs and Border Protection, as scientific knowledge to bear on how we predict and respond to both terrorism and well as state and local first responders to identify capability gaps. We then lever- natural disasters and provide scientific support to the intelligence community. S&T age, fund, or partner with other federal agencies, countries, universities, industry, was to guide the development of effective measures for deterrence, detection, and national labs, and DHS Centers of Excellence, such as the University of Maryland’s mitigation of terrorist acts. START (Study of Terrorism and Response to Terrorism), to develop the solutions. “So,” Under Secretary Cohen said in August 2006, “Who wants what?” Rausch At the end of the day, Sharla Rausch turns over what she has learned in her mind, quickly called out, “I’ll take Human Factors.” She had come home to her roots as a calls colleagues and experts, bats ideas around with them, and focuses her strate- social scientist. gies. When asked at a recent conference what her biggest challenge was, Sharla The Human Factors research is about “understanding the roles of communities responded, “staying one step ahead of the bad guys without negatively impacting the and organizations in moving individuals toward radicalization, or, away from it,” good guys. It’s putting the human in the equation.” Rausch explains. “It is about biometrics and improved screening techniques, as As Rausch reminds her staff on those days that overwhelm, “it’s not a job for sis- well as developing the science and technology for understanding and identifying sies.”
departments recognized by the SWS for Gender-friendly the gender-friendliness, 18 were ranked Science Policy Renew Before from page 5 among the 60 most prestigious sociology from page 2 departments by the U.S. News & World Registering… health insurance and managed care, and Overall Seal of Excellence Report, and two were among the 20 most other health topics. The 32nd annual report prestigious. The SWS recognized those depart- card on the nation’s health includes a special Renew your ASA “Our hope is that department leaders in ments that excelled in both the propor- chartbook section focusing on the health of membership sociology departments across the country tion of faculty who are women and in young adults ages 18-29, which shows that will use these findings to advertise these online before you the representation of scholarship in Americans in this age group face a num- strengths and to identify and overcome gender inequality with the SWS Seal of ber of obstacles to their health, including register for the their weaknesses,” said Risman and Excellence. This award is meant to suggest increasing obesity, substance abuse, high Annual Meeting Berube. They believe that the most impor- that a department is more likely to be one injury rates, and a greater likelihood to be tant finding is that students don’t have to in order to qualify for the lower of the most gender- and women-friendly uninsured than other adults. In addition decide between a prestigious department in the country. Among the doctoral- to the chartbook, the report includes over registration fees available to or a female-friendly department. granting departments, 29 met the high 150 detailed tables presenting trends on members. See
Looking Forward to the 2009 Annual Meeting in San Francisco East vs. West?
MFP at the s many members noticed, the directed to investigate western cities AASA Annual Meetings for 2005- other than San Francisco for 2012 and ASA Annual Meeting 2008 were all located in the eastern 2016. (San Francisco was not included t the ASA Annual Meeting in San Organizer and Presider: Jean H. Shin, US/Canada. ASA Council and the because ASA was already booked there AFrancisco, you are invited to join American Sociological Association Executive Office have received and for 2009 and 2014.) At its meeting in the ASA Minority Fellowship Program This workshop is geared toward noted the comments from members February 2009, ASA Council reviewed (MFP) as it continues to commemorate graduate and undergraduate students, regarding this regional focus. This site reports on Denver, Portland, San 35 years of supporting minority gradu- focused on how to integrate sociologi- concentration on eastern sites was Diego, Seattle, and Vancouver. Denver ate students in the discipline. Below are cal scholarship with interests in serving unintentional. It was the inadvertent was designated for 2012, and Seattle a variety of sessions and celebrations social justice. In doing so, current and result of juggling future meeting con- was chosen for 2016. Contracts with sponsored by the MFP. For more infor- former Fellows will speak on the future tracts to stay out of cities where there facilities in both cities have now been mation, visit the online program at the of studying disparities within various appeared to be a strong likelihood of finalized. ASA website
based activist Van Jones commonly labels munities reap the fruits of San Francisco such inequalities “eco-apartheid.” alternative agriculture, but from page 1 In response, citizens hailing from and food becomes an organiz- features locally grown, organic ingredi- working with low-income communities ing tool empowering resi- ents on her ever-changing menu, often of color have begun organizing in pursuit dents to address structural crediting the farms from which they of food justice. The concept of food justice inequalities within the came. Waters commonly refers to alter- integrates the more established notion of food system and to create native agriculture as a “delicious revolu- food security—access to sufficient and sustainability, community- tion” because of the potential for food to nutritious food through non-emergency self-reliance, and social become a vehicle for broader social and means—with an environmental justice justice. Farmers’ markets environmental change. Support from chefs perspective addressing the racial and in predominantly black economic distribution of environmental neighborhoods such as such as these has certainly contributed Vegetable bounty at San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza Farmer’s Market to the movement’s growth and allowed benefits. West Oakland, for example, sustainably minded producers to charge Like the alternative agriculture move- publicize the systemic dis- alliance building. Some progress has been premiums for their produce. However, ment, food justice activism is deeply crimination endured by African American made; conferences historically dedicated to because the movement’s platform encour- rooted in Bay Area counterculture. In farmers at the hands of the USDA (U.S. environmental sustainability have featured ages consumers to support alternative 1968, the Black Panther Party began Department of Agriculture). Additionally, food justice leaders in plenary sessions, agriculture through the purchase of high- the Free Breakfast for School Children school and community gardening pro- and foundations focused on ecological priced gourmet food, it has often been Program, which quickly spread from grams in marginalized neighborhoods health have begun to fund urban food ini- characterized as elitist. Oakland to cities throughout the coun- promote the foods most culturally familiar tiatives. Additionally, Bay Area residents, try. Like the Diggers, the Black Panthers to local residents. As in the alternative including Berkeley’s Michael Pollan and Seeking Food Justice linked the distribution of food to political foods movement, many of these efforts organizations such as Berkeley’s Ecology While the movement has successfully empowerment. Additionally, they estab- take place in the Bay Area, particularly Center and Oakland’s Food First, have led animated the desires of affluent communi- lished that it was their right and respon- the Bayview/Hunter’s Point neighborhood efforts to transform food policy to a more ties for local, organic produce, low-income sibility to provide for their communities’ of San Francisco and the flatlands of East just and sustainable model. Together, food communities of color often lack access to basic needs. Contemporary food justice and West Oakland. Bay Area organizations justice and alternative agriculture activists any produce at all. Since the 1960s, full- activists name this legacy as an important work with a growing nationwide network might continue to pursue this agenda, per- service grocery stores have closed many inspiration for their present work. of food justice activists. haps eventually fueling a revolution that is of their inner-city locations, particularly Food justice activists have adapted Food justice activists have urged the not only delicious, but nourishes a hunger those in African American neighbor- many tools of the alternative agriculture alternative agriculture movement to reflect for justice as well. hoods, in favor of suburban ones. This movement including farmers markets, on issues of structural inequality and to For more information on the food cul- leaves residents of so-called “food deserts” CSAs, community gardens and school deepen their commitment to social justice. ture in San Francisco, see the ASA Annual dependant on the plentiful local liquor lunch programs. Through this approach, While some leaders resist this direction, Meeting Dining Guide online and in your stores and fast-food chains. Bay Area- not only do low-income, minority com- others have begun the difficult work of program packet.
American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org footnotes • May/June 2009 9
international perspectives Between Public and Professional: Chinese Sociology and the Construction of a Harmonious Society stratification and mobility, community projects have tended to be on similar by Xiaogang Wu, Hong Kong University of The development of Chinese sociol- construction, and migration. In the first topics without clear theoretical guide- Science and Technology ogy had experienced a setback after the area, an influential project, led by Lu Xueyi lines and appropriate research designs. Tiananmen Square protest in 1989. With at the Chinese Academy of Social Science Hence, there is a pressing need in China nlike American colleagues who lament the suspicion by the regime that sociol- (CASS), shows that, after 30 years of eco- to institutionalize sociological research, their invisibility in the Ivory Tower ogy was a politically sensitive discipline U nomic reforms, Chinese society has differ- to establish an evaluation system to and who only recently called for a public and with the further economic marketi- entiated into 10 strata (classes), with state assess the quality of scholarly work, to sociology, Chinese sociologists are very zation since 1992, sociological research cadres on the top and peasants on the bot- develop shared standards of sociological involved in the society they study, either was sidelined for a decade or so, in tom. Special attention is paid to the emer- research, and to disseminate sociologi- through policy research consultation sharp contrast to the booming economic gence of a new middle class, especially its cal knowledge. Universities and social for the government or through public research in China. Hence, Chinese soci- members’ values and their identities. In the science academies—the two types of discussion and contributing essays to the ologists should have been encouraged to second area, with the decline of work units institutions in China that employ over mass media. Sociology in China, since its observe the recent policy initiatives on the (danwei), the commercialization of hous- 6,000 professional sociologists—have re-establishment in 1979, has been deeply construction of “a harmonious society” ing allocation, and the development of the gradually differentiated their roles, with imprinted by an applied orientation, mixed (hexie shehui) under the leadership of Hu real estate market, sociologists are now the latter more focused on policy research with what Michael Burawoy called policy Jintao (China’s President) and Wen Jiabao analyzing the community as the basic unit and government consultation and the and public sociologies. This orientation (China’s Premier). Recently, development of social administration in urban China. former on academic research. As of 2008, can be traced back even further to the priorities have gradually shifted from Finally, waves of internal rural-to-urban within Chinese universities, 74 programs older generation of Chinese sociologists, over-emphasis on efficiency and growth to migration have generated a large number offered bachelor’s degrees in sociology, 87 influenced by the Confucian tradition, social justice and harmony, with aims to of policy-oriented sociological studies on offered master’s degrees, and 16 offered who believed in a mission of using their reduce social tension and maintain politi- the minggong (peasant-workers) since the doctoral degrees. Qualitative and case professional knowledge to advance the cal stability. On February 21, 2005, after mid-1990s. studies continue to prevail in empirical social well-being. a lecture presented by two sociologists While sociology in China could not investigations. to the members of the Politburo of the From Being Abolished to a “Spring have survived and grown without the Chinese Communist Party, President Hu The Central Government’s Role of Sociology” blessing from the state, it would be naïve Jintao remarked that “the construction of a to assume that the sociological research The greatest impetus for the profes- To be sure, the fall and rise of Chinese harmonious society is a very good oppor- agenda entirely follows the party’s policy sionalization of sociology comes from the sociology has been strongly influenced tunity for the development of sociology, or initiatives or ideological teachings. central government’s initiatives to build by politics and the Chinese Communist we can say that the spring of sociology is Scholars are vigilant in their attempts programs of academic excellence. The Party’s policy agenda from time to time. coming!” Sociologists are expected to play to avoid controversial, theoretical issues “985 Project” identified the best universi- Sociology was denounced as a bourgeois a significant role in setting China’s policy and focus on empirical research through ties to enhance the first-rate quality of the science and abolished in 1952. In 1979, after agenda on education, employment, income large-scale surveys or case studies. Western country’s academic research, whereas the Deng Xiaoping, the leader of China from “211 Project,” which sought to strengthen 1978 to the early 1990s, acknowledged the a number of higher learning institutions neglect of sociology in China in the past and disciplinary areas, selected two top and called for “catching up,” sociology was Sociologists are expected sociology programs (at Renmin and re-established as a discipline with much Peking Universities), among 98 others focus on policy-oriented, empirical-based to play a significant role in programs, as the recipients of infrastruc- research. To justify the existence of their setting China’s policy agenda on ture building through data collection, discipline, Chinese sociologists stressed course training, and international collab- the notion of “problem consciousness” and education, employment, income oration. For example, Renmin University, actively attempted to use their knowledge distribution, social security, in collaboration with Hong Kong to give advice on various critical issues that University of Science and Technology, has the country faced. A landmark project in public health, and community launched and run the Chinese General the early 1980s, led by China’s prominent Social Survey (CGSS) since 2003; Peking sociologist Fei Xiaotong (1910-2005), governance in the future. University is home to the Chinese Family was on the development of “small towns,” Panel Studies (CFPS) project, a long-term focusing on the path of urbanization for a project (2008 to 2020), as well as a sum- country with a huge rural population. The mer training program with the University findings of the project had a large impact on distribution, social security, public health, (American) academic jargon and neu- of Michigan on quantitative methodology government policies on rural industrializa- and community governance in the future. tral terms are more favorably used than since 2006. Following international prac- tion and population migration in China. Research Interests and Agendas Marxist clichés in sociological writings. A tices, the CGSS and CFPS data sets will be The sociology major was able to recruit tal- typical example is the choice of the term available to other users and will become ented students in the 1980s, and graduates Against this context, Chinese soci- “strata” instead of “class” by the CASS major pubic goods to benefit the social usually had good careers in government or ologists’ research interests are gener- stratification project on the grounds science research community both inside educational institutions. ally concentrated in three areas: Social that the latter has roots in Marxism, and outside China. which emphasizes conflicts of interest, With sharpened professional skills, antagonism, and struggles among social increased interactions with the interna- Book Your Annual Meeting groups. On the other hand, by recogniz- tional research community, and local ing diverse interest groups in a rapidly insights, Chinese sociologists are now in a Housing Today changing society, and under pressure from unique position to study the monumental aggrieved citizens, laid-off state work- social changes in human history, and they The ASA understands your budgetary concerns and has partnered with the meet- ers, rural migrant workers, villagers, and will likely make important contributions to ing hotels to offer you a competitive hotel rate and incentives to stretch your middle class homeowners, the current sociological knowledge. Their sociological travel dollar. Guests within the block have access to special amenities, including: leadership has begun to adopt a pragmatic imagination cannot be tamed by politi- attitude towards social conflicts and has cal force, and their professional research complimentary Internet access in guestrooms, double points in hotel programs, given more room to research on social will not make them disappear within the complimentary access to health clubs. Booking a room in the ASA room blocks movements and collective action from the Ivory Tower, but, rather, earn them greater helps to support the Association and ultimately keep overall meeting costs as standpoint of maintaining social stability. confidence in addressing critical issues that low as possible. We are a discipline concerned with workers’ rights and improved To the young generation of schol- China is now facing. The recent importation ars trained in the discipline, sociol- of the American version of public sociol- living standards. Support the various hotel staff by staying in the Annual Meeting ogy is not only a tool for resolving the ogy, if not entirely counter-productive, will hotels. problems of Chinese society, it is also a unlikely change the trend of professionaliza- scientific discipline with its own agenda tion of Chinese sociology. Hotel rates at the ASA properties are some of the most competitive in the area and standards. Despite a proliferation The author can be contacted at: Social and rooms sell out fast. Deadline: July 1, 2009. For more information, see
he American Sociological Association announces eight awards from the December 2008 Matthew effect (by which initial advantage ogy within the social sciences, in order to Tcycle of ASA’s Fund for the Advancement of the Discipline (FAD). A competitive pro- accumulates, regardless of merit). But the explore the lives of public housing residents gram co-funded by ASA and the National Science Foundation (NSF) and administered by thoughts, ideas, and “origin stories” of the as they are relocated to subsidized, private the ASA, FAD provides seed money (up to $7,000) to PhD scholars for innovative research authors themselves should be considered, market housing. According to the PIs, the projects and for scientific conferences that advance the discipline through theoretical and even though incorporating social actors’ project will add an in-depth dimension to methodological breakthroughs. Funding decisions are made by an advisory panel com- “own understandings” or “points of view” their current longitudinal data collection prised of members of ASA’s Council and the ASA Director of Research and Development. are seldom analyzed. Such analysis may efforts of public housing residents before In this round, the Advisory Panel decided to fund a higher number of proposals at smaller be critical to a complete, process-oriented and after relocation. They argue that having amounts. Below is a list of the latest FAD Principal Investigators (PIs) and a brief descrip- explanation of the dissemination of inno- the “Photo Journalists” document their tion of their projects. vations. In order to fill this gap, Leahey relocation experiences will provide insights Esther Ngan-ling Chow, American believe lose connections to ethnic identi- will code these stories using a variety of into how the residents negotiate and cope University, $3,500 for International ties through assimilation and academic themes including integration, adaptability, with the power structures that control many Conference on Gender and Social achievement. In reality, Asian Americans institutional context, relationships, forms aspects of their lives. The project studies a Transformations: Global, Transnational are a heterogeneous group with variation of novelty, and overturning. She is particu- disadvantaged group as their lives are about and Local Realities and Perspectives. The in ethnic identity, social class, language larly interested in how these perceptions to be changed by the imposition of circum- purpose of this grant is to help support an proficiency, and immigration history. vary over time and across scientific fields. stances beyond their. international conference on gender to be Using participant observation, student-led Susan C. Pearce, East Carolina Lindsey Wilkinson, Portland State held in Beijing, China, on July 17-19, 2009. focus groups, and in-depth interviews with University, $6,996 for Re-imagined University, and Jennifer Pearson, Wichita The conference seeks to examine how Asian American students, their parents, Communities, Mnemonic Mirrors, and State University, $6,550 for Exploring the women and gender relations are shaped and teachers, the PI will investigate how Europe’s 1989 Revolutions: Research on the Role of Heteronormative School Culture by societal transformations economi- Asian American students at a low-income Twenty-Year Anniversaries. The PI will in the Sexual Identity Development, cally, politically, socially, and culturally public high school manage their ethnic conduct ethnographic research in Poland, Disclosure, and Well-Being of Young Adults. in the global, transnational, and local identities in the face of academic stereo- the Czech Republic, Hungary, Romania, The PI will analyze data from the National contexts. Gender will be an analytical and typing and varied academic performances. and Serbia as these countries commemo- Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health critical lens to study the globalization and Academic achievement data reveal that, on rate the 20th anniversary of the dissolution (ADD Health), and supplement it with transnational processes and their intricate average, lower- and working-class Asian of the Eastern Bloc of the former Soviet in-depth interviews of young adults. The linkages and impacts. A group of U.S. Americans outperform other racial or Union. By comparing different countries, purpose of this data collection effort is to and Chinese gender scholars in sociology ethnic groups at their school, but still fall the PI seeks to demonstrate that context investigate how variation in heteronor- will present their work at this conference. short of state-imposed academic standards. matters by emphasizing the historical mativity within high schools impacts the The conference will address the cutting- The PI proposes that the school-level data contingencies of collective memory. The well-being of self-identified lesbian, gay, edge issues, pressing social problems, and mask the struggles this diverse group faces, research will include photo document- and bisexual (LGB) young adults and the emergent phenomena that are critical for including peer discrimination and aca- ing, recording, and collecting materials construction and disclosure of sexual interrogating the theoretical paradigms demic pressures, and hopes to show how produced to remember the revolutions identity in young adulthood. According to on globalization and transnationalism college-prep- and non-college-prep- track of 1989. In addition, the PI will supple- the PIs, this study will overcome the lack from gender perspectives. It will promote Asian American students manage the con- ment the naturalistic observations of these of research aimed at understanding the the development of theory, method, and flicting definitions of “academic success” events and productions with qualitative subtle, yet pervasive influence of hetero- practice by emphasizing how theory and and their ethnic and academic identities. interviews. She will ask about discrepan- sexist norms within our social institutions research on gender can inform public Annette Lareau and Kristen Harknett, cies between what was hoped for and what on the sexually marginalized feelings and debates and policy, contribute to research University of Pennsylvania, $3,500 for was achieved in the 20-year transforma- identities. The PIs build on prior analysis and feminist scholarship, and inspire col- Thinking about the Family in an Unequal tion process and about satisfaction with of ADD Health that found heteronorma- lective action locally, transnationally, and Society: A Workshop Proposal. The PIs the present in light of perceived discrepan- tivity within schools, as measured by the globally. The Chinese Women’s Research argue that research opportunities for soci- cies. The goal is to understand the social- religiosity of the student body, the preva- Society (CWRS) of the All-China Women’s ologists are increasingly stratified because memory meanings that both state and civil lence of participation in hyper-masculine Federation will provide additional funding. younger scholars at non-elite institutions society produce and to draw comparisons team sports, and urbanicity, as a modera- Gary Alan Fine and Alice Eagly, have higher teaching loads, fewer collo- across countries. The research will empha- tor between adolescent same-sex attraction Northwestern University, $3,500 for quia, and a lack of travel monies compared size the historical collective memory and and well-being. The current study focuses Bridging Social Psychologies: Building to those in more prestigious institutions. the process of remembering non-traumatic attention to the power of socializing Linkages between Sociological and As a result they have fewer chances to histories. If successful, it will contribute to institutions, such as schools, to reinforce or Psychological Social Psychology. The pur- obtain informal feedback concerning their stronger links between cultural and politi- undermine the reproduction of stigmatiz- pose of this grant is to support graduate work, especially grant proposals to fund cal theory, particularly in the nexus where ing beliefs and practices. student participation in a small conference their work. The PIs will run a one-day collective memory and social movement FAD grants are funded through a that establishes links of theory and meth- workshop to provide such an opportunity theory meet. dollar-for-dollar match by ASA and NSF. odology between sociological and psycho- for 20 qualitative and quantitative early- Erin Ruel and Deirdre Oakley, Georgia FAD provides awards to sociologists at all logical approaches to social psychology in and mid-career researchers whose area is State University, $7,000 for Journaling the levels and all types of institutions for cut- order to introduce the next generation of sociology of the family, but who are not Public Housing Relocation Process: Home, ting-edge research and conferences. Send social psychologists to cross-disciplinary employed at Research I universities. The Place and Strata in the Social Hierarchy. In contributions to FAD, c/o Business Office, practices. The PIs have invited seven senior scholars will receive feedback on a work- early 2007, the Atlanta Housing Authority American Sociological Association, 1430 social psychologists from each discipline in-progress, attend a grant workshop, and (AHA) announced plans to demolish 12 K St., NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC to consider the benefits and challenges mingle with senior scholars in sociology more public housing communities by 20005, or call Girma Efa at (202) 383-9005, of cross-fertilization between sociology of the family. The workshop will occur 2010, effectively ending the vast majority of ext. 306. The program director, Roberta and psychology. Each senior scholar will the day before a conference on “Thinking project-based public housing in the city. The Spalter-Roth, can be reached at spalter- invite a graduate student to attend. The about the Family in an Unequal Society” at goal of this project is to employ participant [email protected]. For more information, conference will explore similarities and the University of Pennsylvania, which will audio journaling and photo-elicitation, visit
he ASA’s Spivack Program in Applied Social Research and Social Policy announces with service providers and community Debbie Storrs, University of Tthe recipients of the 2009 Community Action Research Initiative (CARI) awards. This leaders involved with social services about Idaho, will collaborate with the Idaho small grants program encourages and supports sociologists to bring social science knowl- how the available resources are used by the Community Action Network (ICAN) on edge, methods, and expertise to address community-identified issues and concerns. Each Hispanic community. The goal of the proj- the “Welcoming Idaho” campaign. This applicant described a proposed project for pro bono work with a community organiza- ect is to increase awareness of Head Start project will measure the effectiveness of the tion or local public interest group, the group’s request for collaboration, and the intended services to the families, better understand educational dialogues on increasing pro- outcomes. CARI provides up to $3,000 for each project to cover direct costs associated with the cultural differences among Hispanics, immigration attitudes in Idaho. The goals doing community action research. The principle investigators are listed below along with a provide cultural training to the Head Start of this project are to identify an appropriate description of the four approved proposals. staff, and increase the number of bilingual billboard message to encourage the citizens staff members. of northern Idaho to support and welcome Shannon Elizabeth Bell, University of Senators, delegates, congressional repre- Lori Hunter, University of Colorado- immigrants into the region; to foster dia- Oregon, will work with the Sludge Safety sentatives, and the state governor with the Boulder, will work with The Greenbelt logues regarding immigration in the region Project (SSP), a grassroots organization intention of creating a line of communica- Movement, a Kenyan NGO to undertake and increase the residents’ understanding based in the coal mining region of West tion between the participants and policy- a “baseline social research within a tree and support of immigrants; and assess the Virginia. The SSP was created with the makers and other elected officials. planting project site in the Mau Forest effectiveness of immigration messages in goal of informing, protecting, and organiz- Patricia Campion, Tennessee complex of western Kenya.” The Greenbelt attitudes towards immigrants and immigra- ing coalfield citizens who suffer from the Technological University, will work with Movement, founded by the 2004 Nobel tion. Focus groups will help identify appro- environmental consequences of irrespon- L.B.J. & C. Head Start, which oversees Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, is priate and appealing messages on the topic sible coal mining practices, specifically, head start centers in 12 counties in the an active grassroots social movement led of immigration for a billboard that will be the water pollution from coal waste. The upper Cumberland region of middle primarily by women to restore the natural displayed in northern Idaho. After the mes- SSP has taken on several projects to raise Tennessee. LBJ&C, established in 1965, is ecosystems in rural western Kenya and sages are made public, another dialogue will awareness of the detrimental effects of a child development program that aims to thus improve the livelihood of the house- be held with members of the community coal pollution. Bell and five colleagues will improve the lives of families in its commu- holds depending on those ecosystems. to see if their attitudes towards immigrants work on a project titled “The Southern nities. In the past ten years, the Hispanic Hunter will conduct qualitative research to and immigration have changed. This project West Virginia Photovoice Project.” The population the organization works with study rural livelihoods, environmental per- is especially important to ICAN because the goal is to develop a full-color booklet has increased dramatically; 44% of the ceptions, society-environment association, Latino population, which makes up about of photos that will tell the stories of the children are Hispanic. Campion’s project food security and issues related to con- 10% of the state’s population, continues to women whose health and livelihood is will assess the needs of the Hispanic fami- servation in rural Africa. At the project’s rise. With this research, ICAN hopes to impacted by the coal industry. The photos lies who are a part of the Head Start pro- conclusion, they hope to have a final sum- continue improving and building relation- will be taken by the participants in the gram in Monterey, TN. She will administer mary and technical report of their findings ships in the communities. program. Each week, the participants will a two-part survey to collect demographic to submit to the Greenbelt Movement, The get together to reflect on the pictures and data as well as information on the families’ Nature Conservancy, and Adopt-an-Acre. The deadline for the 2010 CARI Award write narratives to go with them. At the knowledge of existing services and services The hope is that the lessons and findings is February 1, 2010. For more informa- end of the project, the 30-page booklet will they would like implemented. A separate will help launch other tree planting proj- tion, visit the ASA website and click on be distributed to the West Virginia State research group will conduct interviews ects in various parts of Kenya. “Funding.”
aid grew very fast (especially China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan). Sociologists Receive 2009 One may say that providing a robust guidance to development is the job of Guggenheim Fellowships economists. However, obviously numer- ous social, cultural, and political factors his past April, the John Simon of North Carolina-Chapel Hill. His main play a key role in development—and in TGuggenheim Foundation announced interests are comparative politics and polit- Needed: A codified socio-eco- preventing it from taking off. The World the winners for the 85th annual United ical economy, with area foci on Europe nomic theory of development Bank’s economists, for instance, only States and Canadian Guggenheim and the Caribbean. He is the author of The If you read books such as Bad Days recently discovered that gross corrup- Fellowship Awards. Among the almost Transition from Capitalism to Socialism, in Basra, Life in the Imperial City, or tion and poor governance are major 3,000 applications, 180 fellowships were and coauthor of Democratic Socialism in Winter in Kabul, you will be struck by factors in hindering development. awarded to artists, scientists, and scholars Jamaica and Capitalist Development and the lack of a coherent body of knowl- Economists are not particularly well- totaling $8 million. Guggenheim Fellows Democracy, and Development and Crisis of edge on how to “reconstruct” a nation. equipped to indicate how these factors are appointed on the basis of outstanding the Welfare State. He is currently work- You may share my strong sense that the may be turned about. achievement and exceptional promise for ing on a study of social policy in Latin United States and other Western powers My fellow sociologists have much continued accomplishment. America, the Caribbean, and Iberia. should not have interfered by the use to give here. However, for their work Seventy-five disciplines and 81 Susan Cotts Watkins is a Professor of of force in countries such as Iraq and to be as helpful as it ought to be, some academic institutions are represented Sociology at the University of Pennsylvania Afghanistan in the first place, but you codification of the myriad findings by this year’s Fellows. Three of these and a Visiting Research Scientist at the may still agree that if foreign powers are and insights of individual scholars is recipients are members of the American California Center for Population Research. to assist with economic development needed. This could be helped if the ASA Sociological Association: Robert Her work has focused on large-scale demo- in these nations, their efforts should be would consider sponsoring another one Courtney Smith, John D. Stephens, and graphic and social change, specifically fer- guided by an empirically valid, robust of its masterful review volumes, as long Susan Cotts Watkins. tility transitions in historical Europe, the conception of deliberate social change. as it was formed to help policymak- Robert Courtney Smith is an Associate United States, and contemporary Africa; They presently are not. True, this is in ers and citizens—rather than to speak Professor of Sociology, Immigration the AIDS epidemic in Africa; and the role part due to greedy contractors, laws that only to fellow sociologists. Or, the ASA Studies, and Public Affairs at Baruch of social networks in these changes. With require that large chunks of American may consider forming a development College and the Graduate Center, CUNY. colleagues, she has organized two longi- aid be spent by American compa- codification standing workshop that He is the author of Mexican New York: tudinal survey projects, one in Kenya and nies, the fact that most Americans in will publish occasional papers. Surely Transnational Worlds of New Immigrants, a larger project in Malawi. In addition to these countries do not speak the local other ways can be found. These lines are which received book awards from ASA’s a large number of journal articles, she is languages and have no clue about their merely meant to try to open a dialogue International Migration Section and the the author of Social Interactions and HIV/ cultures, and so on. But it is also true on what needs to be done and how Urban and Community Sociology Section. AIDS in Rural Malawi. that those in charge are not guided by it might be done—to be of service to He is the author of more than 30 articles The Guggenheim Foundation offers a solid understanding of what must be countries that call out for help. and chapters on migration, education and fellowships to further the development of done and how it can be done. Amitai Etzioni, George Washington immigration, and state-Diaspora relations. scholars and artists by assisting them to The challenge is not limited to Iraq University His current project on the school, work engage in research in any field of knowl- and Afghanistan. An extended review and social lives of children of immigrants edge and creation in any of the arts, under of the World Bank efforts over the last 1 Knack, Stephen. 2004. “Aid Dependence and as they enter early adulthood is funded by the freest possible conditions. To apply for 1 the Quality of Governance: Cross Country the W.T. Grant Foundation. the Guggenheim Fellowship or for more decades shows how little good it did. Empirical Tests,” Southern Economic Journal, The nations that received most of the aid 68(2):310-329. See also: Easterly, William. John D. Stephens is the Gerhard E. information, see
announcements
to meet and compare notes. Present- Services, Administration for Children and Rosen Shingle Creek Resort, Orlando, FL. interactions between people and natural Call for Papers ers do not have to submit a research Families and partners, the conference Theme: “Context and Evaluation.” Con- ecosystems in urban settings in ways paper to participate, but presentations will equip family support providers, state tact: Heidi Nye, (888) 232-2275 or (508) that will advance fundamental and ap- Publications should be based on sound research or agencies, and community and faith- 748.3326; [email protected];
American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org footnotes • May/June 2009 13
announcements
Nena Stracuzzi, University of New and 30 percent or more of jobs are now new trends in music, including custom article from the April 13 issue. The article the Bush administration on public land in Hampshire, discussed a 10-year study of due to self-employment. music studios as repositories of local tal- discussed Venkatesh’s study of the the United States. Gibson is author of the 650 students in a March 16 New Hamp- ent recordings. “underground economies” of prostitution forthcoming book A Reenchanted World: Karla Erickson, Grinnell College, was shire Public Radio segment. The study is and drug dealing. The Quest for a New Kinship with Nature. quoted in the March 22 Des Moines Reg- being conducted by the Carsey Institute Economic Sociology ister about the sense of community cre- at the University of New Hampshire. Sociology of Education Sociology of Family ated by neighborhood haunts. Erickson is Gary Becker, University of Chicago, dis- the author of The Hungry Cowboy. cussed the potential for a rise in the birth- Richard Arum, New York University, was Cara Bergstrom-Lynch, Eastern Con- Collective Behavior/Social rate during the current recession in a March quoted in a March 23 New York Times necticut State University, was quoted Kenneth M. Johnson, University of New Movements 18 Gannett News Service article about article about a case to be heard by the in a March 13 Forbes.com article about Hampshire, discussed Census figures that Jeff Ferrell, Texas Christian University, record birth rates in the United States in Supreme Court in which an eighth-grade domestic violence. She discussed the showed fewer people leaving New York commented on the phenomenon of 2007. Becker said that women who were student was strip-searched by school fears that mothers face in an abusive City in a March 18 New York Times article. “dumpster diving” in a March 29 South laid off might view the current economic authorities. relationship. Florida Sun-Sentinel article. Ferrell is the Robert J. Sampson, Harvard University, climate as a good time to have a child. The Pamela R. Bennett, Johns Hopkins Sharlene Hesse Biber, Boston College, author of Empire of Scrounge: Inside the was quoted in a March 15 Boston Globe article appeared in USA Today and other University, and Amy Lutz, Syracuse Uni- was quoted in a March 30 New York Daily Urban Underground of Dumpster Diving, article about the consequences of a news outlets around the country. versity, were cited for their research on News article about the results of a Fami- Trash Picking, and Street Scavenging. neighborhood fire for the community. Dennis Culhane, University of Penn- college admission rates among African lies and Work Institute report on gender Sampson discussed the “third place” qual- Clark McPhail, University of Illinois at sylvania, was quoted in a March 13 FOX Americans in articles in the March 17 and attitudes about work-life balance. ity of community restaurants. Urbana-Champaign, was cited in the News article about the definition of Inside Higher Ed and the March 24 Diverse Biber is co-author of Working Women in Washington City Paper (January 15), The Crime, Law, and Deviance homelessness in reaction to a report by Issues in Higher Education. The research America: Split Dreams. Washington Post (January 21), and The the National Center on Family Home- was published in the January issue of Scott Coltrane, University of Oregon, New York Times (January 28), and quoted Steven Barkan, University of Maine, lessness that estimated that one out of Sociology of Education. Kathleen Gerson, New York University, in the Philadelphia Inquirer (December was quoted in an editorial in the April 10 every 50 children in America experienced Neil Gross, University of British Co- and Brian Powell, Indiana University, 8, 2008), Wall Street Journal (January 8), issue of the Bangor Daily News on recent homelessness between 2005 and 2006. lumbia, was cited in Inside Higher Ed on were quoted in a March 27 USA Today ar- Washington Examiner (January 9 and 21), mass murders around the United States. David O. Friedrichs, University of Scran- March 20 for his research on faculty poli- ticle about a Families and Work Institute Associated Press (January 13), Los Angeles Ryken Grattet, University of Califor- ton, was quoted in the Los Angeles Times tics. Gross found that faculty members report on gender and attitudes about Times (January 20), and the Chicago nia-Davis, was quoted in a March 24 in a March 29 article about proposals to feel that they should not try to force their work-life balance in families. Coltrane Tribune (January 21) regarding the esti- San Francisco Chronicle article about limit executive pay. Friedrichs said that views on students. was also interviewed on the report in an mated size of gatherings on the National California’s flawed parole system. He executives who took millions in pay and April 1 Minnesota Public Radio broadcast. Mall for the 2009 presidential inaugura- Elizabeth McGhee Hassrick, University co-authored a study on the system for stock as their companies faltered com- tion in Washington, DC. of Chicago, had her research cited in a Paula England, Stanford University, was University of California-Irvine’s Center for mitted grand theft. March 24 Education Week article. Hassrick cited in an April 8 CNN.com article about Evidence-Based Corrections. Communication and Herbert J. Gans, Columbia University, and co-author Barbara Schneider, Mich- out-of-wedlock births. England is co- Information Technologies Peter Ibarra, University of Illinois-Chica- had his letter to the editor of The New igan State University, explored parental editor of Unmarried Couples with Children. go, was quoted in a March 12 CNN.com York Times published on March 25. Gans involvement in children’s education in an Julie Albright, University of Southern Nancy Foner, Hunter College and CUNY article about a sex offender who mur- proposed that the furor over the AIG article published in the February issue of California, was quoted in a March 12 Graduate Center, was quoted in a March dered a teen. He studies the use of GPS in bailout might be the first public outcry the American Journal of Education. Today Show segment about social eti- 16 New York Times article and interviewed stalking and domestic violence cases. over wealth and income inequality in the quette online. She said that breaking up Melissa Herman, Dartmouth College, on March 18 on National Public Radio’s United States. a relationship digitally is becoming more Jack Levin, Northeastern University, discussed the importance of counting Tell Me More about the family histories common and acceptable. discussed rising crime rates linked to the Gregory M. Hooks, Washington State multiracial students in schools in a March that the first- and second-generation economy in an article posted March 21 University, was quoted in a March 23 23 Washington Post article that detailed immigrant students wrote in her Hunter Ed Collom, University of Southern on DailyFinance.com, an AOL money and Washington Post article about objections changes in the way that public school College course “The Peopling of New York.” Maine, was quoted in an April 6 USA finance website. to a plan to close rural prisons. He has systems track the race of their students. Today article about a small number of Rosemary Hopcroft, University of North analyzed the economies of prisons. communities who are printing their own Stephen J. Morewitz, Stephen J. More- Marta Tienda, Princeton University, Carolina-Charlotte, was cited in a March money. Collom, who has studied local witz, PhD, & Associates and San Jose Kevin Leicht, University of Iowa, was was cited in a March 14 Dallas Morning 31 Time.com article about childbearing currencies, said they encourage people State University, was interviewed about quoted in a March 27 Minnesota Public News article for her research that found and “type A” personalities. Hopcroft’s to buy locally. his book, Stalking and Violence. New Radio segment about the economic high school graduation rates in Texas research indicates that wealthy men have Patterns of Trauma and Obsession, for a stimulus and public outcry over the outpaced the growth in the number of more children than poor men. Ailsa Craig, Memorial University of New- March 26 Chicago Tribune article on new government’s reaction. slots at Texas public universities. foundland, was interviewed for The Scope stalker laws. (St. John’s arts and entertainment news- Chris Pieper, University of Texas-Austin, Richard L. Wood, University of New paper) on why Newfoundlanders Google Katherine Newman, Princeton Univer- was profiled in a March 7New York Times Mexico, was quoted in an April 2 Inside sex-related terms more often than those sity, was quoted in a March 11 Associ- article about the economy’s effects on Higher Ed article about growth in salary in other Canadian provinces. ated Press article about theories related the job prospects of doctoral candidates. budgets at the University of New Mexico. to school shootings. She is the author Wood discussed faculty attention to Mark Granovetter, Stanford University, Philip Rutledge, University of North of Rampage: The Social Roots of School governance at the university. was quoted in a March 19 Press of Atlantic Carolina-Charlotte, discussed the po- Shootings. City column about the benefits of using tential end of a consumer culture due to Environment and Technology social networking sites in a recession. He Murray Straus, University of New Hamp- the economic downturn in a March 15 discussed the opportunities presented shire-Durham, and Jacquelyn Campbell, Charlotte Observer article. Thomas Dietz, Michigan State University, by weak ties. Johns Hopkins University, were cited in was quoted in a March 7 Jackson Citizen Juliet Schor, Boston College, was quoted a March 12 Chicago Tribune article about Patriot article about the environmental Peter Marsden, Harvard University, was about American consumer spending in a domestic abuse and homicide. Straus impact of daylight saving time. cited about the number of confidents March 31 Chicago Sun-Times article about said that a small number of domestic Americans have in a March 15 St. Peters- the middle class and “affluenza.” Robert Brulle, Drexel University, violence cases that show warning signs burg Times article about online social discussed the potential effectiveness of result in homicide, while Campbell was Deborah Thorne, Ohio University, networks. different social movements in the climate cited for her research on predictors of discussed the causes of consumer bank- change debate in a March 28 post on The Manny Schegloff and Steven Clayman, domestic homicides. ruptcy in an April 2 article appearing in New York Times’ “Dot Earth” blog. both of University of California-Los Ange- McClatchy Newspapers including the Saundra Westervelt, University of North les, were quoted in a March 27 Pittsburgh Charlotte Observer and the Ft. Worth Star- James William Gibson, California State Carolina-Greensboro, was quoted in an Post-Gazette article about President Telegram. University-Long Beach, authored an April 1 News & Observer article about Barack Obama’s speech patterns during a opinion piece published in the Los Ange- nursing home security in light of a shoot- Sudhir Venkatesh, Columbia Univer- televised news conference. les Times on April 2 about the impact of ing spree at a facility in North Carolina sity, was profiled in aForbes magazine Jeannette Sutton, University of Colo- in March. Westervelt said that violent rado, discussed the use of social network- crimes are more likely to be committed ing in emergencies in a March 26 Associ- by someone known to the victim. The Department Resources Group ated Press article about the response to flooding in North Dakota. The story Sociology of Culture was printed in newspapers across the Claudio Benzecry, University of Con- country. She was also quoted in a March necticut, had his research on opera devo- 6 United Press International story about tees detailed in a March 18 Reuters Life! D•R•G her research on the role of Twitter. article. Benzecry found that the passion Zeynep Tufekci, University of Maryland- for opera among its fans is much like the Here to Help with Program Review, Baltimore County, was quoted in a emotions described for love at first sight. Assessment, and Curriculum Development March 31 Baltimore Sun article about the Black Hawk Hancock, DePaul Univer- omnipresence of Twitter in pop culture. sity, was quoted in a March 12 Chicago Tufekci suggested that Twitter may be a Tribune article about recession-friendly Now offering off-site consulting and a men- passing trend, unlike Facebook. entertainment options. tors program for new department chairs, Community and Urban Donald Hernandez, University at Albany, Sociology commented on the slang usage of Barack directors of graduate studies programs, Obama’s name in a March 21 article in Trevor Brooks, South Dakota State Uni- the Times Union (Albany, NY). assessment coordinators, and others with key versity, was quoted about the number of farms in South Dakota in a March 30 Wesley Shrum, Louisiana State Univer- roles in the department. Argus Leader story. sity, was quoted in a March 30 USA Today article about science in entertainment. Randy Cantrell, University of Nebraska, Contact: ASA Academic and Professional had his research on job growth in rural Oliver Wang, California State University- areas detailed in a March 22 Associated Long Beach, is a music reviewer who Affairs Program (202) 383-9005 x323 or Press article. Cantrell found that in most reported in a March 18 National Public [email protected] rural counties in Nebraska between 18 Radio All Things Considered piece about footnotes.asanet.org American Sociological Association 14 footnotes • May/June 2009
announcements
Maria Kefalas, St. Joseph’s University, Chronicle article about a record surge in stay-at-home civilian husbands and fa- of Not Quite White: White Trash and the Sociology of Sex and Gender and Kathryn Edin, Harvard University, naturalizations driven by Latinos in the thers coping with their soldier wives who Boundaries of Whiteness, and his work for had their research detailed in an April United States. are deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan. this book was cited extensively in a June Mary Jo Kane, University of Minnesota, 3 Columbia Daily Tribune article about He also was quoted in a March 12 Dallas 8, 2008, op-ed piece in the Los Angeles spoke about a college athlete’s vow to poverty and motherhood. Kefalas and Medical Sociology Observer story that featured some of the Times that was syndicated to more than win or pay back her scholarship in a March 23 New York Times article. Kane Edin are authors of Promises I Can Keep: David Baker, Pennsylvania State Uni- first American female Army deserters in 25 newspapers. Why Poor Women Put Motherhood Before Canada avoiding returning to Iraq. Ender asserted that the statement is a direct versity, was quoted in a March 23 United contrast to the sense of entitlement felt Marriage. Press International article about his discussed his book, American Soldiers in Racial and Ethnic Minorities Iraq: McSoldiers or Innovative Profession- by many male athletes. Shelby Longard, Belmont University, research surrounding education and HIV Art Evans, Florida Atlantic University, als?, in an April 8 segment on BlogTalkRa- proposed that an increase in multigener- rates in sub-Saharan Africa. His findings suggested that recessions can lead Sociology of Sexualities dio’s Yourmilitarylife.com. ational households due to the recession suggest that increased schooling might to surges in racism in an April 7 South Elizabeth A. Armstrong, Indiana Univer- may be short lived in an April 5 Tennes- be lowering the number of new HIV Andrew Lindner, Concordia College, Florida Sun-Sentinel article regarding sity, was quoted about a San Francisco sean article. infections among young adults. explained how lifting the ban on photo- a local incident involving the Ku Klux sex commune in a March 13 New York graphing military coffins could change Klan. Pepper Schwartz, University of Washing- Nicholas A. Christakis, Harvard Times article. Armstrong has studied San public opinion about war in an April 6 ton, was quoted about marital relation- University, was quoted in a March 30 Zhenchao Qian, Ohio State University, Francisco’s sexual subcultures. Talk Radio News Service segment. ships in a March 11 Real Simple article Philadelphia Inquirer article about anxiety was cited in a March 8 Washington Post that also was posted on CNN.com. surrounding allergies. He was also cited David Segal, University of Maryland, was article about declining rates of mixed- Teaching and Learning for his social network research in a March quoted in a March 15 Richmond Times- race marriages among Hispanics and Pamela Smock, University of Michigan, Bonnie Thornton Dill, University of 16 Philadelphia Inquirer story about the Dispatch article about the impact of the Asians. was quoted in an April 4 Tennessean Maryland, was quoted about the evolu- importance of personal connections. current economy on military recruitment. article about the number of children Sociology of Religion tion of women’s studies programs in the in Tennessee born to unwed mothers. Troy Duster, New York University, March 5 issue of Diverse Issues in Higher Political Economy of the World Nancy Ammerman, Boston University, Smock explained potential sociological discussed sociological considerations System Education. factors behind the phenomena. related to genetic testing in a March discussed faith communities in a March Michèle Lamont, Harvard University, 11 Washington Times article. He also Ho-fung Hung, Indiana University- 16 Christian Science Monitor article about Judith Stacey, New York University, participated in a question-and-answer discussed the current limitations on DNA Bloomington, was interviewed on the renewed interest in church weddings. criticized a Florida campaign to make it column published in the April 3 Chronicle tests. radio show Open Source with Christopher more costly for couples to wed in order James Davidson, Purdue University, was Review. The column explored her re- Lydon on March 19 to discuss the origins to prevent divorce in a March 18 United Samantha Kwan, University of Houston, quoted about a resurgence of interest search on the peer review process from of the current global economic crisis and Press International story. Stacey said that had her research on obesity cited in a in traditional practices in the Catholic her new book, How Professors Think: the roles of emerging countries, such as most children living in poverty are par- March 17 United Press International church in a March 21 Associated Press Inside the Curious World of Academic China and India, in bringing the global ented by unwed mothers, not divorcees. article. She found that the obesity “epi- article that was published in newspapers Judgment. economy back to balance. Stacey was quoted on the same topic in a demic” may be overstated and instead such as USA Today, Denver Post, Interna- Jeffrey Sallaz, University of Arizona, was March 18 Orlando Sentinel article. may be more of a moral panic. tional Herald Tribune, and others. Political Sociology quoted in a March 27 Chronicle of Higher Eric Reither, Utah State University, Penny Edgell, University of Minnesota, Jacqueline L. Angel, University of Texas- Education article about techniques to International Migration Robert Hauser and Karen Swallen, both was a guest on a March 16 Minnesota Austin, was quoted in a March 14 Dallas stem procrastination. Philip Kasinitz and John Mollenkopf, of University of Wisconsin-Madison, had Public Radio segment about the rise of Morning News article about an Obama both of CUNY, and Mary C. Waters, their findings on high school yearbook secularism in America. administration proposal to cut funds Harvard University, had their book, Inher- photos as predictors of obesity detailed to private insurers who cover Medicare Barry A. Kosmin, Trinity College, was Awards iting the City, cited in a Washington Post within the March 29 Desert News. patients. quoted about the American Religious Jay Coakley, University of Colorado- feature on mixed marriages among the Identification Survey in the March 10 Sociology of Mental Health Gary Fine, Northwestern University, Colorado Springs, will be inducted into children of immigrants. Daniel Lichter, Los Angeles Times. He was the survey’s was quoted in an April 2 Chicago Tribune the National Association for Sport and Cornell University, was also quoted in the Matt Wray, Temple University, cited principal investigator. article about “populist rage” created by Physical Education (NASPE) Hall of Fame same article. statistics on suicide rates in an April 5 Las the current economy. The article made Anthony Pogorelc, Catholic University for his internationally recognized work Douglass Massey, Princeton University, Vegas Sun article about potential linkages the point that the situation was more a of America, was quoted in the April 5 Los and writing related to sport, society, and and Anny Bakalian, Andrew Beveridge, between suicides and the economy. case of populist “irritation” and Fine said Angeles Times about the potential for culture. Mehdi Bozorgmehr, Philip Kasinitz, Wray’s research on Las Vegas has been that democracies do not lend themselves changes in the Catholic church due to Pyong Gap Min, and Robert C. Smith, profiled in newspapers, magazines, and Herbert C. Kelman, Harvard Univer- to widespread rebellion. bishop retirement in the United States. online news sites and blogs in Sweden, sity, was awarded the 2009 Socrates all of CUNY-Graduate Center, were cited United Press International (UPI) picked Denmark, Russia, and India. John Logan, Brown University, proposed Prize for Mediation by the Centrale in a March 15 New York Times feature on up Pogorelc’s quote in an April 5 article that gay marriage is no longer a fringe für Mediation, Germany. The Richard immigrants in new destinations. on the same topic. Organizations, Occupations issue in an April 4 Associated Press article Clarke Cabot Professor of Social Ethics, Labor & Labor Movements and Work about Iowa’s move to legalize same-sex Rodney Stark, Baylor University, and Emeritus, and co-chair of the Middle marriage. Mary L. Gautier, Georgetown Univer- East Seminar, Kelman was recognized Dan Cornfield, Vanderbilt University, was Chris Baker, Walters State Community sity, were quoted in a March 11 Buffalo for his outstanding contributions to the quoted in an April 1 Tennessean article College, was quoted in a March 22 United Isaac William Martin, University of News story about the declining number solution of national and international about the potential for growth in the Press International article about illegal California-San Diego, was quoted in a of New Yorkers who identify themselves conflicts. The award was presented on area’s health care unions. Cornfield said immigrants in the workforce. Baker said March 29 Hartford Courant article about as Catholic. The findings were part of April 2 at the 13th Annual Mediation that as union membership declines be- that illegal immigrants have kept many tea party protests of federal spending. the American Religious Identification Congress in Berlin. cause of the loss of manufacturing jobs, factories open due to their willingness Martin said that current protests have Survey. union organizers have started to view the to work for lower wages and no benefits. more in common with taxpayer rebel- Linda Kalof, Michigan State University, health care sector as more stable ground Baker was quoted on the same topic in a lions in the 1970s and ‘80s than with the Steve Walk, California State University- and Brigitte Resl, University of Liverpool, for recruitment. March 22 Gainesville Sun article. Revolutionary War. Fullerton, discussed how sports becam a received an award for their six-volume “civic religion” during the Great Depres- work, “A Cultural History of Animals,” Jonathan Cutler, Wesleyan University, Gregory M. Maney, Hofstra University, Doris Wilkinson, University of Kentucky, sion in a March 6 Fort Worth Star Telegram which was named a 2008 Outstanding authored an opinion piece published discussed research that found that hiring was a guest on Kentucky Educational article that was reprinted in a number of Academic Title by Choice, a magazine in the March 15 Hartford Courant about sites for day laborers reduce hate crimes Television’s Connections with Renee Shaw newspapers across the country. published by the American Library As- the “Employee Free Choice Act.” Cutler is against them in a March 10 Newsday on February 19. Wilkinson discussed the sociation. the author of Labor’s Time: Shorter Hours, article. Maney conducted the study in historic election of Barack Obama. W. Bradford Wilcox, University of the UAW, and the Struggle for American conjunction with the nonprofit Work- Virginia, authored an opinion piece for Martin N. Marger, Michigan State William Julius Wilson, Harvard Univer- Unionism. place Project. the March 13 Wall Street Journal about University, received the Distinguished sity, was quoted about the Illinois politi- secularism in America. Wilcox cited sta- Scholar Award from the Canadian Studies Devah Pager, Princeton University, was cian Roland Burris in the March 23 issue Latino/Latina Sociology tistics from Robert Wuthnow, Princeton Center of Michigan State University. quoted about the ability of ex-convicts to of The New Yorker magazine. University, about religious attendance. Laura Gomez, University of New Mexico, get a job in a March 10 McClatchy News- Doug McAdam, Stanford University, was named a Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar was quoted in a March 12 San Diego papers story that appeared in a number Race, Gender, and Class Science, Knowledge, and Union-Tribune column about Latinos and of newspapers across the country. Pager for 2009-10. Raj Ghoshal, University of North Technology race in America. She said that Latinos is author of Marked: Race, Crime, and Find- Carolina-Chapel Hill, authored an opinion Richard Quinney, Northern Illinois Uni- are visible in the public eye, yet they are ing Work in an Era of Mass Incarceration. James Evans, University of Chicago, was piece, “Despite Racial Leap, Disparities versity, received the 2009 August Derleth uniformly perceived to be immigrants cited for his findings on research citations Hernan Ramirez, University of Southern Linger,” in the January 6 News & Observer. Nonfiction Book Award from the Council and undocumented Mexicans. in a March 20 SEED magazine article California, had his research on Mexican The piece, addressing the persistence of for Wisconsin Writer for his book Things about scientists’ online research behavior. Gilbert Mireles, Whitman College, immigrant gardeners detailed in the racial inequality in the United States fol- Once Seen. was a guest on the March 11 broadcast Wall Street Journal on March 3, and on lowing Obama’s election, cited research Sherry Turkle, Massachusetts Institute concerning Latinos and the Washington Marketplace, the American Public Media by several other sociologists. of Technology, participated in a question economy on National Public Radio affili- radio program, on March 23. and answer column in the March 27 William Julius Wilson, Harvard Univer- Transitions ate KUOW-FM. Mireles is a commissioner Chronicle of Higher Education. The column Josh Whitford, Columbia University, sity, was interviewed on National Public Robert Bozick has joined the Academy on the Washington State Commission on discussed Turkle’s new book Simulation discussed the auto industry in an April 1 Radio’s Talk of the Nation on March 23 for Educational Development’s Center Hispanic Affairs. and Its Discontents. Associated Press article about the poten- about “the culture of poverty.” His book, for Education Research, Evaluation, Gaspar Rivera-Salgado, University of tial for a Fiat merger with Chrysler. The More than Just Race: Being Black and Poor Social Psychology and Technology as a Senior Research California-Los Angeles, was quoted in a article was published on Forbes.com and in the Inner City, was reviewed in the Scientist. William Alex McIntosh and Wesley March 14 Associated Press article about in Newsday, among other outlets. March 29 Washington Post and on Slate. Soma Chaudhuri, Chris Ganchoff, Dean, both of Texas A&M University, the potential influence of Salvadorans com on March 16. He was interviewed on Stephen Gasteyer, Hui Liu, Maryhelen were cited in the February issues of in the United States on their home Peace, War, and Social Conflict ABC’s Good Morning America on March MacInnes, Sabrina McCormick, Aaron Dairy Herd Management and Drovers country elections. Rivera-Salgado spoke Marc Dixon, Dartmouth College, was 31 in a segment about race in America McCright, Alesia Montgomery, Stepha- magazines for their research on feedlot about the influence of people who send quoted in a March 13 CNN.com article in which the show reproduced the Clark nie Nawyn, Xuefei Ren, and Zhenmei veterinarians’ sense of moral obligation remittances. The article appeared in the about American fatigue with the war experiments on race. Zhang have all joined Michigan State to treat sick and at-risk cattle, based San Francisco Chronicle, among other in Iraq. Dixon said that social activists University’s Department of Sociology as Matt Wray, Temple University, had his on their article, “Feedlot Veterinarians’ newspapers. against the war have seen a drop-off. Associate Professors. ongoing research on white social identity Moral and Instrumental Beliefs Regard- Nestor Rodriguez, University of Texas, Morten Ender, United States Military featured prominently in the cover story ing Antimicrobial Use in Feedlot Cattle,” Ann Baker Cottrell has retired from and Tom Janoski, University of Kentucky, Academy-West Point, was quoted in the of January’s The Atlantic Monthly, “The published in the Journal of Community San Diego University after 33 years of were quoted in an April 7 Houston March 14 Stars & Stripes newspaper about End of White America?” He is author and Applied Social Psychology. service.
American Sociological Association footnotes.asanet.org footnotes • May/June 2009 15
announcements
Toby Ewing was appointed Director of of Marriage and the Family in America Carla Howery was a mainstay at the and helped create structural legs for the combination of wisdom and wit—part the California Research Bureau, a section Today (Knopf, 2009). ASA executive office since 1981, only teaching project.” He noted that she was Eleanor Roosevelt, part Erma Bombeck. of the California State Library, by Gover- recently retiring due to ill health. She “a strong spokesperson for teaching and No one who witnessed it can ever forget Thomas Dietz and Linda Kalof, both of nor Arnold Schwarzenegger on March served with four different executive of- curriculum issues at professional meet- her impromptu stand-up comedy as she Michigan State University, Introduction 11, 2009. ficers, participated in three major moves, ings and at meetings connected with deftly played auctioneer for the annual to Social Statistics: The Logic of Statistical and helped in countless ways to shape the ASA [and knew] just about everyone SWS charity fundraiser. Carla has left an Stephanie Farmer has joined Roosevelt Reasoning (Wiley-Blackwell, 2008). and enact the mission of the Association. engaged in promoting the teaching and incredible legacy.” University’s Department of Sociology as Morten Ender, United States Military Carla had an encyclopedic knowledge learning of sociology.” Carla was also past president of the an Assistant Professor. Academy-West Point, American Soldiers in of the history of the discipline and the Carla believed that sociologists District of Columbia Sociological Society, Tugrul Keskin will be joining the Interna- Iraq: McSoldiers or Innovative Profession- ASA as well as a repository of information could learn from one another, in teach- served on the board of the National As- tional Studies Department at Portland als? (Routledge, 2009). about and integral different networks ing and research, but also in administra- sociation of Social Workers, and was the State University as an Assistant Professor John H. Kramer and Jeffery T. Ulmer, of sociologists across substantive areas, tion. She was the Director of the Aca- recipient of over a dozen awards for her in Fall 2009. both of Pennsylvania State University, universities, colleges, and levels of senior- demic and Professional Affairs Program service to the profession. In August, she Harriette Pipes McAdoo will be retiring Sentencing Guidelines: Lessons from Penn- ity. “Carla was a singular light within the and the Department Resources Group, will be posthumously awarded the ASA’s from Michigan State University later this sylvania (Lynne Rienner Publishers, 2009). ASA for a quarter century,” said Executive offering expert consultation to depart- Distinguished Contributions to Teaching year. Officer Sally T. Hillsman. “Her accomplish- ments, chairs, high school affiliates, and Award. Karl-Dieter Opp, University of Leipzig, ments on behalf of our discipline were community college teachers. Minneso- A longtime member of Christ Lu- Theories of Political Protest and Social legend, her sense of humor quick and ta’s Jeylan Mortimer recalled “her deter- theran Church in DC, Carla served twice Movements: A Multidisciplinary Introduc- sharp, but never cutting, and her wisdom mination to make the ASA a meaningful, as Vice President of the church council People tion, Critique and Synthesis (Routledge, a touchstone for the myriad sociolo- useful association for all sociologists at and served as President, Vice-President, George Bohrnstedt, American Institutes 2009). gists whose lives she touched, many all types of institutions, not just research and Board Member of the Transitional for Research, has been chosen by Diane Rodgers, Northern Illinois Univer- profoundly. The world is now a smaller universities. She was highly successful Housing Corporation (which her church the American Educational Research sity, Debugging the Link Between Social place.” in developing programs that reached co-founded), a faith-based, non-profit Association (AERA) as a member of its Theory and Social Insects (Louisiana State Carla was committed to support- out to our highly diverse sociological that provides housing and comprehen- newly created Fellows Program. AERA University Press, 2008). ing all the dimensions of sociology— community.” Even as an undergraduate sive support services to homeless and created the program to honor education research, teaching, and public service— at St. Olaf (1968-1972), Carla attended at-risk families. She received their first researchers with substantial research ac- and worked tirelessly on behalf of the the first meetings of the Sociologists of Outstanding Volunteer Award in 2003. complishments and recognize excellence discipline, its national and regional Minnesota and was one of the founding Characteristic of Carla’s commitment to in research. Other professional associations, sociology student members of that organization. service, one of the first things she did Lawrence Busch, Michigan State Univer- Organizations departments, and myriad individual She continued to participate in Sociolo- after retiring from ASA was to train to sity, has been elected a foreign member sociologists across the country, meeting gists of Minnesota annual meetings and be and serve as a Stephen Minister, a of the Academie d’Agriculture de France. Fund for the Improvement of Post- each new challenge with an appeal- in 2007 was honored with a Distin- lay minister who provides one-on-one Busch was also awarded an honorary secondary Education (FIPSE) seeks ing combination of determination, guished Contributions to the Discipline Christian care to others. Even in illness, doctorate from the Technical University proposal reviewers for FY 2009 grant creativity, ability, and humor. She left a award, created especially for her. Carla served others. of Lisbon in April 2009. competitions. FIPSE anticipates receiv- legacy of accomplishments and service Carla was particularly invested in en- Following her diagnosis and first ing additional funds for its Compre- at the ASA, a gap difficult to fill. “Carla’s hancing the experience of sociology for treatment for breast cancer at the Robert B. Hill, Westat, testified about hensive Program as well as the EU-U.S. embrace of sociology and sociologists undergraduate and graduate students. age of 44, and particularly after its the importance of appointing a new Atlantis Program from the 2009 budget. was second to none,” former ASA Execu- She worked with the MOST (Minority Op- recurrence in 2000, Carla devoted U.S. Census Director before the Senate This will create a demand for proposal tive Officer, Felice J. Levine, recalled. portunities through School Transforma- increasing amounts of her seemingly Homeland Security and Governmental reviewers from all fields in the postsec- “She lived every day with wisdom, wit, tion) to interest underrepresented popu- boundless time and energy to breast Affairs Committee’s Federal Financial ondary sector. Reviewers are generally and willingness to make our discipline lations of undergraduates in sociology, cancer volunteer work. She dealt with Management, Government Informa- asked to read five to ten proposals and the world a better place. Carla’s helping 18 departments to achieve their her health challenges as both a cancer tion, Federal Services and International and are compensated for their efforts. legacy will remain a presence in our goals of inclusiveness and excellence by survivor and a sociologist, serving on Security Subcommittee on March 5. He The Office of Postsecondary Education sociological imagination, in our hearts, restructuring their curricula, research several grants panels, including for the was also was invited by the U.S. Senate at the U.S. Department of Education and definitely in our sense of humor and training, mentoring and outreach. She Komen Foundation; conducting train- Census Oversight Committee to present requires that all field readers have a proportion, even as we struggle with also directed the IDA (Integrating Data ing sessions for agency staff receiving testimony on recommendations for bachelor’s or higher degree. If you are her absence.” Analysis) project, working with faculty Komen funding; lecturing medical improving the 2010 Census. interested in being a proposal reviewer, Her name is most commonly linked to strengthen undergraduate students’ students and potential donors; and Guillermina Jasso, New York University, sign up in the Department of Educa- to the teaching mission of our field. As a quantitative literacy skills, to use those as an active member of several breast was appointed to the Scientific Advisory tion’s field reader database. For more graduate student (and Moen’s office- skills to analyze sociological issues skills, cancer advocacy organizations, which Board of DIW Berlin (Deutsches Institut information, visit
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