Remembering Len Gordon
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Volume X Number 1 Winter 2015 Remembering Len Gordon On March 4, 2015, our dear friend and colleague, Len Gordon, unexpect- edly passed away. The Emeritus College lost one of its most dedicated members and leaders. Len served on the original steering committee that developed the proposal for the ASU Emeritus Col- lege and faithfully served as dean for six years. He also served as chair of the student faculty committee for the past academic year. Most recently, he rep- resented the Emeritus College on the University Academic Senate where he served on the Executive Committee. Len joined the faculty at ASU in 1967 and held many leadership roles, includ- friendship over the years. He was throughout his career. As we dedicate ing Chair of the Department of Sociol- always willing to assist when called this edition of the ASU Emeritus ogy for nine years and Associate Dean upon. He was kind and gracious in his College Newsletter to Len Gordon’s of the College of Liberal Arts and Sci- personal dealings with everyone. memory, we send our condolences ences for eleven years. His passing He will be greatly missed by his ASU to his dear wife, (whom Len lovingly ended nearly five decades of dedicated friends and colleagues. While we had referred to as “My Dorthy”) and to his service to ASU, the community and to to say goodbye to our dear friend and children and grandchildren. higher education in Arizona. colleague, we know that ASU is clearly In addition to his extraordinary a better place because Len chose to —Elmer Gooding service, Len had a personal demeanor become a part of the ASU family and to that made others seek his advice and serve the University in so many ways (See more on Len Gordon on pages 6-10) Student Receptionist studying the German and Arabic languages. She enjoys fine dining, We welcome, Portia Austin, our traveling, and her hobbies include new Student Receptionist. Portia is an learning new things, couponing, going undergraduate student enjoying her to the movies, baking, and family time. junior year. She is pursuing a Global She has lived in many places and has Health major, International Business traveled around the world. Her favorite and TESOL Certificate, while also residence was in Germany where she lived for 3 years. She has a bubbly personality, with a smile that warms hearts daily. Student Editor Assistant Jordan Bohannon has also joined publishing future issues of Emeritus us as our new Student Editor Assistant. Voices and newsletters. In his free time Jordan is a junior at Barrett, the Honors Jordan plays guitar and enjoys hiking College who is pursuing a degree in in northern Arizona. After graduation, Marketing and a minor in English Jordan wants to either pursue a career Literature. Jordan joined the staff in advertising or enroll in a graduate in March and is looking forward to program. Emeritus College Newsletter Page 2 Volume X Number 1 Winter 2015 Colloquia recent book entitled Black Morocco: Family Dynamics, spoke on “Spanish A History of Slavery, Race and Islam. in the U.S.: Esteem, Racialization & Professor El Hamel’s presentation Family Dynamics.” Cobas’ speech traced the experiences of enslaved explored the history of the Spanish blacks from the sixteenth century to the language, from its early days as a highly beginning of the twentieth century. He esteemed language, to its eventual explained how the selected applications status as a “foreign“ and “inferior“ of Islamic law did not guarantee the language after the apportionment of freedom and integration of black Mexico. Cobas examined the reasons, Moroccan ex-slaves into mainstream both political and social, that Spanish society. El Hamel also talked about is often regarded as lesser than the the parallels between the slavery of English, French, or German languages. Moroccan blacks and the slavery of Morrocan concubines, and the female slaves of Moulay Ismaul’s black army. Lectures & Courses The main thrust of the presentation was On February 17, Jeffrie Murphy that attitudes and traditions are slow to Spring 2015 explored the ancient and contemporary change in an evolving society. aspect of jealousy as the emotion felt at The Emeritus College provides the loss of someone or something highly lectures and courses through its valued. As he noted, such an emotion Short Talks Academy for Continued Learning can lead to the view of “ownership” of during the spring 2015 semester. These another and hostile action including On February 10, Ed Moticka, include fee-based courses co-sponsored murder which may then become part Associate Dean Emeritus of Medicine by the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute of the criminal law and punitive action at South Illinois University, presented and pro bono lectures listed annually taken under law. Professor Murphy “A Brief History of Lymphocytes: The in the College’s Guide to Lectures described another aspect of jealousy. Rose of White Cells.” The audience and Courses(emerituscollege.asu.edu/ He explained that jealousy is a feeling was treated to visuals with descriptions lectures-and-courses-2014-2015). that can arise in healthy relationships in of the events that moved the study which a sense of possession, ownership of immunology from the viewing of • Per Aannestad, Target Earth: or object plays no role. Jealousy may cells in a starfish through a chain of Asteroids, Comets and Near-Earth be an extension of the feeling of deep, experiments to provide hypotheses Objects, March 17, Encore University, unrequited, love. In that context, leading to understanding lymphocytes. Paradise Valley jealousy may be intense desire for a It was interesting to learn that scientists • Per Aannestad, The Accelerating mutual loving relationship with none of disagreed about the types and functions Universe: Inflation, Dark Matter and the criminal law aspects often cited in of cell structures for over a century Dark Energy, February 17, Sagewood crimes of passion. Professor Murphy until, in 1926, it was proven that Institute for Continued Learning, reminded that there are both positive lymphocytes do serve as mediators for Scottsdale and negative aspects of this emotion. resistance to infection. • Jay Braun, Your Brain: From The second speaker was Jeremy Neuroscience to Psychology to Art Rowe, ASU Professor Emeritus of Appreciation, Feb 19, 20, March 5, 12; Technology Policy and Planning, ASU Osher at Tempe Connections, and Director of Research, Strategic Tempe Public Library Planning and Policy, followed with • Jay Braun, It is Really all in Your a presentation titled “Stereoscopic Head, March 13, ASU Osher at ASU Images in Arizona History.” He showed Downtown Campus pictures of the camera equipment used • Paul Burgess, The Income-Wealth in the 19th century. A photographer Gap Between the Rich and the Poor, lugged 150 pounds of gear, including February 12, ASU Osher at Friendship the plate glass, water and chemicals Village; March 18, Stonegate, needed to make stereoscopic images. Scottsdale Rowe described these 19th century • Paul Burgess, Economic Strategies photographers not so much as recorders Religions Use to Increase Allegiance On March 17, Chouki El Hamel’s but as artists capturing interesting and Donations, March 12, New presentation was titled “Black views. Frontiers, Mesa Community College Morocco: Tolerance, Intolerance and On March 10, José Cobas, Professor • Mathew Betz, Southern Sudan Islam.” Much of the talk related to his Emeritus of the School of Social and Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow, Emeritus College Newsletter Winter 2015 Page 3 February 19, New Frontiers, Mesa Vice Provost of Graduate Education, All four of these young scientists Community College both of whom support PFF. inspired the sixty-member audience • Lou-ellen Finter, The Oral Houssam Abbas with their expertise in areas that will Traditions of American Indians, spoke about his surely bring us a more sustainable, February 13, New Frontiers, Mesa extensive studies of healthy and enlightened world. Community College the cyberphysical The scholarships students receive • Lou-ellen Finter, The Navajo system, that is, through the PFF program are funded by People, Feb 11, 18, 25, March 4; ASU connecting cyber- members of the Emeritus College and Osher at Friendship Village quantities with supporters of graduate education. • Lou-ellen Finter, The Apache physical quantities. Indian Tribe, March 11,18, 25, April 1; As he explained all of the mathematical ASU Osher at Maravilla, Scottsdale algorithms involved in this marriage of Writers Group • Len Gordon, The Sociology of software with the physical environment Sports, February 25, New Frontiers, he stated, “First we wanted to go fast; The Emeritus College Writers Group Mesa Community College then we began to be concerned about is still going strong after six years. We • Ronald Hardert, Whistle-Blower power consumption.” meet twice a month and work on two Heroes: Profiles in Courage, March Joon Young Lee of our authors writings at each meeting. 24, Encore University, Paradise Valley outlined the steps After many years of working together, • Stephen Happel, Everyday in the thermal fluid we have seen enormous improvement Economics for a Better Take on Life, processes through in our writing skills. Our discussions March 9, 16, 23, 30; ASU Osher at which data-mining have grown from proof-reading to full- Tempe Connections, Tempe Public techniques are fledged assessment of how an author Library used to assess might improve flow, characterization, • Richard Jacob, Einstein’s Legacy, the properties of plot, clarity and so on. March 26, New Adventures, Sun ground water. When surface water is not Members publish frequently in the Lakes Center available we must turn to ground water. Emeritus Voices and the EC Newsletter, • Charles Merbs, 50 Years as a Lee’s research is helping set drought as well as in national journals. For more Forensic Anthropologist, February 17, levels by assessing the fluctuation of information, please contact Linda ASU Osher at Tempe Connections, ground water, essential for survival.