CAMPUS TALK AT ISSUE SCRAPBOOK August Wilson African-American February’s rich revisited | 3 politics today | 5 tapestry| 8

VOL. 32, NO. 9 NEWS AND IDEAS FOR THE COLUMBIA COMMUNITY FEBRUARY 26, 2007

SYMPOSIUM Changing CELEBRATING U.S. Media BLACK Landscape HERITAGE By Mary-Lea Cox MONTH roadcasting—just another business? Not according to Michael J. Copps, a com- missioner of the Federal BCommunications Commission. Applying a purely business model to the industry means less serious political coverage, fewer jobs, and less of a voice for con- stituencies that should be covered, he said, adding that “every American is a stakeholder in how Clockwise beginning with our broadcast media develop.” Columbia T-shirt: Akilah Banister Copps delivered these remarks (CC’08), Kenneth Morgan at the Graduate School of (MPH’08), Alexandra Dole Journalism’s Feb. 8 symposium on (CC’10), Chikodi Chima (CC’08), Maysill Pascal (visitor), Junior M. Benjamin (Government and Community Affairs staff) and Francis Kusi-Appiah (MPH’08).

EILEEN BARROSO

By Record Staff the United States. student body, say the student organizers of this “I had no organization, no one to commiser- year’s Black Heritage Month. That’s up Ushered in with a traditional mix of jazz, ate with or reminisce about the food back dramatically from what was less than 1 percent poetry, food, music and dance, this year’s Black home,” he said. for most of last century. Heritage Month celebrated the richness of the But while these statistics are encouraging, African diaspora, and Columbia reconnected more could be done to promote ties across the with its soul. This year’s theme: uniting various cultures in the African diaspora, the Delivering the keynote speech at the Jan. 31 the African diaspora organizers say—hence their idea to devote this kick-off event, U.S. District Court Judge Joseph year’s program to “Out of One, Many.” A. Greenaway Jr., CC’78, recalled what it was like “We recognize that there are many different to be at Columbia in the mid-1970s as a native Greenaway’s isolation is one of many dynam- cultures represented by black students,” Courtney of the Caribbean island of Montserrat. Back ics that have changed in recent years for Wilkins, chair of the Black Heritage Month then, he said, there were only a handful of blacks Columbia students of African descent. This year, Planning Committee, said. “We have many differ- JOHN SMOCK at Columbia, and even fewer who weren’t from black students make up about 8 percent of the ent experiences, but we all have roots in Africa.” Cronkite headlined J-School’s media reform conference RESEARCH media reform, which attracted about 200 journalism faculty and students and industry profession- Asserting Your Leadership Style als, including keynote speaker and By Adam Piore prevalent weakness in managers is problems former anchorman Walter with assertiveness.” Cronkite, who has often been Researchers have spent years studying the Ames’ research grew out of a business school called “the most trusted person in characteristics of great leaders—those rare men class on leadership and development. Former America.” and women who can inspire others to persevere employers who rated Columbia’s M.B.A. students The symposium was Copps’ in war, win a big one for the Gipper, or lead a on leadership effectiveness listed assertiveness idea. As one of the few FCC officials company to the top of the heap. more than any other factor as a weakness— pushing for a regulatory tightening But what makes a truly bad leader is a question about half complained of too much assertive- of the limits on ownership of that researchers have largely overlooked—that is, ness and the other half of too little. When Ames media organizations—an agenda until Daniel R. Ames, Sanford C. Bernstein associate went to the academic literature on leadership, contrary to Bush administration professor of leadership and ethics at Columbia he found scant mention of the trait. policies—he wanted to hear from Business School, decided it deserved a closer look. In Ames’ view, part of the reason may be that others in the media business, who In a series of studies Ames, working with Francis when people get assertiveness right, “it kind of are often left out of the conversa- Flynn of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, disappears, you don’t notice it, and no one talks tion, on what reforms might be asked workers for their views of colleagues’ leader- about it.” Conversely, when people get assertive- possible. ship strengths and weaknesses. ness wrong, everyone notices but no one wants Introducing the conference, The pair’s initial findings may help you in the to confront the person. University President Lee C. Bollinger, workplace. “One reason is because people typically don’t JAMES STEINBERG a leading First Amendment scholar, “The answer is not a mirror image of what get candid feedback on things like assertive- said that one of the greatest chal- makes a good leader—it’s not a lack of intelli- This artwork originally accompanied an article on Ames’ ness,” said Ames. “Who wants to tell the over- lenges facing our society today is the research published by ’s online gence, charisma or drive,” Ames said. “The most knowledge portal, Columbia Ideas at Work. bearing boss that he or she is a jerk?” As a result, continued on page 8 continued on page 8 www.columbia.edu/news 2 FEBRUARY 26, 2007 TheRecord

RECENT SIGHTINGS MILESTONES

DOUGLAS ALMOND, assistant professor in the Department of Economics and at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), received a Fulbright grant to conduct research at the China Center for Economic Research on the effect of ambient pollu- tion on infant health in China.

SUZANNE CARBOTTE, a geophysicist at ’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, has been named the first Bruce C. Heezen Senior Research Scientist for her pioneering work on global tectonics.

Geographer and senior research scientist ROBERT S. CHEN is the new director of the Earth Institute’s Center for International Earth Science Information Network, where he has played a leading role since 1998.

SUSAN FUHRMAN (TC’77) was inaugurated as the 10th president of Teachers College (TC), a Columbia affiliate, at a Jan. 31 cere- mony in Low Rotunda. Speakers included Public Schools Chancellor Joel Klein (CC’67); New York State Education Commissioner RINGS ON THEIR FINGERS, Richard Mills (GSAS’67, BUS’75, TC’77); and former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services under President Clinton, Donna FOR CHAMPIONSHIP TOES Shalala. (Shalala was Fuhrman’s thesis advisor at TC.)

GENE BOYERS The Institute for Operations Research and the It’s been a couple of months since Aubrey Medal (CC’07) kicked her winning goal to secure a 1-0 victory over Harvard at Ohiri Field in Management Sciences awarded PAUL GLASSERMAN, Cambridge—thereby capturing the first Ivy League women’s soccer title in Columbia history. But the spirit of celebration is still going strong. Jack R. Anderson professor of business, its 2006 Lanchester Prize for his book At a ceremony during halftime of the men’s basketball game (vs. Yale) at Levien Gym on Feb. 9, each of the 25 victorious team members Monte Carlo Methods in Financial Engineering. received her Ivy League Championship ring. Co-captains Meghan Hurlbut, Shannon Munoz and Bailey Schroeder held up the Ivy League trophy to a standing ovation from the crowd of more than 2,000. Here, team members Alana Presslaff (left) and Sophie Reiser, both CC’10, SUSAN HAMSON, curator of manuscripts and the admire the blue-stoned commemorative ring, which Reiser said she will wear every day. “I am never taking it off, except maybe when I get University Archives, has been selected to attend a higher married,”she said. But enamored as she is of the ring, she does not expect to rest on such laurels, noting that the team is “currently play- education leadership development program at the Frye ing soccer and lifting weights two to three times a week to prepare for next season.” Leadership Institute, Emory University.

Starting this month, CAROL HOFFMAN will occupy the Are any of the trees on campus new position of associate provost in the office of the Provost and director of Work-Life in the office of Human Resources. For the past 10 years, Hoffman ran a work-life dedicated to the memory of program at the University of California, Berkeley. USPS 090-710 ISSN 0747-4504 Vol. 32, No. 9, February 26, 2007 Columbians? Go Ask Alice!, Columbia’s health Q&A Internet service, has received the 2007 National Association of Student Dear Alma’s Owl, Personnel Administrators (NASPA) Excellence Gold Published by the I’m curious about the provenance of MELISSA KENZIG Office of Communications Medal Award. , the program director, and Public Affairs the trees on Morningside campus. Were will represent the team at the awards ceremony in April. any of them planted in memory of famous or important Columbians? CAROL LIEBMAN, clinical professor of law, received the t: 212-854-5573 — Potential Tree Hugger first-ever “Frontline Champion” award at the Mediation f: 212-678-4817 Settlement Day held Oct. 20, 2006. The annual event Dear Lorax, was established after Sept. 11 as a way for lawyers to Columbia Record Staff contribute to the healing of New York City. As an owl, I am intimately familiar Editor: Mary-Lea Cox with all the trees on campus. Right now Graphic Designer: Scott Hug The Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Staff Writer: Dan Rivero I’m particularly fond of the American Science (SEAS) appointed JOHAN FREDRIK PALM to University Photographer: Eileen Barroso elms on Lewisohn Lawn, which some- ASK ALMA’S OWL serve in the new position of assistant dean for diversity how survived the sweep of Dutch elm Contact The Record: and faculty development, based at the Earth Institute. t: 212-854-3283 disease that passed through campus. Mathematics: these were given in mem- f: 212-678-4817 Trees are, of course, a common gift to ory of Mi Kyung Kim, the library assis- e: [email protected] campuses. When Jacques Barzun retired tant at Columbia’s Mathematics & GRANTS & GIFTS from Columbia after a long career as a The Record is published twice a month during Science Library who was gunned down the academic year, except for holiday and professor of cultural history and as an in the LIRR catastrophe of 1993. The Summer Training in Public Interest Advocacy vacation periods. Permission is given to use academic administrator (he was the first Record material in other media. trees alone serve as her memorial. WHO GAVE IT: Private donors, Public Interest Law dean of faculties and then provost), he Likewise, the weeping white pine on gave the dogwoods that now add color Foundation (PILF) and David M. Stone the Mathematics lawn was given in HOW MUCH: $622,000 Executive Vice President remembrance of Chao-ying Fang, a pro- WHO GOT IT: Guaranteed Public Service Summer for Communications fessor of Chinese history who died in Funding Program 1985. His wife, Lienche Tu Fang (who WHAT FOR: Supporting a core principle of Columbia Correspondence/Subscriptions worked at Columbia as a research asso- Anyone may subscribe to The Record for $27 Law School, which aspires to train lawyers who view per year. The amount is payable in advance to ciate), died nine years later, having pro bono work as central to their commitment to the , at the address below. expressed the wish that her ashes be American system of justice. Allow 6 to 8 weeks for address changes. buried under her husband’s tree. HOW IT WILL BE USED: To guarantee summer stipends There are exceptions, though: for for all first-and second-year law students who apply for Postmaster/Address Changes instance, the plaque in front of Furnald

Periodicals postage paid at New York, NY and EILEEN BARROSO public interest summer internships, beginning summer additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Send Front of Furnald Hall indicating that one of the trees is plant- 2008. Stipends will cover a range of placements, both address changes to The Record, 535 W. ed in memory of Louis H. Taxham, class domestic and international. 116th St., 402 Low Library, Mail Code 4321, outside Low Library every spring. of ’28, and the plaque near a cherry tree New York, NY 10027. When Miwa Kai, a long-serving on the Mathematics lawn, undecipher- Building an Archive of NYC Buildings librarian at Starr Library, retired, a able now as it’s covered in snow. Please Recycle cherry tree was planted in front of Kent For us owls, Arbor Day is a major hol- WHO GAVE IT: E.H.A. Foundation, Inc. Hall in her honor. To this day, I some- iday, which we’ll be celebrating in New HOW MUCH: $141,453 times observe Ms. Kai passing her tree York on April 27 this year. Barring a WHO GOT IT: Avery Architectural & Fine Arts Library on the way to Starr Library, where she snowy day in April, I will fly over to the WHAT FOR: Processing the library’s recently acquired post- The Record welcomes your input for news continues to work on compiling the mystery plaque and do an investigation. war archive of New York architects Emery Roth & Sons. items, calendar entries, and staff profiles. history of its Japanese collection. You’re more than welcome to join me. HOW IT WILL BE USED: To make available to scholars You can submit your suggestions at: Most of the commemorative trees the materials and drawings associated with the Pan Am www.columbia.edu/cu/news/ on Columbia’s campus are not marked Send your questions for Alma’s Owl to Building, the Citicorp Building, the Colgate-Palmolive newcontent.html. with a plaque. Take, for instance, the [email protected]. Authors of letters Building and other historic properties designed by the two Japanese maples in front of we publish receive a Record mug Roth firm. TheRecord FEBRUARY 26, 2007 3

TALK OF THE CAMPUS Compiled by Mary-Lea Cox

hen asked to name his greatest influ- COLUMBIA ences, the playwright August Wilson August Wilson liked to cite the “four Bs”: poet and playwright Amiri Baraka, painter RomareW Bearden, singer Bessie Smith, and the blues. DDC IN D.C. Revisited That last “B” loomed the largest at a Jan. 29 Columbia panel, “The Musicality of August Wilson,” co-sponsored with the Signature Theatre Company, an off- troupe that is staging an August Wilson series as part of its 15th anniversary celebrations. “Wilson’s plays are saturated with the blues,” said moderator Robert O’Meally, the Zora Neale Hurston professor of English and comparative literature and the director of the Center for Jazz Studies. “They infuse every aspect of his work.” Other panelists concurred with O’Meally’s view

STEVEN E. PURCELL while noting that to do justice to Wilson’s legacy, Getting first-generation low-income students into one should also pay tribute to the support he pro- college may be reward enough for those who vol- vided for African-American artists as well as his unteer for Columbia’s Double Discovery Center; commitment to telling the story of the African- American experience. but they now have a reason to stand taller. Double For instance, Barnard theatre professor Shawn- Discovery was one of 15 organizations to receive Marie Garrett said that at a time when discrimina- a 2006 Coming Up Taller Award, a project of the tion pervaded the theater world, Wilson employed President’s Committee on the Arts and a “whole generation of African-American actors, Humanities in partnership with the Institute of many of whom went on to become directors.” Museum and Library Services, the National But an even more impressive legacy, according Endowment for the Arts, and the National to Garrett, was the sociological portrait of black Endowment for the Humanities. Accepting the America in the 20th century provided by Wilson’s award—which includes a $10,000 grant—from Pittsburgh cycle. first lady Laura Bush at the Jan. 22 White House Here panelist Ruben Santiago-Hudson, who has ceremony were (left to right, above) NEH played in and directed Wilson’s plays, chimed in, Chairman Bruce Cole; DDC alumnus and current saying that Wilson’s genius lay in “presenting a cul- staff member Marvin Cabrera; current DDC par- ture and arresting that culture and freezing it and ticipant Esteban Garcia; and the first lady, who saying, ‘Don’t you all forget this!’”

serves as PCAH’s honorary chair. DAVID COOPER Preparing for Freedom

enry Highland Garnet was among the design and development group, the site first students to attend the African provides a window into the thinking behind Free School of New York City, which the first school for blacks in America. The opened its doors in 1787 with the school’s founders clearly thought it had a Hmission of educating black children while also noble mission, but it was also a case of noblesse holding them up as models of black potential. oblige, given that at the time of the school’s One can only imagine the thoughts that establishment New York was hardly committed passed through Garnet’s mind when he was to abolition—which did not take place until asked to create the drawing at left for an 1827. On the contrary, the city’s economy par- examination. The image of a man returning tially depended on Southern slavery because of from a hunt is a central motif in rural its role as cotton broker to the world. European art, associated with pastoral leisure Reflecting the city’s ambivalence toward and pleasure. However, Garnet, who had blacks, the African Free School communicated escaped from slavery with his family, would mixed messages to its students, attempting to have been all too familiar with the figure of a instill in them a mix of pride and subservience. white man using dogs to track runaway slaves. The DKV-developed site was the idea of (He went on to become a radical abolitionist.) Jean Ashton, the former director of Columbia’s Garnet’s drawing is one of many works now Rare Book and Manuscript Library, who now being showcased on the new Web site directs the library at the New-York Historical “Examination Days” (https://www.nyhistory. Society, home to the African Free School col- org/web/afs/), which, despite its name, is not a lection. The society has been exploring this lit- place to go for advice on surviving midterms tle-known part of NYC history in a three-part and finals. Developed by Digital Knowledge exhibition, the last of which, called “New York Drawing Exercise: The Hunter. African Free School papers. Collection: New-York Historical Society. Ventures (DKV), the University’s multimedia Divided,” is on display through Sept. 3. CITY TURNS TO B-SCHOOL GRAD FOR FOOD POLICY COORDINATION Park Slope was not always the quaint neighbor- The role involves coordinating a new task force aimed hood that we see before us today. Benjamin at increasing access to nutritious food, in particular Thomases, a recent graduate of Columbia Business among low-income New Yorkers. School, should know. The 31-year-old native of this Thomases approaches the task with impressive now-fashionable area of Brooklyn remembers that, credentials. A 2003 graduate of the busi- despite the fact that the area was thriving and ness school’s Social Enterprise Program, had many middle-class residents, poverty was he has spent his career advocating for also very visible: “I would often see homeless the disadvantaged. people sleeping in parks and on subways.” While at the business school, While he loved growing up in this part Thomases focused on the challenge of of New York, he also remembers thinking: how to “build an anti-poverty pro- “We live in a complicated world that can’t gram that is not overly reliant on be fixed with one decision. A multi-faceted government and philanthropic sup- approach will be needed.” port.” Upon graduation, he landed Thomases is now in a position to act on his first dream job: that of heading these youthful convictions. Last month, he up FirstSource Staffing, a company became New York City’s food policy coor- that helps low-income people— dinator—a position first proposed by who often have barriers to enter- Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg in November ing the workforce—get on the 2006 as part of his new anti-poverty plan. path to self-sufficiency. 4 FEBRUARY 26, 2007 TheRecord FACULTY Q&A

AT THE INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH IN AFRICAN- AMERICAN STUDIES, THIS ANTHROPOLOGIST IS BUILDING AN INTELLECTUAL TRADITION ON HARLEM’S LEGACY.

his week many New Yorkers cele- In fact, I think they confront many of the brate Dominican Independence same challenges. In some ways, black immi- Day, marking the anniversary of the grants indirectly benefit from not being withdrawal of the Haitians from the African American. Many would argue, and I easternT two-thirds of the Caribbean island of would share that view, that in the structure of Hispaniola and the creation of an independ- EILEEN BARROSO what you would call white supremacist ideol- ent Dominican Republic on Feb. 27, 1844. ogy, African Americans fall at the bottom. But even at this moment of celebration, many will reflect on the problems this racially Is the debate on affirmative action still complex country continues to face—prob- STEVEN GREGORY Q.important? lems with which Steven Gregory, associate Interviewed by Dan Rivero Affirmative action at universities is terri- professor of anthropology and the director of A.bly important. People who are against it Columbia’s Institute for Research in African- say it means a lowering of standards, but I think American Studies (IRAAS), is intimately famil- “Affirmative action is a question of redefining what that’s the wrong way of framing it. Rather, it’s a iar. Gregory has spent three years on this question of redefining what the standards Caribbean island, and three months ago he standards are—of deciding on new, balanced are—of deciding on new, more balanced crite- published The Devil Behind the Mirror, ria for identifying students to invest in. exploring the impact of globalization—trends such as tourism, technology transfer and criteria for identifying students to invest in.” There’s a lot of buzz on Barack transnational migration—on the lives and Q.Obama. Is he the face of new African livelihoods of Dominican people. American leadership? Gregory was recruited from New York We live in a culture that worships University in 2000 to lead Columbia’s new wanted to do something on the island of We have a larger faculty. We also have A.celebrities, and he’s definitely riding that interdisciplinary M.A. program in African- Hispaniola. For a while, I thought it would be A.developed a graduate program offer- celebrity wave. But saying that he marks a gen- American studies. He was drawn to its upper Haiti; however, the project I tried to do in ing an M.A. degree, and we now have a draft erational change might be overkill. In the end, location because of his long- Haiti didn’t work out because of the political proposal for a Ph.D. program, which we how he presents issues of concern to African standing interest in African-American poli- chaos. I’ve also always been interested in the hope to establish within the next three years. Americans is what matters. When the debates tics and urban social movements. Dominican Republic, and since New York As we’ve grown, we’ve been able to provide a and primaries come, people will be looking to Not so coincidentally, Gregory’s latest has such a large population of Dominicans, it range of support services for students, such see where he stands in relation to John research project is local in focus. He is inves- seemed likely I would study the country as workshops on how to prepare applica- Edwards, for example. tigating the impact of what he calls “neo-lib- someday. Given my interest in the impact of tions to Ph.D. programs. We’ve been very suc- eral economic development” on the lives of globalization on the lives of people living in cessful in getting about 85 percent of our Do black voters necessarily follow the upper Manhattan residents. IRAAS recently developing countries, the Dominican M.A. students into doctoral programs or law Q.same party line? partnered with the Harlem Tenants Council Republic turned out to be a perfect fit. school. We’ve expanded our activities as our The mainstream has a narrow view of to familiarize students with the gentrifica- faculty has grown. A.black voters as being the same tion issues facing Harlem residents. What is your involvement with constituency, but that’s probably never been Q.Dominicans now? IRAAS offers many joint programs with the case. I continue to engage with Dominican Q.other groups at the University. Is that a Tell me more about IRAAS. A.artists and community activists in priority? This year’s theme for Columbia’s Q. Washington Heights on ways to celebrate Very much so. We recently co-spon- Q.celebration of Black Heritage Month Professor Manning Marable founded Dominican culture and establish a kind of A.sored an exhibition with Teachers was “Out of One, Many.” Is that an overly A.IRAAS in 1993 as an academic neighborhood identity. College, for example, featuring the work of a rosy ideal? resource center for building a new intellectu- Dominican painter. We now have a close On the contrary, it’s something my al tradition upon Harlem’s rich legacy. As an What brought you to Columbia? relationship with Kim Hall, who was recent- A.IRAAS colleagues and I are constantly institute, we administer the undergraduate Q. ly recruited to Barnard to head up their trying to put into practice. I am encouraged and master’s degree programs in African- Columbia has an extraordinary com- Africana studies. We hope to make this a by the recent appointments of a fellow American studies. We also sponsor research, A.munity of scholars. Both as faculty structural connection, beginning by holding anthropologist, Claudio Lomnitz, as director academic forums, and conferences on topics members and as members of IRAAS, we are joint faculty meetings this semester. of the Center for the Study of Ethnicity and having to do with contemporary black poli- engaged in Harlem in different ways, and for Race; of Kim Hall, whom I mentioned earlier tics, social relations, culture and history. me that is very important. I like the emphasis Do black immigrants with language (she will be delivering this year’s Zora Neale on community connection; I also like living Q.barriers face challenges different from Hurston Lecture); and of Mamadou Diouf as How did you come to do research on on the Upper West Side. those of African Americans? director of SIPA’s Institute of African Studies. Q.the Dominican Republic? The classic sociological response is Columbia is primed for doing some impor- As a graduate student, my area of spe- How has IRAAS expanded since its A.that immigrants face a double discrim- tant work on linkages and themes within the A.cialization was the Caribbean. I always Q.inception in 1993? ination because of their color and language. African diaspora. TheRecord FEBRUARY 26, 2007 5

AT ISSUE Compiled and edited by Mary-Lea Cox THE STATE OF BLACK AMERICA

n the eve of the start of this year’s People seem to have taken Carter G. Black Heritage Month, Judge Woodson, the founder of Black History Joseph Greenaway Jr., CC’78, Month, at his word. In taking responsibility for observed that February is a time to their own histories, they quickly figured out Oask “Where have we been, what are we doing, that they can select leaders themselves. That’s and where are we going?” The last two ques- not a changing of the guard but rather an tions present an interesting conundrum. On expansion of it, a well-regulated militia on the the one hand, record numbers of black march. The new would-be national leaders Americans now occupy positions of leadership will need to quicken their steps to catch up. in politics and business, doors that were tradi- tionally shut to them. On the other, we now Does the success of Stan O’Neal, Ken Chenault, see a “chipping away” at affirmative action Condoleezza Rice and others speak to the policies, as President Bollinger put it in his majority of black people in the United States? remarks to kick off the month’s events. Under such conditions, how does one read the tea JOHNSON: The optimistic view is that their leaves? The Record canvassed the following success signals a growing recognition of the faculty for their thoughts and predictions: benefits of diversity. In Grutter v. Bollinger, the Supreme Court found that “student body • CONRAD A. JOHNSON, clinical professor of diversity is a compelling state interest that law, Columbia Law School. Johnson served can justify the use of race in university admis- for many years as the attorney-in-charge sions.” The court received some 200 amicus of the Harlem neighborhood office of the briefs in support of diversity. Among the Legal Aid Society of New York City and as most influential were those from corporate its director of clinical education. When he entities such as General Motors. The brief first arrived at the law school, he founded stated that in General Motors’ experience, its Fair Housing Clinic, which specialized “only a well-educated, diverse workforce, in civil rights litigation. comprising people who have learned to • GEORGE E. LEWIS, Edwin H. Case professor work productively and creatively with indi- of American music, MacArthur Fellow, com- viduals from a multitude of races and ethnic, poser and improviser. He has written on religious, and cultural backgrounds, can experimental improvisation, computer maintain America’s competitiveness in the music and jazz. His work as composer, increasingly diverse and interconnected improvisor, performer and interpreter is SCOTT HUG world economy.” Likewise, briefs from the documented on more than 120 recordings. lege: redlining [denying or increasing the cost issues of housing, unemployment and work military, as well as educational institutions, • DORIAN T. WARREN, assistant professor in of services such as banking or insurance to in the low-wage global economy—and social pointed to a positive correlation between the Department of Political Science and at lower income residents], narrow definitions of policy, which would include health care and diversity and increases in productivity, cre- the School of International and Public merit, gerrymandering and substandard public Social Security. ativity and effectiveness. Affairs. Warren specializes in the study of school education. As Professor Johnson says, these are all Do the current success stories carry a inequality and American politics, focusing post-civil rights questions. Compared with more permanent meaning for the mass of on the political organization of marginal- LEWIS: It is critically important for African issues of Jim Crow segregation and blatant African Americans, for whom a level playing ized groups. Americans to focus on the war in Iraq and acts of racism, they are actually much harder field remains out of reach? Only time will tell. any new wars being planned. Black youth, to deal with. Which issues are at the center of African male and female, are at major risk here; is this WARREN: The visible success of many African American politics today and why? all we can do to be all that we can be? Is there a changing of the guard taking place, Americans in business and politics means that We should also be focused on achieving with Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and others in opportunities have significantly opened up in JOHNSON: We have progressed from slavery universal healthcare. As with issues of envi- the twilight of their careers and new leader- the post-civil rights era. Although the current and Reconstruction and a century of legally ronmental racism (recently demonstrated by ship emerging? situation is much better for African Americans, supported segregation and discrimination. The the New Orleans catastrophe), black chil- it also points to one of the central cleavages in civil rights movements of the 1950s, 1960s and dren—as well as adults—are particularly WARREN: Some might point to Senator black communities today, that of increasing 1970s, largely eliminated de jure or legally poorly served by the present non-system. Barack Obama as evidence of a changing of class bifurcation between the black middle sponsored discrimination. However, at pres- Finally, there is the still-extant digital the guard, but that remains to be seen. Many class and the black poor and working classes. ent, de facto inequality continues to pervade divide, which contributes to the information local and state-level grassroots black political Issues of economic inequality are especially most aspects of American life. The top issue we bubble in which we Americans have been liv- leaders, however, have thus far escaped the acute in African-American communities, and continue to face is economic injustice: how do ing for so long. One doesn’t have to be an attention of the national media. These new the majority of black Americans, like the major- we consolidate our gains and establish the experimental composer—as I am—to realize leaders bring both a commitment to racial ity of all Americans, are feeling more insecure financial self-sufficiency that increases political how little of one’s everyday reality is reflected justice—to addressing the many post-civil about their status and future compared to the power and sustains progress? On this question, in what passes for information in our public rights issues affecting black communities— recent past. sociologist Melvin Oliver’s work on wealth dis- sphere. Without real information—historical and a pragmatic sensibility about organizing parities—his book Black Wealth, White and topical—and the critical thinking behind and advocating for change. LEWIS: It’s always nice when someone Wealth—is illuminating. it, economic development, social justice and finds “Happyness”; after all, we don’t want to In the area of law, current jurisprudence political power simply won’t be forthcoming. LEWIS: Political punditry isn’t my area, but behave like crabs in a barrel. But I hope these tends to use colorblindness as a subterfuge to I do notice that many of the local communi- high-fliers find a way to support the new prevent implementing corrective measures WARREN: I would begin with continuing ty leaders who were respected in Harlem, black creativity, which is creating designed to redress the effects of racial dis- concerns about racial injustice, including the Brooklyn and the Bronx when I left New undreamed-of hybrids that don’t fit into cor- crimination. attacks on affirmative action mentioned by York in 1982 were still respected and poratized, cookie-cutter categories. By sepa- But law cannot be the single or even the President Bollinger and instances of police admired when I came to Columbia three rating expressive culture from public policy, primary locus of efforts to achieve equality. brutality, as well as unfairness within the years ago. For the most part, they never got artists are already showing us how different Rather, we should be using politics, communi- broader criminal justice system. elected to anything, but their loyal following things can be. That’s also the central message ty action and economic initiatives to eliminate And, like Professors Johnson and Lewis, I knows and loves them, and they aren’t look- of Black Heritage Month—and one hopes the the structures that artificially produce privi- would stress both economic inequality— ing for new leaders despite pressure to do so. new black philanthropic class will take note. VIEWS IN THE NEWS Europe’s Dearth of Dynamism? Rebuilding in the Wake of Genocide

Edmund Phelps, McVickar professor of political economy and Josh Ruxin, assistant clinical professor of public health, the 2006 Nobel Laureate in economics: Many economists attrib- Mailman School of Public Health, and country director for the ute the [European] Continent’s higher unemployment and lower UN’s Millennium Villages Project in Rwanda: For Rwanda to participation, if not also its lower productivity, to the Continent’s embrace its bright future, the African nation may have to social model—in particular, the plethora of social insurance enti- escape the shadow of genocide. The biggest obstacle Rwanda tlements and the taxes to pay for them. The standard argument faces is potential investors who still think of the genocide or is fallacious, though. In my thesis, the Continental economies’ the films that followed it before contributing. We need root problem is a dearth of economic dynamism—loosely, the investment and infrastructure. Rwanda exported coffee to rate of commercially successful innovation. There is evidence of Starbucks a few years ago, and a Rwandan farmer who had a such a dearth. Germany, Italy and France appear to possess less deal with Starbucks could make two to four times as much as dynamism than do the U.S. and the others. Far fewer firms break if they were exporting to some generic buyer. You still need to into the top ranks in the former, and fewer employees are provide for basic human needs like water, malaria prevention reported to have jobs with extensive freedom in decision-mak- and roads, but Rwanda has been making strategic [foreign] ing—which is essential at companies engaged in novel, and thus investment a priority. (Metro New York, 2/14/07) creative, activity. (Wall Street Journal, 2/12/07) 6 FEBRUARY 26, 2007 TheRecord

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS FEB. 26–MAR. 9 ARTS TALKS CAMPUS SPORTS SCIENCES

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY SUNDAY February 26 February 27 February 28 March 1 March 2 March 3 March 4

LDEO Seminar Environmental Manhattanville “Web “Robert Moses: Women’s Tennis “Purple Hearts” Lynn Sykes on Health Seminar Expansion Open Accessibility New vs. Rutgers Photographer Nina “Historic and Join a discussion House at CUMC 101” Perspectives” 12:00 p.m. Dick Berman’s intimate Instrumentally Located about aging, neurodegenera- A chance to ask questions Learn how assistive technolo- Two-day public symposium Savitt Tennis Center. portraits of injured American Earthquakes in the Greater tive disorders and environ- about Columbia’s proposed gy solutions and accessible investigating the life and soldiers in Iraq undermine any New York City-Philadelphia mental pollution, sponsored expansion into West Harlem. electronic resources are revo- legacy of one of the most Men’s Basketball illusion that war can be quick Area: A Tectonic by the Center for 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. lutionizing services for polarizing figures in the vs. Harvard and bloodless. (Berman has an Interpretation.” 12:10–1:30 Environmental Health in Hammer Health Sciences Columbia students with dis- history of urban planning. 7:00 p.m. Levien M.A. in journalism from p.m. Lamont-Doherty, Northern Manhattan. 11:00 Center, Riverview Lounge abilities. 12:00–1:30 p.m. Various locations, including Gymnasium. Columbia.) Sponsored by the Seismology Seminar Room. a.m.–12:00 p.m. 650 W. (Fourth Floor). Lerner Hall, Satow Room. 212- Schapiro Hall, Davis Open Society Institute. School [email protected]. 168th St., Black Building, 212-854-5573. 854-2388. Auditorium. 212-854-4073. of Social Work, 4th Floor. Pharmacology Library, Room [email protected]. Film Screening 7–724. Open to the commu- Institute of Scheps Memorial (Closes June 29.) Soul of Justice: nity. 212-305-4797. African Studies Lecture Library Lecture Thelton Seminar Art history profes- With anthropology Henderson’s American Socratic Christopher Udry of Yale on sor Francesco Benelli on graduate student Ravindran Journey (2006, USA). Thelton Conversation “Land Rights and Agricultural “Siena and Urbino: The Work Sriramachandran. 12:15–2:00 Henderson and director Abby Ronald Gross, Investment in Ghana.” of Francesco di Giorgio p.m. Schermerhorn Extension, Go online! Ginzberg will be present for a author of Socrates’ Way, 12:00–2:00 p.m. Martini.” 12:10 p.m. Casa Room 465. Complete event listings: discussion afterward. leads an interactive conver- International Affairs Bldg, Italiana,Teatro. 212-854- [email protected]. 6:00–9:00 p.m. Jerome L. sation on “Truth Versus Room 1118. 2306. www.calendar.columbia.edu Greene Hall, Room 107. chap- Truthiness.” 4:00–5:00 p.m. 212-854-4633. Men’s Basketball [email protected]. Teachers College, 2nd Floor “Freud and the vs. Dartmouth Salon. RSVP required: Book Talk Political” 7:00 p.m. Levien Alexander [email protected]. Joel Westheimer Gymnasium. Papamarkou discusses his new conference, with welcoming Lecture Barnard Great book, Pledging Allegiance: remarks by director Catharine Senior Thesis Dimitris Plantzos of the Writers Series The Politics of Patriotism in Nepomnyashchy. 4:00–9:00 Theatre Festival International Center for Greek With novelist America’s Schools. 5:00-7:00 p.m. Casa Italiana. Open to The Little Prince and Mediterranean Studies Mary Gordon (BC’71) and p.m. 179 Grace Dodge Hall. the public; limited seating. and After Miss Julie, directed (Athens) on “Cycladic Art as a poet Saskia Hamilton. RSVP required: [email protected]. by Barnard theatre studies 20th-Century Phenomenon.” 7:00–8:30 p.m. Barnard Hall, [email protected]. students. 7:00–10:00 p.m. 6:30–8:30 p.m. Philosophy 4th Floor, James Room. , Minor Hall, Room 301. 212-854-2116. Latham Playhouse. [email protected]. 212-854-2080. SCOTT HUG

MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY March 5 March 6 March 7 March 8 March 9 Editor’s Pick

LDEO Seminar Music at St. Institute of “The Young “Dan Graham’s DAN GRAHAM’S Mark Siddall on Paul’s African Studies Joseph Pulitzer” New Jersey” NEW JERSEY “Links between With organist Gail Seminar With James Exhibition of artist the Atlantic Overturning Archer, chair of Barnard’s Sally E. Findley of the McGrath Morris, a scholar in Dan Graham’s photographs of Conceptual artist Dan Graham can’t leave New Circulation and Sediment Music Dept. Free and open to Mailman School on the process of writing a New Jersey. 12:00–6:00 p.m. Jersey. After growing up in the Garden State, he Pa/Th in a 3-D Ocean.” the public; children especially “Migration, Climate, and biography of the man who Arthur Ross Architecture went back for one of his early art projects to pho- 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. welcome. 6:00–7:00 p.m. St. Health Interactions in Niono, posthumously established Gallery, . (Closes tograph suburban tract developments, which he Lamont-Doherty, Paul’s Chapel. 212-854-6242. Mali.” 12:00–2:00 p.m. the Pulitzer Prizes. 1:00–3:00 March 23.) conceives of as “serial settlements.” As he explained Geochemistry Building, International Affairs Bldg, p.m. Journalism Bldg, Room in his legendary essay, “Homes for America” (1966): Seminar Room, Palisades, NY. Real Estate Room 1118. 212-854-4633. 204. Big Apple “Housing developments as an architectural phe- Open to the public. Roundtable [email protected]. Colloquium nomenon seem peculiarly gratuitous. … Designed to [email protected]. Join a discussion Men’s Tennis vs. Astronomer Geoff fill in ‘dead’ land areas, the houses needn’t adapt to of “Preservation and Adaptive Loyola Chemistry Marcy of U.C. Berkeley on or attempt to withstand Nature.” Since then, Re-Use—Using Tax Credits to Marymount Colloquium “Exoplanets: From Giants to Graham has returned repeatedly to document New Save Historic Assets.” 1:00 p.m. Dick Savitt Tennis Dan Nocera of Rocky Planets.” 4:15–6:00 Jersey’s cities and suburbs, and in the summer and 6:00–7:00 p.m. Buell East. Center MIT on “On Global Energy: p.m. , Room 1332. fall of last year, he conducted a “roving seminar” for 212-854-3124. Chemistry to the Rescue.” [email protected]. students from the Graduate School of Arts and Women’s 4:30–6:00 p.m. Havermeyer Architecture (GSAPP). After leading the students to Branner Forum Lacrosse vs. Hall, Room 209. Native American parts of the Garden State they didn’t know existed, Christine Verzar of Quinnipiac 212-854-2202. Studies Seminar he would engage them in impromptu conversations Ohio State U. on 4:00 p.m. Wien Stadium. Amanda Cobb of on whatever topics caught his fancy, from arcadia “The Arm of St. George and Film Screening the Univ. of New Mexico on Ferrara Cathedral: Artistic Heyman Center Belle de Jour “Native Studies, Native (real and fake) to pop music. GSAPP is sponsoring Patronage of Returning Lecture (1967, Realities: Considering the an exhibition of the documents and photos collect- Crusaders.” 6:30 p.m. Join Oliver Sacks, France/Italy), directed by Relationship between Native ed from these excursions, on display in Buell Hall Schermerhorn Hall, Room 612. the “poet laureate of medi- Luis Buñuel. 7:30–9:30 p.m. American Studies and Native through March 23. [email protected]. cine,” for a preview of his Maison Française (Buell Hall, Nations.” Sponsored by the forthcoming book, Music and East Gallery). Vice Provost for Diversity the Brain. 6:15 p.m. Low maisoncoordinator@colum- Initiatives. 4:10–6:00 p.m. Library, Faculty Room. Free. bia.edu. Hamilton Hall, CSER Seminar 212-854-8443. Room. 212-854-0151. AROUND TOWN It’s time for Mardi Gras and other festivals. Which traditions do you celebrate? I’m celebrating the new year of the Gold Pig at home with family, but I’d suggest going to Chinatown in Flushing. There are lots of shops to buy things for the new year, and you can get something traditional and tasty at any one of the many local restaurants. — Waichi Ho, Associate Director, Weatherhead East Asian Institute

Happy Losar! Tibetan New Year has arrived. I tutor a Tibetan monk in English, and he’s invited me to his place to celebrate the year of the Fire Pig. For similar celebrations, check out Tibet House on 22 W. 15th St. Ganden Thurman, son of Prof. Bob Thurman, is the director. — Rich Jandovitz, Library Assistant, C.V. Starr East Asian Library

Russians have their own version of carnival, called Maslinitsa or Butter Week. It ended on Feb. 18. Most people celebrate by eating blini (Russian crepe-style pancakes). Good places to do that in New York City are Russian Samovar and Uncle Vanya’s. Traditional toppings include caviar, lox, herring, sour cream, chopped egg and scallions. That said, I’ve also hosted blini parties in NYC where we’ve had some fusion going on: toppings like ham and cheese, peanut butter and jelly, whipped cream, Nutella, Marshmallow Fluff, you name it. And blini are of course served with vodka, lots of vodka. It’s too late for these celebrations now, but the two restaurants I mentioned will be serving special Russian Easter foods on April 8—the same date as Western Easter. A fire pig Losar card featuring an illustration by Tenzin Jordhen. — Natasha Ermolaev, Administrative Assistant, Harriman Institute TheRecord FEBRUARY 26, 2007 7 NEVER LOSE STAFF Q&A HOPE,SAYS SONIA PALS SCHOLAR REESE By Alex Lyda Interviewed by Dan Rivero POSITION: sk Yusuf Abukar, GS’09, how he went Executive Director, Community Impact from fleeing bombs as a refugee from Somalia to strolling the environs of Morningside as a Columbia student, LENGTH OF SERVICE: Aand he has just two words: “Infinite hope.” 16 years In 1999, Abukar was on the cratered streets of a ruined Mogadishu when his for- COLUMBIA HISTORY: mer teacher approached him about applying Reese earned an M.A. in 1974 and an Ed.M. in to a university in the United States, as a way 1979 from Teachers College. to escape the violence and cultivate his intel- lectual ability. Abukar shot back: “What is the best uni- onia Reese has spent most of her versity in the U.S.?” career motivating students to become “Columbia University in New York City,” good neighbors, locally and globally. said the teacher. For the past 16 years, Reese has been Sthe executive director of Community Impact, For five years, Abukar held on to this vision of life beyond the ruins of his native Columbia’s oldest and largest community city. “Pursuing higher education under such service organization. circumstances seemed an extravagant luxu- Before joining Community Impact, she ry,” Abukar said. “But I was confident about worked at Operations Crossroads Africa, one thing. Given the opportunity, I would coordinating a cross-cultural exchange pro- excel and become an outstanding student.” gram that sent American college students to Last year, Abukar enrolled in the School of live and work in Africa each summer. General Studies (GS)—Columbia’s home for Where she once sent student volunteers nontraditional students—with a financial aid thousands of miles away, she now mobilizes package provided through the Program for Columbia and Barnard students to work in Academic Leadership and Service (PALS). partnership with more than 100 community No one can apply to become a PALS groups that help provide clothing, food, shel- With the help of Sonia Reese, students from Columbia University volunteer every Friday at Broadway Presbyterian scholar. Instead, GS admissions officers iden- ter, education, job training and mentoring to Church (601 W. 114th St.). They serve a three-course meal to 180 homeless and low-income individuals. tify a pool of candidates for consideration by over 8,000 residents in Harlem, Washington EILEEN BARROSO a selection committee. Typically, the commit- Heights and Inwood. About two-thirds of tee favors first-generation college students their projects are embedded in the neighbor- “Our main mission is food and shelter, but other hoods they serve. Having grown up in the General Grant programs are just as valuable. One of our largest is Houses, a public housing project on West 125th St., Reese knows the needs of low- the Jobs and Education Empowerment Project.” income households firsthand.

Community Impact is Columbia’s oldest Advocacy Program and 200 clients in our pro- What benefits do Columbia students Q.volunteer group. How did it get started? gram called America Reads. Q.get from volunteering? Community Impact began in 1981 as a One of the great things about A.grassroots effort by Columbia stu- Which is the most popular program? A.Community Impact is that it exposes

EILEEN BARROSO dents. Eventually, it gained the support of Q. Columbia students to many of the economic A high-schooler peruses the PALS booklet. administrators and chaplaincies on campus, The English as a Second Language issues surrounding low-income and home- and members of historically underrepresent- and in 1987 Community Impact was formal- A.program has a long waiting list. We’d less families. They don’t get academic credit ed groups with significant financial need and ly incorporated as an independent 501(c)3 like to accommodate everyone, but the truth but they can put their experiences on their a demonstrated ability to succeed in a com- tax-exempt public charity. Similar to The is we don’t have the resources and the space applications for graduate school. One recent petitive academic environment, as well as a Spectator and CAVA (the ambulance corps), to provide enough classes. Barnard and volunteer became inspired to become a pro- record of community service. we have our own board of directors. Our Teachers College both donate classroom space fessional teacher and now teaches at “PALS scholars are all passionate about annual operating budget is $1.1 million, a and computer labs. LaGuardia Community College in Queens. learning and about giving back through third of which comes from Columbia. community service and leadership,” said GS Where do you get your volunteers? Is your annual auction in April a big Dean Peter Awn. What programs does Community Q. Q.event? In addition to international students like Q.Impact offer? It’s a combination of word of mouth Thank you for bringing up my favorite Abukar, PALS targets residents of upper Our main mission is food and shelter, A.and the two open houses we have dur- A.topic. The auction provides a quarter of Manhattan neighborhoods. “We started PALS A.the basic needs, but other programs are ing the academic year. In the fall, we typically our annual budget. Anybody in the communi- in 1999 by focusing on nearby schools,” just as valuable. One of our largest is the Jobs recruit 200–300 students. In the winter it’s ty is welcome to donate. We’re looking for explained Scott Halvorson, associate dean of and Education Empowerment Project (JEEP). fewer because there are are fewer jobs to fill top-of-the-line items—in previous years those GS and the program director. “Early on we Three years ago, through a partnership with then. Most students end up volunteering for a included parts in Farrelly brothers’ movies, realized that many of our potential candi- the West Harlem Group Assistance, we opened couple of years. Many have been volunteering and this year maybe a helicopter ski ride—as dates had never walked across the campus. a computer technology center at their apart- since they were in high school, and one reason well as smaller items that can be auctioned off They had never felt it was the place for them. ment building on 134th St. to help residents they find Columbia attractive is the opportuni- as part of a package. Simply visiting made such a difference. They get basic skills to compete in a computer- ty to continue that work. When we hire work- felt that they could come back here.” dependent workforce. Two of our other big study students, we always warn them that this What do you do outside of Columbia? Nearly 70 local high school students had a programs are homelessness assistance and is not the kind of job where you can read or do Q. chance to do just that when PALS hosted its youth literacy. In 2005–2006, we served 6,000 your homework—there’s too much to do. I’m a wife and have a 13-year-old son. I sixth annual “No Limits” symposium on Feb. clients in our Homeless Assistance and A.enjoy going to museums and having tea. 16 for students from Bread and Roses Academy, Frederick Douglass High School, the Manhattan Theatre Lab High School and other city schools. The young people spent DAY IN THE LIFE OF… the day interacting with PALS scholars through workshops and talks, followed by an optional tour of the campus. One of the most popular speakers was up- SANDY HELLING and-coming poet Jonathan Walton, GS’08. Participants listened with rapt attention as WHO SHE IS: Associate Director, Community Impact he read from his poetry describing how he YEARS AT COMMUNITY IMPACT: 20 survived a challenging home environment. WHAT SHE DOES: On any given day, Helling wears many hats—from advising and training stu- Abukar was there, too, and contributed dents, to preparing accountability reports for donors and government agencies, such as the New his testimony about how he’d overcome per- York State Department of Education and the New York City Department of Youth and Community sonal and financial hardship to come to Development. Columbia. “My inquisitiveness, my patience, HOW COMMUNITY IMPACT HAS EVOLVED: “Students today are more excited than ever and offer my simplicity, my deprivation and, above all, creative proposals of their own. We also have cross-programming. For example, the Student my infinite hope have proven that I can go Health Outreach (SHOUT) program, which promotes low-cost health insurance, makes presenta- anywhere and achieve anything I put my tions to our adult students in GED and ESL classes.” mind to,” he affirmed—a message that could inspire any young person, whether from BIGGEST CHALLENGE: “We have a very small staff. There comes a limit to how many programs we can provide the oversight needed to ensure that our students get a quality volunteer experience.” Mogadishu or New York City. EILEEN BARROSO TheRecord SCRAPBOOK FEBRUARY 26, 2007 8

Math Counts

By all accounts, Columbia’s Feb. 10 hosting of the Manhattan chapter of MATHCOUNTS, a national mathe- matics competition for middle school students, had impressive numbers: 3 winners (Hunter College High School, Salk School of Science and New York City Lab School) chosen from 160 students from 24 participating schools, helped along by 24 teachers and 40 volunteers (of which half were Columbia students or alums). Some of the

ABBY STONE math students, too, pitched in: here, Yon Zloof and Lauren Amira, seniors at Stuyvesant High School downtown, are India Initiative sorting completed exams by school for scoring. Next, the winning mathletes will compete statewide, and if all goes One of the top hits on the BBC news site this month was a well in Albany, they’ll be off to Chicago for nationals. photoblog kept by children in the southern Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, showing their daily lives in the village of Kalleda (news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6332511.stm). For Abby Stone, CC’10, this was a gratifying moment. In the summer of 2005, Stone, then a high-schooler in St. Louis, traveled to India with the Rural Development Foundation and had the idea to start up the photoblog project with the students she met at the school, all of whom are from poor families. As the BBC notes, the project has succeeded bril- liantly—not only in connecting the children with the wider world but also in giving the world a window on rural India. JO LIN Manhattanville E Pluribus Unum Open House “Out of One, Many” wasn’t just the theme for this year’s Over 300 people turned up—a mix of Black Heritage Month, it was also the best term to describe Columbia students, faculty and staff— the sheer number of events organized around that theme. for the first of a series of Manhattanville Columbians did not await the first of the month to begin open houses on Feb. 8. Participants their February-long celebration. An opening reception on could learn about various aspects of Jan. 31 kicked off the festivities, with a keynote speech by Columbia’s proposed expansion, includ- Judge Joseph Greenaway, CC’78, and the presentation of ing the city planning process, design the Heritage Award by the Black Alumni Council to Norman principles, construction and jobs. Here, Skinner, CC’50. Other highlights included a speech by pro- visitors listen to one of the architects lific poet Sonia Sanchez (left) and a semiformal dance

JO LIN explaining the proposal. JOHN SMOCK aptly titled “Many Faces Behind the Mask”(above). JOANNA EBENSTEIN Wicked Wünderkind Werner Herzog German film director Werner Herzog may be the hero of art-house intellectuals, but he is also the king of wicked antics.Take the time he cooked and ate his shoe on camera, or the time he jumped into a cactus patch as a result of losing a bet to actors on a film set. Herzog’s latest caper was a surprise visit to the School of the Arts on Feb. 16, as part of Roberto Bentivegna’s Friday film series. Bentivegna, a guest speaker fellow and graduate student in SoA’s Film Division, had just screened Rescue Dawn, Herzog’s latest film about U.S. fighter pilot Dieter Dengler, a German American shot down and captured in Laos during the Vietnam War. As the lights came up, the award-winning director walked into the class for a Q&A. “Do not ask of an actor anything you wouldn’t do yourself” was one of several pieces of advice doled out during the next hour. Students were also treated to Herzog’s rather unorthodox method of filmmaking: no story boards, no rehearsals and hastily-written scripts (Rescue Dawn was written in just seven days, he said). Herzog came at the invitation of film history professor Annette Insdorf, who has been friends with the cinema wünderkind for years.

Media Reform Assertiveness 101 continued from page 1 continued from page 1 need to resolve the tension between freedom of speech “overly assertive individuals may go through life think- and the market economy, particularly in the area of ing their behavior is normal, while the under-assertive broadcast media. In the past 20 years, regulators have may just assume that if they push harder, others won’t allowed a free market system to regulate broadcast like them.” content, and some citizens can now afford to buy What advice would Ames offer to an employee suf- more content than others. fering, for instance, from an overly assertive boss? Cronkite, the legendary CBS anchorman, now a According to Ames, people with a high degree of nonagenarian, said he found it lamentable that so many assertiveness “actually care about relationships with of today’s journalists “are saddled with inflated profit people and don’t mean any disrespect, they just don’t expectations from Wall Street. They face round after realize how their behavior is seen by others.” round of job cuts—and cost cuts—that require them to Therefore, improving relations with a domineering do ever more with ever less.” As a result, he said, they boss may begin with a “safe conversation in which you display “a dwindling commitment to public service.” try to draw attention to the way in which behavior was Don’t blame journalists for this sad reality, Cronkite limiting or suggest a development feedback process,” stressed. Rather, the situation has evolved as a result of Ames said. a handful of media company owners snapping up more What if you’re on the receiving end of such a cri- and more television, radio and cable stations as owner- tique from one of your employees? To correct an ship rules have loosened over the past two decades. assertiveness problem, Ames suggests a period of Although little discussed outside the confines of the experimentation. journalism community, the media reform movement “It’s often a matter of trying new behaviors and has far-reaching goals. It aims to undo decades of media seeing how others respond,” Ames said. “Find a role concentration; one method is to tighten limits on the model, somebody whose assertiveness has just the ownership of media companies. Cronkite offered his right touch and watch his or her behavior, what he or own solution, to encourage a new type of owner to buy she says or doesn’t say, how he or she gets along with “media entities that are dedicated to public service, WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT? people.” companies that invest for the long haul and will serve their communities rather than just ever-greater profits.” HINT: It is set in stone, and has a commanding presence. Send answers to Ames and Flynn have an article in this month’s issue of [email protected]. First to e-mail us the right answer receives a RECORD mug. the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. To To watch the conference video, go to: www.jrn.colum- ANSWER TO LAST CHALLENGE: Cover of an English Bible in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library download, go to: http://www.apa.org/journals/releas- bia.edu/events/media_reform/media_reform_panel.asp. (part of a five-volume set, 1903–1905). WINNER: Marcos R. Garcia (CC’08) es/psp922307.pdf.