The Monadnock Published by the Clark University Geographical Society

The Monadnock Published by The Clark University Geographical Society

Volume 58 August 2016

■ Letters from the Director and the Editor

■ Field Camp: Past and Present

■ Research Sites of Current Members

■ CUGS Culture

■ Comic Relief 1 From the director

Dear Alumni and Friends of the Graduate School of Geography, This is the second issue of the GSG’s re-launched Monad- nock and, as with the first issue, it is entirely a product of our doctoral student body. As you will see, many different members of CUGS have contributed to this issue, but they were guided and (I presume) coaxed by the fine editorial hands of Padini Nirmal and Wenjing Jiang to whom I am very grateful for having produced this issue – it is no small amount of work. As you leaf through this Monadnock, Dr. Anthony Bebbington. you will get a sense of some of the things going on within CUGS – academically, socially and mischievously. I hope that for those of you who were once upon a time part of CUGS, these stories convey the right mix of the funny, familiar and interesting.

For those of you who came to this year’s Clark party at the AAGs in San Francisco you’ll know ing the same good care of themselves. Too easily they end up “The very best kind of that for the first time ever I decided to stand on a table and say a few words. Mostly I made a feeling drained and insecure as a result of what seems like an education is obtained in complete hash of it, but what I wanted to convey to those who were present at the AAGs, and uphill struggle to remain excellent and to make the case for doing things one’s self under now also to you who are reading the Monadnock, is just how well the current faculty, staff excellence. So next time you are in touch with them, please competent direction and and students are taking care of the GSG. I hear other departments reporting falling majors, let them know how much their continued stewardship of the with good guidance.” but not here: from around 71 majors in May 2010 our majors now stand at 124 in May 2016 GSG is valued – by all of us who have passed through Clark (a 75% increase); our two MS degrees in GIScience are also growing with a current popula- at one time or another. —Charles W. Eliot tion of over 50; and our PhD program continues to have some 50 or so students. Across Indeed, I have long felt that the GSG is so much more than Above: Entrance of the all levels our students continue to win prizes, often helped on their way by kind gifts from those of us who inhabit the Jefferson and Geography build- geography building. Photo GSG alumni to the department. As far as we can tell (we are short of a couple of contacts), ings. With six years under my belt in this, my second stint at the great majority of our doctoral graduates since January 2011 have good jobs in academia, by Wenjing Jiang. Clark, it has become so much clearer to me that the GSG is industry, government or civil society. Moreover I think, but again cannot be completely all of us who have ever inhabited this space. We check in on sure, that students leave our degrees happy with the GSG, if not always with the institution. arrival and then we never really ever leave, it is part of all of Meanwhile our faculty continue to be the powerhouse of both funded and published research our histories and identities. By the same token, the strength at Clark. You can see the summary of last year’s faculty research output here.1 of the GSG depends on this far larger community: we are all I sometimes feel like a broken record, continually going on about these numbers, but my stewards and guardians. Please don’t cringe – I say this not as hope is to convey the sense that the GSG is thriving and that people here are being great a call to give money (though that is always helpful). Instead stewards of the department. But without any shadow of a doubt, this is stewardship in a chal- I say it to ask all of us to be there when the time arises and lenging environment. The many, and they are many, achievements of this absolutely world when it is necessary to protect the standing of this really class group of faculty, staff and students are always fragile. Greatness, international standing rather remarkable department. and strong community can be here today and gone by the day after tomorrow. We all know Thank you, and I hope a quick flick through this new of departments, companies and nonprofits where this has happened. In the case of the GSG Monadnock will trigger good memories and bring a smile I cannot overstate how much I respect our faculty, staff and students – but I also worry more to your face – whether a smile of reminiscence, or a smile at and more that those who are taking such good care of the department are not necessarily tak- what the current members of CUGS are up to. 1 Refer to the GSG 21st Annual Salute to Faculty Scholarship (made by Kayla Peterson): Yours, Tony Bebbington

2 3 Letter from the Editor Field Camp: Past and Present by Chris Knudson

Dear Friends, What we know as field Given the country’s eco- camp started in 1927 as nomic depression, it was The long awaited summer sun is here, and warmed by the a three-week geography difficult finding students season comes this issue of Monadnock filled with news of research trip at the begin- who could afford the $300 our colorful, accomplished CUGS community. As with every ning of the fall semester. field trip fee. The school had issue, we have so many people to thank— the contributors President and GSG director to relax its admissions stan- for taking the time to share their stories and photos, Wenjing Wallace Atwood introduced dards so enough students for being a fabulous media editor and collaborator, members the requirement as a way to would participate. Of the of the editorial team for their continued dedication and hard train students, build cama- eighteen who went on the work, Chris and Brenda in the Geography Office for their raderie, and produce useful trip, fifteen men and three invaluable contributions, and of course Tony for being a gra- knowledge about a region. women, only six ultimately cious and supportive Director. Thank you all. One evening in the early achieved a PhD, a lower rate This issue of Monadnock is about CUGS as whole beings, as 1930s, at a field camp held than usual. Two more could academics with colorful lives filled with intellectual curios- in the Connecticut Valley, have come along, as the five ity, and as a community of nurturing, supportive friends Atwood proposed, to great student coaches accommo- and peers. The following pages are a testament to what this enthusiasm, a three-month dated four each, with two incredible group does year after year, and how it grows and field camp. In preparation, sets of bunk beds, ample changes as well. While we have witnessed many significant Padini Nirmal. Photo by the school purchased six storage space, a sink, and events as a community in these past two years, of particular Manoj. sleeping coaches, a cook lights than ran off the camp significance are the continuing efforts to institutionalize our coach, and three used Ford generator. conversations for positive change through various events. We V-8 touring cars. The total had, presumably the first of many, diversity forums this year came to a little less than that brought to the fore our need to emphatically voice the $4000 (about $70,000 Top right: Chris Knudson at ways in which our various identities intersect with our aca- today). Wallace Atwood’s Mount Monadnock. Photo demic lives—to bring to attention our diverse individual ex- son, assistant professor by Catherine Jampel. periences as CUGS, and address structural inequities in ways Wally Atwood Jr., made the Right: Plan for field trip that will positively impact those here and those to come. full trip with his wife the in 1927, published in The summer before, negotiating Monadnock, Vol 1, No.2. It is in this spirit of communal wellbeing, growth and change all the arrangements. that we present this year’s Monadnock. May it always be a Bottom right: CUGS camp source of delight for CUGS, past and present. fire at Massapoag in 2015. Original photos by Yifan Cai. Warmly, Padini Nirmal Chief Editor, Monadnock "What we know as field camp started in 1927 as a three-week geography research trip at the beginning of the fall semester. President and GSG director Wallace Atwood introduced the requirement as a way to train students..."

4 5 "But at the end of his career, fifty years after graduating, what he recalled most fondly were the life-long Though the trip was a great success, the GSG never again friendships formed held a semester-long field camp. From the 30’s to the 50’s, the three-week camps were sited throughout New England. during the three months In the late 60’s and 70’s, CUGS went abroad, with trips in the field." to Jamaica, Puerto Rico and Canada. However, it became increasingly difficult to find a location and research program that satisfied the diverse interests of CUGS. By the 1980s, "After laboriously pack- field camp had become the weekend affair we know today. ing the coaches at dawn, Around this time, one of the semester-long field campers, September 12, 1934 – Walter Ristow, reflected upon its importance for him and his colleagues. After graduating from Clark, he rose to become the students would get Top right: “Who are they?" chief of the Library of Congress’s Geography and Map Divi- much quicker over time Below (from left to right): sion, where he is credited with shaping the profession of the – the group departed." Catherine Jampel, Roopa modern-day map librarian. The experience he gained from Krithivasan, Zhiwen Zhu, mapping the Eastern US was invaluable. But at the end of Left: Routes of GSG field trip Patrick Mutegeki, Atticus his career, fifty years after graduating, what he recalled most in 1934. Reproduced from Odell, Azadeh Hadizadeh. fondly were the life-long friendships formed during the three The Monadnock, Vol 9, No.1. Original photos by Yifan Cai. months in the field.— Chris Knudson

After laboriously packing the coaches at Mountains, and then on to Birmingham, dawn, September 12, 1934 – the students New Orleans, and stops in Florida, among would get much quicker over time – the other places in between, before coming back group departed. Over the semester, they north along the Atlantic coast. Like those travelled 5,000 miles, and carried out engaged by the Works Public Administration a dozen separate field camps. They first to build infrastructure, CUGS carried out its headed out to the Finger Lakes in New York research for social benefit. This is not a sight- before driving south across the partially seeing tour, the faculty would tell the local completed Skyline Drive on the Blue Ridge newspapers.

6 7 Research Sites of Current Doctoral Students

Numbers in the map represent the research areas of the CUGS members below (ordered by last names). Map made by Wenjing Jiang, based on a partial CUGS survey in December, 2015. Geographic Coordination System: WGS 1984. Projection: World Robinson.

1. B. Arakwiye. Albertine Rift Biodiversity Dammert. Loreto, Ucayali and San Martin districts, Savannakhet province, Laos. 18. Y.-L. 26. P. Nirmal. Attappady, Kerala, India. 27. S. Hotspot, East Africa. 2. E. Arond. Bogotá and regions, Peru. 10. C. Dobler. Southeast Mexico. Kim. Seoul, South Korea. 19. C. Knudson. Odell. Peru. 28. M. Santiago. Chukchi and Cauca, Colombia. 3. T. Bornschlegl. Pastaza 11. A. Farahani. Tehran, Iran. 12. B. Fash. Saint Lucia. 20. D. Locke. Six sites across the western Beaufort seas, Arctic Ocean. 29. A. and Orellana, Ecuador. 4. M. Bravo. Oxapampa Copán Ruinas, Honduras. 13. N. Gill. Routt US. 21. D. Lukens. Seoul, South Korea. 22. Sphar. Brazil. 30. L. G. Wyrtzen. Jbel Gourou- Province, Peru. 5. Y. Cai. East and Southeast National Forest, southern Rocky Mountains, N. Mietkiewicz. Southern Rocky Mountains, dou, northeastern Morocco. 31. A.York. Disko China. 6. A. Cantor. Salton Sea, southern Colorado. 14. A. Hadizadeh. Tehran, Iran. 15. Colorado. 23. A. Moulton. Jamaica. 24. P. B. Bay and Uummannaq Bay, Greenland. 32. A. California. 7. W. Collier. Nakuru, Kenya. 8. F. Hernandez. Mexico. 16. W. Jiang. Sichuan, Mutegeki. Kabarole District, Uganda. 25. P. Zhang. Beijing and Chongqing, China. 33. Z. N. Cuba. Xpujil, Chetumal, Mexico. 9. J. L. China. 17. M. Kenney-Lazar. Phin and Sepon Nguon. Cambodia, Myanmar and Thailand. Zhu. Jilin, north China.

8 9 Members of the Graduate School of Geography

Graduate School of Geography (GSG) students and faculty members for a group portrait in Melishia Santiago, Carlos Dobler, Renee Tapp, Fernando Hernandez, Azadeh Hadizadeh, the Geography Commons. Photo by Zhiwen Zhu and Brenda Nikas-Hayes on April 8, 2015. Catherine Jampel, Dr. Ronald Eastman, Dr. Dominik Kulakowski. Back row: Dr. James From left to right, front row: Dr. Mark Davidson, Alex Sphar, Dr. Deborah Martin, Padini McCarthy, Bernadette Arakwiye, Nate Mietkiewicz, Richard MacLean, Kristen Shake, Laura Nirmal, Dr. Jody Emel, Dr. Robert Gilmore Pontius Jr, Dr. Richard Peet, Alireza Farahani, Dr. Sauls (below), William Collier, Pheakkdey Nguon (below), Patrick Bright Mutegeki, Chris Florencia Sangermano, Dr. James Murphy, Elisa Arond. Second Row: Yifan Cai, Tong Jiao, Knudson, Dexter Locke, John Lauermann, Wenjing Jiang (below), Zhiwen Zhu.

10 11 Field Notes

Alida Cantor Yifan Cai My dissertation examines wa- I visited Guiyu, Guangdong e-waste recycling system. As tions of family workshops, at ter supply in California from in the summer of 2015 victims of global environmen- least an integrated ventilation a political ecology perspective. to investigate the “formal tal injustice, local inhabitants system has been implemented I focus on how discourses recycling system”, a top-down have been forced to deal with in this park. However, it is supporting and contesting the project implemented by the undesirable trash (mostly worth noting that China is not transfer of water from rural government in an effort to from the first world) as well alone in having such a large to urban places are produced address the increasing e-waste as being exposed to hazard- informal e-waste treatment and mediated through law. I problem Interestingly, the ous chemicals for the last two sector: countries like India have been most fascinated by town of Guiyu is known to decades. The local government and Ghana are facing similar one of my case study sites, the be the largest electronic waste recently built a large industrial problems. Given the rising Salton Sea. The Salton Sea is (e-waste) site in the world. park, to which it forced local treatment costs, where e-waste a massive saline lake that relies This summer, the area was un- informal e-waste dismantling will be heading worldwide to on agricultural runoff for its dergoing a massive structural workshops to move in order to circumvent formal regulations water supply. However, recent change initiated by the central clean up their act. Compared remains a question. and provincial governments to the previous dirty and efforts to promote agricultural Alida Cantor in front of the efficiency in order to provide Salton Sea. attempting to formalize the hazardous working condi- more water for urban areas have reduced the lake’s inflow. Mireya Bravo downs of interpersonal rela- As a consequence, receding In June 2010, the Man and tions, and to the sympathies "...China is not alone...where e-waste will shorelines expose fine dust that Biosphere Programme of and antipathies among actors creates an air quality hazard be heading worldwide to circumvent formal Guiyu, Guangdong, China; UNESCO recognized the or groups. Thus I focused on for local residents. Important regulations remains a question.." May 2015. Photo by Yifan Oxapampa-Ashaninka-Yanesha how people participate in, migratory bird habitat is also Cai. Biosphere Reserve (OAY-BR) learn from and engage in – or at risk as salinity increases and in Oxapampa Province, Peru. not – such institutional ar- shorelines decline. The future I came to Oxapampa in June rangements. The case of the of the lake is still uncertain at 2014 to research how this rec- OAY-BR resulted from one of this point, but it is fascinat- ognition was possible despite several “unsuccessful” propos- ing to throw myself into the the long-term differences, als – proposals creatively messiness and complexity of inequalities and resource-based reformulated by actors who California water politics dur- conflicts that have character- have coordinated with groups ing the middle of this current ized the region. During the with contested interests. When ongoing drought. fieldwork, I collected data on people are aware of their own its regional history, the institu- positions, they understand tional arrangements across lev- better the needs of other actors "The future of the lake els, and the actors and groups and the constraints for their is still uncertain at this involved in this case. I talked own actions. From a mic- to people, attended meetings, ropolitical perspective, these point, but..." elaborated life histories, and, processes of learning are key more importantly, learnt more to understanding how to use about myself in the research. creativity and innovation to I learnt that institution build- navigate institutional arrange- ing is subject to the ups and ments. 12 13 Field Notes Scott Odell In summer 2015, I collaborated At a personal level, I came to with the International Potato appreciate more fully both the Center’s (CIP) Chirapaq Ñan importance and complexity of Initiative to research factors my topic of interest in devel- contributing to the conserva- opment geography through tion or loss of native po- challenging conversations with tato varieties in their region of community members and local origin, the Andean Highlands. collaborators about the nature My participation in the project of US-Latin America relations, Photo by Ben Fash. was organized as part of the the potentially extractive nature Consortium of International of research, and academic Agricultural Research Centers’ perceptions of poverty. Ad- Photo by Ben Fash. (CGIAR) Gender Integration ditionally, I gained hands-on Ben Fash Roots, Tubers, and Bananas experience in conducting quali- February, I joined members major resistance movement that (RTB) University Partner- tative methods and analyzing This Spring and Summer of our research team from joins many others of its kind ship. My collaborators and data. This formative exploratory (2016), Professor John Rogan, the Universidad Nacional in the region. This Summer we I conducted a total of 46 research project has helped me Nick Cuba (PhD student), Autónoma de Honduras and are participating in a series of semi-structured interviews with to refine my topical interests Anam Khan (GISDE) and I Oxfam to visit several mines, public workshops and launch- farmers in twelve communities and reflect upon my positional- worked on research to assess communities impacted by ing an interactive map (www. in the Cotabambas Province, ity, and will be instrumental in mining's current and potential mining, and an area facing the mineriahonduras.com) that, for Apurímac Department of Peru the preparation and completion impacts on natural resources potential of four new mining the first time, publicly visual- and the Omasuyos Province, of my dissertation research. and livelihoods in Honduras. concessions – my hometown izes all mining concessions in La Paz Department of Bolivia. Our project included spatial of Copán Ruinas. Our work Honduras and includes social Preliminary analysis of our analysis, participant observa- sparked a new environmental conflicts and environmental results suggests that farmers tion, and archival research. In alliance in Copán Ruinas and a impacts from mining. perceive climate change to be Left (from top to bottom): (1) occurring in the region and to Recently harvested quinoa, Amy (Yueming) Zhang negatively affect their ability to Bolivia. (2) White chuño I spent a year (August 2014 to mobilizing “global city” and commercial properties, they maintain the diversity of native drying near the shores of August 2015) doing research “creative city” discourses are not “successful” in terms of potato varieties. However, it is Lake Titicaca, Bolivia. (3) The important to note that these remains of a potluck lunch, in two Chinese cities, Beijing respectively, in order to (re) generating rent either. Despite climatic impacts are taking including several varieties of and Chongqing. My research shape the trajectories of the these problems, I found that place within the context of potato, at a community meet- examines cases of derelict arts districts. However, in the “arts districts” continue to be economic and social changes, ing in Bolivia. industrial compounds being processes of forming such perceived as investable proper- including the arrival of one of Below: Sunrise over Peruvian turned into studio and gallery alliances, and as part of the ties in both urban land and the three largest copper mines peaks on the way to early- spaces and being institutional- strategies that are mobilized by art markets, and their value is in the world near the Peru site, morning interviews. ized as official arts districts. artists, a particular aesthetics largely constructed and rein- and the recent adoption of the Original photos by Scott Odell. My goal is to better under- of arts districts is produced forced through speculations by tractor for cultivation in the stand the production and – where art, history, and ma- artists, gallery hosts, and fac- Bolivian site. consumption of “arts districts” teriality are brought together tory owners and governments as both places and notions that to reduce arts districts into a at various levels who already are situated in China’s urban series of depoliticized images have a stake in those places political economy. I am mostly and signs to be consumed. As – arts district nowadays are interested in two particular arts districts are commercial- essentially in a bubble (waiting instances when artists try to ized, their functionality is to burst!?)! form strategic alliances with progressively lessened for the local governments, through arts communities. Further, as

14 15 CUGS Culture

Even if you can’t eat prestige, - YOU CAN eat concepts! Left: Winners of the 2016 Conceptual Pot by Catherine Jampel . luck. From top to bottom: - WORCESTER, MASS. Kristen Shake’s en- Commons” (2015), conceptual chefs brought Most De (1) Rich Kruger (left)Most Delectable and Dylan DishHarris (right), try, “Filling the Void,” and Alex Moulton’s the concept to its moldy end. Waste-averse winners of the “Governmentality Meets Decolonization” CUGSians had rescued leftover food from by Chris Knudson (right). won the Most Delectable Concept awards the spring Atwood seminar, including a tray (2) Alex Moulton (left) awarded the lectable Concept at the Third (2015) and Fourth (2016) full of rice pudding, and brought it to the Annual Explanation in Gastronomy Con- Mezzanine. Though some of it was shared at Photos by Laura Sauls. ceptual Potluck, respectively. Meanwhile, the Norouz party, no one finished it or threw Carlos Dobler’s “Boolean Raster Ravi- it away. Elisa Arond explained that a month oli” and Dylan Harris and Rich Kruger’s later, “on our way out the door to prepare “God and Corn Soup” received the Most our actual contributions for the Conceptual Delectable Dishes awards. The conceptual Potluck, I opened the fridge door and saw it potluck challenges emerging scholars to ex- and thought: ‘tragedy of the commons.’ So press geographical concepts gastronomically, we brought it over for the potluck, green and using whatever ingredients and presenta- grey mold, remains of whipped cream on top tion necessary (for further history, see The and all, and presented it to the potluck as Monadnock, Vol. 57, Page 8). In one note- such.” worthy contribution,“The Tragedy of the Left: DishesOriginal from Photosthe 2015 by ConceptualKristen Potluck. 2015 Conceptual Shake. Right: Winners of the From top to bottom: - Potluck. Most De (1) Carlos Dobler (left)Most and DelectableKristen Shake (right) awardedand the thePhotos by Alireza lectable Dish, respectively. Concept Farahani and Azadeh Hadizadeh.

! (2) Shake’s entry, “Filling the Void,”

S made from blue Jello-mix, Rice Krispie -

W T Treats, and cinnamon, challenged fellow geographers to reconceptualize P E the ocean as aPhoto socially by constructed Alireza Farahani dy E L namic space. O C and Azadeh Hadizadeh. V N E C O (3) Dobler, inspired by his dual passions for pasta and GIS, created “Boolean Raster Ravioli,” using ravioli as pixels and two sauces for the Boolean values: Photo by Kristen a cheese sauce for “true” and a tomato sauce for “false.” Shake. 16 17 CUGS Culture Comic Relief It’s always a new year! Consult the Stars to Create the Most Testimonials Harmonious PhD Committee Possible Current third-year student: by Catherine Jampel *** “Two members of my committee wanted to push me in Yifan Cai radically different theoretical Do you make New Years’ Resolutions? Do and friends gathered for a seated dinner for Expert in Western and Chinese traditions directions, and always seemed you ever wish you had another chance to Passover. The dinner, called a seder, mean- to disagree, with no resolution make them? Luckily for CUGS, there is ing “order,” is arguably one of the oldest First Consultation Free to First-Year Students * in sight. Finally, I consulted always a new beginning just around the cor- continually practiced rituals in the Western Yifan and she helped me ner. A beautiful haft sin table with symbolic world. In the fall, Diwali, the festival of * Second-year students and above may understand the source of the challenge was really a battle items commemorating the Iranian New lights coinciding with the Hindu New Year, negotiate services in exchange for Year (Nowruz) graced our beloved Mezz brought warmth to the darkening days in between Mercury and Uranus! grading a set of exams for Yifan. I decided to keep my commit- around the time of the spring equinox. We New England. When winter comes, the ** External committee members may tee as it is, but now at least I learned how to count down from 10 to 1 in Lunar New Year brings with it an annual know it isn’t my fault!” Farsi to ring in new beginnings, just around celebration of various Asian cultures among be included for an additional fee. Current fifth-year student: the major spring crunch! Luckily, the haft CUGS. For any CUGS missing these *** Warning: you will be asked to “When assembling my sin includes sumac berries to bring us celebrations, well, there is always another disclose personal details including your birth date, committee, I was undecided patience. A few weeks later, twenty CUGS one ahead. location and time. Provision of false information may between 2 different professors result in potentially risky committee combinations. for my 3rd committee member. I met with Yifan, and ever Below: CUGS Celebrating the Mid-Autumn **** All paid fees will go toward the CUGS-SACS Fund. since have had a committee as smooth and brilliant as the Festival in September, 2015. Photo by Su Ye. NOTE: Also seeking assistant to build the database of Milky Way!” faculty birthday details. Contact Yifan if interested. Free consultation in exchange. Current post-doc: “I almost made a grave mistake including a Sagittarius and a Taurus in my committee! But then I thought to consult with Yifan, and good thing I did! Now I — Elisa Arond, Amy (Yueming) have a committee that is per- Zhang and Yifan Cai fectly aligned by the stars!!”

Appreciation

On Mar 3, 2016, the GSG received a We appreciate the generosity of generous book donation from the Goy- the Goyette family, with special ette family. The extensive book collec- thanks to Mrs. Susan Goyette tion, left behind by a late geographer and for making the donation. More previous faculty member at Framingham importantly, we hope the stories State College, Dr. Arthur Goyette, in- from the (post-) Soviet world cludes over 300 books in Economic Ge- will advance our understanding ography, East European Geography and of contemporary capitalism in Soviet Geography, including 31 volumes the 21st Century. of the Great Soviet Encyclopedia. — Wenjing Jiang 18 19 The Monadnock Staff

Editor Padini Nirmal

Assistant Editors Catherine Jampel, Chris Knudson, Patrick Bright Mutegeki, Melishia Santiago, Leslie Gross Wyrtzen

Graphic Designer Wenjing Jiang

Additional Credits for Graphics Graphics on Pages 2, 12 and 19 are provided by the authors.