TheRecord COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY IN THE CITY OF

VOL. 31, NO. 7 DECEMBER 14, 2005

Fulbright Comings and Goings During the 2005–2006 academic year, two Col- umbia University profes- sors have been awarded Fulbright Scholar grants to do research abroad. Meanwhile, Columbia is hosting 15 Fulbright scholars from a variety of countries as well as two Canada-U.S. Fulbright Fellows. Silvia Amesty,an assistant professor in Columbia’s Center for Family Medicine, is cur- rently a Fulbright Scholar affiliated with the pro- gram in health and human rights at the University of Costa Rica, where she will remain until next June. End-of-year special Casey Nelson Blake, a professor in Columbia’s

Department of History, Eileen Barroso will use his Fulbright scholarship to lecture on Columbia faculty reflect on major world developments in 2005 and offer some perspectives on 2006. See insert. American cultural criti- cism at the University of Rome III, from February to May of next year. Among the Fulbright- Latinos Make New Gains in Media Industry ers who are resident at SOA and CCE host panel to explore the latest trends and offer advice to students Columbia this year are two Chinese researchers By Miki Johnson Nielsen Media Research and bonuses to people “who think aspects of creation (idea and one from Latin Scholastic Entertainment to outside the box and who prove development, advertising and America: Deng Jo-ling, Eva Longoria may play a des- offer advice on how to get their commitment to diversity” writing), more, and better, a staffer in the Taiwanese perate housewife on the ABC started in television. by coming up with “multicul- minority parts are being writ- president’s office, who is hit series, but her phenomenal Much of the evening’s con- tural talent showcases.” ten, she said. researching government success has made other aspir- versation centered on the Tanya Menton, vice presi- Another panelist, Arminda and the news media in ing Latino actors more hopeful place of minorities in the dent of litigation and employ- Figueroa,urged the students in the United States and about their chances of break- industry. Felix Sanchez, NHFA ment practices for ABC, said attendance to look beyond the Taiwan; Yuejin Jing,a ing into the media industry, chairman and the evening’s that the network had recently usual venues. Figueroa is proj- professor at Renmin according to panelists at an moderator, pointed out that started a talent development ect director for Maya and University in Beijing, event held on Monday, Dec. 5, until Longoria made her break- program for aspiring writers, Miguel, a new animated PBS doing a project on self- at Columbia. through in 2004, prime time actors, directors and produc- children’s show—which she governance in Chinese The panel was sponsored had not seen a Latina leading ers. Menton noted that described as an “authentic pro- villages; and Marcos by Nielsen Media Research lady—and there are eight this although the program is gram about Latino children.” Novaro, a political scien- and organized by the National season, he said. “color-blind”—for legal rea- Although young artists don’t tist from Buenos Aires Hispanic Foundation for the While the reasons for sons and because of the net- always think of it, they should who beginning in January Arts (NHFA) in cooperation increased Latino opportunities work’s preference for hiring consider PBS and the U.S. will be examining two with the School of the Arts are difficult to pinpoint, pan- employees for their talent, Department of Education, she decades of human rights (SOA) and the Center for elists’ suggestions included rather than to fill quotas—pro- said, both of which are huge claims in Argentina (1983– Career Education (CCE). their growing numbers and gram participants have never- generators and consumers of 2003). NHFA, created in 1997 by buying power; five years of theless been diverse, some- TV content. The visiting group also in- Felix Hernandez and actors diversity pushes within media thing she and others at ABC The NHFA has been a strong cludes one Israeli: Nadav Jimmy Smits, Sonia Braga and companies; and “copycatting” were pleased to see. SOA supporter and regularly Davidovitch of Ben- Esai Morales, aims to increase by other networks eager to “It’s not just diversity in awards renewable scholar- Gurion University, who is Hispanic representation in mimic the success of the TV front of the cameras,” she ships to its students.This year’s researching health poli- the media, telecommunica- series Desperate Housewives. added, touching on yet NHFA scholarship award win- cies for migrant workers. tions and entertainment in- Josie Thomas, senior vice another reason why more ners are Daniel E. Carrera, dustries. On Monday evening, president of diversity at CBS, Latinos are appearing on SOA’06,Elvira Carrizal,SOA’07, continued on page 4 NHFA brought to Columbia said that her network has prime time. Because more Merilay Fernandez, SOA’09, luminaries from CBS, ABC, pushed diversity by offering minorities are involved in all and Julian C. Pozzi, SOA’09.

INSIDE 4 10 11 Ivy League soldiers field What keeps Caroline Passages to India barrage of questions Birbaum running? on Iraq