November 2005 Number 8
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VOLUME 33 NOVEMBER 2005 NUMBER 8 A Capitol Hill Party Celebrates 100 Years ASA showcases sociological research, education, and service to society at Sociologists in the Limelight th its 100 anniversary in the U.S. Capital ASA’s much-anticipated “birthday by Johanna Olexy, Centennial Congressional Reception & party on the Hill” was commemorated Public Information Office, Research Exhibit. with 28 research poster displays by four and Lee Herring, Public Affairs Office The reception was ASA’s latest categories of exhibitors: (1) Seven celebration focused on its centenary, and individual sociologists (highlighting a range of science and education topics he people in the U.S. Congress the event was designed intentionally to “T including disaster preparedness, K-12 need social scientists to provide the kind both commemorate the historic mile- education including science education, Charles Votaw of information required to inform public stone of ASA’s 100 years of existence and homeland security); (2) Nine college and policy,” said New York Rep. Sherwood to showcase sociology relevant to federal university departments in the Washing- “Sherry” Boehlert, the Republican Chair policy among a unique national leader- ton, DC, metropolitan area; (3) Represen- of the U.S. House Committee on Science, ship audience in the nation’s capital. Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) [center] with tatives from eight federal research and the first of three Members of The reception was an overwhelming ASA Executive Officer Sally Hillsman [left] agencies; and (4) Four nonprofit social Congress to speak at ASA’s October 25 success, with nearly 200 attendees, and ASA President Cynthia Fuchs Epstein. including sociologists and students, science research organizations. (The federal agency programs represented congressional staffers, congressional In Service to the Government committee staffers, federal science were the National Center for Education agency officials, and policy representa- Statistics, National Center for Health In addition to celebrating 100 years of tives, hearing speeches by Rep. Boehlert, Statistics, National Institute of Child sociology, the reception was a reminder North Carolina Rep. David Price (D), Health and Human Development, to federal policymakers and the congres- and Rhode Island Rep. Patrick Kennedy National Institute of Justice, National sional audience of sociology’s relevance (D) on the utility of social science for Institute on Drug Abuse, National to Americans’ lives and well-being. policy. Tennessee Rep. Bart Gordon (D) Science Foundation, Office of Behavioral ASA President Cynthia Epstein and Charles Votaw and his staff on the House Committee on and Social Sciences Research, and the Executive Officer Sally Hillsman each Science were very helpful with arrang- U.S. Department of Agriculture. Also spoke briefly about the ASA and the role ing this event, providing the necessary represented were the Consortium of of sociology in federal and local policy. Rep. Sherwood Boehlert (R-NY) speaks to the sponsorship, and ASA publicly acknowl- Social Science Associations, the National “We are a vibrant discipline …dedi- attendees of the Centennial Reception & edges this support. Academies, the Council of Professional cated to the advancement of sociology as Research Exhibit about the policy need for Associations on Federal Statistics, and a scientific discipline and to sociology’s social science research. the DC Sociological Society.) See Centennial, page 4 Sociologist-led Homeland Security Think Ahead to 2007! Session Proposals Are Invited for the Center Is Unveiled nd University of Maryland’s START program to explore terrorists’ mindsets, 102 Annual Meeting Program! motivations The 2007 program is now starting to in new ways. Participation in a thematic by David C. Walsh* well as some in Europe and Israel. It is take shape under the leadership of session is by invitation only; a proposal the sixth of an eventual seven Homeland President-Elect Frances Fox Piven and should include suggestions for organizer A new component of U.S. research- Security Centers of Excellence (HS- the 2007 Program Committee. “Is and participants (see guidelines below). based efforts to understand and weaken Centers). START is housed at the Another World Possible? Sociological To receive full consideration, Thematic global terrorism was formally launched University of Maryland. All the HS- Perspectives on Contemporary Politics” Session proposals should be submitted at the University of Maryland’s College Centers will tackle different dimensions is a theme that invites participation by November 30, 2005. Park, MD, campus at a press conference of homeland defense. across the discipline and gathers Special Sessions focus on new areas and panel discussion in September. together a variety of sociological work in of sociological work, timely topics, and a Unveiling the new See START, page 10 diverse formats. variety of critical areas facing the world National Consortium The wide spectrum of sessions on today. Special Session topics may or may for the Study of the Annual Meeting program reflects not relate to the theme. They generally Terrorism and Re- the ASA’s commitment to facilitate address sociological issues, whether in sponses to Terrorism intellectual communication and the research or its application, of importance (START)—which transmission of knowledge, informa- to the discipline or of interest beyond. incorporates a collec- tion, and skills relevant to the field of Participation is by invitation. Proposals tive of sociologists, sociology and aligned social sciences. for sessions co-sponsored with sister psychologists, crimi- Members are encouraged to submit sociological associations are usually nologists, risk analysts, session proposals for the following accommodated under this component. anthropologists, and components of the program. Regional Spotlight Sessions provide other scientists— Thematic Sessions are specially opportunities to look at issues pertinent START and University designed and planned by the Program to the host site for the Annual Meeting. officials described the Committee to further examine the With New York City as the site of the new Center and its meeting theme. The sessions are broad 2007 Annual Meeting, a broad spectrum mission. in scope and endeavor to make the of topics awaits exploration, from Enabled by a $12- theme of the meeting come alive. Ideas historical and political perspectives to million Department of are encouraged that confront issues in international relations to cultural and Homeland Security new ways, unfold the theme in various artistic influences and beyond. (DHS) grant an- settings, or bring new research together David C. Walsh, pixwords.com David C. Walsh, See Annual, page 11 nounced in January (see February 2005 Inside this Issue: ASA Award Nominations Footnotes, p. 1), START START director and sociologist Gary LaFree speaks about the new DHS and New Research Survey engages a half-dozen Center of Excellence before introducing the seated panel of speakers, Details on submitting nominations for the nine major ASA Awards professors at Maryland which included [left to right] Jacques Gansler, University of Maryland’s presented at the Annual Meeting in August are on page 12. The deadline partnering with Vice President for Research; Melvin Bernstein, DHS Director of University for all of the awards is December 31, 2005, so send your nominations in collaborators at Programs; Edward Montgomery, Dean of the University of Maryland’s soon. And visibility is increasing for non-academic sociologists with a another two-dozen College of Behavioral and Social Sciences; William W. Destler, University new survey from ASA’s Research & Development Department (see U.S. institutions as of Maryland Provost; and Charles E. McQueary, DHS Undersecretary. page 4). PUBLISHED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 2 NOVEMBER 2005 FOOTNOTES The Executive Officer’s Column ASA’s Centennnial Year: Members Speak, Council Responds Much has happened since the ASA 2005 centennial year began. While many special activities were undertaken to In This Issue . commemorate our 100th anniversary, others were born of significant national or world events that engaged members and ASA in actions that have added dimensions to ASA as a Sociologist to Head professional association during its centenary. Historians at our bicentennial may infer trends from ASA’s many institutional National Children’s roles during this year and, likely, from the ones that follow. Center Sociology and Human Rights Developments in international terrorism, the war in Iraq, and international plenary Barbara Entwisle to direct multi- speakers at the 2004 Annual Meeting (e.g., past presidents of Brazil and Ireland), as federal-agency study center on child well as insights on domestic developments from U.S. plenary speakers at the 2005 3 Annual Meeting (e.g., historians, legal scholars, political analysts) spurred renewed and adult health. sensitivity to issues of human rights among sociologists. Members urged Council to commemorate our centenary with an official statement on human rights. Council responded in August, recognizing that although the Association has spoken often and Immigration Reform taken formal actions to defend “sociologists and other scholars persecuted for their beliefs or scholarly activities,” ASA lacked a comprehensive position statement to Makes an Odd Bedfellow affirm its support for basic civil and political freedoms here and abroad. Drawing upon the Universal