SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER
NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
Inside THIS ISSUE Notes from the Director...... 2
Visit of Indonesian Ambassador...... 3
Welcome to Instructor Luoth Yin and Beginning Khmer Class at UW...... 3
Effective Collaboration Enables Students to Learn About Southeast Asia Culture through Performing Arts...... 4
UW Part of US-Indonesia Partnership Program...... 5
NOT POSSIBLE ... A YEAR AGO...... 5
The Ramayana in Seattle...... 7
Save the Date: Indonesian Cultural Night...... 8
Tibet to Bosnia: Summer Seminar Promotes Global Storytelling...... 8
Southeast Asian Studies Faculty’s Contribution to First Social Work Program in Cambodia...... 10
Center Staff News...... 11
Visiting Scholars...... 11
FLAS Awardees...... 12
Gething and Keyes Awards...... 14
Alumni News...... 14
Welcome to SEA Graduate Students...... 15
Dissertations Defended...... 15
The Influence of Research Abroad...... 16
Opportunities Jackson School Created for Me...... 17
Welcome Fulbright-DIKTI Indonesian Senior Scholars...... 17
Review of AAS/ANTH 314...... 18
SEAC Faculty Receives Spellman Awards...... 18
Farewell and Good Luck to Tom Gething...... 19
A Gift Legacy...... 19
SEAC Calendar of Events...... 19
You Can Make a Difference...... 20
Southeast Asia Center The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies / University of Washington SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
Notes from the Director, Laurie J. Sears famous works, such as Imagined Communities, Language 2011-2012 Academic Year Kicks Off With Visit been described by one of his close colleagues as a “natural and Power, The Spectre of Comparisons , and Under Three of Indonesian Ambassador teacher.” He will be teaching both Beginning and Intermediate Flags, to name but a few, emphasize the types of social Khmer in the 2012-2013 academic year. relations and political identities only imaginable through confronting imperial, colonial, and authoritarian power. He is The following are thoughts about the Beginning Khmer class best known, however, for transforming our understanding of by Mr. Yin: nationalism. According to Imagined Communities, the popular I never thought of coming back to teach language creation of a political community, such as the nation, could after I taught a summer session at Cornell University over only come about through a reconceptualization of time, twenty years ago, but the leadership of the Southeast Asian language, and writing, within a capitalist world system. Center allowed me to teach again with their supportive plan The highlight of the 2011-2012 year at SEAC was the Indeed, the circulation of anti-colonial and anti-imperial ideas and procedure, inviting Frank Smith, a prominent Khmer book launch of the late and beloved Professor Emeritus within a public sphere and the feeling of belonging to a language instructor, from the University of Berkley, to provide Daniel S. Lev’s new book No Concessions: The Life of Yap nation would remain impossible if not for the emergence of me with an orientation based on his textbook and teaching Thiam Hien, Indonesian Human Rights Lawyer. In the photo a new technological era that brought into focus a system of approach. This gave me solid ground for proceeding with my below, Professor Emeritus Benedict O’ G. Anderson and Yap newspaper and novel production he ingeniously termed “print The Ambassador (center) with local Indonesian teaching, along with warm support by Dr. Sara Van Fleet, who Thiam Hien’s grandson Sigfried Looho offer a toast to the capitalism.” community members, UW Interim Provost Doug encouraged me to continue improving my teaching ability Wadden, and Director of the Southeast Asia Center, work of Arlene Lev. Arlene worked with Ben Anderson and In Professor Anderson’s later writings, such as The through staying flexible in my teaching approach. I have also Audrey Kahin to bring her late husband Dan Lev’s biography Spectre of Comparisons and Under Three Flags, he The Southeast Asia Center began its 2011-2012 year benefitted from additional assistance from Professor Rick of Yap to completion. Ibu Ertie N. Oei, who formerly taught provocatively asserts that within the very nature of nationalism by hosting the Honorable Dino Patti Djalal, Indonesian Bonus who has provided me with suggestions on how to Indonesian at UW in the 1980s and early 1990s, holds a copy lies a cosmopolitan world-view. He illustrates this worldliness Ambassador to the United States, on October 17. The create a pleasant classroom environment. I have incorporated of the new book in the background (and see above). by tracing the political practices and historical effects of University of Washington, as one of the strongest Indonesia- some of his ideas, such as going to a Cambodian restaurant As part of this moving event, Dan’s close friend Ben those who saw themselves as belonging not only to a focused programs in the U.S, not only in the Arts & Sciences, and showing them short lCambodian movies on YouTube. Anderson came to celebrate the new book and to present a specific nation, but a world of nations, made up of universally but also in the humanities, Asian Law Center, Global The students in my class naturally have different lecture for the University of Washington’s prestigious Jessie recognized identities, such as patriot, revolutionary, or anti- Health programs, human rights work, the Primate Center motivations. My class is composed of both heritage students and John Danz Lectures Series. The title of Ben Anderson’s colonialist. In other words, revolutionary nationalism entailed and Health Science programs, was a natural first stop for and more traditional American students. Besides just fulfilling wonderful lecture was: “Long Live Shame! The Good Side drawing from universal political struggles in order to transform the Ambassador’s U.S. trip. Upon arrival, Ambassador their course requirements, the heritage students (those with of Nations and Nationalism.” The Danz Lecture Series local conditions. Djalal met with SEAC faculty and students, as well as with Cambodian parents) wish to preserve their native language. now asks faculty to choose a graduate student to introduce In this urgent moment when newer articulations of members of the UW Indonesian Student Association, to My students tell me that their parents are proud and happy to the distinguished visiting faculty. We chose Allan Lumba the public sphere and “print capitalism”—such as social discuss Indonesian studies at UW. After a warm welcome hear them speak Khmer to them. For the American students, of the History department. Lumba is writing a dissertation networking sites—are utilized as a critique of official and introduction by UW Interim Provost Doug Wadden, they are gaining additional language skills and appreciation on “Monetary Authorities: Market Knowledge and Imperial narratives; when the direct action of “occupying” is a modular Ambassador Djalal gave a lively presentation entitled “Islam for Cambodian culture. One of my students plans to go to Government in the Colonial Philippines, 1892-1942.” form of national organizing; and when the identification and Democracy: Evolving Compatibility in the 21st Century” Cambodia for her internship, and the others plan to visit the with the “99%” reinvigorates the popular imagining of a to over 150 students, faculty, staff and community members. country at some point. One of my American students is a Comments by Allan Lumba, PhC, History, UW, on the cosmopolitan community: it is without any doubt just how The presentation was followed by our annual fall reception. law school graduate, specializing in immigration law. He may introduction of Emeritus Professor Benedict Anderson, recent fundamental and powerful the thoughts and writings of reach out to Cambodian clients in the future, and his language recipient of the Albert O. Hirschman Award. Professor Anderson remain. I am thus immensely honored, Welcome to Khmer Language Instructor Luoth skill will certainly be a good tool. For almost three decades Professor Benedict Anderson to introduce to all of you, Aaron L. Binenkorb Professor Yin and the Beginning Khmer Class at UW The beginning Khmer class reminds me of Machiavelli’s was banned from Indonesia. He was banned because he Emeritus of International Studies, Benedict Anderson. words, in his book, The Prince, where he states that “one helped research and write a confidential preliminary analysis The Southeast Asia Center change invariably lays ground for another.” The drastic critiquing the government narrative of the failed October first, welcomed Mr. Luoth Yin to our change in the recent history of Cambodia undertaken by 1965 Indonesian coup. The analysis turns the official military faculty to teach Beginning Khmer the communist regime led to the wholesale destruction of stories upside down, asserting that the Communist Party language classes in 2011. Mr. Yin, a Cambodian culture, but the change also laid the groundwork might not have been behind the coup, but instead, possibly poet, author and journalism student, for the introduction of new opportunities which is in some the scapegoat of discontented army officers. Although he has held positions in the Cambodian ways proven by this Khmer class. Fifty years ago, there were was a young scholar and his academic career was at risk, he Ministry of Religion, the Cambodian not many people who spoke Khmer in America, and not refused to comply with the Indonesian government’s wishes. National Assembly and has worked many American students would have made an effort to learn Professor Anderson’s consistent critique of power in a variety of social service Khmer. Today, there is increasing interest in Cambodia, a remains one of the most inspirational aspects of his agencies in addition to teaching. He vibrant Khmer community in Seattle and a growing number of transdisciplinary and transnational scholarship. His most taught advanced Khmer at Cornell for a brief period and has students interested in learning Khmer language at the UW.
Cover image: Near the Khaw San Road area of Bangkok in the early morning. Photographer: Sam Van Fleet 2 3 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
Effective Collaboration Enables UW Students puppeteer and gamelan musician Ki Midiyanto. Ever UW Part of the US-Indonesia Partnership NOT POSSIBLE … A YEAR AGO to Learn About Southeast Asian Culture generous with his time and energy, Ki Midiyanto gave Program Mary Callahan (Jackson School of Int’l Studies) through the Performing Arts lecture-demonstrations in two music classes and led a Randall Kyes (Psychology) Christina Sunardi (Ethnomusicology) gamelan workshop. For more than 20 years I have been traveling Hard work on other fronts during the fall months The University of Washington is one of six to Burma for research on military politics and the paid off in the spring of 2011. The School of Music U.S. universities to receive funding from the U.S. civil wars that have plagued that country since had the pleasure of hosting Heri Purwanto, a highly Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and independence in 1948. Never during that time did I respected teacher, performer, and master musician of Cultural Affairs to help promote US-Indonesian imagine it possible that I would stand before a room central Javanese gamelan, as a visiting artist. During collaboration and increase the number of American of senior active-duty and retired military officers and his residency spanning the months of March to May, students studying in Indonesia. debate with them the costs and benefits of “democratic Heri gave workshops in my gamelan course and The program, known as the “U.S.-Indonesia civilian control of the military.” But I just did exactly that worked individually with students, helping to prepare Partnership Program for Study Abroad Capacity,” is this summer, in a government-sponsored workshop them to accompany a dance that he and I developed administered by the Institute of International Education entitled “Good Governance in Political Transition for the School of Music Visiting Artist Concert at Meany and reflects the Obama administration’s interest in Countries” in Nay Pyi Taw. The workshop was Theater as well as teaching them other pieces. cultivating relationships with Indonesia as a way comprised of some 50 senior government servants, Spring 2011 also saw the visit of one of to improve opportunities for business, education, including four active duty military officers. And a couple Indonesia’s finest artists, the master Javanese dancer, science and technology partnerships between the two days later, back in Rangoon, I facilitated a classroom choreographer and make-up artist Didik Nini Thowok, countries. discussion of the very same topic among 25 recently Heri Purwanto in the School of Music at the University of Washington with Seattle-Surabaya Sister City Association who performed as a special guest dancer at the The State Department funding to UW will be used released political prisoners. A year ago – and perhaps gamelan instruments. (Photo by Joanne De Pue.) Visiting Artist Concert to gamelan music played by as stipends to support 10 students who will participate even just a few months ago – these discussions were Indonesian performing arts at the University of Gamelan Pacifica and Heri Purwanto. The Seattle- in Prof. Randy Kyes’ study abroad program, the out of the question. The prisoners of conscience Washington have flourished over the past two years based artist Jessika Kenney was featured as a International Field Study Program-Indonesia (http:// were still in jail and the colonels thought they had a through the collaborative efforts of the UW School of vocalist. Didik’s visit to Seattle was made possible depts.washington.edu/cgfs/ifsp). The stipends will monopoly over lectures on “good governance.” Music, the UW Southeast Asia Center, Seattle Pacific through the support of Gamelan Pacifica, directed by help defray the costs of travel to Indonesia for this University (SPU), the Seattle-Surabaya Sister City composer and Cornish College of the Arts professor summer’s program from June 28 to July 24, 2012. Association, and the Seattle-based ensemble Gamelan Jarrad Powell, the UW Southeast Asia Center, and the Since its beginning in 1995, more than 60 UW students Pacifica. Thanks to the energy and work of these UW School of Music. have participated in this annual, month-long program institutions and organizations, UW students have had I continue to use the Seattle-Surabaya Sister City conducted on the remote Tinjil Island (West Java). The many opportunities to learn about Southeast Asian Association gamelan in my courses, and the School of program is offered in collaboration with the Primate culture and people by interacting with Southeast Asian Music invited the West Javanese master musician Ade Research Center at Bogor Agricultural University artists—listening, laughing, exchanging stories—and Suparman for a two-week residency in April of 2012. and also involves Indonesian students. The program by participating in Southeast Asian culture—playing I am optimistic about future collaboration between focuses on conservation biology and global health— music, dancing, and performing. institutions and organizations in Seattle, future work at the human-environment interface, and allows With the changing winds and leaves, fall 2010 with Indonesian artists, and future cultural experiences students to experience living in a tropical jungle setting brought a number of opportunities for students to for UW students. I encourage readers to keep their while conducting field research. The 10 students learn about and participate in Indonesian arts, and eyes and ears open for news of more Indonesian participating in this summer’s program include six from Callahan teaching civil-military relations in Nay Pyi Taw, 7/5/12 more specifically, Javanese performing arts. The performing arts at the UW. UW, two from the University of Texas, and one from use of a beautiful gamelan ensemble (comprised Central Oregon Community College. Hundreds and possibly thousands of similar kinds of gongs, metallophones, and other instruments) Professor Sunardi is an of previously unthinkable, impossible conversations enriched my Autumn Quarter music courses. Dr. ethnomusicologist specializing Professor Kyes is a Research now occur openly, publicly and critically every week in Ramona Holmes at SPU and the Seattle-Surabaya in the performing arts of Java, Professor in the Department of the post-junta political landscape of urban Myanmar. Sister City Association graciously permitted the UW Indonesia. Her other interests Psychology and Adjunct Research How did this happen? “The Previous Government,” as School of Music to borrow these instruments. The include the American musics, Professor in Global Health at the Burmese call it, was run by a small group of (mostly UW Southeast Asia Center supported Indonesian arts- as well as dance, gender, and UW. He is Director of the army) generals, who exercised de facto martial law related projects as well, including a dance performance interaction. Sunardi has spent University’s Center for Global Field from 1988-2011. Power was exercised by this junta, at SPU featuring the Center’s own Tikka Sears, UW several years in Central and East Study and Head of the Division of but was largely concentrated in the hands of its chair, undergraduate Emma Lux, and myself. The Center Java studying and performing Global Programs at the Washington Senior General Than Shwe. also supported the visit of the Javanese master gamelan music and dance. National Primate Research Center. (Cotinued on page 6)
4 5 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
(Continued from page 5) there was something wrong with the assumptions of not in reaction to destabilizing popular mobilizations THE RAMAYANA in Seattle this Fall NOT POSSIBLE … A YEAR AGO those who expected the longest running dictatorship or as a result of institution-threatening factionalism Adapted and created by ACT’s Affiliate Artist Working in the last fifty years to collapse, implode or surrender among leaders. The new constitution of 2008, and the Group. Co-Directed by Kurt Beattie and Sheila Daniels The army’s institutional command structure mapped in the face of economic sanctions, isolation, and a domination of senior positions of authority by (mostly) isomorphically to administrative and policymaking non-stop cascade of UN General Assembly resolutions retired senior military, serve to protect the interests of structures. Anything that happened outside one’s home against it. My frequent research trips to Burma military officers and their families as well as the military (and often inside) constituted “politics” and therefore a had suggested the military was far from the brink of as an institution. That said, however, the first fifteen threat to national security. demise. Although there were obvious signs of “cracks months of President Thein Sein’s government have Research opportunities were scarce and fraught in the edifice” of Tatmadaw rule, there existed vibrant ended the domination of the political system by the October 12 - November 11, 2012 | WORLD with anxiety. During my dissertation field work from political, literary, artistic and civil societies that were military-as-an-institution and witnessed the emergence PREMIERE at ACT Theatre 1991-1993, an MI (military intelligence) agent sat anything but crushed by the political oppression. of a realm of public, political life that is no longer across the table from me daily at the university library; I found it hard to ignore the particular, long-term subject to draconian “national security” mandates. Romance – Action - Suspense! Come along for the a senior colonel lectured me weekly about “true facts;” historical roots for the kind of coercion-intensive state- Given how early Myanmar is in this process, the adventure as ACT brings one of South and Southeast and martial law meant my dormitory warden locked society relations that had come to dominate post- causes, implications, and the potential for reversal of Asia’s greatest and most beloved epics to life on stage. us in at about 7 pm nightly. I worried around the clock colonial Burma. these changes remain unclear. The Ramayana tells the engrossing story of Rama, that what I read, asked and wrote might land an “The New For now, however, much that was not possible a young hero on a quest to rescue his beautiful wife acquaintance, taxi driver, or interviewee in jail. A dear Government,” is now possible. Expansive but long underestimated from an evil king. Like all great stories, it delivers friend was sentenced to 15 years in jail for “currency again as most organizations in domestic civil society in major cities spellbinding entertainment while posing essential violations,” and it was more than seven years into his Burmese refer have seized an apparent political opening by President questions about the human condition. Perfect for the sentence that he finally found a way to get word to me to it, is in some Thein Sein, as has opposition leader Daw Aung San whole family, sumptuously staged with vivid costumes, that his arrest was not really because of his assistance ways anything Suu Kyi (now an elected member of the Pyithu Hluttaw, fantastic sets, and re-imagined environments, The to me in my dissertation research. For most of his but new. No or Lower House of Parliament). Local groups and Ramayana is an eye-popping roller coaster of mythical imprisonment and indeed for most of the last 20 years, major shift has democratic political parties first gingerly and now more proportions—and unlike anything you’ve ever seen in I worked to stay as far off the radar of the military and occurred in the stridently have made previously unthinkable demands Seattle. its henchmen as possible. characteristics under the more liberal clauses of the 2008 constitution. What is the Ramayana? It is an ancient Sanskrit Year after year, I would visit my friends in of who rules The Burmese-language media reports on these epic, one of the two great epics of South and Southeast Rangoon, Mandalay, Lashio, Taunggyi, Pegu and (male, Burman demands without censorship, cabinet ministers (mostly Asia, the other being the Mahabharata. It depicts the elsewhere, and each time they would say, “Things retired or active- ex-military) respond sensibly to at least some of the duties of relationships, portraying ideal characters like here can not possibly get any worse;” the next year duty military criticisms, and a degree of responsible governance the ideal king, ideal servant, the ideal brother, and the they would report that social, political and economic officers) in elite seems possible for the first time in more than half a ideal wife. In South Asia, the Ramayana consists of conditions were significantly worse. In late 2009, I level positions of century. 24,000 Sanskrit verses in seven books and tells the Newspaper coverage of ongoing war in published the one piece of writing of which I was the Kachin State, July 2012 authority. As it turned out, there was nothing perpetual about story of Rama (an Avatar of the Hindu preserver-God most proud. It ran in The New Left Review and was However, there exists a new political fluidity that Burma’s junta. Although it is too soon to label the Vishnu), whose wife Sita is abducted by the demon called, “Perpetual Junta: Solving the Riddle of the potentially may change how they rule. Direct rule by wholly unexpected political developments as anything king of Langka, Ravana. Thematically, the Ramayana Tatmadaw’s Long Reign.” (“Tatmadaw” is Burmese for the military-as-an-institution is over, for now. Since their remotely approaching “democracy,” it cannot be explores human values and the concept of dharma or “armed forces.”) The title was the editor’s idea, but it inauguration nine months ago, former general, now insignificant that with each passing week, a previously duty. seemed wholly appropriate for the Burma that I had President, Thein Sein and his administration have unthinkable range of actions, conversations and In conjunction with ACT’S new adaptation of been studying since 1988. For 21 years, activists and acted like a government, not a high command; in the policies materialize on the political scene. Much is still the Ramayana, the Southeast Asia Center and the academics alike had been predicting the inevitable “previous government,” there was no such distinction. not possible – e.g., the President has failed to stop the South Asia Center at the Henry M. Jackson School end of history for one of the most reviled regimes in With this shift, the military-as-an-institution has seen a army from fighting in northern Shan State and Kachin of International Studies are co-sponsoring a four part the world. Just one more well-targeted sanction, one diminution in its scope of prerogatives. In 2011, the State (despite his issuance of two ceasefire orders), lecture series on the Ramayana in Southeast and more international prize for opposition leader Aung post-junta, constitutional government has fenced out a the economy remains dominated by wealthy cronies, South Asia. Additionally the Southeast Asia Center San Suu Kyi or one more round of street protests was non-military terrain of non-threatening, business-as- and little of the elite-level political reform has trickled has been involved with the Ramayana Ambassador’s supposed to do the trick. Much like the Arabists, who usual “politics” in both formal legal fora and informal down to the everyday lives of ordinary Burmese. program at ACT and will be giving workshops to over had spent decades explaining the anomalous durability iterative decision-making processes. This is nonetheless a historical moment of 20 young people that are part of the Ramayana Youth of unpopular, undemocratic regimes in the Middle East The progression of change thus far has been possibility, one long overdue. Ensemble. (only to be surprised by last year’s so-called “Arab largely defined and controlled by leaders of the Spring”), for nearly two decades I had also sensed Tatmadaw from a position of strength, (Continued on page 8)
6 7 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
(Continued from page 7) Save the Date: Indonesian Cultural Night, Helping teachers bring global issues to the classroom Abdullah Polovina, a Seattle Imam who lived through THE RAMAYANA in Seattle this Fall Saturday October 20, 2012; 7-9pm is at the heart of the Summer Seminar, aimed at middle revolution in Bosnia; Moly Sam, a Cambodian court school, high school, and community college educators. dancer who escaped the Khmer Rouge; and Tsering Southeast Asia Center Outreach Coordinator Tikka SEAC and The annual offering is hosted by the Jackson School of Chamatsang Yuthok, an international program advocate Sears has been serving as a consultant to the project, Gamelan International Studies and organized by the School’s eight who fled Tibet. introducing members of the design team to Indonesian Pacifica are area resource centers. “It was an intense two days with five incredible Mask Dance and Puppetry traditions. Sears has been supporting the Tikka Sears, outreach coordinator for the Southeast stories,” says Sears. “Teachers walked away with photo attending rehearsals and workshops of the play and CERDAS Asia Center, led the seminar. A theater artist who is stories and digital archives for all the regions, which they will even play a small role in the upcoming production. Foundation’s passionate about storytelling, Sears proposed a program can bring back to the classroom.” We are excited that over 10,000 Seattle community Indonesian that would help educators gain skills Sears and her team are now preparing DVDs of the in using oral histories by creating presentations for participants to use as a resource. The members will be attending this production and join the Cultural Night, and editing digital stories and software selected for training purposes is also easily millions of people throughout the world that know and an event to brainstorming ways to implement accessible and available as a free download online, so love this story. celebrate the wealth of them in the classroom. “This model the teachers can continue honing their digital storytelling Indonesian culture. The event will engage the audience works well,” says Sears. “It is unique skills. The Lecture Series Details: with Javanese Wayang Kulit, a traditional shadow and provides the opportunity to All lectures take place at ACT Theatre / 700 Union puppet play, and performances of Javanese/ combine different models of Street, Seattle, WA 98101 Sundanese classical dances. Ki Dalang Midiyanto learning.” (above), a renowned dalang (puppet master) from Java The educators worked in groups, each group • Ramayana Across Time and Space will perform the Tale of Dewa Ruci, a story describing focusing on one of the regions covered by the guest Professor Emeritus V. Narayana Rao the heroic quest of Bima for the secret knowledge of speakers. The participants listened to presenters, sorted Saturday, September 29th life. Gamelan Pacifica, one of the best contemporary through archived images, read a short article, built and gamelan troupes in the U.S., will accompany the show edited a presentation using Photo Story software, and • Shadows of Islam, Politics, and Contemporary under the direction of Professor Jarrad Powell (Cornish presented the finished product to the group. Film in Indonesian Ramayana Traditions College of the Arts). All proceeds from the Indonesian “I loved the hands-on experience,” says participant Professor Laurie Sears, University of Washington Cultural Night will be used by the CERDAS Foundation Elizabeth Norville, co-founder and project director for the Scott Macklin (far right) was the seminar’s keynote speaker, as Sunday, October 7th to provide scholarships for underprivileged students in Seattle Refugee Youth Project. “It really showed me the well as digital media facilitator and instructor. Indonesia. learning benefits of a digital media assignment and active “Increasingly we are coming to a better understanding • The Ramayana and the Sacred Temples of learning.” Norville’s work includes digital storytelling to that learners today are not just mere consumers of Angkor: Cambodia and Beyond Location: Kane Hall, UW, Seattle campus. promote the social inclusion of local refugee youth into content but are becoming co-creators of content and Professor Boreth Ly, UC Santa Cruz Tickets: Public $20 | Students & Seniors $10 their new Seattle homeland. thus co-creators of meanings,” says Scott Macklin, Purchase tickets through: Recruiting seminar presenters with compelling stories filmmaker and associate director in the UW Master of Sunday, October 14th Brown Paper Tickets: www.brownpapertickets.com Mustika Ningrum - CERDAS Foundation at (425) 770-0037 was crucial to the project. Invited speakers included Dr. Communication in Digital Media program, who delivered • Many Sitas Get more info at: http://wayang.cerdasfoundation.org Noor Aaf, a physician who lived in Afghanistan at the the seminar’s keynote lecture and served as the digital Professor Heidi Pauwels, University of Washington time of the Soviet invasion; Stephen Adler, a Holocaust media facilitator and instructor. “Learning sessions such survivor who escaped by Kindertransport to Hamburg; as this summer’s session help teachers gain access to Film Screening of Sita Sings the Blues Tibet to Bosnia: Summer Seminar Promotes the concepts, skills, acumen, and abilities to develop Saturday, November 3rd Global Storytelling by Jessica Carter, A&S Staff. Reprinted with permission from relevant and rigorous learning activities that are based in Perspectives, the UW College of Arts and Sciences newsletter (September relationships and generating results.” 2011 issue). Carter, Jessica and A&S Staff. “Tibet to Bosnia: Summer Macklin’s wife, Angelica Macklin, award-winning TICKETS are on sale now. Group Discounts are available. Seminar Promotes Global Storytelling.” Perspectives, the UW College of Arts and Sciences newsletter, September 2011. http://www.artsci. documentary film maker and Multimedia Producer for washington.edu/newsletter/Sept11/JSISSummerSeminar.asp the National Center for Quality Teaching and Learning, Commissioned by Vijay Vashee in honor of Sita Vashee as served as co-instructor and facilitator for the Summer part of ACT’s New Works for the American Stage Program. For two days, teachers attending the 2011 Summer Seminar. Wesley Henry, a PhD student in the College of Seminar for Educators listened with rapt attention as Education, served as teacher liaison. More information and tickets for the lecture series and show: guest speakers shared their personal stories of survival “It will be nice to have an alternative to Power Point http://www.acttheatre.org/Tickets/OnStage/Ramayana and escape from Nazi Germany, war-torn Cambodia, presentations,” says seminar participant and Roosevelt ACT Theatre / 700 Union Street, Seattle, WA 98101 / and other turbulent regions of the world. Then, working High School librarian Patricia Pawelak-Kort. “I think www.acttheatre.org / 206.292.7676 in groups, the educators created digital materials that Moly Sam, a Cambodian court dancer who escaped the Khmer students will be very excited about these digital materials, captured those dramatic stories, providing a powerful Rouge, told her story and performed a traditional Cambodian dance which seem to allow for more creativity. I look forward to teaching tool for their own classrooms. during the Summer Seminar for Educators. using them.”
8 9 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
Southeast Asian Studies Faculty’s Contribution “After Pol Pot’s reign, there were issues of poverty, “This is an important step in the overall positive Center Staff News to First Social Work Program in Cambodia street children, domestic violence and more, but we development of Cambodia.” didn’t have the knowledge or skill to help our own The four-year course, which began in September, The Southeast Asia Center welcomed Dr. Tracy Harachi (left), Associate people,” Meng says. 2008, was specially designed as a practical, hands- program coordinator Molly Wilskie- Professor (School of Social Work) “Even now, there are a lot of people here who face on program to prepare its students for work at local Kala in July, 2011. Molly assists both has played the role of partnership such problems.” and international organisations as well as in public the South and Southeast Asia director in the successful For two decades, myriad NGOs have come to agencies. Centers with everything from federal establishment of Cambodia’s first Cambodia to work on everything from child rights and “This program provides our students with a more grant reporting, course lists, student social work program. The article protection, HIV/AIDS and mental health issues to participatory learning environment instead of just sitting queries to office management. Molly below details the first graduating disabilities and youth rehabilitation. in lectures or reading their text books,” says Meng, received her B.A. in South Asian studies and cohort. Some experts, however, feel that the help offered a lecturer specialising in psychological trauma and comparative religion from the UW in ‘04 and came to by international organisations and agencies is only counseling. “We hope this will help students to learn us from Seattle-based Prosthetics Outreach Cambodia’s first social work grads ready to take short-term when it comes to the future of Cambodia. more, explore more and experience more.” Foundation where she co-managed prosthetic, the reins Today, the country is populated by young people The professional degree, which emphasizes field orthopedic and micro lending programs in Viet Nam, Calvin Yang. Reprinted with permission from The Phnom Penh Post . who have not experienced war but are still living with learning as a key component, allows students to be Sierra Leone and Bangladesh. Yang, Calvin. “Cambodia’s first social work grads ready to take the reins,” its consequences. “Some NGOs are handing out directly exposed to the situation on the ground through Phnom Penh Post, 25 Jun., 2012. http://www.phnompenhpost.com/index. help to the needy rather than teaching them skills, practicums during their second and third year, as well Welcome to UW alumnus Macklin php/2012062556984/Lifestyle/cambodias-social-work-grads.html. which is more long-term,” says Meng, who has a as a semester-long internship in their final year. Nguyen, who is working as an intern After witnessing his fellow Cambodians endure graduate degree in social work from the University of With close to 40 partnering organisations including for the Center this Fall. He will be poverty, child exploitation, domestic violence and Washington in the United States, a close partner that UNICEF, Maryknoll, Transcultural Psycho-social assisting us with outreach projects. discrimination for years, 24-year-old Hour Chhaileng has helped to establish the program. Organisation and First Step, the undergraduates, who Macklin received his B.S. in Biology wasn’t going to let each day pass without doing “We are trying to put in place a more sustainable come from 10 provinces, are offered a broad range and Microbiology from UW in June something about it. approach to social work in Cambodia, and this program of opportunities in every facet of community living, 2011. He also currently works for the “It’s not easy for Cambodians to live under is a good way to let young Khmers take charge of their from community-based organisations and hospitals to UW Department of Radiology. these difficult circumstances,” he says. “I wanted own country.” government agencies and NGOs. to do something to help them find solutions to their As Cambodia transits from reliance on foreign aid “The placements allow us to apply what we have Visiting Scholars problems.” to locals working on the ground, advocates and aid learned in class through the different areas of social Chhaileng graduated from high school four years workers hope the local angle will change its ability to work,” says student Hun Sinoun. Dr. Suraya Afiff is a faculty member ago and chose to pursue a university education in address the issues that have plagued the Kingdom for “With all the experiences I have gained through in Anthropology at the University of social work—completely uncharted territory for local decades. different placements, I am confident of finding a good Indonesia, and also affiliate faculty in undergraduates and one dominated by foreign aid job.” the Jackson School at UW. Last workers and volunteers. Next month, Chhaileng will According to the department, five of the 22 winter she co-taught with Dr. Celia be among the pioneer batch of students who graduate graduating social-work students have already Lowe a Jackson School Task Force on from the Social Work Baccalaureate degree program received permanent job offers from various NGOs and Climate Change in Jakarta, and this at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RuPP), the government agencies in Phnom Penh. summer she taught Literature and Society in Southeast first college-level social work course in Cambodia. “In a few years, I think many NGOs here will be Asia at UW. She has also been conducting library “This is the first time such a program has been localized, so they can become more sustainable for the research in the UW collections to develop a new offered in Cambodia,” says Dalin Meng, head of the long term,” Meng says. course on the anthropological study of the state that department of social work. The social-work course, which has gained she will teach at the University of Indonesia in the Fall. “There is a lot of need here in Cambodia, and this popularity with high-school students keen to enroll at course plays a crucial role in answering that need.” university, is being adapted into a part-time program in The Southeast Asia Center welcomes To commemorate the completion of their course, the addition to short-course Certifications to cope with the Professor Amy Singer as a visiting Cambodia’s first social work program, cohort # 1. students have been invited to a formal ceremony early demand for long-term aid workers. scholar for the 2012-2013 academic next year at which the top students of the program will “It’s a very exciting time for social services in “If we take a look at the situation in Cambodia year. Professor Singer received her receive their official certificates from Prime Minister Cambodia with this first round of graduates entering today, we can see that even though it’s not perfect, PhD in Sociology from UW in 2005 Hun Sen. the workplace,” says Rebekah Kofoed, a social work some things have changed,” Sinoun, a former intern and has been teaching at Knox Cambodia, a country ravaged by decades of technical adviser at Friends International. with the Advocacy and Policy Institute, says. College in Illinois since 2006. She is civil conflict and mistrust, is slowly moving out of the “Having Khmer social work graduates on the “I strongly believe that one day, Cambodia will here on sabbatical to work on a book based on her shadows of its disturbing past with the assistance of ground will balance well-developed field practice be a great society in which everyone can help both current research regarding the relationship between about 2,000 local and international non-government with theory that will provide strengthened services to themselves and their country.” culture and power in globalized food networks based in organisations. beneficiaries. Southeast Asia.
10 11 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
2011-2012 FLAS Awardees Rawi Nanakul. (Thai) Also a summer 2012-2013 FLAS Awardees Joseph Rubin. (Thai). Joseph’s Huyn Jung Ahn . (Thai). Also a ‘12-’13 ‘12 FLAS recipient, Rawi’s main area Mary Barnes. (Indonesian). Mary research interests concern Thailand FLAS recipient, Hyun Jun’s research of research is Muay Thai or Thai is primarily interested in museums and the role the people of the focuses on how fixed word-order and Kickboxing as practiced in Thailand. and their potential to strengthen Northeastern Provinces have in scrambling occur in the languages. His interest lies in cultural preservation communities and increase cross- the changing equation of political Her research also extends to how of the art and culture through cultural understanding. She looks and economic power in the country. structural cases such as nominative photography, film, and ethnography. forward to gaining the skills necessary The past 50 years has been a and accusative or topic/focus is His goal is to present the story of to collaborate with Indonesian dynamic period of change with a realized in different Asian languages. Muay Thai through visual media. cultural institutions to refocus the number of facets worth considering. purpose of museums as spaces Aubrey Black. (Tagalog). Also a Gai-Hoai Nguyen. (Vietnamese). for community-building, in addition to preservation. Vorada Savengseuksa. (Thai). summer ‘12 FLAS recipient, Aubrey Hoai’s research revolves around Vorada has been very involved in is researching environmental the theme of war legacies. She Barbara Clabots. (Tagalog). Barbara carrying out studies in public health, governance in insular Southeast has been studying the re-education is interested in people’s relationships cultural competency, and social Asia. He focuses on decentralization camps in Viet Nam using trauma with the ocean and how conservation policy in gender and education. She and collaborative governance theory. During the past two years can become more effective, more would like to expand her research models for resource management she interviewed camp survivors efficient, and more inclusive. She to studying culturally competent and conservation, especially of and their children to learn about the will be working with the Coastal leadership and programming in marine and coastal resources. He effects of re-telling stories about their Conservation and Education Southeast Asian non-governmental is interested in how both local and global conservation camps experiences. Hoai received her MA this past June. Foundation in the Philippines this organizations to improve human development groups interact with governments and resource users to summer to better understand outcomes, particularly in Northeastern Thailand. address complex and dynamic environmental challenges. Ralph Riccio. (Vietnamese). Ralph’s the role of women in marine resource management. thesis research is on managing Joss Whittaker. (Indonesian). Joss Micaela Campbell. (Indonesian; social and ecological resilience to the Aaron Lillie. (Vietnamese). Aaron is interested in using archaeology to ‘12-’13 FLAS offered). Micaela’s impacts of climate change in shrimp is interested in conducting research study the exchange of ideas across research interests include the public growing areas of the Mekong Delta. relating to the impact of American cultural boundaries and borders: sphere, politics of culture, intellectual Ralph graduated in June and will foreign policy in Vietnam in the technologies, religions, artistic styles, history, religion and democracy, be a consultant for the Ecosystem period of 1954-75. More specifically, and languages, in Indonesia and and counter discourses of nation Based Adaptation to Climate he is interested in collecting and elsewhere in Southeast Asia. He is and modernity. Her dissertation Change project with the International analyzing first-hand accounts of also interested in what happens more work focuses on arts communities Union for the Conservation of Nature in Viet Nam. Vietnamese veterans and their broadly on a culture’s frontiers such working at the intersection families living south of 17th parallel. as how frontier communities negotiate cultural differences. of culture and politics in Indonesia. Caleb Stewart. (Khmer). Caleb is pursuing concurrent degrees in Kaitlin O’Neil. (Indonesian). Kaitlin Peter Morris. (Summer ‘12 FLAS, Veronica Hoy. (Tagalog). Veronica is public administration (MPA) and is interested in gender issues Vietnamese). Peter began working interested in the relationship between law (JD) where he focuses on in Southeast Asia, specifically with Burmese refugees in 2007 poverty and access to healthcare, immigration law and international prostitution, HIV/AIDS, and the and is interested in using his particularly in minority communities human rights. Caleb plans to tailor accessibility of birth control and foreign language skills to facilitate such as the local Southeast Asian his immigration and human rights other women’s health resources. development in Burma. If Burma’s community. Specifically she would law practice to non-profits working She would like to research the political reform is successful Peter like to look at the link between the in and on the behalf of residents dynamic between the influence is also planning to conduct linguistic lack of access to healthcare and the and descendants of Southeast Asia. of the government and organized fieldwork in the country and assist development of healthcare that is culturally appropriate. religion and how they affect policies directed at women. Burma’s parliament in the creation of new legislation. Linda Uyeda. (Indonesian). Linda Hunter Marston. (Vietnamese) aims to take an interdisciplinary Rinna Rem. (Khmer). Rinna, who is Nancy Trinh. (Summer ‘12 FLAS, Hunter, also a ‘12-’13 FLAS approach to the study of wildlife also a summer ‘12 FLAS recipient, Tagalog). Nancy is currently Burmese language recipient, conservation, and will use both will be studying Khmer to support conducting research on cultural and studies civil society and state policy natural sciences and social sciences her goals of rebuilding libraries and external factors that affect the college in Southeast Asia, focusing on research methods to complete her information systems in Cambodia. experiences of Southeast Asian and US foreign policy toward Vietnam dissertation research on the role of the Her research interests include civic Pacific Islander students in the US. and Burma. He hopes to use his water monitor lizard, Varanus salvator, engagement in Cambodia, open She hopes to utilize her research in Vietnamese and Burmese language in Indonesia. She is currently completing her third year of source movements, transnational a professional capacity to increase skills to continue working in the non-profit Indonesian study at the UW and preparing for her next communities of the post-Khmer Rouge enrollment and retention of these sector of international development in the region. season of field research in Banten, West Java, Indonesia. diaspora, and Cambodian American identity formation. underrepresented Asian communities in higher education.
12 7 13 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
Congratulations to the 2011-2012 Tom and Alumni News Welcome Southeast Asian Studies MA Also a Warm Welcome to These Southeast Mary Kay Gething Awardees Students Asia Graduate Students Congratulations to Hunter Marston and Gai-Hoai Hunter Marston (JSIS/Evans School) Nguyen who have successfully completed their MA in 2011-2012 Cohort: Welcome to Rawi Nanakul who Kaitlin O’Neil (History) Presented his paper “Bauxite Mining in Vietnam’s Central Southeast Asian Studies. Hunter will serve as an intern entered the MA in Southeast Asian Studies program in Jonathan Muir (Sociology) Highlands: An Arena for Emerging Civil Society” at the for the Department of State in Burma this summer before the Fall of 2011. Rawi majored in Music and Psychology Arthit Jiamrattanyoo (History) Cornell Graduate Student Conference. returning to finish his Master’s in Public Administration. from the University of California, Davis. In 2008-2009, Roneva Keel (History) Hoai recently took on the position of Assistant Director of Rawi was a Fulbright Research Fellow and that brought Alfitri (Comparative Law) Chris Patterson (English) the Latin American and Caribbean Studies program here him to Thailand where he conducted a study on Thai Linda Yanti Sulistiawati (Comparative Law) Attended the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the United States at the UW and continues to assist the Southeast Asia Kickboxing in addition to carrying out conservation work (MELUS) Conference in San Jose to present part of his Center in the office and with special projects. recording performances of Pii-Muay, the music that is Dissertations Defended dissertation project on post-colonial literature in English performed along with the fights. Congratulations to UW alum Jayde Dr. Woonkyung Yeo, of the Department of History, from Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. Lin Roberts, who now holds a 2012-2013 Cohort: We also welcome our third cohort of successfully defended his dissertation on August 8, tenure-track faculty position in the 2012. The title of the dissertation is “Palembang in the Kim Sparks (School of Marine Affairs) graduate students in the Southeast Asia Studies M.A. School of Asian Languages and Program who will begin in Fall of 2012. Welcome to 1950s: The Making and Unmaking of A Region.” Dr. Yeo’s Attended the Danajon Bank Stakeholder Summit in dissertation examines the complex socioeconomic issues Studies at University of Tasmania, Joseph Rubin, Aaron Lillie, Mary Barnes and James the Philippines to present her thesis findings regarding surrounding the postcolonial transition in Indonesia by Australia. In 2011, Jayde Pangilinan. a comprehensive management plan for a rare double focusing on the history of Palembang, its international completed her PhD in the Built Joseph studied International Studies with a barrier reef in the Philippines. affiliations, and the discourse of “regionalism” in 1950s’ Environment Program where she Southeast Asia track at the University of Washington. considered the reemergence of Chinese-ness in the Indonesia. The dissertation shows that histories of the This past summer and spring he has been teaching public spaces of Yangon/Rangoon, the former capital city regions outside Java cannot be confined within state English in Northeastern Thailand. Joseph is interested Update on the Charles and Jane Keyes of Burma/Myanmar. boundaries or the logics of regionalism. Dr. Yeo returned Travel Award for Graduate Student Research in the social dynamics between Bangkok, the Northeast, to South Korea to begin a job as a researcher at Sogang and macro global trends that are influencing both of these Congratulations to University. spheres. Evi Sutrisno SEAC alum Bradley Aaron received his BA from the University of (Anthropology) received Davis, (far left , MAIS Dr. Mia Siscawati successfully defended her dissertation Washington where he majored in History and minored a Keyes award in 2010. 2002 and PhD History in Anthropology, “Social Movements and Scientific Evi’s research explores 2008 (Viet Nam) who in International Studies with a Southeast Asia track. He Forestry: Examining the Community Forestry Movement transformations in the recently accepted a lived in Viet Nam last year teaching English, studying in Indonesia” on June 7, 2012. Her dissertation Confucian tradition in tenure-track Assistant Vietnamese, and travelling. His research interests addresses the histories and present circumstances of Indonesia, a center of Professor position in include American foreign policy in Viet Nam between forest management in Indonesia. Her work emphasizes the large Chinese East Asian History at 1954 and 1975. Specifically, he is interested in collecting the particular role of progressive Indonesian activists and diaspora since the 19th Eastern Connecticut State University, as of Fall 2012. and analyzing firsthand accounts of Vietnamese veterans forestry scholars who seek to preserve the rights of forest century. She is concerned with how the religious sphere After his PhD, Brad was an instructor at Eastern and their families living south of the 17th parallel. dependent peoples to access their forests. Dr. Siscawati has developed as a site of resistance for Chinese Washington University from 2009-2011 and is currently a Mary earned her B.A. in Anthropology at New will teach at the University of Indonesia when she returns Indonesians in their struggles as an oppressed minority Visiting Faculty at Gonzaga University. Brad also co- College of Florida and taught English in Makassar, there in September. under colonial and post-colonial Indonesian rule. Evi founded the Yao Script Project (below). Indonesia. Mary will focus on Indonesian language and conducted research in two Confucian communities in In 2006, the Ford Foundation, through their former culture. Also, she is interested in museums and their On May 13, 2011, Dr. Asep S. Suntana, successfully Surabaya from July 2010 to August 2011. She also Hanoi Office, began funding a project that combined potential to strengthen communities and increase cross- defended his dissertation, “Non-Traditional Utilization of travelled to parts of Java, Jakarta, Bangka Island and the establishment of an educational network with an cultural understanding. She aims to collaborate with Forest Biomass for Sustainable Energy Development,” in the School of Environmental and Forest Sciences. His Medan. She observed gatherings and religious rituals in effort to account for texts conserved by members of Indonesian cultural institutions to rethink the purpose of museums as spaces for community-building, in addition dissertation examines the availability of wood biomass temples or houses, such as the celebrations of the the Yao (Dao) ethnic group in Vietnam. An act of cross- to preservation. for bioenergy production in Indonesia and its benefits Chinese New Year or Imlek, the tribute to the dead spirit institutional co-operation took place that, over the next two years, resulted in a project that combined textual James studied socio-cultural anthropology at to urban areas and rural communities near forests. His or King Hoo Ping, the birth and the death anniversary of collection with education in the northern Vietnamese Wesleyan University. His areas of interest include media research provides alternative solutions to the dilemmas Confucius. She also interviewed lay people, priests and province of Lao Cai. A Yao script project was ... an and gender studies as well as the political anthropology of sustainable forestry practices and sustainable energy activists or organizers of the Indonesian High Council of attempt to forge a new context for a traditional form of of transitional states and human rights. He would like development. Dr. Suntana recently returned to Indonesia Confucian Religion (Majelis Tinggi Agama Konghucu literacy. to further explore the tentative intersections among to continue his engagement with these issues. He also Indonesia-MATAKIN) about their religious values and Read full article at: http://iias.nl/sites/default/files/IIAS_NL56_0405.pdf these interests as they relate to the politics and social continues with UW as an Affiliate Assistant Professor of thoughts. processes of the region. Environmental and Forest Sciences.
14 15 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
The Influence of Research Abroad: Letting and NGOs, as well as local community farmers. In Opportunities the Jackson School’s Culture Welcome Fulbright-DIKTI Indonesian Senior the country teach you learning more about the complexities of REDD+ in the of Critical Thinking Has Created for Me Scholars Sandi Halimuddin (JSIS/Journalism) context of Indonesia’s culture and history, I became Hunter Marston (JSIS/Evans School) aware of my inability to provide development advice as a 20-year-old undergraduate and an outsider. Yet I am among the first cohort graduating from the through collaboration with our Indonesian counterparts, Southeast Asia Program at the Henry M. Jackson School we were challenged and empowered to think outside of a of International Studies (JSIS). There are three of us constricted, American mindset. in the cohort, and each of us has had a unique and The Fulbright-DIKTI Indonesian Senior Scholar Professor Lowe described collaboration and rewriting formative experience at the University of Washington. Recharging Program is an experimental international the script of the Western paradigm of development as This summer I will be interning for the Department of program that allows selected Indonesian senior scholars key components of our research. Instead of Western State at the American embassy in Myanmar, where I will to spend 10 weeks in the U.S. at a research university. countries and people imposing ideas on development combine my language and area studies skills with hands- The University of Washington was chosen as the first strategies, she explained, “[This task force] was to be a on policy analysis. site for the program because of the excellence and process of rewriting script and how rich and developing While at UW, I have also undertaken a concurrent quantity of scholars who specialize on Indonesia in the countries can engage together in an environmentally MPA degree at the Evans School of Public Affairs. The areas of Anthropology, Archaeology, Ethnomusicology, transformative experience.” two degrees complement each other, each teaching a Environmental Science and Conservation, Global Task Force collaborative research team, 2012. This trip to Indonesia illuminated the importance different skill set which I will use in my professional career. Health, History, Literature and Film, Marine Affairs, For the first two weeks of winter quarter, my academic of humility during engagement with foreign cultures in JSIS has contributed immensely to my understanding Political Science, the Asian Law Center, and Primatology. studies occurred in government buildings and NGO the face of daunting global challenges. This was plainly of the history, culture, and politics, of Southeast Asia, as The Indonesian scholars will be matched with UW offices, my homework involved trekking through rice revealed to me in Nyuncung, the remote forest village well as my language abilities in both Vietnamese and faculty mentors for an intensive program of academic paddies and mountainous forests, and my teacher was we stayed at in order to learn about land-tenure conflicts Burmese. I have relished the two years of instruction here collaboration. The program will include weekly seminar the beautiful country of Indonesia. As part of the Jackson between the central government, district government and will continue to delve into Southeast Asia scholarship series both for and by the scholars, exposure to university School of International Studies’ task force program on and local communities. On one occasion our hosts, as I travel and explore these societies further. research facilities, and opportunities to visit other climate change in Indonesia, I traveled with professor local community farmers, led an expedition through institutions around Washington. The Scholars will arrive Celia Lowe and seven undergraduates to Indonesia the mountainous landscape and rice paddies. The The critical thinking skills I gained as an in mid-September and leave at the end of November. with the goal of researching carbon emissions from supposedly light hike turned out to be a frightening and undergraduate student at Skidmore College held a direct The program is sponsored by CIES Fulbright, AMINEF deforestation and land-use changes. Yet the scholarly almost farcical experience of repeatedly slipping on affinity with my coursework at JSIS. It is these skills – endeavors were only a piece of the full learning muddy ground and feebly crawling up steep terrain, in above those gained in policy analysis or quantitative Indonesia and DIKTI, and hosted by the UW Center experience I had in broadening my understanding of the part due to my ignorance in wearing Converse shoes science courses at the Evans School, in fact, that I will be for Global Field Study (CGFS), the Jackson School history, politics, and culture of my father’s home country, and my complete lack of athletic inclination. Without taking with me in the field of foreign policy. and the Southeast Asia Center, in collaboration with Indonesia. any traction, sense of direction or control of the thorns Last summer I interned at the Council on Foreign the Seattle-Surabaya Sister City Organization. Special We traveled 8,386 miles to Indonesia, where we prickling my exposed ankles, I felt incapacitated. Relations in Washington, DC. Since then, I have acknowledgement to Professor Randy Kyes, Research researched and created policy recommendations for the As an outsider, I had no choice but to let our hosts participated in a conference at Cornell and published an Professor of Psychology and Director of the Center for United Nations’ program on Reducing Emissions from take the lead. Every step of the way through dense article about Burma in the Journal of Int’l Affairs at Penn Global Field Study, who is heading up the program. Deforestation and Degradation (REDD+) in developing forests and along the sheer drop of the cliffs, the State. The Southeast Asia Program has provided me with countries. REDD+ is a global attempt to create financial knowledgeable guides held my hand, literally. As they incredible opportunities, and it has taught me the intrinsic Prof. Dr. Ir. Ardi, M.Sc, Andalas University incentives for forest conservation in Indonesia. led us, they told us which paths were safe to walk in and value of critical thinking, writing and communication Dr. Irawati Chaniago, Ph.D, Andalas University Equipped with nothing but a few weeks worth which plants were poisonous. There is no doubt that my skills. Most importantly, it has re-energized my passion Dr. Ir. Maria Endo Mahata, MS, Andalas University Dr. Muhammad Niswar ST, M. InfoTech, Hasanuddin University of knowledge about forestry rights in Indonesia and experience in Nyuncung would be incomplete without for academic excellence and honed my professional Prof. Dr. Ir Asmudin Natsir, M.Sc., Hasanuddin University elementary Bahasa Indonesian skills, I felt underqualified the community farmers’ local knowledge and sense of ambitions. Djoni Prawira Rahardja, Ph.D, Hasanuddin University stewardship for the land. to produce non-trivial recommendations to a United Dr. Ir. Bakri, M. Sc, Hasanuddin University In the same vein, during the task force research, I Nations representative about how REDD+ can be Dr. Ir Andoyo Supriyantono, Papua State University implemented in an efficient, effective, and equitable was reminded of the significance of learning by following. Ir. Sintje Lumatauw, M. Sc, Ph.D, Papua State University manner. We worked in collaboration with a University Without collaboration and consultation with Indonesians, Prof. Dr. Ir. Marsetyo, M. Sc.Agr, Padulako University of Indonesia research team led by Dr. Suraya Afiff, we cannot even begin to comprehend the scope and Ir. Andi Arham Adam, M. Sc, Ph.D, Tadulako University a professor of political ecology in the university’s nuances of REDD+ in their country, a place we are so Ir. Stephanus Mandagi, M. App. Sc, Ph.D, Sam Ratulangi University Anthropology graduate program. Our Indonesian removed from. It took a trip across the globe for me to Dr. Anom Bowolaksono, M. Sc, Ph.D, University of Indonesia counterparts were invaluable as academic partners, better understand where I came from and who I am. I left Ir Abdul Hadi, M. Agr, Ph.D, Lambung Mangkurat University translators, cultural brokers, and friends. for Indonesia with the intention of developing meaningful Dr. Mohammad G. Rindarjono, M. Si., Sebelas Maret University Together, our task force conducted interviews with solutions for Indonesia’s REDD+ program. Yet the more major REDD+ stakeholders, such as representatives from time I spent in Indonesia, the more I realized that it was For more information about the program and scholars, visit: Indonesia that would be teaching me. Hunter with other JSIS students. Left to right: Matthew Ho, Hunter http://depts.washington.edu/cgfs/UW-Fulbright-DIKTI/index.htm relevant government ministries, international embassies, Marston, Madgi Jiang and Weiyu Wang. (Photo by Brian Chu, JSIS)
16 17 SOUTHEAST ASIA CENTER NEWSLETTER / FALL 2012
Review of AAS/ANTH 314: the Difficult students going out into the community to learn about Farewell and Good Luck to Tom Gething A Gift Legacy Dialogues class on ethnography in SE Asia their topic from the people themselves, describing their and SE Asian American communities. experiences. I was allowed to go out into the Mien Tom Gething came to Seattle in 1995 after taking Special thanks go to Tom and Mary Kay Gething and Chi Saeteurn (American Ethnic Studies) community and ask questions and gather responses, early retirement from the University of Hawaii where Charles (Biff) and Jane Keyes for their generous gifts gaining an understanding of the Mien language he was Dean of Students and Associate Dean of the that allowed the Southeast Asia Center to establish two During Winter 2012, I enrolled in AAS/ANTH 314: gap from the people who are currently experiencing Graduate Division. Over his long and distinguished important endowments benefiting our students. The Tom Ethnography, Transnationalism, and Community in the issues of transnationalism and migration. After career, Tom has taught Southeast Asian languages at and Mary Kay Gething endowment for graduate student Island Southeast Asia/ Asian America, a course co- gathering this information, I was able to string together Michigan, the University of Hawaii, Ohio University, and travel provides much-needed travel funds for graduate taught by Professors Rick Bonus (American Ethnic ethnography, transnationalism, and community even the University of Washington. He also worked at the students to present papers at professional conferences. Studies) and Celia Lowe (Anthropology). Three more, because of the depth and breadth of research National Foreign Language Center in Washington, D.C. The Charles and Jane Keyes endowment provides travel themes were clear from the beginning: Ethnography, that I was allowed to undertake on my own. and has directed language institutes at Hawaii and the funding for graduate student research in Southeast Transnationalism, and Community with an emphasis AAS/ANTH 314 maintained the right balance University of Oregon. Asia. Thanks to the Gethings and the Keyes for on Southeast Asian countries, people, and cultures. of structuring a basis for the student to understand Retirement did not slow Tom down at all. In fact, supporting these essential graduate student professional This class was unlike any class that I had ever taken, the themes of ethnography, transnationalism, and before he knew it, he was busy being a positive force development opportunities. and not only because there were two professors. community, and then by allowing the student to for the development of UW Southeast Asian studies as The Southeast Asia Center would also like to thank the While the lectures and course materials gave a basic witness these themes. The course not only allowed well as a strong advocate for students at the University following individuals and organizations for their generous foundation and understanding of the themes, it was up me to better understand the language aspect of my of Washington. Tom’s contributions to the UW and the contributions over the past five years to the SEAC to the students to provide the content of the final paper community, but also piqued other interests as well. My UW Southeast Asian studies program are too many to list discretionary fund. Your gifts are a vital source of funding through ethnographic research on any topic of our research in the Mien community has inspired me to here, but among them are: assisting the Southeast Asia Center to successfully compete for three rounds of Title for programming and activities. Thank you! choosing. I was particularly interested in the language continue conducting interviews on other topics, such VI funding, stepping in as SEAC director, coordinating gap in the Mien community and chose this as my topic. as Shamanism and religion. This class taught me an $1 - $99 $100 - $299 the Southeast Asian studies language program, taking I have always wanted to research my own community, important aspect of research: to value the voices of the Lam Thai Bui Francisco (Kiko) Benitez the lead as project director for the Advanced Study of Sara Curran Enrique Bonus and the openness of this class allowed me to select a community. These voices would otherwise be unheard, Thai abroad program, and stepping in as Assistant Vice Charles Hirschman Betty Broman and I am thankful that I had the opportunity to take a Lilianna Ly Christoph Giebel topic that truly resonated with my interests. Provost and Assistant Dean of the UW Graduate School class that prepared me to listen to these voices. Constance Wilson With guidance from the professors and and Director of postdoctoral affairs. A further reflection independent fieldwork, I was able to see the three $300 - $500 $1000+ of his commitment to improving Southeast Asian Studies Thomas Gething Community Foundation of themes of the class come together. The professors and the quality of student life at the UW came when Mark Gibson Santa Cruz laid out guidelines on the role of the ethnographer, SEAC Faculty, Peter Lape, Receives Tom, together with his wife Mary Kay, established an Stephen Slone Laurie J. Sears which, as student researchers, we kept in mind as Spellman Awards for Achievement in endowment for Southeast Asian studies graduate student Sara Van Fleet we conducted interviews in the community. In class, Historic Preservation travel. The endowment assists graduate students in we also explored the histories of the Southeast Asian traveling to present papers at professional conferences. countries and people in order to understand what may Peter Lape, associate professor of On top of all this, Tom has been a friend and a trusted Calendar OF EVENTS Anthropology and curator of have led to the migration of these groups of people. colleague to many of us here in the SE Asia Center, as Fall 2012 Southeast Asia Center Calendar of Events (see http://jsis. By looking at migration of Southeast Asian groups, the Archaeology at the Burke well as in the Jackson School and the graduate school. washington.edu/seac/events.shtml for complete calendar listing). element of transnationalism arose as a major issue Museum, was a recipient, with He will be missed. Tom moves to the East Coast to settle because these people, uprooted from their homeland, colleagues, of two Spellman near his family and enjoy time with his young grandsons. Oct 06. Lecture: People of Myanmar in the Pacific would face this phenomenon as their cultures crossed Awards presented at the King Thank you and good luck, Tom! Northwest: Strength, Struggle and Spirit. (Members of physical and invisible boundaries. As the lectures laid County Executive’s Award Northwest refugee community) the groundwork for the themes, the real understanding Ceremony for Achievement in Oct 07. Lecture: Shadows of Islam, Politics, and of how these themes arose in the communities Historic Preservation. The Contemporary Film in Indonesian Ramayana Traditions. came to life through the independent fieldwork and Identification and Education Spellman Award was (Laurie Sears) ethnographic research. given for Lape’s work with the Center for Wooden Oct 13. Lecture: Buddhist Art and Architecture of The ethnographic research was the most Boats to enhance public understanding of Lake Union’s Myanmar. (Boreth Ly) rewarding part of the class because the student underwater archaeological resources. A Migration and Oct 14. Lecture: The Ramayana and the Sacred stepped into the role of the ethnographer and Interpretation Spellman Award was given for Peter’s Temples of Angkor: Cambodia and Beyond. (Boreth Ly) conducted interviews within the community. AAS/ANTH new exhibit, Milepost 31, an historic and archaeological Oct 15. Southeast Asia Center Annual Fall Reception. 314 allowed the student to gather information from the resource center that celebrates the people and projects Oct 22. primary sources themselves. This was amazing—the that shaped Pioneer Square. Lecture: The New Politics of Thailand’s Middle- Photo taken at Tom’s farewell gathering. From left to right: Income Peasantry. (Andrew Walker) Laurie Sears, Tom Gething, Sara Van Fleet, and Tikka Sears.
18 19 The Henry M. Jackson School of International Studies University of Washington Box 353650 Seattle WA 98195-3650
You Can Make A Difference! Contributing to the Southeast Asia Center The Southeast Asia Center is among the top Southeast Asian studies programs in the world, promoting cross-disciplinary, in-depth and innovative approaches to the study and understanding of Southeast Asia. You can help us sustain the excellence of the Southeast Asia Center by making a gift today. Your gift can create vital opportunities by helping to support students or by providing necessary outreach to the community. We appreciate your support.
Yes, I wish to contribute. ______The Southeast Asia Center Discretionary Fund.
Your generous donations will contribute to the Southeast N A M E ______Asia Center discretionary fund for developing quality public A D D R E S S ______programming about Southeast Asia and for graduate student support. C I T Y ______S T A T E ______Z I P ______E M A I L ______Please make checks payable to “University of Washington.” To give on-line, please visit: https://www.washington.edu/giving/ Enclosed is my check for $______payable to the UW Southeast Asia Center. make-a-gift?source_typ=3&source=JACDIS Please charge my gift to the Southeast Asia Center to _____V I S A o r ____M _ a s t e r C a r d , f o r t h e a m o u n t o f $ ______. Thank you for supporting SEAC. Your contribution is tax-deductible.
A C C O U N T # ______E X P. D A T E ______Send Donations or Inquiries to: S I G N A T U R E ______University of Washington Attention: Southeast Asia Center N A M E O N C A R D ( P L E A S E P R I N T ) ______Jackson School of International Studies If your employer has a matching gift program,please provide the name of the corporation below: 303 Thomson, Box 353650 Seattle, WA 98195 [email protected] / (206) 543-9606