Life & Letters A publication of the College of Liberal Arts of The University of Texas at Austin Volume 2 Issue 1

Behind the Veil

Pro Bene Meritis Winners

Making a Difference in the Languages of the World Life & Letters From the Dean Volume 2 Issue 1 Once again, the school year is drawing to a close. It has certainly been a year of challenges. On campus, we have been faced with The College of Liberal Arts at The University budget cuts and increased enrollment. As a nation, we have been of Texas at Austin publishes Life & Letters for through a war abroad and continue to confront an economic battle alumni and friends of the College. at home. But through out it all, I have had the redeeming pleasure of working with 13,000 of the best and brightest college students Editor: around. Robin Stanton Gerrow It is a great pleasure to tell you that we will have more than 2,100 of those students participating in commencement ceremonies Contributing writers: this month. Economics, Government and Psychology are the Michelle Bryant largest groups, with more than 300 graduating from each of those Lauren Downey departments. This year’s class of graduating seniors include winners of Marshall and Mitchell scholarships. We are also proud to have two winners of Truman scholarships, Heidi Boutros and Corinna Kester, in our Plan Photographer: II program. You can read about some of Heidi’s wonderful work on Marsha Miller page 17. It is also an honor to introduce you to this year’s Pro Bene Meritis winners, Elizabeth Warnock Fernea, Betty Sue Flowers, Joe Long & Alumni Editorial Advisors: Teresa Lozano Long, and Charls Walker. Each of these people have Michael Appleman made significant contributions to the liberal arts--I think you will enjoy reading about each of them in this Coby Chase issue of Life & Letters. Joan Fitzgerald Curry I frequently talk about the excitement and the impact of the liberal arts, and there are several articles in this issue that show how our students are using their education to tackle global issues. They, along with several faculty members, are doing work in Peru, India and right here on campus, to help indigenous Web Address: www.utexas.edu/cola communities preserve their culture and heritage. This is typical of the reach and power of the work being done in the College of Liberal Arts. Though we will have fewer students on campus over the summer, that doesn’t mean we will be taking a To submit an item for “Class Notes,” send it, along break. With enrollments expected to remain high, there is significant work to do in preparation for the fall with your major and year of graduation, to semester. The cuts that we have undergone and the projected cuts in the next biennium present us with real [email protected] or mail to challenges to our ability to deliver the same high quality education that has earned UT a glowing and growing reputation throughout the world. Life & Letters, College of Liberal Arts, 1 University The wonderful faculty and staff of this College are working hard to find ways to deal with this situa- Station, G6000, Austin, TX 78712 tion—with the needs of students being the primary concern. It is an honor to work with such dedicated folks. Cover: Faegheh Shirazi, Speaking as a parent and as an educator, I tell you with pleasure that the students have never before seen in photo by Marsha Miller this College a faculty of such high dedication and such international distinction. To you alums this means that your degree has never had the luster that it has today. You can be more proud today of your UT degree than ever before. Thank you all for your continued support and good wishes. I look forward to hearing from you. Richard Lariviere Dean, College of Liberal Arts Contents

Features Dying Languages Pro Bene Meritis ...... 3 page 7 Breathing Life Into a Dying Language...... 7 Fear Factor...... 19 Tolkien's Tongues of Middle Earth...... 21

Shirley Thompson page 14 Departments

Alumni...... 13 Faculty ...... 14 Research ...... 15 Students...... 17 The Back Page ...... 30 Middle Earth page 21 page 2 Elizabeth Warnock Fernea Narrowing the distance from East to West One of the first things you notice about Elizabeth Warnock Fernea is her ease with people. Walking across campus, she’ll greet familiar faces and those who simply recognize her. Her manner towards others probably helped her live among strangers and their customs in several countries including Morocco, Egypt and Iraq. Before traveling far and wide, Fernea traveled within the United States to pursue her education. She received her undergraduate degree from Reed College in 1949; worked on her graduate fellowship in English from Mount Holyoke College in 1949-50; and continued her graduate work in English at the University of Chicago from 1954-56. Shortly after college, Fernea married Robert Fernea, who was then an anthropology graduate student from the University of Chicago, moving to Iraq for fieldwork in 1956. Rather than remaining behind, Fernea accompanied her husband to the small Shiite village in Southern Iraq. For two years, Fernea dressed in traditional clothing, learned the language, and shared her life with the local women. From her experience abroad came her first ethnogra- phy, “Guests of the Sheik,” in 1965. “I wrote about the Middle East because I realized people didn’t understand their culture,” Fernea said. “When I returned, people wondered how I lived there, but really I wouldn’t have survived without the kindness of those women. So, I wanted to write about my experience in a personal way.” Following their residence in Iraq, Fernea and her husband moved to Egypt in 1959 for the next six years, which led to her second book, “A View of the Nile.” Though Fernea Fernea continued on page 26

Pro Bene Meritis Award The Pro Bene Meritis Award is to honor individuals who are committed to the liberal arts, who have made outstanding contributions in professional or philanthropic pur- suits, or who have participated in service related to the College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. This year’s honorees, Elizabeth Warnock Fernea, Betty photo by Marsha Miller Sue Flowers, Joe R. Long, Teresa Lozano Long and Charls Walker are profiled in the following pages.

page 3 For most people work is far from enjoyable, but for Dr. Betty Sue Flowers work is synonymous with fun. As director of the Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, Flowers handles tasks that allow the LBJ Library to serve as a center for schol- arly research. Not only does Flowers see her job as important; she loves investing her time in it. “I enjoy my job, and I like putting in the time it requires,” Flowers said. “I think of it more as ‘what I like to do’ rather than a job.” Flowers was raised in Texas, growing up in Abilene and Waco. She graduated from The Univer- sity of Texas at Austin in 1969 as a Plan II student with High Honors and Special Honors in English. She continued at the university to earn her master’s degree in English with a minor in history in 1970. After completing her doctorate from the University of London in 1973, Flowers returned to her position at the university until 1979, when she became an associate professor in the English Department. During her tenure at the university she has also served as the associate dean of the graduate school and the director for Plan II Liberal Arts Honors program. Flowers became a full professor in the English Department, where she taught until photo by Marsha Miller recently. In 2000, she was selected as the director for creative writing, and in 2001 was chosen as the Joan Negley Kelleher Centennial Professor. Betty Sue Flowers She has hosted a series on KLRU, the local affiliate of the Public Broadcasting System (PBS), called “Conversations with Betty Sue Flowers,” and took part in a national series with Bill Moyers on PBS titled, “Six Great Ideas.” Nationally, Flowers has served on the United States Personnel Committee, Following her participated in several panels for the National Endowment for the Humanities, as well as the American Academy of University Professors. own bliss Flowers continued on page 25 page 4 JOE R. LONG & TERESA LOZANO LONG The Power of Two Joe R. Long and Teresa Lozano Long have become known as a dy- namic duo in Austin where they make their home—creating a legacy of art, health and education. “Whatever we do, we do it together,” Teresa said. Both got their start in small Texas towns. For Teresa it was in Pre- mont where her parents operated a dairy farm. She earned the distinction of class valedictorian and was a bookworm who enjoyed school and piano lessons. Joe was born in San Antonio, but his family moved around to several small towns before settling down in Centerville. Joe excelled in school participating in Interscholastic League and declamation, the memorization of famous speeches and poetry. He served as class president for four years and Toscanini conduct the New York Philharmonic almost 50 years ago in Gregory was also valedictorian of his class. Gym,” Joe said. At age 16, Teresa began attending The University of Texas at Austin. She He completed his ROTC training and upon graduation in 1951, was called graduated in 1948 completing her bachelor of science degree in only three years. into the service during the Korean War as Second Lieutenant as a military police In 1965, she earned her doctorate in education becoming the first Hispanic to officer, attached to the th7 Army Military Police Battalion in Stuttgart. He was receive a degree in health and physical education. honorably discharged in 1953 as First Lieutenant. “I grew up at the university,” Teresa said. “We’d go to the movies at the Para- After working for a year as a salesman Joe decided to take a teaching job in mount, swim at Barton Springs or go to the UT football game or the Friday night Alice for one year—a decision that would change his life. frolic at the Texas Union.” In 1956 Joe and Teresa met. She taught health and physical education, and Joe began the first two years of his collegiate life at Tarleton State College at he taught civics and history. Joe also coached a debate team and took them all Stephenville prior to attending The University of Texas at Austin. He received the way to the state finals. his bachelor of arts degree with a major in government in 1951, and eventually “I pretty much knew instantly that Teresa was for me,” Joe said. “She, on the went on to earn his J.D. degree from the School of Law. other hand, was focused on finishing her degree and making a living. It probably He worked as many as three jobs at a time throughout college while carrying took her two or three years to figure it out.” a full load. Some of his jobs included working at the college library; the Teacher In February 1958 they were married and six months later Joe received his Retirement System of Texas; and teaching at the Brown School, a private school law degree. This year marks their 45th wedding anniversary. in Austin for children with extreme learning disabilities. “A highlight of my time at the university was being able to hear Arturo Longs continued on page 29 page 5 Charls E. Walker The road to Washington Charls E. Walker is a man of his word, but he While living in Philadelphia Walker decided to Capital Formation and a co-founder of the Commit- had to break a promise on his path to Washington, drive to North Carolina to watch the Longhorn and tee on the Present Danger and The Bretton Woods D.C. North Carolina football game. Committee. In 1976, he was the co-chairman of the “I promised my wife we would never live out- “I ran into a buddy that told me that Harmo- Presidential Debates. The Urban League has honored side of Texas,” said Walker. lyn was going out with a guy that I couldn’t stand,” him for his contributions to minority enterprise and Walker is a native of Graham, a small West Walker said. “That was it—I picked up the phone education. Texas community. His father died in 1928 leaving and proposed that night.” When Walker joined the Nixon administration, his mother to care for their four children and fam- The couple has been married more than 50 years it was a result of feeling the original nominee for Sec- ily hotel. Holding a grammar school education and and their home is Potomac, Maryland. They have a retary of the Treasury was not the right choice. He being predominantly self-taught, Walker’s mother son Charls and a daughter Carolyn. did some behind the scenes lobbying for the nomi- realized the importance of education and insisted Walker has served as economic advisor to the nation of his friend David M. Kennedy, a Chicago all of her children attend college. Secretary of the Treasury in the second Eisenhower Walker continued on page 25 Walker was very active in school, participat- administration and Deputy ing in basketball, public speaking, Interscholastic Secretary of the Treasury in League, drama and student government. the first Nixon administra- He earned his bachelor’s and master’s degree tion. He holds the Alexan- in business administration from The University of der Hamilton award, the Texas at Austin, as well as a doctorate in finance highest award granted in from the Wharton School at the University of Treasury. Pennsylvania. He is a “distinguished alumnus” at Walker’s other posi- both The University of Texas at Austin and the tions have included special College of Business Administration. assistant to the president of While at the university, he was a member and the Republic National Bank president of the Longhorn Band and a member of of Dallas and vice president the Cowboys, a student organization. The univer- and economic advisor to sity is also where he met his wife, Harmolyn Hart. the president of the Federal “She was dating a friend of mine,” Walker said. Reserve Bank in Dallas. “He made the mistake of leaving for the summer— From 1961 to 1969, he was by September Harmolyn and I were dating.” executive vice president After beginning a position as economics in- of The American Bank- structor at the university, Walker took a leave of ers Association. He is the absence to accept a two-year assignment as econo- founder and chairman of mist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. the American Council for

page 6 Breathing life into a dying language

University graduate students embark on a quest to save an endangered language

page 7 “J++tarata quiaiiquii?” These simple words of greeting were no longer spoken in a small village in the Amazon Basin of Peru. Now, due in part to a group of graduate students from The University of Texas at Austin, voices young and old can be heard responding with “Suhuaata quiiquii.” Though they once populated a large portion of the region, the Iquito Indians now primarily live in and around San Antonio de Pintuyacu, a population of about 500 people. The principal language of the community is Spanish, with only 26 documented fluent speakers of Iquito left. The language of this civilization, and with it important parts of the culture, is dying. A few years ago, community leaders took a significant step in letting the local government in Iquitos—a city of about 300,000 in the Amazon jungle—know that they wanted help in preserving their language and their culture. Who exactly instigated it depends upon whom you speak to, but the result was that two university students doing both academic and humanitarian work in another part of Peru caught wind of the community’s request. Linguistic anthropology students Christine Beier and Lev Michael have been making regu- lar trips to southern Peru for about eight years to provide medical supplies through a nonprofit organization they founded in 1996, Cabeceras Aid Project (CAP). “Over the years, we have developed friendships with various people who work with indig- enous rights and issues,” Beier said. “While we were in Peru in 2000, Lev and I learned from several different sources that the Iquitos of San Antonio were actively engaged in efforts to revitalize their heritage language and that they were seeking outside assistance in doing so.” The loss of the Iquito language, like many other dying languages, is a multifacet- ed story of social and political issues. There are historical records from the early 1700s documenting a number of Iquito com- munities totally at least 10,000 indigenous speakers. As Europeans began moving into the Amazon Basin, there was an attempt to Language continued on page 27 Opposite page: One of the community's children on his way to fish. Left: Lev Michael (left) and Mark Brown (right) discuss the pronounciation of an Iquito word with Herminegildo Díaz Cuyasa one of the especialistas. Top right: Lynda De Jong was a favorite among the community's children. Right: Chris Beier (right) talks with linguista Miroslava Güimack Llona. photos by Thomas Gerrow page 8 The Journey to Dharchula For as long as anyone can remember, the Darma people have gathered each winter in and around the town of Dharchula, situated deep in the Indian Himalayas along the westernmost border of Nepal. For more than a generation, though, the region was closed to visitors both foreign and Indian because of international security concerns involving both neighbor- ing Nepal and nearby Chinese forces in Tibet. Now, Christina Willis, a graduate student in Linguistics at The University of Texas at Austin, has made the long journey from America to the subcontinent to try and help the Darma people preserve their native tongue, which today is spoken by fewer than 2,000 people. The road from Austin to Dharchula is not an easy one. It takes 24 hours flying time just to reach the Indian capital of New Delhi, and then an overnight-train ride and 15 hours chasing curves through the middle Himalayas to reach this remote hamlet. Even administrators for the United States Educational Foundation in India, which oversees the local arm of the U.S. Fulbright Program, are hard pressed to locate Dharchula on a map. Still, Willis said facing up to the challenge is worth it. “It’s really important both for the field of linguistics and for these indigenous peoples to document their languages,” she said. “Documenting languages not only helps us understand how human languages work, but it’s crucial if local populations want to maintain their culture.” The government of India officially recognizes 18 languages in its national constitution, and more than 1,500 regional variations and dialects were identified through the 1990s. But a lack of financial and educational resources, especially in more remote regions of the country, mean that even where many languages have been identified, they have yet to be stud- ied. For the Darma people, language documentation has been hampered by geographic isolation, but also because the Darma language – more closely

A Darma-Hindu wedding in Dharchula. page 9 related to Tibetan than Hindi, the dominant tongue slow but steady progress. of north India – has no written form. This means, She is developing a Darma like many Indian dialects, it will survive only as long dictionary and hopes to as people know how to speak it. complete what’s known in Armed with a suitcase full of recording equip- linguistics as a “descriptive ment, a few semesters of instruction in Hindi and a grammar,” a study of vari- specialized phonetic alphabet developed by linguists ous grammatical aspects of in order to record spoken-only languages, Willis a given language. In turn, arrived in Dharchula last November. She is one of this description could be 80 grantees currently in India under the auspices of used to teach future genera- Fulbright. Two more students from the University of tions how to speak Darma, Texas have also received funding: Ritu Khanduri, a and might also provide a doctorate candidate in Anthropology, who is looking roadmap for other groups at the role of cartoons and graphic satire in political in the region interested in debate; and Kristen Rudisill, a doctorate candidate in maintaining their speech, Asian Cultures and Language, who plans on studying stories and songs. Such contemporary theater in Chennai, India’s fourth larg- language-preservation ef- est city. forts are an important part “It’s very exciting to be here,” Willis said. “There of the work being done are so many students of Indian background in Austin by university linguists in that it’s great to be able to be an American studying India, as well as all through Christina Willis, second from left, with members of the Dharchula community. here.” the Americas – from Peru to As for her own work, Willis has been making Alaska. The links between into the Himalayas. The trip concludes in the upper language and culture can reaches of the Darma Gorge, the alpine valley that sometimes be elusive, but shares the Darma name. The summer migration will it’s clear that leaders among provide Willis with more than a chance to continue the Darma view this as an her linguistics fieldwork. She’ll also have an oppor- important step in maintain- tunity to observe the Darma in a traditional, rustic ing their vibrant culture. setting, where age-old ceremonies and practices hold Willis has been in- sway over daily life. vited to join several families “For better or worse, development is coming to this summer as they make these people,” she said. “I hope at the least, we can their annual migration from make a record of their language and their lifestyle the Dharchula area farther before it’s too late.” --Photos and story by Dan Oko

A scenic view of Dharchula.

page 10 A knowledge beyond words There is more to a language than just words. Traditions, history, pharmacology, music—they can all be lost when a language dies. Two programs in the College of Liberal Arts are working to document and preserve languages in Latin America. The Center for Indigenous Languages of Latin America (CILLA) and the Archive of Indig- enous Languages of Latin America (AILLA) are using two different approaches to help both community members and academics maintain endangered lan- guages. CILLA is the first of its kind in the United States combining research and teaching with programs that support the speakers of indigenous languages. There are hundreds of different indigenous languages in Latin America ranging in size from groups with only a few speakers to those with up to 10 million speak- ers. One of the newest ways the center is providing support is by hosting students that are native speak- ers of the language, particularly at the graduate level. The center has five students who are native speakers of indigenous languages: two studying intensive Eng- lish with the intention of enrolling in linguistics next year, two currently studying anthropology and one studying linguistics. The Zoques of San Miguel Chimalapa, Oaxaca, Mexico, celebrating the fiesta of San Miguel (their patron saint) “These are people that intend to go home and use in August, 1995. There are Zoque narratives in the AILLA database. their education for the benefit of their communities and their languages,” said Dr. Nora England, direc- 100,000 to 200,000 speakers in Guatemala. The lan- Q’anjob’al was not being taught at school and began tor of CILLA. “The only way you can make sure a guage also has a small population of 10,000 speakers work at a school that focused on language. language lives on is through the community." in California. “When I began teaching I realized there were B’alam Eladio Mateo-Toledo is a master’s stu- Mateo-Toledo was an elementary school teacher no materials to work with—no reading or grammar dent in Linguistics from Guatemala and is a speaker in Guatemala when he became interested in why materials,” Mateo-Toledo said. “There were a couple of Q’anjob’al, a Mayan language with an estimated page 11 of stories written in the language, but that’s it. I ings,” Johnson added. “There is no risk of losing realized what was needed and started looking for a information due to fragile and aging materials. It also chance to study linguistics.” protects the information from being lost due to fire, a A particular challenge facing Mateo-Toledo’s flood or a misplaced box—possibly taking with it the efforts is that many native speakers want their chil- last recording of a now-extinct language. The tech- dren to speak Spanish due to social and economic nology has caught up with the dream.” pressures. With more indigenous languages shifting Archive resources are free of charge and can be to Spanish or Portuguese—a transition that is tak- accessed online. Most of the resources in the AILLA ing place worldwide with particular strength in the database are available to the public, however there Americas—many communities are in conflict about are some special access restrictions to protect the maintaining their cultural heritage while adhering to privacy of the speakers in cases of cultural, political, these pressures. religious or personal sensitivities. “They do not want their children to face the “Our job is to make the archive accessible to the same problems they have faced,” Mateo-Toledo indigenous people of Latin America,” Johnson said. said. “Even if the children are learning their native “The scholars who study their languages and cultures language they do not know the whole context. More Ajb’ee Odilio Jiménez-Sánchez, a graduate student in and interested members of the general public. We children are watching television, spending less time Anthropology, is a Maya from Guatemala, specifically preserve recordings of these works of verbal art so with family and community, and schools are affect- Mam. He’s on the board of advisors for CILLA and that future generations can remember and perhaps ing the way the language is being taught. Many of does translations for AILLA. re-learn them. the stories and culture are with the older speakers. If “We’ve found with Internet cafes in every mar- it is not documented, we may lose all of this knowl- In 2000, AILLA was created as a permanent ket city and very limited access to libraries this is edge from the community.” and safe home for numerous recordings including the best way to reach the indigenous communities,” Ajb’ee Odilio Jiménez-Sánchez is a doctoral can- narratives, ceremonies, oratory, conversations and Johnson added. didate in Anthropology and is a speaker of Mam, the songs. Many of these recordings are accompanied by The archive has 26 recorded languages spanning second largest Mayan language in Guatemala with transcriptions, translations and analysis in Spanish, from eight different countries. The goal is to con- an estimated one million speakers. His research has English or Portuguese. tinue to add languages while prioritizing the effort by focused on the politics and identity of language. The archive also collects materials about these what language is the most endangered, the condition “Researchers may come into indigenous commu- languages, such as grammars, dictionaries and eth- of recordings that may need to be immediately digi- nities and think language revitalization is the main nographies. The collection includes teaching materi- tized and the depth of information available for each goal in the community, but often the communities als for bilingual education and language revitalization language. may have other priorities—they may be struggling to programs in indigenous communities. The archive is a collaborative effort of the survive or trying to acquire a small piece of land,” Ji- “Linguists and anthropologists have been produc- Departments of Anthropology and Linguistics and ménez-Sánchez said. “The shift in language is not an ing collections of recordings in indigenous languages the Digital Library Services Division. The project is issue of rejecting their Mam background, it involves for decades,” said Dr. Heidi Johnson, project man- funded by the College of Liberal Arts, the National issues of racism and discrimination in the country. ager of AILLA. Endowment for the Humanities and the National “I try to balance being academic and being a “In many cases we may receive a lifetime worth Science Foundation. member of the community in my research,” he of work. Some of the oldest recordings in our collec- To learn more about CILLA or to access AILLA added. “It can be challenging because I work within tion come from the reel-to-reel tapes used more than visit www.utexas.edu/cola/llilas/centers/cilla/index a society that is still adjusting to seeing indigenous 50 years ago. or www.ailla.org. professionals.” “Now that we are able to digitize these record- --Michelle Bryant

page 12 ALUMNI The meaning of commitment Pauline Zoeller has shown what it means to make a commitment. For herself, she committed to earning her degree one course at a time. For future students, she devoted her time to set up a scholarship fund. Even today, she is dedicated to helping St. David’s Episcopal Church with its renovations—at 6 a.m. sharp each day. Born in 1921, Zoeller was raised in Burnet, Texas by parents who believed in education. Though her father’s education came to an end after the sixth grade, he put his brother and nephew through school, and loaned money to others for educational purposes. After winning a scholarship for being the valedictorian of her high school, she began college at The University of Texas at Austin in 1939. However, one year later, she had to return home to help her mother who had suffered from a heart attack. Various circumstances would not allow her to return to academic life for another twenty years. When Zoeller returned home, she married Ferdinand William (F.W.) Zoeller in September 1940. She first met F.W. while she was still in high school at a street dance in Burnet, where he happened to be temporarily working. They lived in Burnet for several years until they moved to Austin in 1959. Zoeller and her husband had adopted a son and two daughters, one of whom was still young at the time. Zoeller rode the city bus with her daughter to school, leaving three extra hours in her schedule. Upon her husband’s suggestion she began The University of Texas at Austin again. Over the next 10 years, Zoeller continued to take courses she enjoyed, always making sure they could lead to a degree, until 1973 when she earned her degree in anthropology. A few years later, Zoeller’s mother passed away, leaving her an inheri- tance. Having grown up with a strong belief in the value of education, Zoeller decided she wanted to help students tackle college expenses. So, in 1977, she photo by Marsha Miller took $1,000 to the university to start a scholarship. She ended up leaving with the money because it fell below the required minimum amount. Determined way. Ten years later she was able to return to the university with $10,000 to to make the scholarship happen, she put the money into a certificate of deposit create the LaBunk Gibbs Scholarship in memory of her father. where she let it mature, moved it, and added some additional money along the Zoeller continued on page 29 page 13 FACULTY Cross Country Road Scholar People say you learn about yourself when you and in writing the implications of a given text. jazz that creates a larger sense of the racial context of leave home. This was certainly true for Dr. Shirley “I might use a political cartoon that sparks their the music through vignettes. Thompson, who discovered her academic interests interest, or bring photographs, paintings, and other Also in the works is Thompson’s research of her during a cross-country trip with one key destination: types of visual art,” she continued. “Music often is own family history. While visiting South Carolina for New Orleans. related to our topics, as well as poetry.” a family reunion, Thompson was able to locate re- Leaving from the city she grew up in, Atlanta, Thompson has taught American Studies at Lew- cords of her father’s side of the family, including the Thompson’s route eventually took her to San Fran- iston-Auburn College; women’s studies at The Uni- Thompson continued on page 25 cisco, but not before passing through New Orleans versity of Southern Maine; and history and literature where she read through a bilingual local newspaper at Harvard University. published during Reconstruction. Upon closer ex- While at Harvard, she amination, she realized the French-speaking Creole served as assistant dean of color population was a distinct community from of its summer school English-speaking African Americans. Thompson and won the Thomas wondered how the experiences of each community Temple Hoopes Prize differed, bringing about her research, which she con- for thesis advising. tinues today. Thompson is cur- Thompson, who received her doctorate degree rently working on a in History of American Civilization from Harvard revision of her own dis- in 2001, is an assistant professor in the Department sertation on “New Or- of American Studies at The University of Texas at leans’ Creoles of Color Austin. She joined the university’s faculty in the fall in the 19th Century,” of 2001 and has enjoyed teaching cultural history in which won the Ralph terms of race and ethnicity, bringing a multifaceted Henry Gabriel Prize for approach to teaching with her. The Best Dissertation in Thompson uses classroom discussion to decipher American Studies 2000- the point of any text, music, or art. She often utilizes 2001. She’s extending different media to begin her classes, hoping to relax her research in New inhibitions about talking in class. Orleans to include more “I am interested in developing the connection in contemporary, 20th and students among reading, discussing, and writing,” she 21st Century, politics of said. “Most of my classes have a discussion com- place and racial iden- ponent—even the larger lecture classes. I feel it is tity. She’s involved in a important to engage students in thinking and talking project on the cultural critically about the reading, and to consider out loud history of New Orleans’ photo by Marsha Miller

page 14 RESEARCH Behind the Veil Throughout history, the veil has symbolized she said. “The mother, the oldest, feels many things to different people. Though typically very obligated to wear the hijab. She associated with religion and ethnic customs, the veil thinks of it as part of her clothing and has played an important role in politics and has even would feel naked without it. Out of found its way into Western pop culture. her two adult daughters, one hates Dr. Faegheh Shirazi, associate professor in Mid- to wear the hijab, and the other dle Eastern Languages and Cultures in the College more orthodox daughter wears the of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin, more conservative black hijab. is the author of “The Veil Unveiled: The Hijab in The youngest teenager wears the Modern Culture.” She describes the Western idea minimal requirements.” that the veil in the Middle East is a symbol of female Although the custom of repression as simplistic and misplaced. veiling is typically associated “Although the veil is just a piece of clothing, it with Islam, the practice actu- has much more meaning attached, making it a com- ally outdates Islamic culture plicated and controversial topic,” she said. “Histori- by thousands of years. Veiling cally, it has taken on great political, religious and and seclusion were marks cultural signifi cance.” of prestige and symbols In Iran, for example, one form of veil or hijab of status in the Assyrian, consists of a rupush, a loose outer garment that Greco-Roman and Byzan- fl ows down past the knees and covers the arms, and tine empires as well as in a rusari, a large scarf that covers the hair, shoulders pre-Islamic Iran. and neck. According to Shirazi, different colors and Throughout history fashion can often express a woman’s political and re- the veil has been used ligious belief. Though some modern women experi- to promote political ment with different color scarves, fashion and mate- agendas, to demonstrate rials to maintain some individuality, they are careful political protest and not to break the law of hijab, a mandatory code for women to veil in public in parts of the Middle East. Shirazi models a black Failure to comply can result in imprisonment, harass- head veil called Abbaya. ment or physical punishment. It is a single piece garment Shirazi gave an example of how opinions about placed on the head, cover- the hijab may even differ within the same household ing the entire body, but photos by Marsha Miller in Iran, where the law of hijab is practiced. not the face. “I know of a home where there are four women,” page 15 even to show political support. For instance, when the French dominated Algeria, the women of Algeria substituted wearing the traditional white veil with wearing a black veil as a non-ver- bal form of protest. Some countries, such as Iran, have gone from being unveiled to being veiled and back again. Shirazi’s book “The Veil Unveiled” gives an account of the significance the veil has played in Iranian politics. “The Iranian women were forced to unveil to fit Reza Shah’s delusions of grandeur, and forced to reveil to fit Ayatollah Khomeini’s visions for true religion,” Shirazi said. “Women in Iran during the Islamic revolution in 1978 were told by donning the veil they would fend off the assault of Western culture, and by sending their sons to fight the Iraqi army and becoming a martyr they would help save the Islamic Republic of Iran and support the defense of Islam. Ten years after the war with Iraq, she was told that by not veiling according to the guidelines of the clergy she would cause the downfall of the Islamic Republic. In Iranian politics, the veil has proved to be the most effective weapon of the rulers, secular and clerical.” During her yearly visits to Iran, Shirazi finds that the hijab is still a controversial topic con- juring many emotions. While conducting research for her book, Shirazi viewed graffiti plastered on the walls of houses and factories bordering the roadway. It conveyed slogans such as “Death to the improp- erly veiled woman” and “If unveiling is a sign of civilization, then animals must be the most civilized.” The veil, which has become synonymous with religion and politics in the Middle East, has taken on quite a different meaning in Western culture. From advertisements as diverse as those for Reebok, Jeep Cherokee, IBM and Virginia Slims. To magazine cartoons and layouts in Penthouse and Playboy. To the newest Las Ve- gas resort, Aladdin, veils are being used to create an image. “Although veiled women sell a great variety of products in the United States,” Shirazi said, “we can discern three major advertising strategies exploiting three different stereotypes about the Muslim woman: the mys- terious woman hiding behind her veil, waiting to be conquered by an American man; the submissive woman, forced to hide behind the veil; and the generic veiled woman, representing all peoples and cultures of the Middle East.” Shirazi noted that many American-born Muslims choose to wear the hijab out of respect, humility and religious solidarity, providing yet another image of the veiled woman. “Some people think of the veil as erotic and romantic, others perceive it as a symbol of oppression, still others consider it a sign of piety, modesty or purity,” Shirazi said. “It has become so ubiquitous that everyone seems to have formed an opinion about it. The various connotations it has, the many emotions it arouses, testify to its continuing, perhaps even growing, significance in the modern world.” --Michelle Bryant

Top right: This face veil called Arosiya, is a wedding veil from Bedouin tribes in Jordan. The veil is originally in red gauze, decorated with colored glass beads, gold coins and embroidered in red cross-stitching. The color red is known by many cultures to divert the evil eye.

Left: This is a veil worn during festive occasions by the Arab Bedouin Jewish women of Yemen. This headdress is cut to fit the shape of the head in front and hangs loose at the back to display the gold hand embroidered work. page 16 STUDENTS A volunteer's vacation When Heidi Boutros travels over the summer, Government. Her extraordinary work began with “Once I arrived in Russia, I visited several pris- she doesn’t take the usual college student route of what was supposed to be a vacation visiting a high ons,” she said. “We were taking food and books and beaches or backpacking through Europe. Instead, she school friend living in Russia during the summer of just spending time with prisoners, but I didn’t feel chooses to hang out in Russian prisons, or work to 2001. like we were helping them in the way they needed. free bonded slaves in India. But then Boutros is not “I didn’t want to spend so much money to get For most of them the problem was that they were in- your typical college student. to Russia and just stay for a week to see all of the nocent and they were going to be in prison for a very Boutros, a Dallas native, is a junior in Plan II and touristy sights, so I thought I would volunteer there long time. All we could do was bring them a spoon for the summer,” she said. to eat their soup with. We couldn’t get them out of “I started looking into prison.” different problems that or- And then everything changed with a book. ganizations in Russia were “At that time I was reading ‘Good News about addressing. Injustice,’ written by Gary Haugen, president of the “When I came across the International Justice Mission (IJM),” Boutros said. State Department human “The book has a section about a man who was il- rights report for Russia I legally detained, and it explains what IJM did to get read that the two major him out of prison. I felt excited about this organiza- problems were with Chech- tion that was meeting people’s needs in a way that I nya and the Russian prison wasn’t able to—that’s how I initially became inter- system,” she explained. “I ested in human rights issues.” wasn’t going to be any- That interest in human rights has also led to two where near Chechnya—I trips to India working with IJM for the release of was going to be in Moscow. bonded slaves. The first trip, during spring break of I was always interested in 2002, was spent interviewing people who had been criminal justice and law, so sold into bonded slavery, but again, for Boutros this I thought the prison system just wasn’t doing enough. She went back for the would be a good place for 2002 summer break and took on more responsibili- me to start.” ties. Boutros was invited by a “In bonded slavery, often it is a child who is sold Russian organization to join to someone willing to lend a family money in times them in their work with of a financial emergency,” she said. “The problem prisoners, but once she be- is that the family never really has enough money to gan working, it just didn’t repay the loan, so the child stays in slavery forever. seem like enough. “I was eager to go back to India and do more page 17 than just the interviews,” she said. “I wanted to see the whole process through—from putting victim testimony in a compelling format and delivering the information to the government officials to getting people released and put in aftercare with a non-gov- ernment organization.” Boutros isn’t only concerned with justice on a global level, she wants to see the right thing done closer to home as well. She has been hard at work Boutros with Students for Academic Integrity developing an receives honor code for the university. “When I came to UT, I was surprised there honors for wasn’t an honor code,” she said. “I wrote an academic integrity policy which defines cheating and a process academics that would involve students in handling cases of aca- demic dishonesty. The initial goal was to get it passed and service in one year, but we soon realized that wasn’t pos- sible. So we wrote an academic code of conduct—a statement of the values we have at the university and why they are important. We took it around to the different college councils and I was surprised to find out that a lot of students were in support of a code of conduct and it was passed by the cabinet of college councils.” This summer, Boutros will be working with the Boutros has been recognized several times for her academic achievement as well as her work in International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugo- human rights. Last spring, she was named Goldman Sachs Global Leader in recognition of her slavia in The Hague. Then it’s back to the university work on the academic code of conduct, for organizing UT Amnesty International's first lecture in the fall for her final year. After that, she plans to series, for her participation in volunteer projects to stop violence against women. She also co- continue her work with human rights. authored a country discrimination report on South Africa for the United Nations World Con- “I might take a year or two off between un- ference Against Racism. dergraduate and law school,” she said. “I’d like to volunteer or study abroad. When I go to law school I This year, Boutros was one of two university students to receive a Truman Scholarship. The want to specialize in international human rights law, Scholars were selected from among 635 candidates nominated by 305 colleges and universities. and after that I would like to go to the Department In addition to financial support, Scholars also receive priority admission and supplemental finan- of Justice in the civil rights division.” cial aid at some premier graduate institutions, leadership training, career and graduate school --Robin Stanton Gerrow counseling, and special internship opportunities within the federal government. Recipients must be U.S. citizens, have outstanding leadership potential and communication skills, be in the top quarter of their class and be committed to careers in government or the not-for-profit sector.

page 18 Fear Factor Helping people conquer phobias and anxieties Fear can be a good thing. Being afraid makes us heed severe weather warnings and keeps us from running across busy freeways. It is a survival mechanism for most, but for some people their fear has become consuming and out of con- trol. Since 1988 Dr. Michael Telch and the Laboratory for the Study of Anxiety Disorders (LSAD) in the Department of Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin have been researching treatments for anxiety-related disorders such as panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder, and specific phobias, including claus- trophobia, arachnophobia and cynophobia (dog phobia). “Anxiety is part of being a human being,” Telch said. “The question is when does it become a disorder? Mother Nature gave us an alarm system of anxiety and panic to cope with threats. This signal system is critical to our survival. The bad news is that this mechanism is capable of sending a false alarm. “It can become a disorder when the alarm is out of proportion to the threat,” he added. “The hallmark is that the brain is receiving danger messages when the danger isn’t there. While many people have these false alarms, it becomes a disorder when it interferes with daily func- tioning or when the response is above and beyond what is called for. Anxiety disorders are the largest—and one of the most treatable—class- es of psychiatric disorders.” Rapid breathing, pounding heart and a desire to flee are typi- cal—and reasonable—reactions to perceived danger, but for someone experiencing an anxiety disorder, these feelings become overwhelming. The fight or flight response kicks into overdrive when a person is expe- riencing the symptoms of an anxiety disorder. Research has shown that

Mark Powers, graduate student in the Department of Psychology, holds the LSAD resident python, Spot.

photos by Marsha Miller page 19 anxiety disorders in the U.S. cost more than $42 bil- thick-skinned, but when I found out about lion each year, about one third of the amount spent the lab I decided it was time to do something on mental health care in this country. about it.” Though treatments for clients are individualized, After only three exposure sessions with Telch and the LSAD team frequently use an expo- Telch and his staff, Kinsey has overcome his sure-based treatment to help the client to not only arachnophobia. face his or her fear, but to also obtain evidence that “Essentially, they burned it out of me,” weakens the false sense of threat that maintains the he said. “They exposed me to the point of be- fear. ing unreal. I became desensitized. You would “The idea of confronting your fear isn’t new, never be with spiders that much in real life, but we are working on ways to make it more effec- so now seeing a spider or two has become tive,” he said. “What turns off the alarm? When most anticlimactic.” people are confronting their fears, they try not to Though he still has to persuade some think about it and to distract themselves to overcome of his friends that he is their fear. We’ve found that the opposite is true, that over his fear of spiders, distracting yourself can prolong recovery. We are a recent camping trip looking at what new corrective experiences we can Above: Lucy, a taran- has convinced Kinsey give this person to weaken their false threat percep- tula, is one of the spiders that his arachnophobia is tion. used in the LSAD to behind him. “Our study of safety behaviors and their adverse treat arachnophobia. “We went camping effects have led us to the conclusion that the actions for a week in a place people engage in to cope with their fears inadver- where there are spiders tently contribute to them worsening,” Telch said. For everywhere—in your Left: Spot is used in the example, someone experiencing acrophobia—the bags, in the tents—just treatment of ophidiopho- fear of heights—will carry out safety behaviors that everywhere,” he said. bia, the fear of snakes. interfere with treatment such as gripping a rail when “I had always been very confronted with a precipice. As the grip tightens, nervous about camping threat signals are sent to the brain telling it that there there in warm weather is something to be afraid of, which in turn causes because of the spiders. more anxiety. This time, people were “Our research suggests that identifying and with- coming to me to get the drawing safety behaviors significantly enhances the spiders out of the tents. A spider even bit me, and 100 percent of participants show significant improve- potency of existing exposure treatments,” Telch said. it was my friend—not me—who was freaking out ment after only 30 minutes of total exposure time. Austin resident Alfred Kinsey knows firsthand what about it. I’m completely thrilled with the outcome of The most common phobia? these false alarms feel like, and how exposure treat- the treatment.” “The biggest fear is public speaking, with 15 ment can work. Another very treatable type of phobia is claus- percent of American experiencing a dramatic fear of “I’d heard that Dr. Telch could help with a nasty trophobia, the fear of enclosed spaces. As many as it,” Telch said. “People have had to turn down jobs, spider phobia I’d had for a long time,” Kinsey said. “I 2 to 5 percent of the population experience severe and certainly students have dropped classes because knew it was over the top for years and it had become claustrophobia, but Telch’s studies have found that of it.” a running joke with my family and friends. I’m pretty --Robin Stanton Gerrow page 20 Tolkien's Tongues of Middle Earth

Fred Hoyt uses Tolkien’s work to interest students in the study of linguistics.

page 21 photos by Marsha Miller One of the most popular works of fiction in the didn’t include a single name without exhaustively phonology. Once we look at those two languages and 20th century, “The Lord of the Rings,” was written going through and determining what the possible how they relate to each other we can talk about the by an academic. A philologist to be precise. etymology might have been, given the groundwork same relationships in real languages. For example, J.R.R. Tolkien, author of “The Lord of the he had laid. And then he started writing the story how is Welsh related to English, or German or Latin? Rings,” “The Hobbit” and other stories of Middle because he needed something to do with the lan- I think that’s the most fascinating part.” Earth, spent his professional career as a philolo- guages. Tolkien believed that you couldn’t separate a Though the course is based on Tolkien’s lan- gist—a classical linguist—immersed in Old English language from its cultural context. guages, students shouldn’t expect to come out of it and Old Norse as a professor at Oxford University “Since he was inventing languages he needed to speaking Dwarvish or Elvish. Rather, Hoyt said, they in Great Britain. It is only fitting that his works of invent a cultural context to go with it,” Hoyt ex- will learn the patterns Tolkien used in the languages fiction and fantasy continue to influence others like plained. “You can study his invented languages and and how to find patterns in one’s own way of speak- Fred Hoyt to pursue the study of linguistics. Hoyt, a still see things about real languages. All the patterns ing. graduate student in the Department of Linguistics, that you find in Tolkien’s languages are patterns “Meta-linguistic awareness is the idea that you plans to use Tolkien’s work to interest other students found in the world’s languages. He quilted things are able to reflect on your own speech habits,” Hoyt in the study of linguistics with a course he is teaching together.” said. “Linguistics is the study of what all human in the spring, The Linguistics of Middle Earth. Though The Lord of the Rings offers glimpses of languages have in common in terms of how they put Hoyt’s first exposure to Tolkien and the lan- Dwarvish, the Black Speech or Orcish, Tolkien more words together to make larger expressions. If there is guages Tolkien created for his world of Orcs, Elves fully developed the Elven languages of Quenya and one thing I hope students get out of this class, it is to and Hobbits came in grade school when he and his Sindarin. become aware of how they are saying things.” mother read “The Hobbit” and “The Lord of the “Of the two languages he developed the most, Tolkien’s languages, like real languages, are based Rings” aloud. one is partly based on Latin with a Finnish pronun- on internal patterns as well as how they relate to “I just wanted more,” Hoyt said. “At that time ciation, if you will,” Hoyt said. “The other is based others. It is in the analysis of these patterns that has there were very few sources of material about Tolk- largely on Welsh. Once we look at those languages interested linguists around the globe. ien’s languages available, aside from ‘The Lord of the then we can talk about Finnish, and we’ll talk about “What I do in linguistics has less to do with lit- Rings’ itself. There came a point there was noth- Welsh. erature studies, and much more to do with computer ing else to go to except the real stuff that Tolkien’s “Tolkien also developed elaborate correspon- science or statistical-based psychology,” Hoyt said. languages were based upon, so I started checking out dence rules between the two languages,” Hoyt added. “You spend a lot of time looking for patterns. You’re books about Old English and other languages. “He imagined that they had a common source so he investigating and looking for relationships in complex “I wish that I had known about linguistics as an had to define rules of linguistic change that would information and learning to formulate arguments undergrad,” Hoyt said. allow him to relate Welsh phonology to Finnish based on them.” While studying English literature, he rediscov- --Robin Stanton Gerrow ered his interest in Old English and was first exposed to linguistic theory. By teaching a course involv- ing literature that has become part of the popular culture, Hoyt thinks he will expose students to the foundations of language. Hoyt explained that the Tolkien stories evolved from the languages, which he needed to place into context. “Every name Tolkien used in his books has an etymology,” Hoyt said, “It has a linguistic history. He page 14 photos by Marsha Miller College Briefs

New Sloan Research Fellow first place in the February 2003 “Professional Geogra- Excellence in Teaching Dr. Eyal Seidemann, assistant professor in the pher” survey ranking the strongest cultural geography Cristina Cabello Canales de Martínez, lecturer Department of Psychology and Neurobiology and a programs in the United States and Canada. The rank- for the Center for Mexican American Studies and member of the Center for Perceptual Systems, is one ings are based on a poll of members of the Cultural the Department of Spanish and Portuguese, received of 117 scientists and scholars to be named a 2003 Geography Specialty Group of the Association of the 2003 Texas Excellence Teaching Award from the Sloan Research Fellow. American Geographers. Texas Exes association. He will receive a grant of $40,000 from the Each year, the association recognizes one profes- Alfred P. Sloan Foundation in recognition of his sor and teaching assistant from each of the fourteen research accomplishments and his potential to make And the Academy goes to… schools or colleges on campus. The award recognizes The Clinical Psychology Ph.D. Program was fundamental contributions in his field. The fellow- individuals whose commitment to students has had a recently approved for admission to the Academy of ships are awarded annually to recognize and support dynamic positive influence on the educational expe- Psychological Clinical Science. The University of promising young scientists and scholars in seven rience. Texas at Austin Clinical Program will be officially fields: chemistry, computational and evolutionary inducted into the Academy in Atlanta in May, in molecular biology, computer science, economics, conjunction with the annual meeting of the Ameri- mathematics, neuroscience, and physics. can Psychological Society. Silver Spurs Surprise Norval D. Glenn, professor in the Department The Academy, which is an affiliate of the Ameri- of Sociology, and Tom Garza, associate professor in can Psychological Society, accepts only those pro- Hall of Famer the Department of Slavic Languages and Literature, Dr. Jim Ayres, the Shakespeare at Winedale Re- grams strongly committed to research training and its were paid gents Professor and Distinguished Teaching Professor integration with clinical training. As the first and only a surprise in the Department of English, was among 12 artists, program in the state of Texas accepted, the univer- visit while patrons and educators to be named to the Austin sity joins highly regarded programs such as UCLA, teaching Arts Hall of Fame. Local critics select Austinites Berkeley, Duke University, University of Minnesota, class, when that have made significant contributions to the city’s University of Virginia, Penn State, and Indiana Uni- the Silver cultural life. versity. Spurs pre- Ayres is the founder and former director of sented them Shakespeare at Winedale, an intensive summer with the Shakespeare program for students located in the Louis Recognized for Research William Roger Louis has been selected for the Silver Spurs Central Texas town of Winedale. Ayres encourages University Cooperative Society’s Career Research Centennial students to experience and perform literature rather Tom Garza, left, received one of this Excellence Award. One nominee is selected each Teaching than just read it, and these performances have kept year's Silver Spur Centennial Teaching year from a panel of previous award winners and fac- Fellowship audiences coming back for more year after year. Fellowship Awards. ulty. He will be presented with a check for $10,000 Award. at an awards ceremony in Austin this April. Two College of Liberal Arts professors are select- Geography ranks Number One ed by the Silver Spurs each year to recognize inspira- The University of Texas at Austin’s Geography tional teaching. The recipients are given a certificate Department tied with Louisiana State University for and monetary reward of $60000 each. page 23 In Memoriam Class Notes

Dr. Begoña Aretxaga, associate professor of his bachelor’s degree and doctorate from Yale Andy Teas (Plan II, 1984) lives in Katy with Anthropology, died Dec. 28, at the age of 42 University and attended Balliol College, Oxford, his wife Elaine (Elliott) Teas (Communication, after a courageous battle with cancer. During her England as a Rhodes Scholar. He is survived by his 1983) and three sons. He is director of academic career, she held teaching positions at wife, Elspeth, a professor emeritus in American government affairs for the Houston Apartment Harvard University and The University of Texas Studies at the LBJ School of Public Affairs; his son, Association and an adjunct professor of at Austin. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Peter; his daughter, Ann Rostow; and his grand- government at Houston Community College. philosophy and psychology and master’s degree daughter, Diana Rostow. in anthropology at the University of Basque Catherine Warren Pfeiffer, (Psychology, 1990), Country, and her doctorate in anthropology ❧ is a principal with the design and arketing firm, at Princeton University. She is survived by her Dr. Lucy Taxis Shoe Meritt, a retired professor In-Tandem Design and Marketing. Catherine mother, Mercedes Arechaga-Santos; her brother, of classical archaeology, died April 13, at the age and her husband Ken, live in Austin. Koldo Arechaga-Santos; and two sisters, Arantxa of 96. She was an internationally known classicist and Amaia Arechaga-Santos. and archaeologist. During her academic career, she If you are an alum of the College of Liberal Arts held fellowships at the American School of Clas- and would like to submit an item for "Class ❧ sical Studies in Athens, the American Academy in Notes," send it, along with your major and year Dr. Walt W. Rostow, a professor emeritus in Rome, and teaching positions at Mount Holyoke of graduation, to Robin Gerrow at robingerro Economics and History, died Feb. 13, at the age College and The University of Texas at Austin. [email protected] or mail to Public Affairs, of 86 after complications from kidney failure. She received her bachelor's and master's degrees in College of Liberal Arts, 1 University Station, During the 1960s, Rostow served as special classical archaeology and Greek, and her doctorate G6000, Austin, TX 78712. assistant for National Security Affairs in the ad- in classical archaeology and Greek, all from Bryn ministration of President Lyndon B. Johnson. He Mawr College. She was preceded in death by her held teaching positions at Columbia University, husband, Benjamin Dean Meritt, and is survived Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), by her stepsons, James K. Meritt and Arthur D. Cambridge University, Oxford University, and Meritt; grandchildren, Deany Wood and Benjamin Christi, originally from Mexico, was one of 11 stu- The University of Texas at Austin. He received Meritt; and eight great grandchildren. dents selected from 300 applicants in a nationwide competition to be a George J. Mitchell Scholar. The scholarship, launched in 1998, is administered by the US-Ireland Alliance, and named in honor of the pivotal role played by the former U.S. Senator in of Liberal Arts Dedman Scholar, Plan II senior and the Northern Ireland peace process. Chirinos, who Dean’s Scholar’s Program student in the College of also won a Truman Scholarship last year, will study Two Plan II Students selected as Natural Sciences. Hoffman serves as president of the human rights law at Queen’s University in Belfast Marshall and Mitchell Scholars Texas Student Publications Board, which oversees and National University of Ireland in Galway. She is Austin native Michael M. Hoffman is one of The Daily Texan, KVRX Radio, KVR-TV and other the founder and president of the Hispanic Scholar- 40 students nationwide to be awarded the Marshall student media groups. He is founder and president of ship Fund Chapter in Austin and coordinator of the Scholarship, which he will use to study genetics for the UT Barbecue Club. He will graduate in May. UT Reads Mentor Program, arranging for tutors for two years at Cambridge University. He is a College Alexandra Chirinos, a Plan II senior from Corpus at-risk children. Alexandra will graduate in May. page 24 Flowers She feels her awards are achievements rather than ern places that are historically and personally signifi - Continued from page 4 accomplishments, and her career is a blessing because cant. The author of several books, including “Browning she is able to work with her many interests. --Lauren Downey and the Modern Tradition,” and “The Economic “I’m blessed in my achievements and in my job, Walker Myth,” she also has edited several books. Flowers because work is fun for me,” she said. “I don’t need Continued from page 6 has edited several books in collaboration with Bill extra hobbies, because this is what I love to do.” Moyers, including “A World of Ideas,” “Healing and --Lauren Downey banker, who got the job. the Mind,” “Genesis,” and “Joseph Campbell and the “When I told David I opposed the fi rst nomi- Power of Myth: Bill Moyers and Joseph Campbell in nee,” Walker said. “He asked what alternatives I had Conversation,” with a section titled “Following Your Thompson to offer. I told him that he was the alternative. He Bliss” that Flowers Continued from page 14 agreed to accept, but later asked if I would serve as feels was her best plantation where they were enslaved. She discovered his deputy secretary. I was trapped.” writing experience. narratives written about her family members by the During this time Walker made the discovery that “It seems to slave master’s daughter after the Civil War, creating he had never really given up teaching. He was often have affected the a third-person view of their lives, rather than their educating members of Congress, the press, and serv- world,” Flowers said. own account. Thompson hopes to focus on her fam- ing as advisor to the president on economic issues. “It was published ily history, concentrating on fi ction, material culture, “There is an element of teaching in almost every- a few years back, oral history, and documentary history. thing I do.” Walker said. and people are As an active Black Diaspora Consortium team Walker is known as a straightforward no-non- still reading it. It’s member, Thompson is part of a number of people sense economist who tells it like it is. He will only been selected twice from diverse disciplines and universities who work lobby for those causes that he adamantly supports, a as recommended towards social justice for African and African de- rarity among Washington circles. These are perhaps reading by book scended populations. The consortium, initiated by the qualities that his colleagues and members of the clubs.” Dr. Edmund T. Gordon, originated at the univer- press admire most. Not only has sity in 2000. Additionally, Thompson serves on the Many of Walker’s proudest accomplishments Flowers taught, edited, and consulted, she has executive committee in the Center for African and involve education and the advancement of students. created poetry—her most beloved style of writing. African American Studies. He worked with former President Johnson to estab- She began publishing her individual pieces right out “I feel the center has really helped me to further lish the Guaranteed Student Loan program. As a of graduate school plus three volumes of poetry in develop my understanding of race in a hemispheric distinguished adjunct professor of the LBJ School of more recent years, including “Four Shields of Power” perspective,” she said. “I fi nd the center’s broader Public of Affairs at the university and the College of and “Extending the Shade.” lens with different focal points extremely enrich- Business Administration at Texas A&M University Her honors range from being named a ing to my study of New Orleans and the southern and Emory University, he has had the opportunity Piper Professor and a member of the Academy United States.” to teach many students that have gone on to make of Distinguished Teachers to receiving the Liz Outside of academia, Thompson is interested in distinguished careers of their own. Carpenter Lifetime Achievement Award and Afro-Brazilian dance, as well as hiking, camping, and “I needed to call a senator from Texas,” Walker recognition as a Distinguished Alumnus at The other forms of “tree-hugging,” dealing with questions said. “When I spoke to his chief of staff he said, ‘of University of Texas at Austin. about the environment that have surfaced from her course I know you, Dr. Walker. I was in your public Flowers’ goal after college was to continually past experience in environmental justice activism. policy class at UT. If I had not taken that course, I learn. She accomplished this goal through a variety Thompson also writes poetry and is putting together would not be where I am now.’” of experiences, in and out of the academic setting. a collection of her travel refl ections based on South- --Michelle Bryant page 25 Fernea Studies program at the university and the compara- The College of Liberal Arts Continued from page 3 The University of Texas at Austin tive literature concentration in the English depart- moved to Austin in 1966, she continued to travel. ment. If you are interested in supporting the College of In 1971-1973, she lived in Morocco. When she “My goal in teaching is to broaden horizons, Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin, returned, she published another book, “A Street because people see things in narrow categories,” she you may visit our online contribution page, or mail in Marrakech.” Also after living in Morocco, she said. “I hope to keep students interested by introduc- the form below to Development Office, G6300, worked as the translator and ethnographer on the ing them to important literature. I want them to Austin, TX 78712. film, “Some Women of Marrakech,” for television in relate literature to society in different genres than Enclosed is my check or credit card London and the Public Broadcasting System. they are used to.” Fernea visited France, Lebanon, Jordan, Ku- Fernea was recognized by her peers in 2001, authorization for a gift of wait, Turkey and Israel for months at a time seeking when she received the Middle East Studies Associa- $1,000_____ $500_____ $250_____ information and experience for several books she tion Service Award for her “sensitive introduction of $100_____ $50_____ Other $ later published. She made subsequent trips back to Middle Eastern lives to many audiences.” She is in- Iraq and Egypt, leading to books with topics includ- ternationally known for her work and her debut book For specific designation ing women, family, and peace in the Middle East. is listed in “500 Great Books by Women,” a Penguin In 1997, she co-authored “The Arab World: Forty readers’ guide. She has been honored with many Credit Card Number Years of Change” with her husband and in 1998, grants for her films, including two from the National she published “In Search of Islamic Feminism” after Endowment for the Humanities. interviewing women in the Middle East and Central “I’m fortunate for several reasons,” Fernea said. VISA_____ MasterCard_____ Asia for several months. “People write and let me know they knew nothing Discover_____ American Express_____ Fernea continued to create six more films about about the Middle East until my work, and I’m glad the Middle East. She worked as associate producer they learned from it. I’m fortunate for my husband’s Expiration Date and writer of “Saint and Spirits” (1979) as well as support, and most of all, I’m happy to have my chil- Signature: produced and wrote three related films resulting dren and grandchildren.” in “Reformers and Revolutionaries: Middle Eastern Fernea has three grown children—Laura Ann has Women” (1982). For “The Struggle for Peace: Israelis traveled with Peace Corps, David has taught school Please make checks payable to: and Palestinians” (1992) she co-produced and co- and currently works in bond and security sales, and The College of Liberal Arts at The University of Texas at Austin wrote with the director. In the film, “The Road to Laila is a corporate lawyer for Disney Co. They are Peace: Israelis and Palestinians” (1995), Fernea acted all married and have given the Ferneas seven young Name as producer and writer. Her most recent film (2001) grandchildren. was “Living with the Past,” about the monuments Currently Fernea is active with several writing Address and people in an old part of Cairo. projects. She is also trying to raise money for a film After Fernea returned to Austin, she became series about the changing roles of women in the City State a professor at The University of Texas at Austin in global economy. the English Department and the Center for Middle “We have to think about other people. It’s im- Zip Eastern Studies. She has taught various courses, most portant for the U.S. to understand that other people of which center around the literature of the Middle have their own problems and commitments, all For information about planned giving, or mak- East. Fernea also was a founder of the Women’s worthy of our attention and respect.” ing a donation of securities, please contact the --Lauren Downey Development Office at (512)471-4141. page 26 Iquito It was during this time the Iquito language suf- munity, the team believed a new approach would be Continued from page 8 fered a serious decline. Until the 1920s, Iquito was needed for it to succeed. “The traditional model for language documenta- force the Iquito into settlements, a move that was the only language spoken, but children born after tion isn’t conducive to community-focused language largely unsuccessful. this time were brought up bilingual, speaking both revitalization efforts,” Beier said. “In fact, researchers “It’s clear that economic and political repression Iquito and Spanish. Many children born after 1940 are criticized by indigenous communities in Peru for at the hands of Europeans and mestizos, and massive were again monolingual, but this time the language their ‘take the data and run’ attitudes.” population loss due to disease and genocide, played a was Spanish. “There is far more language documentation work central role in the Iquito case,” Michael said. An aging population, as well as a series of deadly to do in Amazonia than there are professional field According to Iquito oral history, most of the Iq- malaria outbreaks, caused further decline of the lan- linguists to do it,” she continued. “The common ‘one uito population had moved to the headwater regions guage, bringing it to its current state. of the Rio Nanay and Rio Pintuyacu by the end of The language documentation and the 18th century. Though this move allowed them to revitalization project originated in the resist the Europeans and mestizos for a while longer, community itself, and the community it was short-lived. remains the driving force behind the The rubber boom of the late 1800s changed the project. social and political landscape of the area, bringing in “I’ve often heard of anthropologists the rubber barons who enslaved entire indigenous and linguists on the lookout for a great groups to harvest rubber from wild plants. research project,” Beier said, “but how According Beier and Michael’s research, one often does one hear of a great research man stands out during this period of Iquito history project on the lookout for researchers?” as being particularly dominant and ruthless—Elias During their initial trip in 2001, Güimack. Beier and Michael assessed the current “Elias Güimack apparently established his domi- number of fluent Iquito speakers as well nance by simple brutality,” Michael said. “One Iquito as the conviction of the community to narrative describes the massacre of everyone in a follow through with such a project. By community because Guimack merely suspected that the end of their visit, they had drawn they might not cooperate with him.” up a formal agreement between the It was Güimack who forcibly settled most of community and CAP to embark upon a the remaining Iquito in the village of San Antonio three-year project. de Pintuyacu. Even after the decline of the rubber The agreement included sending industry, Güimack continued to exploit the indige- as least two fieldworkers—Beier and nous community through a “debt-peonage” system in Michael—for two months for each of Doña Trinidad explains why she and others stopped speaking Iquito which Güimack controlled the sale of manufactured the next three years. They also agreed goods to the community as well as rainforest prod- to recruit other volunteer researchers and in 2001 language, one linguist’ model severely limits the ucts produced by them. enlisted the help of two linguistic graduate students, amount of documentation and publication that is “Older Iquitos who remember the system have Mark Brown and Lynda De Jong. Another volunteer, produced for any one language.” described the intimate cooperation of local govern- David Munro, a teacher in Lima, joined the team for The researchers found the solution in the vil- ment and church authorities with Guimack and his two weeks and assisted them in pedagogical instruc- lage—the very people who wanted to save the lan- descendants in maintaining the oppression of the tion. guage. And they couldn’t wait to get started. Iquito people,” Michael said. Because this project was instigated by the com- “Why were we so crazy to begin teaching a page 27 language we knew very little about?” she asked. “Be- “Within two weeks of arriving, we found our- to dissipate. We are generating so much documenta- cause the community insisted upon it. Many of them selves teaching six Iquito language classes—three tion that it will be possible to have texts to read and simply couldn’t wait to get started learning to speak nights to kids and three nights to adults—each week provide a basis for the language to continue.” Iquito. So, off we went, learning Iquito all together.” to the community,” Beier said. “In addition to the Dr. Joel Sherzer of the Anthropology Depart- In the first year of the project, significant immense time commitment of teaching these classes, ment, and Dr. Anthony Woodbury from Linguistics, time was devoted to building the infrastructure. we were always just a few teeny steps ahead of our both emphasized the value of documenting a lan- A supervisory committee made up of members of lesson plans in analyzing the Iquito language.” guage. the community was first formed, followed by the The students’ original plan had been to spend “Knowledge is acquired in all kinds of ways,” hiring of the especialistas—the fluent speakers who much of their time compiling a dictionary, but they Woodbury said. “Language is the repository of many would be providing the language data—and the shifted gears near the end of the trip to San Antonio ideas. There may be psychological knowledge—emo- linguistas, the lay linguists who would continue the and focused on collecting stories and folktales that tional knowledge—about us as a species or how we documentation and instruction between visits from they have spent this year analyzing. behave in different kinds of situations that is unique. the researchers. “When we left the community, we were very You have to presume that the social structure in any The team was rounded out with linguistas Ar- encouraged by the experience,” Michael said. “There culture is different and the frictions and issues are a turo Vargas Tuisima, Miroslava Güimack Llona and are several ways we can measure the success of the little bit different. So everyone’s experience in how Hilter Panduro Güimack, as well as the especialistas, project. One is reviving the status of the language, human nature works under duress is going to be dif- Trinidad Pacaya Inuma, Ema Llona Yareja, Jaime and the project has already gone a long way toward ferent and encoded in their language, in their expres- Pacaya Inuma and Hermenegildo Diaz Cuyasa. Each that. Even if they don’t end up speaking it, it is a suc- sions and sayings.” linguista was teamed with an especialista, who would cess if they take pride in their heritage. “The study of language has been a centerpiece of provide the vocabulary both for documentation and “A language can cease being spoken,” he contin- anthropology,” Sherzer said. “You can’t understand during classes. ued, “but the knowledge of the language doesn’t have what people are all about if you don’t know some- CAP committed to building and fully equipping thing about the language. When a language dies out, a center solely dedicated to the revitalization of the you not only lose a language, you lose a whole way language. Michael and another volunteer, Alijandro of thinking about the world, you lose names of plants Boudreault, arrived at the village in early May 2002 and animals, you lose ways of curing people if they and began constructing the center. CAP also agreed are sick, you lose whatever religion they might have. to provide salaries for the linguistas and especialistas, All of that is encoded in the language and expressed which required setting up a method for payment as in the way people talk to each other. well as a way to monitor progress—easier said than “That’s what is so great about what Lev and done when the researchers are 5,000 miles away and Chris and the group are doing,” he continued. “Who the village has no way to communicate with them. knows if we can save Iquito? It would be unusual— Beier has enlisted the assistance of Gabel Sotil, then it’s very hard. It sounds like we’re making an effort, director of the region's office of culture and educa- but the pressure of Spanish is tremendous as is the tion, in distributing the salaries and sending the pressure of the national government on the inter- progress reports back. nal scene, but at least what we would have done is In addition to considerable time working with record that language for posterity. If the community the especialistas recording elaborate folktales and makes an effort, it may just surprise us.” histories of the community, the team also needed to --Robin Stanton Gerrow teach the linguistas computer and language elicita- tion skills. An Iquito boy and his new pet, rescued from the jungle.

page 28 Longs Zoeller Continued from page 5 In 1999, the couple began a new chapter in their Continued from page 13 lives by creating The Long Foundation, a non-profit Joe practiced law and began his career at the State corporation supporting philanthropic initiatives, “There is always a way you can give money,” Securities Board as an investigator and within a year many of which are university and education based Zoeller said. “With money, little becomes bigger, was promoted to chief of the enforcement division. programs throughout the state. until it grows into enough. It goes to show you can When Teresa’s father became ill, Joe agreed to “It’s always important to give back,” Joe said. do whatever you set your mind to.” run the family farming and dairy business. He suc- “We decided the best way to go about that was In 1998, when Zoeller’s husband passed away, cessfully operated the business for 18 months and through education, health and the arts." she knew she wanted to do something in his honor. returned practicing to law upon the recovery of his The couple has donated $20 million to Arts She started by making a memorial at St. David’s father-in-law. Center Stage in Austin to help renovate Palmer Au- Episcopal Church, where they had been members When he returned to Austin in 1963, he joined ditorium into a multi-venue performing arts center, since 1959, but later felt moved to do more. the Office of the Attorney General and was quickly which will be renamed the Joe R. and Teresa Lozano “St. David’s had given me a refrigerator magnet promoted to chief. In 1965, he entered into private Long Center for the Performing Arts. The gift is the with a prayer on it that asked what else could be practice, eventually starting his own law firm. largest cash gift to the arts in the city’s history. done,” Zoeller said. “I saw that prayer each day and He was part of a group that merged two local They have established a $10 million permanent eventually the idea came to me that I could become institutions to create First State Bank and Commu- endowment for the benefit of Texas Hispanic youth. the runner for the construction that St. David’s was nity National Bank. He ultimately became chairman The money will support programs meeting at least about to start, and wouldn’t you know, they were and controlled both banks. Through acquisitions he one of the promises set by the America’s Promise— looking for a runner.” was able to grow the business to have 47 branch of- The Alliance for Youth program started by Colin Previously, Zoeller was sitting in on committee fices throughout Texas before eventually selling the Powell. The five promises involve caring adults, safe meetings, but in May of 2001, she put on a hard hat company to Norwest Corporation, now Wells Fargo places, a healthy start, marketable skills and commu- and made the move to active volunteerism. Zoeller Corporation. nity service opportunities. has many responsibilities at the construction site “Joe always follows through,” Teresa said. “Once The Institute of Latin American Studies in the and she knows nearly all of the workers and keeps he sets a goal he does whatever he says he is going to College of Liberal Arts received a $10 million perma- in close communication with them. She learned a do.” nent endowment established to support scholarships, whole new lingo filled with construction terms to put Teresa devoted her early professional life to pub- research and other educational projects. The insti- together the many sexton files that keep the project lic education. After teaching, she served as a research tute was renamed the Teresa Lozano Long Institute organized. She even knows what each room will look associate at the Texas Education Agency (TEA), of Latin American Studies in her honor. like upon completion. and later joined Gov. John Connally’s committee on The couple does take time to enjoy their shared Zoeller has spent her life making commitments public education—the only woman on that staff. passion for travel and art collecting. The Longs have and sticking to them. Even today, she still gives an- She has served as a consultant for the U.S. Office visited more than 125 countries and all seven conti- nually to the university. She has learned that wealth of Education on Migrant Education, the Head Start nents. alone does not make an endowment. program and the Division of Compensatory Educa- “Everything relates to the world,” Teresa said. “I hope my experience impacts a lot of potential tion of the TEA. “Travel shows us many things from how civilizations new donors,” Zoeller said. “Perhaps those who have President George W. Bush appointed her to are formed, attitudes toward the U.S. or the impor- never realized, they too, can make contributions that the National Council on the Arts and she travels to tance of protecting the environment. Each place has can be meaningful, no matter what size.” Washington quarterly to discuss arts policy and Na- something unique to offer.” --Lauren Downey tional Endowment for the Arts (NEA) grant approv- --Michelle Bryant als. page 29 The Back Page Roger Worthington, a Plan II graduate of 1983, recently com- mitted to permanently endow the Plan II program with the Worthington Endowed Professorship for Ecology and Evolu- tionary Biology. What made you want to create the endowment? In 1980, I took a course from Professor Larry Gilbert, which opened my eyes to the scary but man-made, and thus curable, problems of pollution, pestilence and overpopulation. I began studying the politics of imported fire ant control, a crusade that led me to hobble around Boerne, Texas with a cast on my leg taking samples of fire ant mounds in an effort to prove not all ants were evil invaders. It didn’t work; the Texas Department of Agriculture bombarded the little bastards with pesticides, and of course today we have imported fire ants in California. The attacks killed off competition, paving the way for total domination. One thing led to another and I got so frenzied about saving the ants I could barely tell friend from foe. So it dawned on me that I needed to step back. I went to law school, studied environmental law, but when I graduated I discovered I was pathologically impatient and lacked the temperament to clean the world one creek at a time. I drifted into asbestos litigation but all the while never lost sight that the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse are gathering speed. My firm’s motto is “Go for the Gold and Give Something Back.” I’ve earned some gold and this is my way of thanking Plan II and Professor Gilbert for opening my eyes, and with the endowment I hope students are inspired to take action to make a positive difference. What are your hopes for the endowment? I hope the endowment will attract excellent teachers who will compete for the privilege of teaching the most valuable course any student could take. I hope students will learn to draw connections between urban sprawl, water pollution, species extinction, deforestation and population growth. I’m hopeful students will take an active interest in their natural world and advocate for its protection.

page 30 America’s Turning Point: Normandy & World War II Endowed Excellence Fund Pay tribute to World War II veterans and their families by helping preserve our country’s history. By making a contribution to the America’s Turning Point: Normandy & World War II Endowed Excellence Fund, you have a unique opportunity to support educational programs and the preservation of resources for future generations to come. The Institute of American Military History in the Center of American History is home to an extensive collection of archival, library and museum resources documenting American military history. The new endowment will contribute to the Institute’s mission by acquiring, preserving and maintaining the history of World War II. The endowment will also support educational programs that promote the understanding of this country’s military past during World War II. Specific programs include the Normandy Scholar Program in the College of Liberal Arts, an intensive undergraduate study of the War, which concludes with an educational tour of European battlefields and his- toric sites. “It is our intent that other veterans of World War II and their families, friends and colleagues join us in contributing to this endowment that will preserve the history of the ‘greatest generation’”—Margaret M. and DeWitt Walt- mon, University of Texas alumni and contributors to the Normandy & World War II Endowed Excellence Fund. To make a contribution or learn more about the America’s Turning Point: Normandy & World War II Endowed Excellence Fund please contact Becky Prince at 512-475-9763, or by email at [email protected].

Above right: Normandy scholars and faculty walk the shores of Mont St. Michel.

Right: Scholars visit La Cambe Cemetery in Normandy.