Volume 49, Number 2 Spring 2015 SEM 2014 Membership Survey Report Features Stephen Stuempfle, Executive Director SEM 2014 Membership EM conducted comprehensive surveys of its membership in 2002, 2008, and 2014, Survey Report Executive Director Stephen and obtained participation rates of 35% (565 respondents), 30% (547 respondents), S Stuempfle and 32% (545 respondents) respectively. The following report focuses on a selection of questions for which there is generally comparable data across these three years of Whose survey administration. Also included is data for some of the new questions added in the Ethnomusicology? 2014 survey. Due to differences in the structure of the three surveys and in the inclusion President Beverley and wording of questions, some of the numbers presented below are close approxima- Diamond tions based on available data. Section on the Status The report contains five sections: 1) General Characteristics of the Membership; 2) of Women: A Student Members; 3) Members Employed in Colleges and Universities; 4) Members Multivocal History Employed in Museums, Archives, or Other Organizations; and 5) Members’ Perceptions Elizabeth Clendinning of SEM as an Organization. SEM is grateful to its members for taking the time to complete the survey, to its Board of Directors for assistance with the development of questions, and to Jennifer SEM Studebaker (Office Coordinator) for preparing the 2014 online survey instrument and as- Announcements sisting with the compilation of data. 2015 Prizes From the Field 1) General Characteristics of the Membership What is your age? News 2002 2008 2014 Member News Under 21 0.9% 0.6% 0.2% In Memoriam 21-30 17.9% 19.6% 16.1% Hardja Susilo 31-40 23.9% 24.2% 29.4% 41-50 25.3% 19.2% 17.2% Our Back Pages 51-60 18.4% 22.9% 17.9% Conference Calendar 61-70 8.0% 9.8% 12.9% Ethnomusicology Internet Resources Over 70 3.7% 3.9% 6.3% Data indicates a decrease in the percentage of members in the “41-50” age bracket and increases in the “31-40,” “61-70,” and “Over 70” brackets over the past 12 years. ————— What is your sex or gender? 2002 2008 2014 Female 51.7% 51.4% 52.2% Male 48.3% 48.6% 46.5% Other NA NA 1.3% Data indicates a slight increase in the percentage of female members over the past 12 years. The 2014 survey also included “Intersexed” and “Third sex” response options but no respondents selected these. The 7 respondents who selected “Other” in 2014 mainly entered comments supporting or objecting to the question. [Continued on page 4] The Society for Ethnomusicology, SEM Newsletter Gordon Ross Thompson, Editor, SEM Newsletter SEM Membership Department of Music, Skidmore College he object of the Society for Ethnomusicology is the Saratoga Springs, New York 12866 USA advancement of research and study in the field of (Tel.) 518-580-5322, (fax) 518-580-5340 T ethnomusicology, for which purpose all interested per- [email protected] sons, regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual he SEM Newsletter is a vehicle for the exchange of orientation, or physical ability are encouraged to become Tideas, news, and information among the Society’s members. Its aims include serving the membership and members. Readers’ contributions are welcome and should society at large through the dissemination of knowledge be sent to the editor. See the guidelines for contributions concerning the music of the world’s peoples. The Society, on this page. incorporated in the United States, has an international membership. The Society for Ethnomusicology publishes the SEM Newsletter four times annually in January, March, June, Members receive free copies of the journal and the and September, and distributes issues free to members of newsletter and have the right to vote and participate in the the Society. activities of the Society. _______________ Back issues, 1981-present [volumes 14-18 (1981-1984), 3 times a year; vols. 19-32 (1985-1998), 4 times a year] Student (full-time only) (one year) ................................$40 are available and may be ordered at $2 each. Add $2.50/ Individual/Emeritus (one year) order for postage. • Income $25,000 or less ........................................... $60 Address changes, orders for back issues of the SEM • Income $25,000-$40,000 .........................................$75 Newsletter, and all other non-editorial inquires should be • Income $40,000-$60,000 ......................................... $85 sent to the Business Office, Society for Ethnomusicol- • Income $60,000-$80,000 ......................................... $95 ogy, Indiana University, Morrison Hall 005, 1165 East 3rd • Income $80,000 and above .................................. $105 Street, Bloomington, IN, 47405-3700; (tel) 812-855-6672; (fax) 812-855-6673; (email) [email protected]. Spouse/Partner Individual (one year) ...........................$35 Life membership .......................................................$1400 Society for Ethnomusicology Spouse/Partner Life ................................................. $1600 Board of Directors Sponsored (one year, including postage) ..................... $49 Overseas postage (one year) .......................................$14 Beverley Diamond (President) School of Music, Memorial University For institutional memberships, please visit the University St Johns, Newfoundland A1C 3S5, Canada. of Illinois Press website at Anne K. Rasmussen (President Elect) http://www.press.uillinois.edu/journals/ethno.html Music Department, College of William and Mary Williamsburg, Virginia 23187-8795. Guidelines for Contributors Zoe Sherinian (Secretary) Send articles and shorter entries for consideration to the School of Music, University of Oklahoma Newsletter Editor by email. Norman, Oklahoma 73019 Copy deadlines: Eliot Bates (Treasurer) Winter Issue (15 Dec.) Summer Issue (15 May) Music Department, University of Birmingham Spring Issue (15 Feb.) Fall Issue (15 Aug.) Edgbaston Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom Margaret Sarkissian (First Vice President) Advertising Rates Department of Music, Smith College The Newsletter accepts digital files (e.g., jpg) for advertis- Northampton, Massachusetts 01063 ing. Sean Williams (Second Vice President) Full page: $200 1/3 page: $60 The Evergreen State College 2/3 page: $145 1/6 page: $40 Olympia, WA 98505-0001 1/2 page: $110 Gabriel Solis (Member-at-Large, Prizes) School of Music, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign Ethnomusicology: Back Issues 1114 W. Nevada St, Urbana, IL 61801 Ethnomusicology, the Society’s journal, is currently Andrew Weintraub (Member-at-Large, Groups) published three times a year. Back issues are available Department of Music, University of Pittsburgh through the SEM Business Office, Indiana University East Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15260 3rd Street, Bloomington, IN 47405-3700; (tel.) 812-855- 6672; (fax) 812-855-6673; (email) [email protected]. ISSN 0036-1291 2 Whose Ethnomusicology? Beverley Diamond, SEM President tephen Stuempfle has provided an excellent report be included in the planning and implementation of all ini- Sin this Newsletter about SEM’s 2014 Membership tiatives outlined below.” Some of the diversity goals of the Survey as it compares to the two previous surveys since Strategic Plan have been realized. Committee appoint- 2002. A disappointing result is evidence that the racial/ ments and the ballots for Council have become more di- ethnic diversity of our membership has changed very little verse although a large majority of elected Board members during this twelve-year period and is far from representa- have continued to be European-American. During the tive of demographics in either the U.S. or Canada (the Presidency of Harris Berger, the SEM committed further in two largest national SEM membership contingents). Yes 2012-13 to a Diversity Action Plan (DAC) that funds book the categories we use are problematic for many, conflat- subventions, conference travel and mentoring programs. ing ethnicity with race and there is no single option for In spite of these and other initiatives, why have we not indicating mixed ethnic heritage, but the numbers are, changed much? In search of answers, I asked chairs of nonetheless, indicative. The 2013 U.S. census data identi- Committees, Sections, or SIGS that represent diverse fies Hispanic and Latino citizens as interests and a few individuals whom the largest minority (17.1%), followed I knew to be astute observers of by African Americans (13.2%), Asian structural bias to reflect on a series Americans (4.8%), and Native Ameri- of questions indicated in the sub- cans (0.8%); our SEM numbers for headings below. I report on some wise U.S. residents are well below those thoughts from respondents, using percentages in the first two categories names only where individuals agree to while being slightly higher for the last be identified. two. In Canada, comparable numbers from 2011 census figures are African What is preventing broader American and Caribbean (2.9%), Latin participation in SEM? American (1.2%), Asian American In response to this question, Debo- (12.4%), and Aboriginal (4.3%). In rah Wong (Chair of the Diversity both countries, Middle Easterners are Action Committees) drew attention the fastest growing group. In addi- to disciplinary histories: “SEM is tion to the quantitative data on which predominantly White for real rea- Stuempfle reports, the qualitative sons. Without any such intention, the comments that survey respondents 1950s-70s generations of primarily provided include 58 that identify a lack White progressive folklorists,