The Argonaut Newsletter of the Anthropology Program at North Dakota State University [Premiere Issue] NDSU Now Has Masters Degree in Anthropology Volume 1, Issue 1 Winter 2009 In the Fall of 2008, the North Dakota State A number of NDSU colleagues and Board of Education approved an Anthro- Anthropology graduate students also con- pology Master’s degree at North Dakota tributed to the extensive name-change State University. Previous to this time, documentation and wrote letters of sup- Argonaut: (1) an adventurer graduate students who focused on Anthro- port. These individuals included Dr. Tho- engaged in a quest; (2) in pology at NDSU received a Master’s de- mas J. Riley (College Dean), Dr. Daniel J. Greek mythology, one who gree in “Social Science.” Now this has Klenow (Department Chair), Dr. Timothy sailed with Jason on the ship changed and many faculty members and Bratton (a professor at Jamestown Col- “Argo” to find the Golden graduate students applaud the new Anthro- lege), Emily Hagemeister, James E. Fleece; and (3) a term used by pology degree program and accompanying Landrum III, Lacey L. Locket, Jessica Rau, Bronislaw Malinowski in his name change. and Kristi Stahl. 1922 ethnographic classic Argonauts of the Western Pacific. The change came about when the The Anthropology Master’s degree NDSU Anthropology Committee, chaired already is in effect. For the first time in by Dr. Timothy J. Kloberdanz, worked on NDSU history, graduate students now are a lengthy name-change document (totaling able to pursue a Master of Arts or Master approximately 140 pages) and submitted it of Science degree in Anthropology. Gradu- for consideration and administrative action ate students should discuss both degree in February 2008. Other members of the options (M.A. or M.S.) with their Anthro- Inside this issue: committee included Dr. Jeffrey T. Clark, pology advisors. Dr. Heather Gill-Robinson, and Dr. Joy Anthropology Club Update 2 Sather-Wagstaff. What to Watch 2 Meet the NDSU Anthro- 3 Minard Hall pologists Meet the NDSU Anthro- 4 on the NDSU pologists (continued) Campus Jobs & Opportunities 5 The main office of the Sociol- Calendar of Events 6 ogy, Anthropology, and Emergency Management Department is on the top (fourth) floor. Page 2 The Argonaut NDSU Anthropology Club Update The NDSU Anthropology Club is a student led ing actual human bodies. This visit led to deep human bodies in a venue that was full of con- organization that promotes and celebrates discussions about the ethics of displaying pre- struction dust and noise. human diversity. The club hosts an annual served human bodies. The bodies on display tour of the “haunted” spots on the NDSU cam- were not all donated to science. Some of the The NDSU Anthropology Club also pus around Halloween and lectures by profes- bodies were purchased from morgues because holds regular meetings. These meetings range sors. They are also in the process of starting they were left unclaimed by family or friends. from viewing movies to holding discussions. an anthropology conference on campus. All Anthropology majors and minors are en- The exhibit was on display at the courage to attend. Please e-mail the club’s Recently, some members of the Goss Opera House, which was under con- president at [email protected] for Anthropology Club met in Watertown, South struction at the time of the club’s visit. The further information. Dakota to view the exhibit “Body Human”. experience left members feeling that it was Club members felt a range of emotions view- inappropriate and offensive to display actual Members of the NDSU Anthropology Club at the Goss Opera House in Watertown, SD at the “Body Human” exhibit, October 2008. “Never believe that a few caring people can’t change the world. For, indeed, that’s all who ever have.” Quote by Margaret Mead What to Watch In January 2009, PBS aired a six-part series the great religions, the trade routes to and called “The Story of India” that demonstrates through the area and the rise and fall of many the holistic perspective that anthropology tries mighty empires like the Harappan, Persian, to achieve. Using linguistics and archaeologi- Delhi and Moghul. Finally, part six tells the cal records, new advances in genetics and story of the independence movement of the cultural aspects such as religion, the makers of mid-20th Century from the British Empire. this series try to unravel the complex mystery For all of the harm Great Britain did in India, that is India. Each one hour segment of the it has one unquestionable legacy, it united series covers an aspect of Indian life. Part one India. The series also highlights the bright does the best job of using holistic analysis tech- future ahead for India in the entertainment and niques, but the whole series is an excellent software production markets. The DVD is introduction to India. Other topics include available for purchase at www.pbs.org. Page 3 The Argonaut Meet the NDSU Anthropologists Dr. Jeffrey T. Clark Dr. Jeffrey T. Clark has been at NDSU since including the use of laser scanners for 3D 1983. He is a Professor of Anthropology who modeling, digital databases for anthropology, specializes in archaeology. He received his and virtual reality worlds for education. His Bachelor’s degree from the University of field research has been primarily in Polynesia, Michigan, and his Master’s and Ph.D. degrees and he plans to return to the Samoan archipel- from the University of Illinois. His research ago in the near future for additional excava- interests are in computer applications for hu- tions. Dr. Clark is on sabbatical for the 2008- man heritage and paleo-environmental studies, 2009 academic year. During the fall semester with regional emphases in Oceania and North he used his time off to travel to Spain, Cyprus, America. Dr. Clark is Director of the Archae- Egypt, and Jordan, attending conferences, ology Technologies Laboratory (ATL) and the meeting with colleagues, developing future Archaeology Materials Laboratory (AML) at research projects, and visiting archaeological NDSU. The ATL has conducted a range of sites. projects funded through grants and contracts, Dr. Heather C. Gill-Robinson Dr. Heather Gill-Robinson is an Assistant Studies for Research and Education:Mummies Professor of Anthropology, specializing in in the Museum, Laboratory, Classroom and biological anthropology. Dr Gill-Robinson’s Communities” for the Sociology, Anthropol- major area of research is mummies found in ogy and Emergency Management department peat bogs in northern Europe. National Geo- colloquium series. She also teaches human graphic featured Dr. Gill-Robinson in a televi- osteology, forensics and human origins at sion special about bog mummies in 2008. Dr. NDSU. Currently, Dr. Gill-Robinson is Gill-Robinson spends much of her break time teaching Introduction to Anthropology, Forensic in Europe working with mummies. In January Studies, and she is supervising multiple stu- 2009, Dr. Gill-Robinson presented a lecture dents involved in independent studies. “Evidence Based Transdisciplinary Mummy Travis M. Kitch ceived his Masters degree in Social Science Mr. Travis Kitch has held the position of Lec- with an emphasis in Anthropology from North turer in Anthropology at NDSU since 2003. Dakota State University in 2002. Mr. Kitch’s He also teaches in the Minnesota State Com- main interest is archaeology. He has worked munity and Technical College system in sur- in Jamestown, North Dakota at the excavation rounding communities. Mr. Kitch received a site of Fort Seward. The fort was in use from Bachelor’s degree in Education from Minot 1872 to 1876 and has yielded some very inter- State University in 1996. He then pursued a esting finds. Mr. Kitch is teaching two sec- Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology at Moor- tions of Introduction to Anthropology this semes- head State University in 1999 and later re- ter. Volume 1, Issue 1 Page 4 Meet the NDSU Anthropologists (continued) Dr. Timothy J. Kloberdanz Dr. Timothy J. Kloberdanz is an Associate winning television documentaries. Dr. Professor of Anthropology who specializes in Kloberdanz also has received a number of Cultural Anthropology, Expressive Culture, awards, including the North Dakota Gover- and Anthropological Theory. He received his nor's Award (2001), the College of Arts, Hu- B.A. from the University of Colorado, his manities & Social Sciences "Outstanding Masters from Colorado State University, and Teacher Award" (2003), and most recently he his PhD from Indiana University. He first was named an Honorary Member of the came to NDSU in Fall 1976. Dr. Kloberdanz Golden Key International Honour Society at is an internationally-recognized expert on the NDSU (2008). Dr. Kloberdanz currently Germans from Russia (Russlanddeutschen). He serves as the Anthropology Committee Chair has worked on four books and several prize- for the Department of Sociology, Anthropol- ogy and Emergency Management. Dr. Thomas J. Riley Dr. Tom Riley is the Dean of the College of him to Polynesia and Micronesia, as well as Arts, Humanities and Social Science at NDSU Scotland and England. He has studied the and has held that position since 1996. Dr. prehistoric agriculture of Mississippian peo- Riley began his academic career at Boston ples from Wisconsin to Mississippi, and exca- College with a degree in English Literature. vated sites in the Marshall Islands and Ameri- While on an archaeological dig in the Hebri- can Samoa. He also has worked at Fort Sew- des of Scotland, he found that anthropology, ard in Jamestown, ND. Dr. Riley has taught archaeology especially, was his true calling. anthropology courses at NDSU, mostly semi- After graduate work at the University of Ne- nars and also an introductory course. But his braska, he completed his Master’s degree and duties as College Dean keep him very busy.