Kafi Sanders '99 has a lot of interests – medicine, Africana
studies, global health systems, medical research – and she hopes she can
pursue them all.
The interdepartmental biology and psychology major is taking advantage
of a new minority post-baccalaureate teaching fellowship that lets her
teach a few sessions of the College's undergraduate science courses and
continue the research she started as an undergraduate. (Clarissa Buckner
'98 is also participating in the NSF fellowship, which brings minority
students together with faculty mentors to learn more about college
teaching.)
Sanders has been working with Carol Weisse, associate professor of
psychology and director of health professions, on research focusing on
ethnicity and pain reporting and decisions about pain management. The
collaboration began with Sanders' senior thesis. They are examining
physicians' differing prescriptions for pain medication based on patient
race and gender.
“I would love it if our research made a difference,” Sanders
says. “That's the whole point of research: to study a topic … and
spread the word. These are issues that the general public should be
thinking about because people's welfare is at stake.
“I intend to take all that I've learned in the fellowship and
apply it to a broader spectrum while pursuing a master's degree in
public health,” she says.
Friday, March 10, and Saturday, March 11, 8:02 p.m.
Yulman Theater.
Proctor's Too presents performance artist Dan Froot in a one-man show
that drives home provocative messages about everything from loneliness to
AIDS. Tickets are $15 ($10 for students). For information, call the box
office at ext. 6545.
Saturday, March 11, 7:30 p.m.
Union College Observatory in the F.W. Olin Center.
Observatory open house.
Through March 12.
Mandeville Gallery, Nott Memorial.
“Walter Hatke: Paintings, Drawings & Prints.” Exhibit
includes about 40 works by the artist over the last 30 years.
Through March 16.
Arts Atrium.
“Vision & Discovery,” an exhibition of works by
photographers Michael Hochanadel, Gail Nadeau, Lou Snitkoff, Marie Triller
and Mark Van Wormer.
Thursday, March 23 through May 21.
Mandeville Gallery, Nott Memorial.
“Separate & Together,” an exhibition by painters Wolf Kahn
and Emily Mason focusing on the husband and wife's common influences,
inspirations and approaches. Opening reception is April 11 from 4:30 to 6
p.m. with a lecture by Kahn titled “Ten Prejudices About Art and
Artists and an Attempt at their Correction.”
Friday, March 24, 8 p.m.
Memorial Chapel.
Schenectady Museum-Union College chamber concert series presents Dubravka
Tomsic, piano, in a program to include Bach/Busoni's Prelude and
Fugue in D; Prokofiev's Sonata No. 4 in C; and Liszt's Sonata
in b.
Prof.
Ashraf Ghaly considers engineering problems even in his sleep. The idea
for an unusual course called “Construction for Humanity” came to
him in a dream. Quite literally.
“I woke up thinking, “Why don't all buildings that serve
the same function look the same in different parts of the world?”
says the associate professor of civil engineering. “What is it that
affects the design of structures?”
So, Ghaly approached a colleague – historian Steve Sargent – whom
he knew was interested in Roman housing and medieval cathedrals.
The course – known simply as “C4H” – is an
interdisciplinary introduction to the technology of construction and the
social uses of building by humans. Students are asked to consider types of
building materials and their application to domestic housing, castles,
cathedrals, palaces, monuments, dams, bridges, tunnels, and skyscrapers.
Students also are asked to consider cultural, religious, social, natural,
and historical factors that determine the look, size, and shape of
structures.
“Human beings are never satisfied with the status quo,”
observes Sargent. “They like to exercise their ingenuity, their
creativity. They like to do things that others have not done. It's a
characteristic of human nature.”
The course was supported by a three-year grant of $500,000 from the new
National Science Foundation program “Awards for the Integration of
Research and Education (AIRE).”
According to Thomas Werner, who administers the AIRE grant, C4H
“fits very well into one of the grant's primary objectives:
bridging the gap between engineering and the liberal arts by developing
courses in technology for liberal arts students that are team taught by
engineering and liberal arts faculty.
“Steve and Ashraf are a good match,” observed Werner after
the pair gave a lecture at a faculty lunch on interdisciplinary courses
and technology. “It is a matter of matching personalities. Both are
effusive with gestures and body expression. The students enjoy the
show.”
Of his professors, Justin Golub '02, a biology major, said, “The
course is different in that two professors have a different view – Prof.
Ghaly looks at the technical, Prof. Sargent looks at the historical and
cultural aspects.”
Throughout the term, the professors lectured on 20 topics ranging from
pyramids to futuristic structures, making full use of the technology in
Olin 106. In one class, they showed slides of the Experience Music Project
in Seattle (under construction), which resembles a ball of crumpled paper.
Engineers had to use a robot sensor to take thousands of readings from a
scale model to create a digital map of the building, Ghaly explains.
At term's end, the students gave presentations on structures of their
choice.
Harry Robinson '02, a computer science major, presented the Frank
Lloyd Wright design for the Johnson Wax headquarters in Racine, Wis. Built
in 1939, it was one of the first corporate buildings to be considered a
work of art.
Chris Geraghty '02, an anthropology major, spoke about Fenway Park in
Boston, pointing out that it was designed with high walls to keep
non-paying spectators out and well-hit balls in.
“Unlike the anatomy of humans or animals, construction anatomy is
a never-ending evolution,” Ghaly says.
“This course provides an example of how technical and cultural
knowledge can be blended to appeal to all students and to get them to
appreciate factors that may initially seem unimportant or
irrelevant,” says Sargent. “It has changed the way I teach my
other courses. There is more participation, more emphasis on oral
presentation.”
“And it has enhanced the way I approach my engineering
classes,” adds Ghaly.
1. The minutes of Feb. 14, 2000 meeting were approved.
2. The committee passed the following motion: Students
may take a total of four pass/fail courses over four years, limited to one
per term, rather than the previous policy of one per year.
3. The committee voted in favor of sending a draft of
The Guidelines for Participation in Intercollegiate Athletics to the
Athletic Liaison Committee.
A campus group is joining the American Cancer Society's
“Daffodil Days” to raise funds to support the fight against
cancer.
A bouquet of 10 flowers is $6; a blue vase with etching
is $6; and a bouquet of 20 flowers, greenery and vase is $20.
Orders are due by Friday, March 10. Flowers will be
delivered the week of March 27.
Faculty and staff may contact Betty Allen or Gretchel
Tyson. Student sales are being coordinated by Heather Clements of Wells
House, and Sarah Shoemaker of UCARE.
