The members of the Panhellenic Council and the Inter Fraternity Council, the governing bodies of Greek life on campus, invite faculty to a forum on Greek life, scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 14, 12:45-1:45 p.m. in Everest Lounge. The open dialogue is an opportunity to discuss the role of fraternities and sororities at Union. Organizers of the event are Panhellenic Co-Presidents Sara Weiner and Kate Isler and IFC President Max Zimbert.
Read MoreTann is poet of the month
Professor of Music Hilary Tann has been chosen as November's poet of the month on Cornell University's Mann Library “Daily Haiku” site (http://haiku.mannlib.cornell.edu/). Tann's interest in Japan developed from studying the Japanese vertical bamboo flute, the shakuhachi, from 1985-1991. Along with Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Yu Chang and John Stevenson, editor of Frogpond (the Journal of the Haiku Society of America), she is a co-founder of the biannual anthology of haiku, Upstate Dim Sum (http://www.upstatedimsum.com).
Read MoreElection 2006: The view from Union
One day after the midterm elections jolted the national political landscape, several dozen faculty and students gathered to assess the fallout.
“Since the Democrats have ruled out impeachment,” said Political Science Professsor Zoe Oxley, “we'll probably see more congressional oversight of Bush Administration activities and officials-especially concerning Iraq. Even if Republicans maintain control of the Senate, I'm confident we'll see a change in foreign policy with regard to Iraq because of concern for the '08 election.”
The bipartisan crowd responded with pessimism to the future of Bush's presidency, the war in Iraq, a cohesive Democratic plan and the '08 election as a tag-team of issues and viewpoints passed between Political Science Professors Richard L. Fox, Terry S. Weiner, John G. Zumbrunnen, Thomas Lobe, Clifford W. Brown and Robert Hislope, and Economics Professors Lewis Davis and Eshi Motahar.
They applauded in unison, however, at the resignation of Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, announced just as the group met.
Alla Abramov '07 represented the optimistic minority when she asked, “Will the focus of foreign policy turn to humanitarian efforts instead of war?”
Oxley pointed out that controlling the House of Representatives wasn't enough, so Democratic humanitarian efforts would be limited-a view which Zumbrunnen echoed.
“Despite how this election was touted,” he noted, “there is not a referendum on Iraq. It's my suspicion that the Democrats will avoid foreign policy right now and make a pitch on domestic bills that Bush can pass or not.”
The Pizza and Politics event was sponsored by Pi Sigma Alpha, the National Political Science Honor Society and the Political Science Department. It was funded through an Intellectual Enrichment Grant and organized by Dan Amira '07 and Oxley.
At the conclusion of the hour-long discussion, the winner of Pi Sigma Alpha's contest was still unable to be determined. The individual correctly predicting the breakdown of the House of Representatives following the election will garner a $50 prize. The winner will be announced once the 10 remaining undecided votes in the House have been determined.
Read MoreVotes and quotes: Bizer political research noted nationally
Assistant Professor of Psychology George Y. Bizer, who has conducted research in political psychology, was quoted in a Saturday, Nov. 4, Associated Press news article about negative campaigning.
The article was published in the online and/or print versions of more than 100 newspapers, including the New York Times and Boston Globe. It also appeared on cnn.com and msnbc.com.
In “Scientists track effects of negative ads,” AP science writer Seth Borenstein explored the emotional and physical effects of negative political ads. In addition to Bizer, he interviewed UCLA Psychiatry Professor Dr. Marco Iacoboni, Stanford University Communications Professor Shanto Iyengar and Williams College Political Science Professor George Marcus.
The article notes mentions Bizer's published research showing that when people conceptualize their opinions negatively – when they think in terms of whom they oppose instead of whom they support – they are more difficult to persuade. He was quoted as saying, “Everyone says, ‘We hate them, they're terrible.'” But, he added, “They seem to work.”
According to reporter Borenstein, “the latest figures show that by nearly a 10-to-1 ratio, political parties are spending more money on negative ads than positive ones.”
Bizer will be interviewed live on WAMC's Round Table program next Wednesday.
Read MoreProfessor Emeritus Joseph Finkelstein dies
Joseph Finkelstein '47, emeritus professor of History, Economics and Management who served the College for more than 50 years, died on Monday. Burial was Wednesday in Boston, and a campus memorial service is planned for winter term.
The Troy, N.Y., native majored in social studies at Union, graduating a year after he had begun teaching history classes at the College.
He then went on to earn a master's and Ph.D. from Harvard University in 1952. He did postdoctorate research under a Fulbright Fellowship at the London School of Economics and returned to Union in 1953, becoming a full professor 10 years later.
He retired in 1996, predicting in his usual dry way, “I'm going to do exactly the same things I've been doing – except I won't be teaching classes or going to meetings.”
Indeed, in retirement Finkelstein remained a fixture on campus.
He was a frequent contributor at faculty meetings, where colleagues reveled in his institutional knowledge and his eagerness to engage college officials in debate, his voice rising in pitch as the discussions became more intense.
At one meeting, when President Roger Hull tried to conclude an exchange by saying, “Joe, we'll have to agree to disagree,” Finkelstein shot back: “I'd never agree to that!”
“Joe will be remembered by his colleagues and students for his good humor, his high standards, his deep commitment to the College and his spirited, collegial discussion of issues large and small,” said Therese McCarty, interim dean of faculty, in an email to campus.
Survivors include his wife, Nadia Ehrlich; three children, Sharon Finkelstein of Schenectady; Jonathan Finkelstein of Lexington, Mass; and Neal Finkelstein of Oakland, Calif.; five grandchildren; and his brother, Morris Finkelstein of Albany.
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