University Studies Annual Report 2001

University Studies

ANNUAL REPORT

2000-2001

COLLOQUIES

! Aging –Co-conveners Sandra McGuire (4-7589) and Bill Wallace (4-5041).

Colloquy has not been active, but will become so to help develop a course needed to support a gerontology minor.

! Appalachian Forum –Co-conveners Mary English (4-4251) and Jim Lloyd (4-4480)

Meets monthly and –fulfilling much that they have discussed over the years– has developed a proposal for an

undergraduate Program in Regional Appalachian Studies.

The proosed Program will draw on resources across campus –helping to coalesce now-dispersed researchers who are working on Appalachian issues, but be housed in the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. It will focus on contemporary and anticipated social, economic, and environmental issues in the Appalachian region. This forward-looking prospective is unlike other, heritage-oriented Appalachian programs, such as the one at ETSU.

It will build on the course housed in University Studies that we helped to launch several years ago, and that Tom Hood has diligently and enthusiastically taught since then.

! Applied Phenomenology –Co-conveners Howard Pollio (4-4361) and Sandra Thomas (4-7581)

Our newest Colloquy; several individuals are recipients of support from the Intellectual and Cultural Expressions (ICE) Council. The group has been meeting for a while before finding that University Studies would be a valuable administrative aegis can help them connect with a broader constituency. To that end, University Studies now provides them with a web-presence.

Pollio is a pioneer in establishing high standards of research validity for existential phenomenology, allowing it to be applied in areas such as nursing, education, clinical psychology, skilled performance, and counseling. At present, there are

three active research groups

: A Monday Group, led by Mark Hector, a Tuesday Group, led by Sandra Thomas and Howard Pollio, and a Wednesday Group, led by Howard Pollio meets from 5:00 - 7:00 in 403 Austin Peay.

! Creativity –Co-conveners are Sandy Leach (4-7338) and Neil Greenberg (4-3599).

The Colloquy’s main activity was a course offering (see below) in which most colloquy members participated: Beauvais Lyons, Susan Metros, Mark Cotter, Jo Lynn Cunningham, Neil Greenberg, Gordon Burghardt, David J. Fox, and Bruce MacLennan.

The Colloquy was featured in “

Creativity's Global Correspondents

, 2000" (Winslow Press), a review of the most innovative and productive activities throughhout the scholarly world.

Colloquy member,

Susan Metros

, was honored as the 2001 Computerworld Smithsonian Laureate in San Francisco on April 8, 2001. Metros was nominated by Steve Jobs, CIO of Apple Computer. Her case study, partly on the basis of her work of art, "Collections and [RE] collections" a chronicle of the World War II experiences of her father, Bill Yenofsky. (The project is online at ).

! Critical Theory” –Convener, Allen Dunn (4-6962)

Meets every Thursday. They have not openly recruited new faculty but are open to doing so in the future.

! Cultural Diversity –Co-conveners: Janet Atwill (4-6939), Tom Hood (4-7023), and Thura Mack (4-6381). Several meetings.
! Evolution and Culture –Convener: Gordon Burghardt (4-3300). Not active this year but is planning close coordination with “Biology and the Public Sphere” (working title) program collaboratively organized by David Reidy and Jonathan Kaplan (Philosophy) Massimo Pigliucci and Neil Greenberg and Massimo Pigliucci (Ecology) , and Gordon.
! The Great Conversation –Co-conveners: Bruce MacLennan (4-5067), Linda Bensel-Meyers (4-5401), and Steve Blackwell (4-4536)

faculty and graduate students critically examine the “Western Canon” (covering the period, approximately, from Homer to Freud).

Sponsors a 6-semester course sequence (US 210, 220, 310, 320, 410, 420): next Fall will cover “

Nature and Technology

” from Montaigne to Nietzsche.

! Interdisciplinary Colloquy on Rhetoric –Co-conveners: Janet Atwill (4-6939) and Linda Bensel-Meyers (4-5401). Several meetings.
! Psychoanalysis and the Humanities –Convener: Gene Bocknek

Recent emphasis on “narrative” has culminated in the groups sending a delegation of four to the Center for Advanced Inquiry in the Interactive Arts in Wales for their annual conference on consciousness. Based on a study of the narratives of18 female murders presently in custody, Neil Greenberg, Melissa Sprenkle Al Burstein, and Allen Dunn,

presented a multidisciplinary analysis of sociopathy

Al Burstein has moved to Southeastern Louisiana Univesrity to chair the psychology department, leading to a hiatus in activity but Gene Bocknek will revive the Colloquy with an emphasis on “self and identity”

! Spirituality and Health –Convener: Kathleen Lawler (4-????)

This Colloquy emerged from last year’s ICE initiative and has has been meeting regularly. It is open to growth and has included advanced undergraduates.

Their focus this year has been a multidisciplinary study of

pain

, including biological, psychological, cultural and historical material from science, literature, and the arts. The Colloquy has announced its intent to develop an interdisciplinary course on pain.

! Technology, Society, and the Common Good --Co-Conveners: Karl Jost (4-6159), and Richard Strange, 4-7228). Colloquy focused on the course offering. Future projects may expand collaborative involvement significantly as a possible “Perceptions of Nature” forum is organized, involving artists, theologians, historians, and psychologists, as well as ecologists.

UG COURSES 2000 - 2001

! US 310 The Great Conversation (Linda Bensel-Meyers reporting; Spring sec 88773, 5 students)

Fifth semester (of a six-semester sequence) will be “Nature and Technology” (US320) in Fall 2001.

! US 310 War and Literature (Chair reporting; Fall sec 90571, 11 students; Spring sec 88760, 18 students) Enrollment has doubled since last year!
! US 311 AIDS and Society (Chair reporting for Wayne Smith; will be offered Fall 2001)

Wayne is a community organizer on behalf of AIDS (Central Baptist HIV Ministry) and school principal who has offered to resurrect the course that Mark Miller had to let go last year. He assembled an organizing committee and roster of guest speakers including Professors Jeff Becker, Glenn Graber, Judy Fiene and physicians, Al Ichiki and Terri Hodges. The course plan was approved because of its past glory and the future involvement of many faculty.

! US 321 Aging and Society (Sandy McGuire reporting; Fall sec 90602, 24 students)
! US 322 Technology, Society, and the Common Good (Karl Jost reporting; Fall sec 90628, 18 students)

Jonathan Scurlock (ORNL, newly adjunct in EEB) has been attending and will be a future collaborator

Likely major theme in future offerings will be “Energy”

! US 410 The Business of America: American Attitudes Toward Work and Money (Chair reporting; Spring sec 88820, 4 students)
! US 410 Family Diversity (Chair reporting; Fall sec 90628, 1 student)
! US 410 20th Century Appalachia: Its Environment and Its Cultures (Chair reporting; Spring sec 88833, 23 students)
! US 410 Perspectives on Creativity (Sandra Leach reporting; Spring sec 88846, 8 students)
! US 411Art and Organism (Neil Greenberg reporting; Spring sec 88875, 14 students)

David Kerekan, Artist in Residence attended regularly, Marlena Corcoran, distinguished visiting media artist provided a master class, and Mark Lamb, Artistic Director of Knoxville’s Circle Modern Dance Company provided unique experiences for the class.

! US 412 NORMANDY SCHOLARS SEMINAR (sequence: Chair reporting; Spring sec 88891, 11 students)
a. The US component of 3-course sequence culminating in on-site studies in Normandy continues to provide the administrative aegis for faculty release time, converging with endowment support for students.

! US 420 Critical Studies of Race, Class, and Gender (Hulsether reporting; Spring sec 88804, 10 students)

Taught with Misty Anderson and cross-listed with English 486

PROJECTIONS 2001 - 2002

! UG COURSES

The planned course,

US 420 Animal and Human Welfare: Medical, Moral and Social Connections

, collaboratively designed by Catherine Faver (social work), John New (veterinary medicine), and John Nolt (philosophy), has received one of three national awards from the Humane Society of the United States. Based on the syllabus and planning the award was announced by Dr. Andrew Rowan, a senior vice president with the Humane Society U.S.

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES

! VISITING SPEAKERS

George C. Ritzer,

Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland presented "Cathedrals of Consumption," on Oct 11, 2000 (Host: Tom Hood, Sociology)

William Waldron,

Middlebury College "Buddhist Steps to an Ecology of Mind: Cross-Cultural Convergences and Evolutionary Philosophies" on Nov 17, 2000, HSS 104 3:30-5:00pm (Host: Bruce Seidner, Clinical and Forensic Psychology)

Marlena Corcoran,

media artist, on Mar 7-8, 2001; Corcoran also provided a “masterclass” for two University Studies classes, “Creativity” and “Art and Organism.” ( Host: David Kerekan, 2000-2001 Artist-in-Residence, School of Art)

John L. Risseeuw,

Arizona State University "Book Arts as an Interdisciplinary Practice" on March 25-April 1, 2001, Art & Architecture Building, room 113, 7:30 p.m. (Host: Beauvais Lyons, Art)

Cynthia Willet,

Emory University "Justice: A Dialect of Eros and Freedom"on Mar 30, 2001 (Host: Allen Dunn, English)

Ira Shor,

Professor, City Univ of New York's Graduate School: "Guns, Germs, Steel . . . and Writing: Literacy for and Against Conquest." Apr 23, 2001, 1210 McClung Tower, 4:00pm (Host: Janet Atwill)

! EAST TENNESSEE HOLOCAUST CONFERENCE (Gilya Schmidt reporting) University Studies joined with other contributors to support 3 days of lectures, interactive workshops, presentations, exhibits, music, and dance programs designed to "explore the nature of prejudice and hatred when taken to their ultimate extremes." on Apr 1-3, 2001. Events of particular interest to University Studies faculty were:

On the Bridge Between a Vanished Past and a Safe Future" by Yaffa Eliach, Broeklundian Professor of Judaic Studies, Brooklyn College. Welcomed by Mayor Victor Ashe in the UC Auditorium (Apr. 1, 7:00-9:30pm)

"The Jews of Poland" by Professor Antony Polonsky, Albert Abramson Professor of Holocaust Studies, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and Brandeis University Professor Vejas Liulevicius, Chair University Center rooms 226-227 (Apr. 2, 8:30-9:45am)

"The Last Wooden Synagogues in Eastern Europe," Showing and discussion of Architectural History film by Mr. Albert Barry, Independent Film Producer (Apr. 2, 2:30-4:00pm )

"Voices of Hope and Tolerance in the New Millennium," by Mr. Morris Dees, Chief Trial Counsel and Chair of The Executive Committee, Southern Poverty Law Center Apr 2001 Purushottama Bilimoria. Host: Rosalind Hackett, Religious Studies (Apr. 2, 7:00-9:00pm)

! “ROAD-KILL,” A Collaborative Art-Book Project. Beauvais Lyons reported that the visit in late March (sponsored in part by University Studies) by distinguished visiting scholar/artist, John Risseeuw (Arizona State University) was a resounding success. Beauvais presented University Studies with a numbered and signed book, “Road Kill.” This prize-winning production was a collaborative effort between Professors Risseeuw (visiting), Lyons (Art), and Nolt (Philosophy).
! ICE report. Charlie Reynolds representing Intellectual and Cultural Expressions Council (ICE) was able to report that the Center proposed by the Council with the encouragement of Dwayne MacKay did not meet the criteria of the President’s Initiative Program;

The ICE Proposal would, however, be forwarded to Dr. Loren Crabtree in July

ICE is so much like “University Studies with a budget,” as Charlie and the ICE executive committee have often noted, that Kathy Greenberg and Beauvais suggested that the nature of their continuing relationship should be watched closely, particularly because of the perceived bottom-up philosophy of University Studies and “top-down” image of ICE.

Communications. Linda Weaver, former Editor of Context, is newly designated coordinator of UT’s internal communications.

The relative virtues of hardcopy versus a virtual newsletter was reviewed ands led to the general sense that hard copy has many significant virtues, particularly valuable in evoking a recreational/community “feel.”

Library: Jacqueline Kracker reported on new initiatives at the library

Noteworthy were new resources for teaching with video . . .

The Digital Media Service (DMS, located in 209 Hodges Library) will digitize, store and deliver audio, video, images, and text for instructional use at no cost to faculty members.

COLLOQUIES AND COURSES

! General. Neil Greenberg reported that resources for promoting colloquies and classes to the faculty at large and targeted constituencies in particular are now possible with . . .
! Promotion of US activities. Our acquisition of a printer that can manage color posters and flyers is at the service of Colloquy coordinators and Faculty
! Mailing lists were developed for faculty, advisors, and students developed with the help of Zoe Hoyle and the advice of the Dean for Undergraduate Academic Affairs.

Carefully timed advertising in the Beacon and use of University Center bulletin boards.

The Program’s NEWS function (at the website) was praised by UT media specialist Bill Dockery who will provide a list of regional public relations/news specialists who should see our news regularly.

! Cultural Studies. Handel Wright initiated a discussion in which he, Allen, Janet, Mark, and Tom considered reviving Cultural Studies Colloquy

This might be coordinated with a general revival of cultural studies at UTK, recalling the group Bill Morgan, Allen, Mark and Handel had initiated some years ago.

Handel and Janet discussed collaborating on reviving the

course

in Spring 2002.

CENTRIPETALS

Turn out has been excellent for most presentations this year, attributable in part to enhanced PR and communications, including frequent reminders to those who have signed up and extra invitations targeting individuals from specific departments (in addition to the large generic one to faculty and senior staff)

! Seventeen nominees for next year’s series will be circulated amongst the Faculty and the top seven recruited for presentations next academic year.

ANNUAL RETREAT

Continuing our tradition, 26 faculty from 9 colleges and units met at the Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts in Gatlinburg for two half days of review and planning Tues and Wed, May 1 and 2, 2001. Jacqueline Kracker, new to the Library and Linda Weaver, new to the position of Manager of Internal Communications joined us as guests to learn more about our needs and to inform us of how we could most profitably interact with their offices. Recipient of this year’s Annual Award for Interdisciplinary Scholarship was Sandra Leach, Chair of the Colloquy on Creativity. The Scholar’s Presentation by last year’s Award recipient, Al Burstein, focused on the history and evolution of the program. Al provided historical documents and mementoes that will be archived at the Hoskins Library. For details, the Retreat Report will be available at the website on July 15, 2001.

! In the review sessions, ten Colloquies and twelve undergraduate courses reported on their activities, including several unusual or interesting developments. In the strategic planning session, concern was expressed that University Studies be clearly distinguished from Intellectual and Cultural Expressions (ICE) group and other interdisciplinary programs on campus.
! Greenberg reported on the availability of new course numbers implemented to support the Honors Program.
! The value of a new academic program review was appreciated, particularly in light of the anticipated arrival of the new Provost, Loren Crabtree. Such a project would help consolidate the close relationship we have become accustomed to enjoying with the Office of the Provost and coordinate with possible new ideas in faculty development.