Our very own shaman

Jim Parker, aka university webmaster, has authored a chapter in what looks to be an interesting new book, “Electronic Tribes: The Virtual Worlds of Geeks, Gamers, Shamans, and Scammers,” coming out in May ’08 from University of Texas Press. Take a look at Jim’s chapter, “Where is the Shaman?”, if for no other reason than to see the word recrudescence used in a sentence. Kudos, Jim.

Philly’s eyes on us

My hometown paper is positively gushing about a unique event that took place on the Vanderbilt campus last week – the first meeting of the Collegium of Black Women Philosophers. Read The Inquirer’s coverage here, and listen to the keynote speaker Anita Allen (from U. Penn, hence the City of Brotherly Love’s interest) delivering her address, “The White-Only Shade Tree,” here.

Watch video of former Brazilian President Cardoso speaking at Vanderbilt

Former Brazilian President Ferando Cardoso spoke at Vanderbilt last night, continuing the fascinating 60-year relationship the university has with his country. Read that story here, and watch the video on VUCast.

Professor Sharpley-Whiting goes to Washington

Tracy Sharpley-Whiting, director of the Vanderbilt Program in African American and Diaspora Studies, is set to testify Tuesday, Sept. 25, in Washington before the Congressional Subcommittee on Energy and Commerce on the topic of “From Imus to Industry: The Business of Stereotypes and Degrading Images.” The hearings will begin at 10 a.m. in Room 2123 of the Rayburn House Office Building. Sharpley-Whiting’s testimony is expected to begin about 1 p.m. eastern time.

Can’t make the hearings? You’re in luck–the hearing will be streamed live here. And, as we mentioned recently on this blog, Professor Sharpley-Whiting talked about this same topic earlier this month at the Nashville Public Library as part of our Thinking Out of the Lunch Box series. Watch the video.

Lunch box revealed!

Vanderbilt has an excellent lunch program in place that’s a well-kept secret, if you count gathering 300 strangers together at the Nashville Public Library six or seven times a year to eat lunch and talk philosophy as a secret. But it kind of is–it’s one of those things that those in the know know, you know? Anyway, we kicked off the 2007-2008 Outside of the Lunch Box Series on Wednesday with Tracy Sharpley Whiting, professor of African American and diaspora studies, professor of French and director of the African American and Diaspora Studies program, discussing, “From Imus to Industry: How Mass Media, Public Culture and Payola Profit from Women.” The Lunch Box events are free and open to the public–RSVP required. To learn more visit the Web site. Thanks to our friends at ITS, we’re able to offer streaming video of the event. Watch it with RealPlayer or Windows Media.

New evaluations help guide counselors

Treating teens with mental health issues is about to become more scientific. Vanderbilt’s Peabody College researchers have just finished developing the Peabody Treatment Progress Battery, or PTPB. This short battery of questions will help clinicians evaluate their teenage clients’ progress. Until now, there was not a system to evaluate treatment effectiveness outside of the labratory. Many clinicians simply used the labratory-tested treatments and hoped they would work. PTPB will give therapists and doctors the information they need to develop more effective treatments for teens and children. To read more about PTPB visit VUCast.

Generation Debt podcast

Check out a podcast by Anya Kamenetz, Pulitzer Prize-nominated columnist and writer, on the debt problems faced by young people today. Kamenetz covers everything from student loans to credit cards. Click here for the podcast and more info.

Symposium on violence against against women a success

A symposium focusing on violence against women had to turn away would-be participants. The turnout for this first time event was greater than expected, forcing the organizers to cap attendance. The symposium, entitled “The Healing Journey: Surviving Violence Against Women” was presented by VUPD, Women’s and Gender Studies, and the Margaret Cuninggim Women’s Center. Vanderbilt professor Charlotte Pierce-Baker shared her own survival of violence. To read more about the symposium, visit InsideVandy.com.

Vanderbilt student discusses work with the UN

Vanderbilt MBA student Ebenezer Aryee had to put his studies on hold in 2005. The Owen Graduate School of Management student interrupted his education when the United Nations asked him to manage the peacekeeping mission in Sierra Leone. He is now the contracts management officer with the UN Mission in Sudan. Throughout the 1990s, he served as a Ghanian military officer and logistics/operations specialist and was assigned to UN peacekeeping efforts in many of Africa’s major crisis regions, including the Congo and Rwanda. Aryee plans to return to his studies, but not until his peacekeeping missions can spare him. Read more about Aryee and listen to him speak on his experiences at VUCast.

Did genetics fuel a legendary feud?

Winnter Reynolds is only 11, but she may hold a clue to one of the most legendary family feuds in American history. Reynolds is a descendent of the McCoy family, one half of the Hatfield-McCoy feud. She also has a genetic disorder called von Hippel-Lindau, which causes tumors to grow on different organ systems within the body. One of the areas often affected is the adrenal gland. Tumors on these glands can lead to mood swings and tempermental behavior, which may explain why the McCoy family was so prone to violence and erratic behavior. Click here to read more and watch a video about this new theory at VUCast.