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THE
Clarion Call CLARION UNIVERSITY’S STUDENT NEWSPAPER SINCE 1913
NOVEMBER 14, 2013
VOL. 100 ED. 10
Four Clarion academics present work in Ghana, Africa Amerigo Allegretto ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR
CLARION, Pa. - Four professors at Clarion University presented research projects from their work in Ghana last month. The presenters, Miguel Olivas-Lujan, Basil Martin, Uraina Pack and Chad Smith showed their projects this past May at University of Cape Coast in Ghana for the “Interdisciplinary Conference on Diversity and Multiculturalism in the Global Educational Community.” The conference was sponsored by West Chester University of Pennsylvania, and partially sponsored by the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education. “Every time I attend a professional conference, I know that I am not just a professor whose research is being shared to advance my discipline, but I am also an ‘ambassador’ whose work speaks loudly about what is impor-
Jon Hyatt / The Clarion Call
Professors at Clarion University (from left to right) Miguel Olivas-Lujan, Uraina Pack, Basil Martin and Chad Smith. tant to my institution,” said Olivas-Lujan. “In this event, which brought colleagues from such diverse countries as the USA, Ghana, Nigeria and Ivory Coast, the diversity of perspectives and disciplinary lenses made it even more interesting than the discipline-specific conferences I usually attend domestically.” His and Smith’s presentation, “Assessing Multicultural Competencies for the Global Community,” entailed how study abroad students benefit
from their experiences. “We sent surveys to students from around the nation before they leave and later, once they return, to measure how their multicultural competences change,” said Olivas-Lujan. He said gathering information for this project was more difficult than expected. “Some students answer only one survey but not the other. This is a major challenge for longitudinal research, or research that measures the
variables of interest more than one time,” said Olivas-Lujan. “We have offered some incentives to our participants, but we are collecting data more slowly than we thought we would. In spite of the difficulties, we are committed to this project because we are part of an institution that takes assessment and accountability very seriously.” Martin presented “Information Literacy in the Global Community,” which showed how students gather informa-
tion to make their own understandings on a global issue rather than rely on a predetermined outline for an issue in the local area. Martin also showed how using global digital information in the classroom can be beneficial and that it can improve information literacy skills. Pack did her presentation on “A Sterling Legacy: The Impact of W.E.B. Du Bois on Ghanaian Politics and History.” Pack researched how Du Bois’ writings
and his relationship to former Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah influenced the development of Ghana, which gained independance from English colonization in 1957. The project also looks at Africa and its colonization from a global perspective . “Unfortunately, many people fail to realize that the world is already diverse. Nationally and globally, people of multiple ethnic groups and backgrounds have always co-existed,” said Pack. “By recognizing diversity and mulitculturalism, relationships can be built that support equity, social justice and greater access to education and health care as human rights.” All four presenters said it is important to be globally competitive. Scholarships on both the state and local level are available for students who wish to stud abroad. More information is available at the Office of International Programs.
Political science professor published in book Emily Miller NEWS EDITOR
CLARION, Pa. - Kevan Yenerall of the political science department recently contributed a chapter to a recently published political science book called “Shakespeare and Politics: What a 16th Century Playwright Can Tell Us About 21st-Century Politics,” edited by Michael Genovese and Bruce Altschuler. Yenerall’s chapter is titled “Absurdity and Amateur Hour in the American Politcal Forest: A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Nightmare of Polarization.” The book contains 12 chapters by various authors that delve into contemporary political themes that include corruption and virtue, war and peace and persuasion and polarization, examining them through lessons from the writings of William Shakespeare.
Yenerall is the chair of the Popular Culture and Politics section of the Northeastern Political Science Association, and two years ago, political science professor of SUNY Oswego, Altschuler, approached Yenerall about contributing to the book. “When Michael Genovese and I had the idea for the book on Shakespeare and politics, I quickly thought of Kevan as a possible contributor,” said Altshuler. “The idea he had of comparing characters in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” to recent presidential candidates fit very well into our idea of showing how relevant Shakespeare is to contemporary politics.” The entire process of proposing, writing, editing and publishing the chapter in the book took roughly one year. The work included writing his proposal, researching and composing the draft chapter and completing the process by revising the chapter af-
ter the formal editorial reviews came in. “I wanted to craft a chapter that spoke to the 2012 presidential primary process, and it seemed to me that ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ was an appropriate and creative way to understand the process, consequences and shortcomings of the entire electoral and ideological compromise,” said Yenerall. He continued, “It is an honor to be part of a peerreviewed text from a major academic press. As all of my colleagues know, it is a time-consuming process. It is especially gratifying to contribute to a germane and frankly, exciting and creative project edited by political scientists for whom you have great admiration and respect. The authors who contributed are prolific, insightful scholars.” Yenerall also noted that he was in two productions of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in College, playing the character of Nick Bottom.
“This particular installment in the Shakespeare cannon has a special resonance for me,” said Yenerall. Co-editor of the book, Genovese, described Yenerall’s chapter of the book to be a reflection on the play that he was writing about. “[Yenerall’s] chapter in the Shakespeare book was playful, just like a Midsummer Night’s Dream, and witty; a bit tonguein cheek and a bit biting – just like Shakespeare himself,” said Genovese. With this chapter, Yenerall has contributed six chapters to political science texts. Additionally, he has also co-authored two editions of “Seeing the Bigger Picture: American and International Politics in Film and Pop Culture” in the years 2004 and 2012. Yenerall said that this chapter relates to his developments as a political science professor through his classroom duties in his Politics and
Jon Hyatt / The Clarion Call
Professor Kevan Yenerall of the Political Science department. Film course that was introduced in 2001. “Politics and literature is inherently linked to the study of film and politics,” said Yenerall. “Sometime in the future it would be worthwhile to examine the development of a political science and
THIS WEEK’S EDITION
Inside
INDEX
Spanish club hosts Day of the Dead party. FEATURES PAGE 6
Clarion VDay project holds Lunafest. ENTERTAINMENT PAGE 9
Subject scores four player of the week recognitions. SPORTS PAGE 12
News Opinion Features Classifieds Puzzles & Comics Arts & Entertainment Sports Standings
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literature seminar, or perhaps a politics and pop culture course.” He continued, “Participating in these edited texts helps to keep me informed and appreciative of emerging scholarship on politics and pop culture.”