Dear College Faculty and Staff,

This week I wish I could just write my remarks about finals week and the work I have been doing on behalf of the College. But as you all know, we lost a student just a few days ago, Thomas Nelson ’27 (Computer Science and Engineering).

It's in our nature to grieve at the loss of all human life, but losing the young is always especially bitter and disorienting – there is so much that is simply off in that disappearance, so much that does not accord with the joy and promise of a first quarter at University.

I know you have felt that disorientation in our students, as you encounter them in their classes and in the dorms. And while they may not always say so, I know that our students look to you for compassion, reassurance, and guidance; in short, they turn to you for models of how to live and carry on. For that role you play, I am deeply grateful.

In the week after finals, I wish you peace and as easy a wrap-up to the quarter as possible.

Sincerely,

Daniel

Highlights

Portraits by Ellen Elmes of the victims of the 2019 racially-motivated mass-shooting in El Paso, Texas. Courtesy of Don Elmes.

Chris Tirres (Religious Studies) delivered the distinguished 2022 John Dewey Memorial Lecture, which was recently published in Education and Culture. The lecture pays tribute to the healing power of borderlands spirituality. A visually-rich video of this lecture is offered through the John Dewey Society website.

In addition, Chris attended the American Academy of Religion conference in San Antonio, Texas, where he offered a critical commentary on two books that extend the influential tradition of liberation theology in the Americas: Alejandro Nava’s Street Scriptures: In Between God and Hip-Hop and Raúl Zegarra’s A Revolutionary Faith: Liberation Theology between Public Religion and Public Reason.

Anna Sampaio (Ethnic Studies) recently published an open access peer-reviewed research article entitled “Escalating Political Violence and Intersectional Impacts on Latinas in National Politics,” in the journal PS: Political Science & Politics (Cambridge University Press). Drawing on interviews with over two dozen Latina congressional members and candidates, the article examines the impacts of escalating political violence on their professional lives and political careers, as well as the implications for the historic and growing body of Black women and Latinas who are engaging in public service at the national level.

Anna was also interviewed by Doug Sovern and Patti Reising of KCBS radio as part of a conversation into the 2024 Presidential Election and specifically on new polling data indicating Biden was losing ground among key constituents while Trump gained support in states won by Biden in 2020. That interview is available on their podcast website.

In this figure, Michelle illustrates one interpretation of rafting dispersal. The monkeys of the Americas originated in Africa and did not have the geological ability to walk here. Therefore, it has been hypothesized that a rafting is the best hypothesis for dispersal. Rafting can occur when a piece of land/vegetation is undercut by ocean currents and it breaks away with vegetation and living creatures. This island (with appropriate ocean currents, etc) then moves across the ocean dropping off its passengers in new places. It may seem far fetched to you but this has been observed (check out YouTube but be mindful of your time).

Michelle Bezanson (Anthropology) published an article titled "Words matter in primatology" in the November issue of Primates.

In this article, 14 collaborators and Michelle discusses problematic terminology and focus on the terms "New World" and "Old World". In primatology, these terms are used to differentiate monkeys of the Americas from the monkeys of Africa, Asia, and Europe. The terms are colonial in that they indicate the Americas were "discovered" by white guys and the words alienate Indigenous scholars.

She believes this article will be of interest to:
  - Anyone in disciplines who use these or similar terms.
  - Individuals who seek to use a decolonial approach
  - Individuals who focus on language use.
  - Individuals who are interested in colonial history.

This article was a beast and took two years to complete - she is not used to working with 14 collaborators! Michelle is particularly proud of the figure above. She invites you to reach out if you are interested in discussing decolonial approaches and how we can be less colonial in our attempts to decolonize our fields.

Bryson White (Religious Studies) co-wrote an article, "HIStory against the World: Religion, Black Iconicity, and the Haunting Stretcher Photos of Michael Jackson and Tupac Shakur." in Religions. The article examines how Michael Jackson’s 1984 stretcher photo and Tupac Shakur’s 1994 stretcher photo scramble the disciplinary boundaries surrounding the academic study of religion. Drawing inspiration from Manning Marable’s concept of Blackwater, this study explores the complexities of black iconicity’s relationship to black suffering in the modern world.

Rohit Chopra (Communication) published a chapter, "International Networks Supporting Hindutva," in The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary India (2nd edition, 2024).

The chapter examines the structure and characteristics of global Hindu nationalist or Hindutva networks. It describes three aspects of global Hindu nationalism that have become prominent over the last decade: US-style soft power initiatives, which are part of a larger culture war; targeted, internet-driven violence aimed at enemies; and the use of globalized strategies and vocabulary that draw on themes such as indigeneity, social justice, and minority rights while also borrowing tropes from a range of right-wing movements from across the world. The chapter concludes with remarks on the implications of global Hindutva or Hindu nationalism for Indian and global politics.

Tim Myers’ (English) essay on embodiment, “Gardened from the Wilderness of Space,” appeared in the new Clerestory Magazine. He was also interviewed by Dr. Carla Manly of the Imperfect Love podcast on “The Huge Upsides of Domestically Committed Fatherhood”. And his artpieces Mirror: Infinite Regression and Self-Portrait in Broken Mirror on the Street appeared in the most recent Caesura Magazine for its “Objects in the Mirror” theme.

Image: Self-Portrait in Broken Mirror on the Street by Tim J. Myers

Amy Lueck (English) and Isabella Gomez '27 (Philosophy) published an article, "To Embrace Tension or Recoil Away from It: Navigating Complex Collaborations in Cultural Rhetorics Work," in College Composition and Communication (CCC), one of the flagship journals of the National Council of Teachers of English. The article documents the authors' experience developing a Youth Cultural Camp for Ohlone students, the pilot of which was held last summer on SCU's campus (with support from the College and other units across campus). The authors theorize the collaboration on this camp's design as a cultural rhetorics practice transforming and generating new knowledges and creating new possibilities for justice-driven work on campuses.

Tom Plante (Psychology) gave an invited presentation, "Catholic Insights for Mental Health: Faith Driven Strategies," for the Institute for Human Ecology at Catholic University of America and the National Catholic Partnership on Disability, on October 26, 2023.

Summary: Catholicism encompasses strategies, beliefs, and practices that contribute positively to mental health and support individuals with mental illness. However, Catholicism and mental health/illness support are often pursued as separate endeavors with minimal crossover. Presentation highlights include (1) Faith-centered approaches: Exploring how Catholic teachings and spirituality can be a source of strength and healing, (2) Value of mental health: Discovering the connection between faith and emotional well-being, and (3) Strategies: Learning Catholic strategies that individuals, families, and parishes can use to promote mental health.

The Halladay lab traveled to D.C. for the annual Society for Neuroscience meeting, where SCU undergrads presented 4 first-author posters. Pictured (left to right): Michael Nguyen, Varya Zlotnik, Sriparna Majumdar, Lindsay Halladay, Linnea Rothi, and Janet Ronquillo.

Six members of the Halladay lab traveled to Washington D.C. in November to present four research posters first authored by SCU undergraduates at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience. Each of the posters represented separate research projects led by undergraduates in the lab, mentored by Lindsay Halladay (Psychology, Neuroscience) and postdoctoral fellow Sriparna Majumdar (Psychology, Neuroscience). Research presented included: the investigation of neural dysfunction incited by exposure to early life trauma, Janet Ronquillo '23 (Neuroscience); examination of the complex link between neural, behavioral, and immune responses following stress, Michael Nguyen '24 (Neuroscience, Music); exploration of neural events contributing to normal and aberrant maternal care, Linnea Rothi '23 (Biology, Neuroscience); and disentangling the role of distinct extended amygdala cell populations in real-time aversive learning Varya Zlotnik '24 (Psychology).

Over 25,000 neuroscientists, researchers, and trainees were in attendance at the meeting; Janet, Michael, Linnea, and Varya each presented their work to eager audiences non-stop during grueling (but fun!) four-hour poster sessions. Conference travel was made possible by generous funding from the Provost's office, Dean's office, Psychology Department, DeNardo awards, and the NIH.

College of Arts and Sciences Calendar