David PesciThe national health insurance legislation, colloquially known as “ObamaCare,” passed recently by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Obama is historic. However, almost as soon as it became law, several pundits, journalists and lawmakers – as well as law suits filed by the attorney generals from 18 states – began asking the same question: is ObamaCare constitutional? “If you are looking for a specific clause in the Constitution that explicitly authorizes the national government to regulate the subject of health care, then the answer is obviously no,” says John Finn, professor of government, who has written and commented widely…
Olivia DrakeThanks to nine Wesleyan students, subsistence farmers in the small urban center of Nandaime, Nicaragua, will no longer struggle to grow crops during the dry season. Between March 7-14, the students transformed five plots of land into irrigated farms, which will allow a network of female farmers to grow extra vegetables in the summers and sell them at a cooperative. "Now they'll be able to supplement their diet with nutrient-rich foods and sell the excess food at the market for an additional source of income," says trip organizer Rachel Levenson '12. Levenson and her peers, Amanda Schwartz '12; David Harris…
Corrina KerrIn this issue, we ask 5 Questions to. . . Erika Taylor, assistant professor of chemistry and chair of the 35th Peter A. Leermakers' Committee. Q. How did you get involved in biofuel research? A.There seemed to be a compelling need for more scientists to look for alternatives to biofuel carbon sources beyond the ones that have already been researched, corn being a common, but problematic one. Q. Can you explain what lignin is? A. Lignin is the second most abundant polymer on the planet (the most abundant polymer is cellulose). Lignin is interwoven into trees, along with cellulose and…
Aliens abound on the movie screens, but in reality we are still trying to find out if we share our universe with other sentient creatures. SETI, the search for extraterrestrial intelligence, is our attempt to detect evidence of a distant technology, in pursuit of cosmic company. On April 13, astronomer Jill Tarter will speak on "Are We Alone?" as the 2010 Sturm Memorial Lecturer. Tarter is director of the SETI Institute's Center for SETI Research. In 2004 Time Magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world, and in 2006 Tarter became a National Advisory Board member for the…
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Almost half of college students have experienced abuse in a relationship, according to a 2008 study. Abuse can range from cyber- stalking to beatings and rape. On April 27, Wesleyan University, The Hartford Courant and FOX CT will present a Key Issues Forum titled “The Person You Think You Know: Signs and Solutions of Campus Violence” at 6 p.m. in Beckham Hall. The forum will feature experts who will discuss relationship violence on campuses, including how to recognize danger signs and where to get help. The panelists are: Claire Potter, professor of American studies, professor of history, whose research interest…
The Wesleyan Film Studies Department and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences are hosting the 2010 Independent Filmmaker Series through April 29. The series features a different film and guest speaker every week. The program consists of a diverse array of films and speakers which showcase the very best in contemporary independent cinema. All shows in the series begin at 8 p.m. in the Center for Film Studies' Goldsmith Family Cinema. They are free of charge and open to the public. April 8: Writer/director Courtney Hunt will speak after a viewing of her film, Frozen River. April 15:…
The Wesleyan Argus will host a speakers series during April that will feature outstanding alumni in journalism. The first event, "Investigative Journalism and its Future," will be presented by Jennifer B. Kim, business reporter for The Boston Globe at 4 p.m. April 9 in Allbritton 311. Other presentations, all of which will begin at 4 p.m., include: - “Behind the Glossies: The Filtering of Fashion from Conception to Publication” by Michelle McCool ’95, Fashion Director, Cosmopolitan, April 16 in Allbritton 311. - “History is News That Stays News: How News Writing Impacts the Historical Record” by Gerard Koeppel ’79, Author, Bond of Union: Building…
This summer, Wesleyan's Project to Increase Mastery of Mathematics and Science (PIMMS) will offer professional development workshops on alternative energy technologies for Connecticut science teachers. On March 25, the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund (CCEF) awarded PIMMS a contract to design and administer the workshops under CCEF’s Learning for Clean Energy Innovation (LCEI) program. Two workshops will be held at Wesleyan, and others will be held at other locations around the state. In addition to administering the workshops, PIMMS will update the program’s solar energy lessons, incorporating operating data from solar panels on schools and other buildings and explaining the important links between energy…
Cynthia RockwellVibraphonist, composer and Adjunct Associate Professor of Music Jay Hoggard ’76,will perform in the 32nd annual Playboy Jazz Fest, held at the Hollywood Bowl on June 13. Performing as a member of the latest version of emcee Bill Cosby’s “Cos of Good Music” band, Hoggard will be playing with NduguChancellor, Dwayne Bruno, Ingrid Jensen, Mark Gross and D.D. Jackson. The invitation to join the band wasn't really a surprise for Hoggard. He has worked with Cosby before, including on the soundtrack to the Cosby TV show. “When Dr. Cosby calls, I drop everything and I’m there,” says Hoggard. Currently taking…
Henry Goldschmidt, assistant professor of religion, received a grant from the Spencer Foundation for a project titled "Education and Collective Identity Formation." The grant is worth $39,975 and will be awarded July 1, 2010.
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