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Susan Mason, director of the Oral Communication Center and director of the Education Studies Program, has recently developed two education programs for the American Management Association International: "Developing Emotional Intelligence" and "Women in Business." The American Management Association is a not-for-profit, educational institution recognized by the Regents of the University of the State of New York. Mason’s work will be disseminated through the AMA worldwide network in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Europe and in Japan, China, Southeast Asia and the Middle East.

Tim Minella ’09 (Kennett Square, Pa.) studied loop quantum gravity (LQG) this summer under the advisement of Associate Professor of Physics Seth Major. According to LQG, which attempts to reconcile the seemingly incompatible theories of quantum mechanics and general relativity, the basic structure of space turns out to be made up of small discrete units of volume. This means that space cannot exist in any smaller quantity than these quantized volumes, which are as small compared to a proton (one of the subatomic particles that make up atoms) as a proton is to us. Physicists represent these fundamental units of space as a network of interconnected loops, hence the name of the theory. 

One may think that ballroom dancing and community service do not necessarily coincide. However, Mark Fitzsimmons '09, who has led the ballroom dancing club for the past two years, disagrees. The ballroom club has several outreach activities planned for the upcoming year that aim to benefit both the Utica and Hamilton community.

Associate Professor of Economics Ann Owen was interviewed by The Christian Science Monitor for an article titled "Fed Expected to Cut Interest Rates Tuesday." The article pointed out that many economists have expected the Fed to reduce the federal funds rate, the rate that banks loan one another their excess reserves at the Fed, by a quarter of a percentage point. "It's already priced into the market, and if they don't do it, there will be a negative reaction," said Owen, a former economist at the Fed.

Associate Professor of Art Stephen J. Goldberg presented two lectures in the People’s Republic of China in conjunction with the second Chinese Calligraphy Workshop organized by the Calligraphy Education Group of the Chinese Language Teachers Association.

Sarah Zeigler '05 received a masters in musical theater from the Boston Conservatory and is auditioning for parts in New York City. Watch for news of her Broadway debut!

"The Constitution is not only worth reading, but worth thinking carefully about." The words of Professor of Government Theodore Eismeier seem an appropriate summation of Monday's panel discussion, "We the people—The Constitution in the 21st Century." In celebration of national Constitution Day, the seven-professor panel discussed possible amendments to the U.S. Constitution. The discussion included Professors Theodore Eismeier, Nicholas Tampio, Robert Martin, Ned Walker and Philip Klinkner of the government department. Also asked to discuss their opinions on the topic were Professor of Economics James Bradfield and Professor Catherine Phelan of the communication department.

James Greisler '10 (Galway, N.Y.) and Elijah LaChance '10 (Williston, Vt.) spent their summer working on two different carbohydrate (i.e. sugar) research projects under the advisement of Nicole Synder, assistant professor of chemistry. In general, both projects involved the preparation and characterization of designed structures that incorporate unnatural and natural carbohydrates, which can subsequently be used to investigate a number of key carbohydrate interactions of biological interest.

Visiting Assistant Professor of Government Peter F. Cannavò has published a review essay in the October 2007 issue of Political Theory, a leading political philosophy journal. Titled, "Confronting Postmodern Uncertainty: Political Insights from Cultural Practice," the essay reviews four recent books on cultural politics: Gay Hawkins, The Ethics of Waste: How We Relate Today to Rubbish; Marcie Franks, How to be an Intellectual in the Age of TV; Mary Caputi, A Kinder, Gentler America: Melancholia and the Mythical 1950s; and Helen Liggett, Urban Encounters.

Kimberly Bauer exposed herself to severe culture shock this summer. The senior from Concord, Mass., spent her spring semester in Botswana and, three days after returning home, moved to New York City to take up her internship with New York-based nongovernmental organization (NGO) WildMetro.