This post is written by UHP students Rachel Roberts and Tigan Woolson.
On Thursday, February 6, 2014, Professor Vann’s Arts and Humanities class, Alienation and Appropriation: The Political Power of Art in the Abrahamic Religions from the Holy Land to al-Andalus and Beyond, went to the Arena Stage to see The Tallest Tree in the Forest.
This one-man show presents the life of Paul Robeson, a Black singer, actor, and activist. Robeson’s life and work are an awe-inspiring testament to a man committed to his cause before he had a movement to support him. His story is not well-known to the general American public due to the backlash he received for his outspoken participation in the race and labor movements in the US and abroad, and for his alleged Communist affiliation. Author and star Daniel Beaty opens the second act with an insightful monologue about the nature of “comfortable black history” attributed to Jamal Joseph, a film professor at Columbia. The music that was included in the show, all performed live, added a dimensionality that only improved the already impressive and powerful performance.
The Tallest Tree in the Forest explored the concept of what makes a hero, his legacy, and how the conceptual idea of a hero has developed according to previously existing archetypes, one of the focuses of the course. Robeson’s life, which seems to adhere to our expectations of a civil rights hero, was not viewed as heroic however due to his political affiliations and race, and the fact that the results of his efforts would take years after his death to manifest, after he had been mostly written out of history. The double standard that is held for individuals according to their race, religion, and political affiliations is underscored throughout the play. The play is structured as an old man’s recounting of a life filled with victories, loses and regrets, celebrating Robeson while acknowledging his shortcomings as a man and as an activist. This exploration of an unsung hero provided an interesting contrast to the heroes that the class has been studying, who by the very nature of us studying their narratives centuries later, though multiple interpretations, are classically heroes. There are certainly traits that all typical heroes adhere to, however, one can only see these persons as heroes should we already believe they are capable of being considered as heroes, and when they can be directly, visibly attached to major victories. Paul Robeson however, due to his race, labor dialogue, and alleged political affiliations, was prevented from entering history as a hero, but rather established the basis for a national perception of later civil rights leaders that have been canonized in the mainstream.
Month: February 2014
Should I Join That Honors Society? [Throwback]
Have you started receiving invitations to different honors societies? It’s that time of year when many of you may start wondering whether these groups are worth joining. If you’re unsure, our advice from 2012 may be worth a look.
The long and short is that most of the answers you’ll have to find out for yourself. But, there are a few tips you should know, like the different ways you can receive “honors” and the questions you should ask before joining any society — like if there’s a chapter at GW, or if you have friends who are already members.
Check out the article for more tips and leave your best advice in the comments here.
Apply to be an Honors Student Peer Advisor!
Student Peer Advisors (SPA) are dedicated to serving the UHP community by actively engaging with current and prospective UHP students, planning events, and representing the UHP as a whole. If you’re interested in helping others succeed and improving your Honors Program, apply now to become a SPA! SPA members help fellow students with course selection, time management and extracurriculars, four year planning, study abroad options as well as provide a student perspective of the UHP to prospective students and parents.
Interested? Apply now to become a Student Peer Advisor. The application deadline is March 3. For questions regarding the application, please contact Catherine Chandler at cbrady@gwu.edu. Decisions will be announced by March 21.
Interns needed for online course design
Professor Emeritus of Botany Terry Hufford seeks interns to help construct a flexible, modular, online biology course for middle school teachers in Washington, DC. Prof. Hufford is looking for students interested in various aspects of biology, education and media. Specific projects would include but are not limited to planning curriculum and modules of content; using video and animation content to render the content engaging and interactive; and using software such as Blackboard to support instructors’ needs.
Interested students should contact Prof. Hufford at tlh@gwu.edu.
Research Days: Your Turn in the Spotlight
UHPers, we know you’re busy bees with research. Between exciting classes, your senior thesis work, and the results of SURE funding, we know a bunch of you are out there right now doing exciting research.
But don’t keep your excellence all to yourself. Share it with the world!
You have until February 23rd to submit abstracts to GW Research Days 2014. It’s a great opportunity to present on the great work you’re doing!
Don’t dilly-dally, you need to represent the UHP! Submit your abstract to GW Research Days 2014 by February 23rd, 2014!
Match-Making at the US Department of State [Research Assistant]
Technology in Internal Markets; assigning diplomats to foreign embassies in the U.S. State Department
Professor Korok Ray
The Project: Organizations of all kinds such as government, corporations, and non-profits need to assign workers to jobs. Traditionally this has been done manually, however advances in technology and economic research are opening the door to using more sophisticated methods to match employees to employers within organizations, in internal labor markets.
This research seeks to explore how to best match U.S. diplomats to embassies around the world through the U.S. State Department. The government matches hundreds of Foreign Service officers to embassies every year and they seek better and more precise ways to do this. The project has both technical/mathematical as well as relationship/rhetorical/marketing.
Research Assistant Tasks: I seek a research assistant to help me implement this program. I have already designed the mathematical algorithm and the basic technology to help with the assignment. However, I require a bright undergraduate with a general background in economics, mathematics, statistics, computer science or business. The best applicant will have a strong curiosity of how to apply cutting edge economic research to solve the latest problems in the real world. This project is as concrete as it gets!
Time Commitment: 7-9 hours per week
Contact Email: raykorok9@gmail.com
Golden Key's Operation Valentine
In honor of Valentine’s Day, Golden Key International Honour Society (of which several UHP students are a member) is hosting a drive to nurture a group of women who are working to improve their lives and be empowered. Specifically, we are collecting treats for the women in Calvary Women’s Shelter; these women are rarely pampered, especially on Valentine’s Day.
Please purchase any of the following items and bring them to the Marvin Center Lobby between 11AM-1PM & 6PM-8PM on Tuesday, February 11th:
Chocolate
Fingernail Polish
Candy
Make-Up
Bubble Bath
Lotion
Items will be donated to the Calvary Women’s Shelter. Calvary provides a safe place to live, nutritious meals, educational programs, employment opportunities, mental health services, and addiction recovery support.
Wondering "What If?" [Ask the Sherpa]
Dear Sherpa,
I’m a freshman, and I haven’t declared a major yet. All of my friends seem to be so sure of their paths. How can I possibly decide what major I might want to do? What if I choose the wrong one, and then I can’t go abroad, or can’t graduate on time? Did I already miss my chance to pick my dream major???
Sincerely,
Panicking in Potomac
Dear Panicking in Potomac,
First, take a deep breath. If you get stressed out, come by the Townhouse and I’ll teach you deep breathing exercises from my homeland. We’ll pop on our Lululemons and namaste our way out of this stress pimple waiting to happen.
Your question reminds me of a time I was hiking up Mt. Everest, guiding some young Georgetown students. They decided, mid-hike, that they didn’t want to do it anymore!
“We want to go down, Sherpa!”
“We’re scared, Sherpa!”
“Our little toes are freezing off, Sherpa!”
While I let them go back down the mountain, I kept going, since it’s all about the climb.
A few hours later, I lost my footing. I rolled over myself and hit my head. When I came to, I found my arm stuck between two rocks. I was in a real jam; a proverbial pickle; a non-proverbial rock and a hard place.
Night was falling as fast as the mercury. What if no hikers passed by to save me? What if everyone was already at camp, and my yelling would just exhaust me? What if I was doomed to die here? What if I would survive and like, write a book or something? What if the book got turned into a movie? What if James Franco would play me? What if James Franco is playing us all?
The questions were mounting, and my options felt as suffocating as the snowdrifts growing around me. I didn’t know what to do. Whatever choice I made, I didn’t want to be left wondering “what if?”
You probably feel the same way. What if you choose International Affairs, and only later realize that you might have to redo some of your requirements? What if you decide to pursue Psychology, but a year later discover you meant Sociology? What if Archaeology is absolutely nothing like the promise of Indiana Jones?
Don’t be left wondering “what if?” Use the new DegreeMap tool to hypothesize and fantasize about your options. DegreeMap knows what you’ve already completed, so it can tell you what each major would require. Investigate countless options without having to make a new, handwritten four-year plan each time!
And for me? A young hiker by the name of Jim Franks (or something similar, at least) found me. I called him down and explained that I had a tough decision to make. Sometimes, one must do things they never thought possible. With my own pocket knife, I sawed off his arm to use as a lever to free me from the boulder. At last, I was free, and unscathed.
After all this excitement, I made an appointment with Catherine and Mark to debrief what I had learned and the conclusions I had come to. You should do the same after playing around with DegreeMap. Because if I’ve learned anything from my time on that mountain, it’s this: never go it alone. And never trust a Georgetown student.
Ivy City Project [PAID Research Assistantship]
Professors Royce Francis and Amanda Northcross
The Project: Student will assist with two (NE Washington DC, SW California near Mexico border) on-going community based ambient air quality studies utilizing low cost, easy to use air pollution monitors. The goal of these studies is to develop monitoring networks that are responsive to the local community’s air quality concerns while providing accurate and scientifically rigorous data to state and federal agencies. The student will be responsible for preparing field sample filters, equipment preliminary testing and assisting with preliminary data analysis. Also students may work with local DC community members to assist with monitor installment and technical support. There is the opportunity for advanced data analysis, thesis papers, and dissemination of results to local community members as skills and interest permit.
Qualifications: Due to the community based nature of this research project, the student must be comfortable working with people from diverse economic and ethnic backgrounds. The local research site is located in Northeast DC, and the student may be asked to travel to the site for equipment installations with local collaborators from nearby Universities.
- Math and Chemistry classes
- Detail oriented
- Independent worker
- Easy to work with
- Humble
- Experience working in a community setting
- Likes to solve challenging problems
- Preferred but not required:
- GPS experience
- Computer programming experience
- Sophomore or Junior standing
- Laboratory experience
- Science and engineering majors
- Basic understanding of air quality regulations and measurement techniques
Time commitment: 10-15 hours per week. Must be able to work at least 6 hours in a day once per week.
Pay: $10/hour.
To apply: Apply through the GWork system, look for reference number 791979.
Research assistantship opportunities are filled on a rolling basis. Please apply promptly for your application to be considered.
Study Space in the UHP Townhouse
The Honors townhouse in Foggy Bottom has two big rooms that are great places to study. While we don’t keep the rooms stocked with tasty treats like we do during “official” study hours, students are welcome to study in either the Club Room or the basement conference room any time Monday through Friday, 9am through 5pm.
(That is of course, so long as the room is free and open! Check with the front desk before you settle in just to be sure!)
