Muslims and modernity focus of visit by Islamic scholar
Progressive Muslim movements and thinkers are often absent in American media reports dealing with Islam, contributing to a lack of public understanding of Islam’s place in the modern world.
One of the world’s leading proponents of progressive Islamic thinking, Dr. Abdullahi Ahmed An-Na’im, will visit Athens next week to address this issue. An-Na’im is Charles Howard Candler Professor at the Emory University School of Law in Atlanta, GA where he teaches international law, human rights, and Islamic law.
Click here to read more.
The Kenyan Crisis: Challenges of Nation-State Consolidation in Africa
The African Studies Program and the Center for International Studies are pleased to announce a lecture by H.E. Zachary Muburi-Muita, Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations. This session of the International Studies Forum titled “The Kenyan Crisis: Challenges of Nation-State Consolidation in Africa” will take place on Friday, May 16 at 3:00pm in Walter Hall 145.
H.E. Ambassador Muburi-Muita was appointed permanent representative of the Republic of Kenya to the United Nations in 2006. He joined the Kenyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1982 and has served in the Sudan, the Netherlands, Israel, and Tanzania, where he also served as one-time Kenyan High Commissioner.
OHIO’s National Resource Centers Awarded SSRC Grant
Polls show that Americans are deeply concerned about Islam, but know comparatively little about the religion, often mistakenly connecting the religion with negative stereotypes. For the vast majority Americans, what they know about Islam they learned from the media.
Ohio University’s African Studies and Southeast Asian Studies National Resource Centers have been awarded a joint two-year Social Science Research Council grant to develop a series of media events that will draw attention to reform and progress in the contemporary Muslim world. The goal of the project is to increase public understanding of the religion and the diversity of viewpoints that can be considered “Muslim.” Click here to read more.
CommDev Workshop, Forum to highlight Media for Social Change
The Communication and Development Studies Program will host a two-day workshop focused on “Media for Social Change” that will explore how community media has been used to promote social change in developing countries. The workshop will look at both academic and practical aspects of community media, coupling scholarly lectures with hands–on workshops and presentations. The two–day workshop will culminate with a hands–on radio transmitter building workshop led by Prometheus Radio Project. Click here to read more.
Summit to highlight OHIO’s African health research, initiatives
Few people would imagine that a former Foreign Minister would be delivering babies in a hospital on a site that once housed a dump, but they have obviously never met Edna Adan Ismail. Ismail, who donated her UN pension and other personal assets to build the Edna Adan Maternity Hospital, will be the keynote speaker at the African Health Summit on April 18. Click here to read more.
Drumming Party Moves Outside for Spring Quarter
Ohio University’s School of Music, the Center for International Studies, the Multicultural Center, and the Ohio Valley International Council (OVIC) are moving the ‘Live to Drum’ world drumming parties outdoors for spring quarter. Drummers of all ages and skill levels are invited to join in the fun every Tuesday beginning April 8 from noon to 1:00 at the West Portico of Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium. Click here to read more.
Ohio University Celebrates 40 Years of Engagement with Southeast Asia
Ohio University’s unique 40-year history in Southeast Asia will be the focus of the upcoming “40 Years of Engagement with Southeast Asia” conference taking place March 7 and 8. The conference will celebrate Ohio University’s national prominence in the field of Southeast Asian Studies and recognize contributors to the program’s growth and success. Click here to read more.
Ohio University to host seventh Ohio Latin Americanist Conference March 1, 2008 - Cuban scholar to present keynote address on transnational Caribbean culture
The recent stepping down of Cuban President Fidel Castro and renewed interest in the future of this island nation makes a visit by Cuban scholar Eliana Rivero both timely and pertinent. Rivero will deliver the keynote address for the Ohio Latin Americanist Conference taking place March 1 in Gordy Hall. Other highlights of the conference will include seventy-five paper presentations by faculty and students and a Latin dance with music by Latin Jazz. Click here to read more.
Brazilian Scholars Enhance Latin American Studies Winter Quarter
For most residents of warm and sunny Niteroi, Brazil – a suburb of Rio de Janeiro - Athens, Ohio may seem an unlikely place to spend the months of January and February. This is not the first time, however, that scholars Wainer and Regina Silva have done just that - the pair are visiting scholars attached to Ohio University’s Latin American Studies Program for winter quarter.
Click here to read more.
Security Specialist Appointed Inaugural Frances M. and Stephen F. Fuller Distinguished Visiting Professor of Southeast Asian Studies
Dr. Carlyle Thayer, American-born professor of politics at the University of New South Wales, Australia, has taken up his post as the inaugural Frances M. and Stephen F. Fuller Distinguished Visiting Professor of Southeast Asian Studies at Ohio University. Thayer is internationally known for his research and publications on Vietnamese politics and security issues in Southeast Asia..
Click here to read more.
National Expert offers Training, Methods for African Language Instruction
An integrative approach to the teaching of less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) was the topic of a workshop mounted January 10 and 11 by Ohio University’s National Resource Center for African Studies – a fitting start to 2008, declared by the General Assembly of the United Nations as the International Year of Languages.
Click here to read more.
CIS Welcomes New BAIS Director as Program Grows
Commitment does not come from a degree, said the new director of Bachelor of Arts in International Studies.
Dr. Saumya Pant is from India, but is no stranger to OU. Pant came to OU about 10 years ago after receiving a MA from the University of Pune in Maharashtra, India. In Athens, she received a Ph.D. and M.A. from the School of Communication Studies.
Pant said she believes she can relate to students well and see things from their perspective because not long ago, she was in their place. This is useful considering one of her roles as the director of the Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (BAIS) program is advising freshman International Studies majors. Pant is also the faculty advisor for ISMA, the International Studies Majors Association.
Click here to read more.
Summer Experiences
This summer was an exciting time for many International Studies Majors, with students heading to all corners of the globe. Through OU’s study abroad program, International Studies Majors studied AIDS in Botswana, Chinese language and culture in Beijing, public health and tropical disease in Ecuador, and African culture through art in Ghana. Dr. Drew McDaniel, interim director of International Studies, believes studying abroad should be part of everyone’s university experience and is pleased that so many students are traveling abroad. Click here to read more.
World Drumming Party Starts Off with a BANG!
A diverse group of students and faculty drummed, danced, and laughed together at the first World Drumming Party of the year on Tuesday, September 11. Lively music flowed from the well-attended event held in the Multicultural Center’s Multipurpose Room in Baker University Center, as Dr. Paschal Yao Younge of OU’s Music School led the energetic circle of drummers. Music majors and experienced drummers mixed with the less experienced, including university administrators needing a break from the office and First Lady Mrs. Deborah McDavis. The rhythmic pounding of the drums was hypnotic, drawing in passers by and those in nearby rooms. Click here to read more.
Children visit street fair through OVIC's passport program
Children from Athens County experienced the world this spring, and they have the passports to prove it. However, not one really left the country. As the children sampled various ethnic foods and danced to musical performances, they received a stamp from each country represented in the annual International Street Fair on May 19. Click here to read the full story and see more pictures of the International Street Fair 2007
International Development students travel to Washington, D.C.
This spring, students in International Development Studies stepped out of the classroom routine to see their field put in action. 13 students, along with Director Jeili Li, traveled to Washington, D.C. from April 28-30 to visit six large non-governmental organizations. Click HERE to read more as Maria Gallucci writes about this trip.
Six languages restructured to better serve the programs and students
Beginning Fall Quarter 2007, the Less Commonly Taught Language (LCTL) program at Ohio will offer three African languages: Somali, Akan (Twi) and Wolof, and three Southeast Asian languages: Khmer, Thai and Vietnamese. Offering these languages strengthens and distinguishes the African and Southeast Asian area study programs at Ohio from others across the country, and the language skills greatly enhance students’ research and understanding of societies. Click HERE to read more.
Cultures coverage in Air Force ROTC course
Senior cadets in the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) at Ohio University had the opportunity to learn from and interact with Ohio international graduate students during winter quarter. The Ohio Valley International Council (OVIC) arranged for the “cultural consultants” to participate in the Aerospace Studies course, a cultural immersion course for cadets preparing for active duty. Consultants’ presentations covered a wide range of content from a diverse number of regions or countries—an experience the cadets said was more meaningful and relevant than lessons from a textbook. Click HERE to read more...
Sports in Africa Conference
An interview with Manute Bol and Guillaume Bakadi
They came from Ghana and Michigan, from Sudan and Maryland. On February 23 and 24, scholars, students and speakers from around the world and the United States gathered in Athens for the fourth annual Sports in Africa conference. This year’s symposium, entitled “Health, Sciences and Sport in Africa,” examined topics such as how sports might be used to improve the health of African people and how sports can play a role in development. Read More...
Photo album of the conference
CIS potluck party for winter quarter 2007
Family and friends, students and staff—all came together in the Athens Community Center as part of an Ohio University International Studies potluck party for winter quarter. Music from around the world played in the background as everyone lined up at a table filled with ethnic dishes and mingled with others in attendance. Click here to read more as Maria Gallucci has covered the event.
Click the link below to view the pictures from CIS potluck 2007
Image Gallery of CIS potluck 2007
Conference: "Health, Sciences and Sport in Africa"
Feb 23-24, 2007
Though Southeast Ohio is thousands of miles away from the continent of Africa, people from around the globe converge in Athens each year to discuss the issue of athletics in Africa. Since 2004, Ohio University has hosted the annual Sports in Africa Conference, which explores the relationship between athletics and broader issues, such as politics, culture and health in Africa.This year’s conference, entitled “Health, Sciences and Sport in Africa ,” will be held February 23 and 24. The symposium will examine topics such as how sports might be used to improve the health of African people and if sports should play a role in development. Read more about this conference in Maria Gallucci's article on "African Issues Come to Athens for Annual Conference".
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