NEWS
Wednesday, June 19, 1996 - The Michigan Daily - ,
Getting your
head examined
The curator of Biological
Anthropology in the Exhibit Museum
of Natural History, views a new dis-
ay showcasing the reconstruction
the head of a 10,000 year old
Native American woman unearthed in
1983. Art Prof. Dennis Lee created a
model of what the woman's head
might have looked like based on
standardized Asian facial tissue
depth markers used in modern foren-
sic reconstruction. Dow Corning
financed the project. The actual skull
is scheduled for repatriation later this
year.
University rofessors named MacArthur Fellows,
to receive 545,000 grant money from foundation
atie Wang
yNews Editor
Two University professors have
een given the honor of MacArthur
ellows by the John and Catherine
acArthur Foundation. Vonnie
cLoyd, a psychology professor,
nd Thylias Moss, an English profes-
or, were two of only 21 recipients of
his distinction nationwide.
"I never thought I would win this
ard," McLoyd said. "A part of me
slightly embarrassed because I
now there are
ther people who
eserve this
ward, but I'll try
o get over my
mbarrassment."
The John and
a the ri ne
a r th u r
ndation is one
Sthe largest pni-
tate philanthropic Thalylas
oundations in the
ountry. One of the goals of the founda-
ion is to "seek lasting solutions to crit-
ical problems by investing in creative
eople and ideas."
Both professors will receive a mone-
ary award to be disseminated over a
five-year period to continue their
research and writing.
SIcLoyd, who has actively studied
t interactive influences of race, eth-
nicity, family and economic hardship
on human development, will receive
$280,000. McLoyd said she plans to
expand her research to study how dif-
ferent types of policy affects the growth
of children.
"I want to focus on the social and
educational impacts of policy on chil-
dren's development and family fuinc-
sing," she said.
McLoyd described some of the
reforms that the Republican
Congress has proposed as "mean
spirited."
"People are concemed about eco-
nomic issues, but not about how they
will affect children," she said.
McLoyd has done extensive research
in attempting to link the psychological
impact of economic deprivation on
African American families and chil-
dren.
"(McLoyd) is a superb develop-
mental psychologist who has turned
her attentive eye and analytic mind
to the critically important research
question of how economic hardship
affects the lives of
American children
and adolescents,"
said Patricia
Gurin, chair of the
University's
Department of
Psychology.
Moss, who has
authored several
books of poetry, will
receive $265,000
from the foundation. Vonnie
Moss, who began
writing poetry at the age of 6, said she
was ecstatic and overwhelmed when
she was notified that she had been
named as a fellow.
"Deep within, I've always main-
tained a hope for recognition of what I
say," she said. 'What encouragement
this (award) is to write."
Moss, who as a child entertained
ideas of becoming a classical violin-
ist or a geneticist, said she receives
inspiration from many different
things.
"That which I do become aware of in
a meaningful way inspires me," she
said. "It can be anything."
Some of Moss' books of poetry
include "Hosiery Seams on Bowlegged
Woman," and "Rainbow Remnants in
Rock Bottom Ghetto Sky."
Neither Moss nor McLoyd will be
teaching at the University in the fall.
McLoyd is currently on sabbatical as
a visiting professor at Duke
University, and McLoyd, who was
also named a Guggenheim fellow,
will be working on more writing pro-
jects
Write for
Summer
Dal.Cl
76Diy
'U' officials travel to
South Africa to initiate
research opportunities
By Jennifer Harvey
Daily Managing News Editor
Several members of the University community spent last week in South
Africa looking into building a research facility there. Vice President for
Research Homer Neal, Business School Prof. Gilbert Whitaker, Institute for
Social Research Director David Featherman, South African Initiatives
Director Charles Moody and Flint campus Chancellor Charles Nelms made
the trip.
"We covered a lot of terrain," Featherman said.
Featherman said he and the others made the trip to explore possible roles the
University and ISR might play in rebuilding South African capabilities in social
science, primarily at historically black and historically disadvantaged schools.
"We're hoping (the University) can play some catalystic role in assisting South
African universities with rebuilding their research infrastructure and gaining
strength in social science," Featherman said. "Their social science capability has
been destroyed by apartheid."
"The country is at a time when it is imagining ways to transform higher educa-
tion, but it has to contend with the legacy of apartheid," Featherman said.
Developing cooperative educational opportunities with South African universi-
ties is not new to the University. Moody said the South African Initiatives program
has worked for several years to establish contacts and develop exchange programs
with South African facilities.
"We have a substantial pattern of exchange," Featherman said.
"We have set up relationships to promote cooperative kinds of endeavors;"
Moody said.
Featherman said he expects to develop specific proposals for new social science
research initiatives in South Africa in the next three or four months.
Featherman said the proposals might include plans for several research bases to
be located in regions in South Africa with a high interest level in research.
Featherman said funding for the new research centers might come from South
African universities and other South African resources, as well as from possible
national grants. He also said the University and ISR sight invest monetary and
faculty resources in the centers.
Moody said the group visited University students currently in South Africa
while on the trip, as well as the U.S. Ambassador to South Africa Franklin Sun and
other government officials.
Moody said exchange programs with South Africa are very beneficial to stu-
dents. "It's a life-changing experience for them. It's been invaluable."
Moody is scheduled to attend a conference Friday at the Detroit Athletic Club
to explore further initiatives with Franklin, Detroit Mayor Dennis Archer, Port
Elizabeth, South African Mayor Ncebe Faku and others.
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