Events!
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NSO 2008 > Proseminars > Politics, Culture, & Society
Click here
to register starting Monday, August 11, 2008.
The Ethics of Belief
Peter Freyd, Professor of Mathematics
A 1998 survey of members of the National Academy of Sciences found that only 7% believed in God. Other surveys say that the figure for Americans in general is 90%. This gulf reflects a huge difference between leading scientists and the rest of the nation when viewing the very ethics involved in maintaining beliefs. How does this affect our education? Our life? Our nation?
| Location: |
David Rittenhouse Lab, Room A6 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-214 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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***SECOND SECTION ADDED*** |
| Location: |
David Rittenhouse Lab, Room A7 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-215 |
| Time: |
4-6 p.m. |
African Languages and Cultures
Audrey N. Mbeje, Director of African Languages
This proseminar provides an overview of the role of language in any given society, i.e. the social functions of language. This brief look at the 2034 languages (a third of the world's languages!) spoken on the continent of Africa will touch on such subjects as instrumental and symbolic functions of language, language families (Niger-Congo (the largest), Afro-Asiatic, Nilo-Saharan, and Khoisan), and the ties between language and culture (such as the diversity of African religions, the Zulu Belief System, and the Philosophy of Ubuntu).
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 301 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-201 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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Discovering Historically Black Colleges and Universities
*(This Proseminar Has Been Cancelled)*
Marybeth Gasman, Associate Professor
In this proseminar, we will explore historical and current issues related to historically black colleges and universities, examining their place in a legally desegregated nation. The facilitator will share her research and engage students in a challenging philosophical discussion on these important institutions.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 741 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-302 |
| Time: |
3-5 p.m. |
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Diverse in Faith, United in Purpose
*(This Proseminar Has Been Cancelled)*
Fran de la Torre, Program Coordinator, Christian Association
Who says people of faith have dull lives?! At the CA House we routinely talk about sex (with ethics), justice, community service, and activism. Sit in a group with Penn upperclass students that is diverse in faith but united in purpose to talk about how you can make the world a better place while being a Penn student. Refreshments will be provided.
| Location: |
Christian Association House (118 S. 37th St.) |
| Course: |
PROS 100-402 |
| Time: |
4-6 p.m. |
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Dogs with Jobs
Cynthia Otto, Associate Professor of Critical Care
This hourlong seminar and discussion will provide an introduction to working dogs and canine athletes. The training and activity of search and rescue dogs will be highlighted. In addition, canine sports, such as agility and flyball will be presented.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 218 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-303 |
| Time: |
3-5 p.m. |
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Ending American Racism Through Dialogue
Walter Palmer, Adjunct Professor
This proseminar will discuss how to participate in a national grassroots campaign to end racism in America through dialogue in person and through the internet.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 438 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-103 |
| Time: |
1-3 p.m. |
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Entrepreneurial Opportunities Within the Senior Market
John Whitman, Executive Director, The TRECS Institute
With the rapidly approaching Aging Tsunami, in America and around the world, comes tremendous opportunities to develop entrepreneurial responses to meet the medical, social, and recreational needs of this significant cohort. This proseminar will discuss the overall environmental realities making this possible, review some recent and creative ideas, and encourage active participation in discussing new ideas and opportunities.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 319 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-203 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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Family Planning: Contraception and Abortion, Then and Now
Courtney A. Schreiber, MD, MPH & Steven Sondheimer, MD, Assistant Professor of Obstetrics & Professor of Obstetrics
Drs. Courtney Schreiber and Steven Sondheimer will discuss contraception and abortion issues from a history of medicine perspective.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 318 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-104 |
| Time: |
1-3 p.m. |
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Global Water and Sanitation
Stanley L. Laskowski, Lecturer & Advisor
Someone in the world, usually a child, dies every 15 seconds from a water-related problem. This presentation/discussion will address what the UN and the world community are doing to address the problem and how you can become involved.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 216 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-105 |
| Time: |
1-3 p.m. |
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Human Rights: 60th Anniversary of the Genocide Convention
Henry Teune, Professor of Political Science
This proseminar will explore how human rights have evolved as part of the global processes of democratization since the 1990s. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and the Genocide Convention. Special attention will be given to the global challenges of genocide in Darfur and Myanmar.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 315 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-205 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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Immigration and Refugee Law and Policy
Fernando Chang-Muy, Thomas O'Boyle Lecturer in Law
Students will discuss current immigration laws and policies including: who is coming here, legal classifications, application for refuge, grounds for exclusion, grounds for deportation, and the process of becoming a US citizen.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 217 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-107 |
| Time: |
1-3 p.m. |
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More Than Twinkies, Desis, and FOBs: Penn's APA Community
Raj Parikh, APALI Facilitator & Leader
Nearly 25% of Penn students are of Asian descent, but how do we fit in? Come learn about what it's like to be Asian Pacific American on campus. Learn about the countless student groups, discover great resources, such as Asian American Studies, South Asian Studies, and the Pan-Asian American Community House, and meet other students of East, South, and Southeast Asian, as well as Pacific Islander heritage. Coordinated by the Asian Pacific American Leadership Initiative and campus APA leaders.
| Location: |
Houston Hall, Griski Room |
| Course: |
PROS 100-207 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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Samurai Success Stories
Linda Chance, Associate Professor of Japanese Studies
The image of the Japanese samurai is more than familiar in North American popular culture, from Heroes on television to Genji on PlayStation. How much of the image is historically accurate? Why and how have some features morphed on their way into media representations? What meaning does the samurai legacy have in Japan and East Asia today? Bring your questions and experiences to this illustrated discussion.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 438 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-305 |
| Time: |
3-5 p.m. |
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Sex, Alcohol, and Ethics
Rev. Beverly Dale, General Minister & President of the Christian Association
Welcome to Penn, where the norm is study hard and party harder! But does "party hard" mean get wasted and hook up?! This session will not preach or advise you to say "no" to parties, sex, or drinking; it's about negotiating Penn's party scene ethically! Let's figure out how to be comfortable in your skin and develop well-considered party and sexual ethics before parties begin. We will explore how to be social and have fun without regrets or hangovers.
| Location: |
Christian Association House (118 S. 37th St.) |
| Course: |
PROS 100-111 |
| Time: |
1-3 p.m. |
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Speaking the Truth in Tough Situations: How JFK Confronted Religion in the 1960 Campaign
Arthur Benedict, Lecturer, Fels Institute of Government
This proseminar examines how JFK successfully handled the divisive issue of his Catholicism by confronting it head-on in a speech before an audience of concerned Protestant ministers in September, 1960. We will first examine that speech and the Q&A that followed. Then we will discuss what implications Kennedy's approach might have on the current presidential campaign.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 303 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-307 |
| Time: |
3-5 p.m. |
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Strategy vs. Alignment: The Organizational Puzzle
Andrew F. Hartnett, MA, CPT, CMC, Faculty Lecturer
Rarely does vision alone create competitive advantage for an organization; neither does the strategic plan. Where companies live or die, succeed or fail, is the ability to execute the vision or strategy.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 215 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-112 |
| Time: |
1-3 p.m. |
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The Allegory of the Wizard of Oz
David Nussbaum, MD, Resident, Radiology
Many have described Baum's Wizard of Oz as an allegory for the economic and political turmoil of his era. We will discuss this allegory and its comparisons with the current credit crisis and the upcoming presidential election.
| Location: |
Houston Hall, Brachfeld Room |
| Course: |
PROS 100-309 |
| Time: |
3-5 p.m. |
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The Biofuels Dilemma and Its Future
Ulku Oktem, Adjunct Professor & Senior Fellow
Until very recently, biofuels were considered to ease America's oil dependency. Now they are blamed for the increase in food prices. What are the problems (both local and global) with biofuels? How did they become major issues so quickly? What does the future hold?
| Location: |
Huntsman Hall, Room TBA |
| Course: |
PROS 100-209 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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The Gayborhood: A Walking Tour of Queer Philadelphia
Erin Cross & Bob Schoenberg, Associate Director & Director, LGBT Center
Join us for a walking tour of the Gayborhood and explore queer Philadelphia. Tour highlights include: Giovanni's Room (the world's largest LGBT and feminist bookstore), the William Way LGBT Community Center, and much, much more. So put on your walking shoes and be ready to have some fun! Transportation to Center City will be provided.
| Location: |
Meet at LGBT Center (3907 Spruce St.) |
| Course: |
PROS 100-210 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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The Politics of Consumption
Nadivah Greenberg, Lecturer, Political Science
Thorstein Veblen famously coined the phrase "conspicuous consumption" in 1899, and those two words resonate even more powerfully today in modern market societies. At no time in history have so many been able to consume not just for need (survival), but for want (desire). This proseminar will explore the role of consumption today and the array of views regarding consumption from disciplines and perspectives including economics, sociology, psychology, politics, and environmentalism. Specific normative traits, such as an "addiction to oil," the impact of material culture on youth, and the meaning of "hyper-consumption," will also be addressed. After an interactive lecture on the topic, students will be encouraged to participate in a debate about the merits and demerits of living in a material world.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 3 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-113 |
| Time: |
1-3 p.m. |
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The Stem Cell Debate
Jonathan D. Moreno, David and Lyn Silfen University Professor
Professor Moreno will discuss the ethical, scientific, and political issues concerning human embryonic stem cells, including the role of this debate in the current election cycle.
| Location: |
Cohen Hall, Room 392 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-211 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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The Study of Violence and War
Arthur Waldron, Lauder Professor of International Relations
Violence and war have been perhaps the most formative forces in the formation of human society. Yet they are rarely tackled seriously by scholars and academics. Professor Waldron teaches two courses and a seminar that deal with these subjects in a multifaceted way--for example he looks not only at strategy, tactics, technology, battle, and so forth, but also at the social impacts of war and even the artistic reactions to it. This proseminar will introduce these topics in a way designed for those having interest but no specialized background, while also going into some depth on selected issues. Discussion will be encouraged.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 220 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-408 |
| Time: |
4-6 p.m. |
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Thinking Beyond Capitalism
Andrew Lamas, Professor, Urban Studies Program
Is capitalism the final stage of human development? (Probably not.) Are there viable alternatives? (Probably yes.) Join Professor Lamas for a session in which you will think critically -- outside the confines of conventional discourse -- about these questions and the issues of global poverty, inequality, growth, and development.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 1 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-409 |
| Time: |
4-6 p.m. |
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Thinking Like a Lawyer
Samuel Diamond, Retired Lecturer, Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program
Is there really a way to "think like a lawyer"? This proseminar will test this question using a few illustrations of common legal principles applied to real-life hypotheticals.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 3 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-410 |
| Time: |
4-6 p.m. |
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World Food Crisis
Solomon Katz, Professor of Anthropology
This proseminar will first track both the causes and consequences of the world food crisis and then explore how we may feed ourselves in a sustainable fashion in the future. Examples will come from the results of a national task force on World Food Problems. Dr. Katz is chairing for the American Anthropological Association.
| Location: |
Williams Hall, Room 29 |
| Course: |
PROS 100-213 |
| Time: |
2-4 p.m. |
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