Lycoming College News

Anthropology students attend conference

Mon, 11 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College students presented papers at the Northeastern Anthropology Association Annual Conference at Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, N.H., March 25-26.

At the conference, the Lycoming students were part of a panel titled, “Biography, Theory, and the Future of Anthropology.” Each student presented original work examining anthropological theory.

The group was accompanied by Dr. Ryan Adams, assistant professor of anthropology at Lycoming.

“The attendance at their panel was excellent – standing room only – and the question and answer period after their papers lasted almost an hour, as their ideas had generated an excellent discussion,” said Adams.

Students presenting papers included:

Stephanie Barna, junior sociology major, “Meeting Margaret Mead: Personal and Theoretical Influences on Her Career”

Samantha Silverberg, junior archeology major, “Claude Lévi-Strauss and Structural Anthropology”

Taylor Lubsen, senior history major, “Ruth Benedict and Cultural Relativism”

Alyssa Webb, sophomore archaeology and political science major, “Franz Boas: Anti-prejudice and Scientific Anthropology”

Lycoming College is a national liberal arts and sciences school dedicated to the undergraduate education of 1,400 students. It is recognized as a Tier 1 institution by U.S. News and World Report. Founded in 1812 in Williamsport, Pa., Lycoming is one of the 50 oldest colleges in the nation.

Sociology students invited to honors program

Wed, 06 Apr 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College senior sociology students Kelsey Barrett and Michelle Pastrano have been invited to share their capstone research as part of the American Sociological Association’s (ASA) Student Honors Program.

The program provides undergraduate sociology students an introduction to the profession as well as networking opportunities. Exceptional students from throughout the U.S. and other nations gather annually for this four-day event.

Barrett’s project, titled “Ignorance or Apathy? The Disconnect Between the Marcellus Shale Industry and the Lycoming County Youth,” examines how young adults in the Williamsport area view the economic and employment opportunities that have been created by the Marcellus Shale natural gas industry.

Pastrano’s project is titled “As Long as They’re Happy: How Job Opportunities for Children with Intellectual Disabilities Impact their Families.” For her research, she interviewed parents of adult children with intellectual disabilities in an effort to understand how the employment status of an intellectually disabled adult impacts the employment of the parents.

“I think the works of Kelsey and Michelle are excellent examples of what sociology has to offer,” says Dr. Betty McCall, assistant professor of sociology at Lycoming. “Whether examining issues that are macro-level like labor or micro-level like family relationships, the skills needed to formulate your own research question and conduct an independent study are important transferable skills. That both Michelle and Kelsey were accepted into the ASA Student Honors Program is extremely complementary of their work, and a great accolade for our program and the College.”

Visiting scholar of Arabic and Islamic studies to speak Jan. 27

Tue, 11 Jan 2011 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. – Lycoming College will host Dr. Mordechai Kedar, a visiting scholar of Arabic and Islamic studies from Bar-Ilan University in Israel, for two public lectures on Thursday, Jan. 27. His visit is sponsored by the College, Ohev Sholom Synagogue and the Williamsport Federation of Jewish Charities.

Kedar’s first lecture, “Clash of Values: Gender and Family Issues - Sources of tension between Islam and the West,” will be held from 4-5:15 p.m. in the Academic Center, room C303. From 7:30-8:45 p.m., he’ll present “What is the struggle over Jerusalem all about?” in Heim Building, G-11.

Kedar is an assistant professor and lecturer on Arabic and Islamic studies at Bar-Ilan, where he earned a bachelor’s and doctorate in Arabic and political science. He has served as a lieutenant colonel in the Israel Defense Forces - Military Intelligence. Kedar has published and lectured widely on Islam, Islamic movements, Arabic mass media and popular culture and gender issues in Islam. He has appeared on many TV news programs, including the Arabic station Al-Jazeera.

Kedar is also scheduled to speak at the Ohev Sholom Synagogue and the Door Fellowship in Williamsport.

View his full schedule of class visits and public lectures.

Sociology professor presents research at Yale University

Mon, 15 Nov 2010 00:00:00 EST

WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. - Dr. Betty McCall, a Lycoming College assistant professor of sociology, was a featured speaker during Yale University’s Ethnography Retreat on Nov. 6.

McCall’s presentation, titled “Influx: Who’s Moving In?” was based on her research examining the migration of populations into Williamsport as a result of the rehabilitation services provided, welfare reform legislation, and urban exit. Her study began in 2005 and ended last summer.

McCall was invited to present at the retreat by Dr. Elijah Anderson, a sociologist at Yale and one of the retreat’s organizers. Anderson was Lycoming’s 2009 commencement speaker and also visited the College in 2008 to discuss his book, “Code of the Street.”

“Part of my work mirrors that of Dr. Anderson as he explains the code of the street in Philadelphia,” says McCall. “I connect that code to occurrences in Williamsport over the past few years.”

The goal of the conference was to bring together ethnographers and cultural theorists from across the United States and abroad to share their work, to learn from one another, and to fellowship while working towards developing a community of scholars that appreciates the value of fieldwork.