2012.03.21
"Cheating Baseball: America's National Pastime"
America's national pastime has a thick book of rules, but the sport wouldn't be the same without its proud history of willful deception, questionable interpretation, and defiance of order. From Ty Cobb's spikes to Gaylord Perry's spitters to the giants of the steroids era, cheating in baseball works around a strict set of rules and follows an even stricter set of honor.
2012.03.07
"Russia, Putin, Victory! A View from Siberia"
Presented at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts
The recent parliamentary and presidential elections have established a new era in Russian politics. After years of stability and passive acceptance of the ruling order, Russians not only in Moscow, but throughout Siberia are voicing concerns about their nation's leadership and direction. The next six years of President Putin's term will be critical in defining his relationship to the people, Russia's standing in world politics, and the character of the first fully post-Soviet generation.
2011.12.14
"America's Diet: A Nation Struggles with Access and Excess"
The American obesity epidemic has emerged as not only the preeminent health concern of our age, but a persistent strain on national resources and productivity. The American government is struggling to manage this problem, attempting to balance individual and corporate rights, efficiency and quality of food production, and the health care needs of an ailing population. Meanwhile, many Americans attempt to manage their own lifestyles by adopting a dizzying array of specialized diets. Join us for a conversation about the future of food, farms, and french fries in our society.
2011.11.16
"Political Change Through Student Activism"
Over the last century, the American higher education system has been transformed from an elite, exclusive society of the privileged few into a thick soup of social change, protest, and diversity. The work of student activists has led to influential campaigns against racial discrimination, environmental devastation, war, and other forms of injustice. By understanding this history, we can better parse the influences, impact, and inspiration of student movements today, including both activism on campus and the ongoing Occupy Wall Street demonstrations.
2011.10.21"The 2012 Presidential Election: Republican Party in Transition"
The selection of a presidential nominee might well determine the ideological direction of the Republican party. After a period of relative unity under President Bush, Republicans disagree bitterly over illegal immigration, marriage issues, foreign policy, religious values, and most other prominent issues. Voters face stark choices as they choose between political veterans and green-hands, Tea Party stalwarts and establishment favorites, and military hawks and diehard isolationists. The winner of this election could emerge from the fray to orient the next generation of Republican politics.
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