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University Relations Tip Sheet - October 15, 2008

Voters’ anger over economic woes will be felt at polls
With worries about the U.S. economy mounting, politicians will feel voters’ anger at the polls this November, says Jeffrey Lazarus, assistant professor of political science at Georgia State University. “There’s certainly a lot of political finger-pointing,” he says. “You see Democrats blaming deregulation. You see the Republican Party trying to latch onto something that they can pin onto the Democrats. Absolutely, there will be punishment at the polls.” To speak with Lazarus on how the current economic crisis will affect this year’s presidential election, contact Lisa Spires at 404-413-1353 or lspires@gsu.edu.

Student group educates peers with solar-powered concert and more
Gas prices have hit record highs, power bills are on the rise and global warming continues without mitigation. It’s a perfect storm for student activism. A group of Georgia State University students, called the Sustainable Energy Tribe, are hosting a concert powered by clean energy from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Tuesday (Oct. 14) in Georgia State’s Library Plaza. The event will feature an alternative rock band powered by solar panels and exhibits highlighting different energy sources, such as nuclear and wind. There will even be a solar-powered cooking demonstration of hotdogs and a bicycle-powered smoothie machine. “We want to educate students on campus about where they get their energy from and how to be wiser about their consumption,” said Laura Beamer, president of the Sustainable Energy Tribe. “It’s important to use sustainable energies, not only for yourself but for the people all around you.” For more information, contact Liz Babiarz at 404-413-1356 or lbabiarz@gsu.edu.

How safe are protected lands?
As world leaders meet next year in Denmark for climate change talks, they may consider plans to allow developed nations to buy carbon emission credits by paying developing nations to protect their forests. But how much forest land is really saved from destruction by legal protection? “Measuring this avoided deforestation is difficult because it is unobservable. The forests were in fact protected and we cannot go back in time and re-run the last four decades of deforestation without protected areas,” said Georgia State associate economics professor Paul Ferraro. But new research by Ferraro and a team of colleagues from the U.S., Canada and Costa Rica attempts to do just that by taking into account factors like the forest’s location, accessibility and its agricultural potential. In an article that appeared last week in the Proceedings of the National Academies of Science, the team found approximately 10 percent of the protected forests in Costa Rica would have been destroyed between 1960 and 1997 had no protection been in place. Much of the protected land, Ferraro says, is either not accessible or not suited for agriculture and therefore wasn’t likely to be destroyed anyway. To speak with Ferraro, contact Michael Davis at 404-413-1361 or mdavis6@gsu.edu.

Climate change clues in the soil
Geology research can shed light on how humans adapted to their environment, constructed civilizations – and ultimately, how we might be affected by climate change in the future. Daniel Deocampo, a Georgia State assistant professor of geology, is investigating ancient lakes and volcanic ash to help scientist better understand the environment in which humans evolved. Soil records can indicate alternating periods of humidity and aridness, as well as the expansion and contraction of grasslands and forests. "When we reconstruct ancient climates, ultimately, we can test our current climate change models to the past," Deocampo says. For more information, contact Jeremy Craig at 404-413-1357 or jcraig@gsu.edu.

Happenings at Georgia State University

Presidential debate viewing party, panel discussion to be held
The Political Science Department at Georgia State will host a presidential debate viewing party and panel discussion beginning at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 15) in the lobby-level meeting room at University Commons. For more information, contact Lisa Spires at 404-413-1353 or lspires@gsu.edu.

Lincoln Center president to discuss nonprofit work
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ third annual UPS Lecture on Nonprofit Leadership, Governance and Economic Stewardship will be delivered by Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts President Reynold Levy. The lecture will be from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Oct. 16 at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies, 14 Marietta St. For more information, visit http://aysps.gsu.edu/nsp/2355.html.

Expert with insider’s view on gang life to speak at Haverty Lecture
Sudhir Venkatesh, a Columbia University professor whose Chicago research at a notorious housing project put him inside the inner workings of gang life, will speak at the College of Health and Human Sciences' J. Rhodes Haverty Lecture Oct. 23. The lecture will be held at 7 p.m. in the Georgia State Student Center Speaker's Auditorium, with a reception in the Senate Salon at 8 p.m. Venkatesh, author of Gang Leader for a Day, researches the underground economics of poor communities, and was provided unusual access to the inner workings of the gang – receiving insight into how gangs can be simultaneously dangerous and beneficial to poor communities. The event is free and open to the Georgia State community, but reservations are necessary. To make a reservation, call (404) 413-1100, or e-mail chhs@gsu.edu.

Forum scheduled on trauma care
The Andrew Young School of Policy Studies’ third and final forum on trauma care in Georgia will be held from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. Oct. 21 at the Andrew Young School, 14 Marietta St., Atlanta. Topics of discussion will include identifying funding to bolster the network and creating a sustainable and accountable system. For more information, visit http://aysps.gsu.edu/2433.html.

Georgia State welcomes prospective students to Panther Preview
Georgia State will open its doors to give visitors an in-depth look at the university’s programs, admissions, campus housing and financial aid at Panther Preview, the university’s open house, from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 25 in the Student Center Ballroom. Prospective students will have an opportunity to talk directly to faculty and staff to explore a wide-range of academic programs and services. They will also be able to ask questions of current Georgia State students about campus activities and organizations. For more information, contact Liz Babiarz at lbabiarz@gsu.edu or 404-413-1356.

University Library celebrates Georgia Archives Month
Georgia State University Library Special Collections and Archives is celebrating Georgia Archives Month with several exhibits, with the theme, “Fall into the archives and discover a wonderland of Georgia history.” Now through Oct. 17, the Library will feature an exhibit “From Wilderness to Green Space” that contrasts the 18-century travels of two botanists throughout the southeast to the present day alternative park areas. It will consist of portraits of Creek Indians, Audubon engravings of the animals of the southeast and other artifacts. Running Oct. 20-31, the Library will host an exhibit on the development of an Atlanta underground newspaper, The Great Speckled Bird, and showcase its importance to the city. On display will be newspaper editions related to Georgia State’s Popular Music and Southern Labor archives. All exhibits will be held on the 8th floor of Library South and are free and open to the public. Georgia State professors will also be hosting panel discussions about the collections. For more information, contact Liz Babiarz at lbabiarz@gsu.edu or 404-413-1356.

Disability Awareness Day
Georgia State is encouraging students, faculty and staff members to learn more about the lives of individuals with disabilities on campus at Disability Awareness Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday (Oct. 15) in the Georgia State Student Center. The event will include activities designed to simulate disabilities and promote discussion. Also, “Full Radius Dance,” a modern dance company featuring some dancers with disabilities, will perform works that celebrate technique and physicality. For more information, contact Liz Babiarz at lbabiarz@gsu.edu or 404-413-1356.

 

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