From the old guard to the vanguard; three venerable departments at CU
A look at three of the university's oldest departments in the humanities--Classics, English and Philosophy--and their continuing vitality.

New concentration in visual studies emerges from the history of art
Last spring, more than 50 undergraduate students signed up for a course called Introduction to Visual Studies, the first core course offered as part of a concentration in visual studies at Cornell. The hope for the future is that Art History and Visual Studies will become closely integrated.

Critical theory has found its voice here among the humanities
No American campus in the past 25 years has been more involved in the growth of critical theory, in all its modern diversity, than has Cornell.

EPL encourages students to reason morally
"The social, economic and scientific environments that students go into in their careers raise questions of extraordinary moral complexity. Students need to be equipped with the tools to be responsible citizens, tools that will enable them to seek constructive solutions to complex moral problems," says Michele Moody-Adams, director of Cornell's program on Ethics and Public Life.

CU's Knight Institute supports 300 courses in writing, to promote learning
Cornell's John S. Knight Institute for Writing in the Disciplines is a diverse, universitywide, undergraduate program that incorporates the teaching and use of writing as a way to promote learning in a broad spectrum of academic disciplines.

Writing program's sophomores get rare chance to interact with a giant of physics
Cornell students in a new sophomore writing seminar program had the rare fortune to be lectured about his life and work by Hans Bethe, Nobel laureate and one of the giants of 20th century physics, whose career has spanned seven decades.

Interdisciplinary approach is a hallmark of theatre, film and dance
"We don't see ourselves as a pre-professional program. This is not just for theater, film or dance students. It is part of the larger humanities picture and not limited to majors. We believe that everyone should participate in the arts." --Professor David Bathrick, chair of the Department of Theatre, Film and Dance.

Undergraduates at work

Kant offers groundwork in the making of a young philosopher
How undergraduate Jacque Darrell returned to 18th century philosopher Immanuel Kant under the guidance of Prof. Terence Irwin.

College scholar Justin Lerner '02 moves in the direction of the big screen
A senior college scholar in theater arts with a concentration in film is an articulate and passionate spokesman for his favorite medium -- movies -- specifically the creation and direction of authentic cinema.

The Andersons follow parallel but diverse paths in visual studies
Erica and Alicia Anderson, who are identical twins, are both seniors concentrating in visual studies.

Faculty interviews

Noting Traces of theory from East to West -- and back again
The Cornell Chronicle interviewed Naoki Sakai, professor of Asian studies and of comparative literature, who is senior editor of a new multilingual journal of cultural theory and translation titled Traces.

A discussion of the importance -- and joys -- of historical inquiry
The Cornell Chronicle interviewed Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Kammen, the Newton C. Farr Professor of American History and Culture, who has taught at Cornell since 1965.