1 Week to Go

Dear Diary,

I have been covering both sections since my manager is out celebrating the birth of his newest child. Next week is my final week of class. I have thoroughly enjoyed my second rotation with the Chemistry Library.

I encountered different complexities with the second rotation. This may be attributed to the fact that during the first rotation, I was physically located in a separate branch library. Whereas I am physically in the main library but my duties are in a branch library. For example, we had to figure out which department gives me a Copy Card and/or which photocopier (and paper) should I use...Budgets you understand.

But we figured it out and I am preparing to transition to my 3rd rotation with Collection Development that begins next week. I have meetings to tour the Approval Plan room.

In the last 3 conversations I've had with one of the Residency's overall managers, it has been stated that:

"While I have published 3 articles since I arrived here 10 months ago...

it is not SCHOLARLY."

I take great umbrage with that statement.

Mainly because as I explained to the manager, "I have been in two rigorous rotations since arriving...Law & Chemistry!" In addition, I further explained that I would need time buit into my schedule to commit to research. But as I think about it....my co-workers in the Law Library explained that Bibliographies are considered scholarly, which was why I wrote that 25 page Bibliographic Essay which I researched on my weekends and evenings. I recalled asking about "Scholarly publishing" during my interview and the same manager explained that my role would mainly be to assist T&R (teaching and research) faculty with their research as opposed to me conducting my own.

I did really appreciate it when another one of the overall Residency managers countered that "Well technically a lot of our permanent librarians have not published!" That made me feel better.

My "Capturing Literacy Globally" Speech

Dear Diary,

The title of the entry should be
"Sierra MIST-ake"

Today Leslie (my co-resident) and I were 2 of 4 panelist presenting at the Annual Indiana Library Federation Conference http://www.ilfonline.org/conf/AnnualConference/annconf2006.htm.

I have to say I cuold not have been prouder of our presentations. We worked extremely well together under very difficult circumstances. I love technology except when the projector malfunctions during a major speech. But naturally, we had printed out our slides as handouts so the audience could follow along. We definitely rose to the challenge of presenting at 3:30 (after lunch) on the 2nd day of the conference. So we brought intense energy (although we were admittedly weary after the 4 hour drive there immediately prior to presenting).

I discussed my concept "Spiritual Literacy." I discussed Cultural Literacy and includes a project at Yale that has Blogs discussing the war, from US Soldiers and Iraqi Citizens perspectives.

I discussed Digital Literacy, specifically Snopes.com and Steganography. They laughed when I said that Steganography is not the study of a Stegosaurus (Steg-owe-saw*russ). They agreed that they are annoyed by Hoax emails and were interested in Snopes.com to combat those urban legends.

I connected the Steganography and Snopes.com using the American POW Jeremiah Denton story. http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/denton.asp "As you may know, Admiral Denton was a Navy pilot in Vietnam who was shot down and spent 8 years in a Vietnamese prison. In 1966 while in prison, he was interviewed by North Vietnamese television in Hanoi after torture to get him to "respond properly." During this interview, he blinked his eyes in Morse code to spell out the word "TORTURE." Four of his 8 years in prison were spent in solitary confinement. He later wrote the book "When Hell was in Session" chronicling his experience in Vietnam. "

But what I thought was the funniest faux pa (experience) of the day, bar none, was what I did just 5 minutes after delivering this enlightening speech on LITERACY.

Leslie bought sodas for our long ride back to South Bend. She handed me the bag and said "I bought you a Sierra Mist."

Now, just between you and I,
I like my sodas the same way I like my
men & romantic relationships
*
*
*
DARK & UNHEALTHY.
But I digress.

Anyway, I had never had a Sierra Mist, but I knew they came in a green bottle. So I grabbed one of two green bottles and drank half of it. I gotta say it tasted like hot sea lion urine, or at least what you would imagine that would taste like! I did not want to be rude, she was kind enough to buy me a 20 oz drink....but I just couldn't swallow any more. I even tried pretending I was on Fear Factor and if I drank this I'd get $50,000....NOT!!! So I finally explain to her how much I appreciate the thought but I can't drink this...and as I go to place it in the cup holder FINALLY, I read the label...DIET 7-UP."

We burst into laughter...here I am basking in my present accomplishments and engaging in shameless self-aggrandizement....while simultaneously suffering NEEDLESSLY simply because I the great speaker on LITERACY...failed to read the dang bottle label. Well I never!
*
*
For more information on Steganography
http://www.jjtc.com/Steganography/

8th Annual International Information Hiding Conference is in Virginia in July
http://ih2006.jjtc.com/

http://www.infosyssec.org/infosyssec/security/stendig1.htm

La Gente Unida No Puede Ser Derrotada

"The people united can not be defeated"

I attended the Immigration Rally yesterday and while my spanish is not as good as it used to be, I understood a lot of the Spanish-only speeches. Some were translated, but it was an amazing experience. I've never attended a rally nor a march.

The people were welcoming. Although at first it was awkward since I was alone and not sure if my presence was appreciated or if this was "Not my struggle" and I was viewed as an outsider. That was until an African-American pastor gave a speech and also a Catholic priest both reinforcing the support of other communities. I spotted an Asian woman and then a few Notre Dame students.

Eventually I started talking to a few participants as a result of the 2 counter-protesters yelling "Go back to Mexico." Then it became relevant to me. Then I was able to relate to my latino brothers and sisters. My people, too, have been told to "Go Back!" So naturally we began discussing the origin of this nation.

Also, the people I was standing near, commented on how dedicated these 2 people must be to yell things at a crowd numbering in the thousands.

I enjoyed the 3 hours spent in support of this issue. I've been here a year now and had not seen so many latinos, so I was stunned at the amoutn that turned out, roughly 5,000. I met a nice girl who allowed me to take a photo of her dog wearing a sign, "I am from Mexico, too." That is the image above.

This is a news article discussing the rally with a video link:
http://www.wndu.com/news/042006/news_49173.php

Thousands march for immigration reform

South Bend, IN - Over the past few weeks, we've seen long lines of immigration protest marches and rallies all over the country.

Saturday, about 2000 people marched in Goshen, but Monday's march in South Bend was more than twice the size.

Organizers and police were surprised by the turnout, which amounted to between 4000 and 5000 people.

The pre-march rally in front of the Morris Performing Arts Center was huge. In fact, South Bend Police say it was one of the largest crowds ever seen in the area other than a Notre Dame home game.

The crowd was there seeking immigration laws that don't label undocumented workers as criminals.

Ricardo Nevarez of Mishawaka said at the rally, "I already have my papers. I'm legal here, but I still supporting my friends. There are a lot of people that need them for work and to have our families together."

Veronica Beltran’s father came here illegally, and she wants to help others. She said, "As long as we get united and we get everyone's support, yes it will. It will make a big difference. They will see that there are a lot of people out there. They're going to need us. We need them and they need us."

Against the majority
However, not everyone felt the same, as some professed, “I support all immigrants. I do not support illegal immigrants. I do not support illegal immigrants."

Toni Castillo of Niles said, "They do this to our government because they think they have rights here. They don't have any rights."

In general, however, the march consisted of people hoping for change, allowing immigrants to become citizens.Bishop John D'Arcy said, “Let us treat those who are undocumented as God's creatures and find a place for them, respecting always our laws, but making them part of our family, welcome at our table. We can do it legally and properly.”

Local Latino leaders expect the Latino community to continue to turn out in greater numbers on this issue, especially with Cinco de Mayo festivities in early May.

With seven different immigration bills between the House and Senate, and a compromise bill stalled, most civic leaders don't expect immigration reform to happen this year.

Te Nosce...latin for "Know Thyself"

Dear Diary,
Because sometimes you just need to be reminded:


Still I Rise
by Maya Angelou

You may write me down in history
With your bitter, twisted lies,
You may trod me in the very dirt
But still, like dust, I'll rise.

Does my sassiness upset you?
Why are you beset with gloom?
'Cause I walk like I've got oil wells
Pumping in my living room.
Just like moons and like suns,
With the certainty of tides,
Just like hopes springing high,
Still I'll rise.

Did you want to see me broken?
Bowed head and lowered eyes?
Shoulders falling down like teardrops,
Weakened by my soulful cries.

Does my haughtiness offend you?
Don't you take it awful hard
'Cause I laugh like I got gold mines
Diggin' in my own back yard.

You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I'll rise.

Does my sexiness upset you?
Does it come as a surprise
That I dance like I've got diamonds
At the meeting of my thighs?

Out of the huts of history's shame
I rise

Up from a past that's rooted in pain
I rise

I'm a black ocean, leaping and wide,
Welling and swelling I bear in the tide.
Leaving behind nights of terror and fear
I rise

Into a daybreak that's wondrously clear
I rise

Bringing the gifts my ancestors gave,
I am the dream and the hope of the slave.

I rise
I rise
I rise!

© Maya Angelou, 1978



PHENOMENAL WOMAN
by Maya Angelou

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies
I'm not cute or built to suit a model's fashion size
But when I start to tell them
They think I'm telling lies.

I say
It's in the reach of my arms
The span of my hips
The stride of my steps
The curl of my lips.
I'm a woman Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please
And to a man
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees
Then they swarm around me
A hive of honey bees.
I say
It's the fire in my eyes
And the flash of my teeth
The swing of my waist
And the joy in my feet.
I'm a woman Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered
What they see in me
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them
They say they still can't see.
I say It's in the arch of my back
The sun of my smile
The ride of my breasts
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud
When you see me passing
It ought to make you proud.
I say It's in the click of my heels
The bend of my hair
The palm of my hand
The need for my care.
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally
Phenomenal woman
That's me.
*
*
*
Image from http://www.itsablackthang.com/images/Art-Religious/spiritual-awakening-by-lester.jpg

The Book Project - African Children's Libraries

Dear Diary,

I found this "Global Literacy Project site http://www.glpinc.org/
which is an opportunity for Librarians to contribute to.

Jan. 2-15, 2006
GLP "Global Learning Expedition" volunteers created AIDS orphanage library in South Africa.

Global Literacy Project Initiates Long Term Project in India Supporting the Delta School of Nursing.

GLP Helps Create New Library at Mason Hall Government School on the Island of Tobago (Caribbean).

There are many success stories on this site:

"African Children's Libraries has made progress over this past year and is ready to ship its first cargo container of books to Liberia! We will be able to assist in setting up 8 children's libraries mostly in rural Liberia.

We are asking for your support in the following ways:
Monetary & Volunteering
Grant writing beginning in September or leads for appropriate grant sources
Other fund raising

Suggestions for board members especially a lawyer or accountant

By shipping approximately 300 boxes of library books we pay less than the combined shipping costs of the last four years. So $50 will cover the cost of 5 boxes, rather than $50 covering the shipping of one box last year. $300 ships a pallet of 30 boxes.

There are also textbooks in this container which will be distributed by the YMCA in Monrovia where Lyn Gray is a consultant and L.E.A.P., the Liberian educators non-profit supported by Friends of Liberia.

All donations are tax deductible. Thank you again for your support and contributions.


This reminds me of ALA's Sister Library Program:
http://www.ala.org/ala/ourassociation/othergroups/sisterlibraries/sisterlibraries.htm

Encyclopedia Wars Heat Up

Dear Diary,
Who do you Trust?

March 28, 2006
(CBS) The renowned and trusted Encyclopedia Britannica has been known for centuries as "the foremost authority on a topic."

Even Wikipedia, the free online encyclopedia, describes the Britannica series of reference books that way. But as CBS News correspondent Mike Brzezinski reports, for students like 16-year-old Jordan Browning, Wikipedia, not Britannica, is often the first stop for research.

Why?

"It's good to have different encyclopedias out there," Browning says.

While the Encyclopedia Britannica pays scholars to write and fact check its articles, Wikipedia relies on anybody with an Internet connection to create and monitor and eidt its entries.

Which one is more accurate? Last December, the scientific journal Nature found that among 42 entries tested, there was little difference in the error rate between Wikipedia and Britannica.

That's not exactly music to the ears of Jorge Cauz, the president of Encyclopedia Britannica. He maintains that there is no substitute for his company's careful editing.

"We strive for three things: objectivity, factually correct information, and understandable information," he says. "It's clearly evident others are not achieving it." When asked if he means Wikipedia, he replies, "Yeah, of course."

This week, Britannica put that in black and white with a line-by-line rebuttal of the Nature report and an open letter to the journal.

"We were surprised to see them take it so hard," says Jimmy Wales, the founder of Wikipedia.

Wales acknowledges there have been some high-profile mistakes on his site — and that Wikipedia has a ways to go to match its long-established rival. But he says he expects that to change.

"I think it's very difficult for a traditional model like Britannica ... in the long run to compete with, you know, thousands of people working day and night," he says. "This is about a rigorous editorial process versus community-generated content."

And it's students like Jordan Browning who will decide the winner of the encyclopedia war.

©MMVI, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

A Word to the Wise is Sufficient

Dear Diary,

I have begun grading my final assignments that were submitted early, during the last class session. I purposely tried to allow ample time for my students to complete the last assignment in class. I think it is a great benefit to be there to answer questions, right when the information is freshest in their minds.

Also, it is a marvelous way to observe their approach to the assignment, i.e. Group work vs. independent. What I find amusing, is that after having toiled all the live-long-day, taking pain-staking measures to impart the intricate strategies to search CrossFire, SciFinder Scholar, NCBI, USPTO, etc... there are those who immediately resort to GOOGLE.

Don't get me wrong, I love Google as much as the next gal, but for the love of Pete. I have put my figurative blood, sweat and tears into demonstrating advanced search techniques for powerful subscription databases with proprietary information but they are obviously no match for the omnipotent Google.
*

What can I say?

The others "Are Not Worthy..." Ha!

************************************
As a personal touch, I add a motivational quote to each grade sheet when I return assignments to my students, recent examples include:

Assignment #5
"Attempt the end and never stand to doubt;
Nothing's so hard, but search will find it out."
by Robert Herrick, Hesperides--Seeke and Finde

Assignment #6
"Science is organized knowledge. Wisdom is organized life."
by Immanuel Kant

Assignment #7
"Let your imagination release your imprisoned possibilities."
by Robert H. Schuller

Assignment #8
“Winners compare their achievements with their goals,
while losers compare their achievements with those of other people”
by Nido Qubein

Assignment #9
“I'm glad I did it, partly because it was worth it,
but mostly because I shall never have to do it again!”
by Mark Twain

Judge Not...Lest Ye Be Judged.

Dear Diary,

I always maintained that I would be "dangerous if I knew ACTUALLY what I was doing, in my professional life!"

Now I get a chance to prove it. I was asked to teach the Chemistry Database class when it is offered again in the fall. I was a wee bit stressed (challenged in a positive, motivational, and educational way.)

However, I now have a pretty good grasp of the databases and so the next time I teach I should be able to spend considerably less time "learning as I teach." Phew!

The only thing that I had to decide for myself was "my grading philosophy."

My manager challenges my "A" for Effort approach pointing out that there is a difference between "A" effort and "A" work. He asks if it is fair to students who do "A" work to give similar grades to those who do not.

I guess my problem is how does one judge "A" work in regards to searching a database. Sure there are those examples when draw a compound structure/reaction in CrossFire database and then you further limit the results by specifying a Melting Point range and Disassociation Exponent which will yield only 1 result, yes in that case it is easier to judge wheteher the student gets the correct answer or not.

But I guess I prefer to consider the progress made in comprehension. Basically if the student's performance improves from week to week. My counter argument to my manager is, "Well some students take me up on my offer of assistance during Office Hours. Those students who sit with me and review each assignment question, will inevitably get the correct answer. Ergo doing "A" work. But what about students who attempt it on their own and perhaps miss 1 step in a 5 step process but understood the overall process based on the outcomes, etc..."

But once again, this has been a shining example of my indomitable potential.

If I Were President....or at least Councilor-at-Large

Dear Diary,

I have received very positive feedback on my Statement of Professional Concerns:

Librarians propagate comprehensive information through collection, scholarly publication, exhibits and speeches.

A critical component include forging diversity in library’s racial and religious compositions. Library collections must raise awareness of conditions concerning underrepresented populations, globally. I utilize my training to unearth and disseminate information about obscure issues.

As a representative of “Diversity,” it is incumbent upon me to include unrepresented beliefs, lifestyles and values. People confuse my being an African-American, as the sum total of my diversity contribution.

Fortunately, I also have non-conformist ideals, and I’m not afraid to vocalize them.

I am an “Activist Librarian.” I don’t believe librarianship is a passive profession. I am passionate about social issues.

Librarians must lead the way, since we are uniquely positioned to stem society’s arrested development, by collection management from divergent sources.

ANDNOT..My Latest Creation.

I have 2 more lectures to do: Patents and NCBI. Ugh!!!

Sensing my stress level my manager encouraged me by saying that "I am one of only 2 people on the entire ND campus who effectively search these databases!!" That really helps....Baptism by Fire!


http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0883926.html:

African American Inventors

Thomas L. Jennings (1791–1859)
A tailor in New York City, Jennings is credited with being the first African American to hold a U.S. patent. The patent, which was issued in 1821, was for a dry-cleaning process.

Norbert Rillieux(1806–1894)
Born the son of a French planter and a slave in New Orleans, Rillieux was educated in France. Returning to the U.S., he developed an evaporator for refining sugar, which he patented in 1846. Rillieux's evaporation technique is still used in the sugar industry and in the manufacture of soap and other products.

Benjamin Bradley(1830?–?)
A slave, Bradley was employed at a printing office and later at the Annapolis Naval Academy, where he helped set up scientific experiments. In the 1840s he developed a steam engine for a war ship. Unable to patent his work, he sold it and with the proceeds purchased his freedom.

Elijah McCoy(1844–1929)
The son of escaped slaves from Kentucky, McCoy was born in Canada and educated in Scotland. Settling in Detroit, Michigan, he invented a lubricator for steam engines (patented 1872) and established his own manufacturing company. During his lifetime he acquired 57 patents.

Lewis Howard Latimer(1848–1929)
Born in Chelsea, Mass., Latimer learned mechanical drawing while working for a Boston patent attorney. He later invented an electric lamp and a carbon filament for light bulbs (patented 1881, 1882). Latimer was the only African-American member of Thomas Edison's engineering laboratory.

Granville T. Woods(1856–1910)
Woods was born in Columbus, Ohio, and later settled in Cincinnati. Largely self-educated, he was awarded more than 60 patents. One of his most important inventions was a telegraph that allowed moving trains to communicate with other trains and train stations, thus improving railway efficiency and safety.

Madame C.J. Walker(1867–1919)
Widowed at 20, Louisiana-born Sarah Breedlove Walker supported herself and her daughter as a washerwoman. In the early 1900s she developed a hair care system and other beauty products. Her business, headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, amassed a fortune, and she became a generous patron of many black charities.

Garrett Augustus Morgan(1877–1963)
Born in Kentucky, Morgan invented a gas mask (patented 1914) that was used to protect soldiers from chlorine fumes during World War I. Morgan also received a patent (1923) for a traffic signal that featured automated STOP and GO signs. Morgan's invention was later replaced by traffic lights.

Frederick McKinley Jones(1892–1961)
Jones was born in Cincinnati, Ohio. An experienced mechanic, he invented a self-starting gas engine and a series of devices for movie projectors. More importantly, he invented the first automatic refrigeration system for long-haul trucks (1935). Jones was awarded more than 40 patents in the field of refrigeration.

David Crosthwait, Jr. (1898–1976)
Born in Nashville, Tennessee, Crosthwait earned a B.S. (1913) and M.S. (1920) from Purdue University. An expert on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, he designed the heating system for Radio City Music Hall in New York. During his lifetime he received some 40 U.S. patents relating to HVAC systems.
Information Please® Database, © 2005 Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Damon Wayans Tries to Trademark 'N' Word

Dear Diary,

Next week we are teaching the students how to use the United States Patent and Trademark Office Databases. So it was especially interesting to me to find this article:

The actor Damon Wayans has been engaged in a 14-month fight to trademark the term "Nigga" for a clothing line and retail store, a search of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's online database reveals.

Wayans wants to dress customers in 14 kinds of attire from tops to bottoms, and use the controversial mark on "clothing, books, music and general merchandise," as well as movies, TV and the internet, according to his applications.

But, so far, his applications have been unsuccessful. Trademark examiner Kelly Boulton rejected the registration dated Dec. 22, citing a law that prohibits marks that are "immoral or scandalous." A previous attempt by Wayans was turned down on identical grounds six months earlier.

"While debate exists about in-group uses of the term, 'nigga' is almost universally understood to be derogatory," Boulton wrote to Wayans' attorney, William H. Cox, according to the application.

Cox and other representatives of the actor did not respond to interview requests about the registration. Wayans can appeal the rejection, but experts in trademark law differ on his chances for success.

Lynda Zadra-Symes, a trademark lawyer in California, said Wayans may be successful. She compared "Nigga" to the successful registration of Dykes on Bikes. The San Francisco Women's Motorcycle Contingent fought the Trademark Office for three years to overturn an initial rejection of a Dykes on Bikes trademark. The mark was published Jan. 24.

However, Tawnya Wojciechowski, another trademark attorney practicing in California, compared Wayans' application to the ongoing legal case where Washington Redskins trademarks have been challenged by seven Native Americans. "They're going to have a really tough time," Wojciechowski predicted.

The word "nigga" is ubiquitous in hip-hop music, where it provides half of a rhyming couplet radio listeners never get to hear in the Grammy-winning song "Gold Digger" by Kanye West.

Ol' Dirty Bastard used the term 76 times in the 1999 album Nigga Please, not counting repetitions in a chorus.

In January 2006, an episode of the late-night Cartoon Network series Boondocks was criticized for putting the word in the mouth of a fictionalized Martin Luther King Jr.

The effort to commercialize "nigga" drew a sharp response from a black school official who participated in a forum about the word earlier this month at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro.

"I don't care for it in any form," said Dr. Lonnie Williams, associate vice chancellor for student affairs. "Either way you pronounce it, spell it, anything associated with it -- I find it offensive."

If Wayans succeeds in persuading the Trademark Office to permit the mark, he may have to deal with Keon Rhodan, a 29-year-old entrepreneur in Charleston, South Carolina, who has been using "Nigga" on a line of T-shirts, hoodies and other attire for six years in a part-time, trunk-of-his-car business.

Rhodan attempted to register "Nigga' Clothing" as a trademark in 2001 and was denied by the Trademark Office. "They said it was disparaging," he said. Rhodan, who is black, said that he's sold around 2,000 of the shirts at events.

Rhodan believes that affectionate use of the term within the black community should make it an acceptable mark, but the Trademark Office has thus far has not been persuaded by that argument.

Though attempts to commercialize "Nigga" coincide with a generational shift in how the word is perceived, the clothing is still likely to test some boundaries, as Rhodan demonstrated in a phone interview. "You couldn't wear it," he said.

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/1,70259-0.html

Good But Steadily Getting Better

Dear Diary,

I was feeling a wee bit overwhelmed yesterday while preparing for this weeks SciFinder Structure Searching Lesson Plan.

But then I realized that this is completely new to me, and the last Chemistry lesson I had was over 16 years ago!

So all things considered, I am doing Darn Good. Just needed to remind myself that I literally learning this stuff at the same time I am required to teach it. I get maybe a 3 day head start.

A little perspective goes a long way on a stressful day.

Not Perfect but Darn Close!

Dear Diary,

Ever have one of those moments? Well, I did. Today in class, I was to demo the CrossFire Database first then have the students do the in-class assignment. And I had told them as much not 3 minutes before I decided....Nah!

So after my lecture (powerpoint slides) I just said "OK, no log on and do the worksheet!"...awkward pause then it hit me...."No-o-o-o....I demo it first!!" Oh nevermind! The students and my manager were wonderful but I felt so crazy!!

Oh well, I think I recovered nicely. Ha!

I mentioned that this database is difficult. My manager made a great suggestion that I refrain from saying things like that b/c they become a self-fulfilling prophesy.

I give myself much deserved credit b/c I not only learned the database, I was able to teach it! That was no small feat, b/c between you and I, it is DIFFICULT!! Shh!

I thought it was very kind of one student while I Previewed their citations for today's assignment before they submitted it, she said, "It must be a nightmare for you to have to grade all of these!" I smiled and thanked her for being concerned....and thought "From your lips to God's ears!"

Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till Screening with Keith Beauchamp

WOW!!

I am speechless!

The movie was powerful enough

but the Q & A after was amazing!

I asked him about the Photos taken by the Sheriff as soon as they pulled the body from the river. And about his father's military death and accusation of rape.

He said they are still looking for the photos. And out of respect for his mother, Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley, he withheld his finding on the murder of Till's father. But basically he was railroaded for dating a Captain's girlfriend and falsely accused of rape, and then hanged. This was used to try to discredit Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley during the murder trial of her son....implying "Like Father Like Son!" Bogus!

He told me that Alice Kaplan wrote about this Black Soldier lynching phenomenon in her book the Interpreter: http://www.rusoffagency.com/non_fiction/the_interpreter/the_interpreter.htm

Interestingly enough Mr. Beauchamp added that Dwight Eisenhower oversaw the murder of Till's father, and ignored Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley pleas to investigate the truth behind her son's murder!

For further information and to watch the theatrical trailers, visit this site: emmetttillstory.com

The event I attended was hosted by the Multicultural Student Programs and Services (MSPS) http://www.nd.edu/~msps/upcoming.htm


Keith A. Beauchamp has researched the Till case for over 8 years. During his monumental journey, he was able to work closely with the mother of Emmett Till, Mrs. Mamie Till-Mobley to finally get her son's tragic story told. By using his expertise, Mr. Beauchamp was fortunate to find and hold exclusive interviews with eye witnesses of the Till case that will change the face of his-story.

The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till
In an event that contributed to the beginning of the civil rights movement, a black teenage boy in Mississippi was beaten and murdered for publicly addressing a white woman, and his killers were tried but released. The boy was Emmet Louis Till, whose story is told here in this documentary feature that, through eyewitness testimony and an interview with Till's mother, uncovers other potentially guilty parties, and helped cause the U.S. Justice Department to reopen the case.

Recent Press
CNN R. Alexander Acosta, assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division said Monday that officials will reopen the Emmett Till's race-motivated murder following a long campaign by the NAACP, members of Congress and Mobley, who died in Chicago last year at age 81. Keith A. Beauchamp, found evidence after examining the case for nine years for "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till." He believes as many as seven additional people may have been involved, many of them still alive.NEW YORK TIMES, Robin Finn... Keith A. Beauchamp, whose as yet unreleased documentary, "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till," was pivotal in the Justice Department's decision this month to reopen that landmark 1955 murder case, often left the house with a parental salvo ringing in his ears. "Don't let what happened to Emmett Till happen to you," his mother warned.

Audioclip of NPR Interview with Keith Beauchamp

Recent Press:

NEW YORK TIMES, Stephen Holden17 August 2005"The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till," Keith A. Beauchamp's lean, harrowing inquisition into a murder that catalyzed the civil rights movement, is an incendiary documentary. Released to coincide with the 50th anniversary of his death, the 70-minute film has already made things happen.VILLAGE VOICE, Joshua Land16 August 2005No Justice, No Peace: Doc Reopens Old Wounds and a 1955 Case. A triumph of documentary activism nine years in the making, The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till revisits Till's death and the trial and acquittal of the two men, Roy Bryant and J.W. Milam, who later confessed to the crime in a magazine interview (both have since died).

NEW YORK TIMES, Ellen Maguire...halfway through Keith A. Beauchamp's documentary "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till," the film cuts from Emmett's mother, Mamie Till Mobley, calmly describing her 14-year-old son's mutilation for whistling at a white woman — his head had been split side to side, and one eye left hanging from...CBS 60 Minutes Profile(CBS) For many, the name Emmett Till may not sound familiar, but what happened to him in 1955 stunned the nation, causing shock waves that still reverberate today.

Correspondent Ed Bradley reports.CHICAGO TRIBUNE, Robert K. ElderBeauchamp must be applauded for not only for his investigative daring but also his unflinching courage. At least one of his witnesses preferred to be interviewed in shadow, to protect her identity. After seeing Till's mashed features, bludgeoned so badly as not to be recognized as human, it's no wonder why. And all Emmett did was whistle.

VARIETY, Ronnie ScheibNine years in the making, Beauchamp's docu is the first-researched, second-released film on the subject. Stanley Nelson's "The Murder of Emmett Till" aired last year on PBS, following paths already blazed by Beauchamp.

TIME MAGAZINE Last week the Department of Justice announced it was going to crack open history and see if anything new crawled out. Assistant Attorney General, R. Alexander, described a joint project with the State of Mississippi to reopen the 1955 inquiry into the death of Emmett Till.

DETROIT FREE PRESS, Rochelle RileyBeauchamp began researching "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till" seven years ago, working with Emmett's mother, Mamie Till Mobley, until her death this year. It took three years for him to persuade Simeon Wright to talk. But Wright later introduced him to brothers John and Roosevelt Crawford. The latter, who recently retired from General Motors in Detroit, said it was about time. "It's been 47 years, and nobody ever tried to contact me or get in touch with me, not the NAACP, not the civil rights groups."

Is it Worth it?

Dear Diary,

Today my manager and I again discussed the reasons he created 20 different homework assignments for every single assignment, even though it dramatically increases the amount of time needed to grade each.

He insists he is doing his part to contribute to the environment of Academic Integrity. I consider it a "Lead them not into temptation..." approach.

I think back to the lectures on Millenials, that describes how this generation prefers a teamwork approach to learning. But he insists that it is important to disallow cheating on assignments. He insists "It is not fair to the other students who complete their homework assignments independently."

Today the Conservation Lab, hosted a Valentine's Day Open House complete with Catered Coffee and Smoothies. I made a journal. I watched paper get a bath. It was amazing!

Lastly, in my manager's class the computer system took nearly 5 minutes to load. So that drastically took away from in-class practice time. Luckily, I created "screen captures" of the entire process for today's in-class assignment. I figured since it was a complex database, the visual answers would help reinforce the concepts. And since some students did not have a chance to do the in-class practice, the answer sheet should help them.

Perfect timing, if I do say so myself! That reinforces my practice of having them log on at the beginning of class as opposed to waiting until I complete my lecture. I think it saves times.

Interesting thing I learned today:

Q. What is the chemical reason why water doesn’t “cool” your throat after eating hot sauce containing capsaicin?

A. After a review of the literature, it was determined that capsaicin is fat soluble. So if you eat hot sauce then consume something containing some Fat such as butter or whole milk.

Instructor, Writer, Librarian...Extraordinaire!!!

Dear Diary,

I just received notice that my article
Weary Helper:
From Private Investigator
to Librarian

has been published online
at LIScareer.com

available at http://liscareer.com/smith_pi.htm.

A Stroke of Genius

Dear Diary,

I noticed that my manager has a nice cover sheet attached to his graded assignments. He has a typed label with their name on it on a colored sheet of paper. Well since I am still trying to find supplies, I dare not use the limited stock I see in my library so instead, I decided to create a unique cover sheet that served multiple purposes. Bonus: my printer ran out of toner and I was forced to go upstairs and use the Color Printer.

But I digress. Since my manager and I agree that the 30 - 40 minute in-class worksheets are a preferable approach to database instruction, good old fashioned hands-on, we have foregone using all the active learning exercises I toiled over for the better part of the beginning of this year.

So as a way to still use my labors of love, I decided I'd put the students' names on them and use those "fun" activities as my Cover Sheets when returning assignments. The students won't have to do them, unless they want to. But at least they will have received them. I plan to ask for feedback on them at the end of the semester, all the same.

For example, today's cover sheet is a Bare Bones Tips Sheet for Web of Science, including Truncation, Synonyms, and Booleans search tips. Lots of white space but lots of information also. On the back, is a greatly reduced Word Find. Only 2 names to locate in the paper grid, and I listed 4 different names & possible Variations underneath. I listed the number of results the different variations retrieved in Web of Science. This activity originally required them to type in the variations I provided and record the different number of results returned.

So this way, they can clearly see how different spellings of the same name will retrieve very different results in Web of Science. They have the tip sheet that should assist with tonight's assignment and I have not wasted weeks creating these activities that no one would ever see.

It is a Win-Win situation. Gosh, I sure am glad I thought of it.

******************** On a different note******************

Today is another day to wear our "Gay? Fine By Me" T-Shirts.

It was a little scary wearing it the first time, but it was fine. Now that I am an instructor, it is yet again causing a bit of trepidation. But I suppose it is fitting seeing that Coretta Scott King's funeral was this week and as Dr. Martin Luthar King said:

"A threat to freedom Anywhere

is a threat to freedom Everywhere."

1 Potato...2 Potatoes...3...Potatoes...4

Dear Diary,

I have started trying to quantify my "busy - ness" so I can try to streamline some procedures that are time-consuming.

I realize now that today for example, I have:

Attended a weekly Reference Meeting.

Corresponded with students who have questions on Assignment #1, that I returned to them last week.

Graded Assignment #2, that I need to return this week.

Corresponded with students who have questions on Assignment #3, that is due this week.

Collaborated with my manager on this week's lecture, in-class exercises and Assignment #4, that I will hand out this week. Made photocopies for this weeks handouts.

I should add that part of my preparation for each week's class, I have to complete the upcoming assignments and in-class exercises to notify my manager if he need to make any chages.

I still need to write the grade sheets with comments and attach answer sheets with correct citations to each assignment.

Then I need to add the grades to my grade book. Tick...Tock...Tick...Tock.

***BONUS:

I received a copy of Christian Librarian with my article published:

Spiritual Literacy: A New Concept for a New Reality.

Yippee!!

Job Security for Librarians!

Dear Diary,

My manager showed me this timely N.Y. Times article aptly titled:

Pity the Scientist Who Discovers the Discovered
By GINA KOLATA

IN 1996, Rakesh Vohra, a professor at Northwestern University, and his colleague Dean Foster published "A Randomized Rule for Selecting Forecasts," a paper in the journal Operations Research. It illustrated how a random investor could outperform a group of professional stock pickers simply by following a "buy and hold" investment strategy.

It was important research, the authors believed, until they learned that the same discovery had been made at least 16 times since the 1950's. And no one, Dr. Vohra said, ever realized they were not doing original work.

The discovery that your discovery has already been discovered is surprisingly common, said Stephen Stigler, a statistician at the University of Chicago who has written about the phenomenon. Not only does it occur in every scientific field, he said, the "very fact of multiple discoveries has been discovered many times."

The result of duplicative research may be no more serious than chagrin over wasted time. But in other cases, say those involving medical research, there can be a real risk of harm to patients.

It may seem odd that scientists in the Internet age spend years on a line of research, even bet their careers on it, without having first determined that their mountain had not already been climbed. But Dr. Stigler said that scientists often are ignorant of the work being done by others in their field, and searches of scientific literature can be hard to conduct. Web search engines, for example, look for words, not ideas, and Dr. Vohra said he discovered that every researcher who had made his discovery had given it a different name and description.

Of course, it can be embarrassing to learn that your discovery isn't one. But the best defense may be a good offense.

For example, there is the oft-told story about Larry Shepp, a famous mathematician at Rutgers University. Dr. Shepp, when told that a piece of work he thought was his discovery actually duplicated another mathematician's breakthrough, replied: "Yes, but when I discovered it, it stayed discovered."

For complete article http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/05/weekinreview/05kolata.html

Just Keep Going & Going & ...

Dear Diary,

I am waiting to hear from my manager as to whether he will need to begin working part-time, and that will directly impact my workload. I know that he will be out during the month of April, but he just learned of this possibility last night. We will see.

I am still grading papers. I read through all papers once and simply credit the students with 1) On - time submission and 2) all answers present (including accompanying printouts / photocpoies, etc...)

Next I create a new grade sheet, weekly so I can make comments and return their grade with their assignments. Each assignment is different and so is my grade sheet. I do this on paper first and once the format is finalized then I create the electronic sheets.

I received an email from a fellow resident requesting feedback on my experience so far. I had not thought about the specific questions asked and so when I answered them I figured this would be a good thing to add here:

Challenges :

I have basically been getting acclimated to the hierarchy and the "acceptable" manner to move ideas forward. Careful of stepping on those toes!

I have to balance my desire to be involved in every possible endeavor, but not over-commiting myself and stretching myself too thin.

I want to knock their socks off without knocking myself out!

Goals
I'd like to gain experience in a variety of settings, in my case, Law and Chemistry BRANCH libraries as well as different departments in the Main Library such as Collection Development and projects with the African-American Subject librarian.

Also I'd like to positively convey the benefits of being a professional librarian to the High School students working in the library over the summer.