N A S S A U   N O T E S

John Witherspoon

A crane lowered the statue of John Witherspoon, president of Princeton from 1768 to 1794 and a signer of the Declaration of Independence, onto a plinth on the east side of East Pyne Nov. 5. The work, by Scottish sculptor Alexander Stoddart, was to be officially unveiled Nov. 10.

Pinker to explain the nature of language Nov. 12

Bestselling author and psychologist Steven Pinker will discuss his latest book, "Words and Rules: The Ingredients of Language," at 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in McCosh 10.
    In the book, Pinker, a professor of psychology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, explores the nature of language -- how it works, how it changes over time and how children pick it up. He looks at linguistic phenomena from the vantage points of psychology, biology, history, philosophy, linguistics and child development.
    "Words and Rules" was a finalist for the 2000 Eleanor Maccoby Book Award from the American Psychological Association. His bestselling book, "How the Mind Works," was a finalist for both a Pulitzer Prize and a National Book Critics' Circle Award in 1998. His other bestseller, "The Language Instinct," was named one of the 10 Best Books of 1994 by The New York Times Book Review and received the 1995 William James Book Prize of the American Psychological Association.
    Pinker's talk is designated as the Louis Clark Vanuxem Lecture and is part of the University's Public Lectures Series. It will be Webcast; for viewing information, visit <http://www.princeton.edu/WebMedia/>.

State department official to speak

John Dwyer, coordinator for international information programs at the U.S. Department of State, will discuss "The Impact of Technology on Diplomacy," at 4:30 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall.
    A foreign service officer since 1978, Dwyer was deputy associate director for information at the U.S. Information Agency from August 1998 until October 1999, when the agency was consolidated into the Department of State. From 1996 to 1998, he served as minister-counselor for public affairs at the U.S. embassy in Brasilia, Brazil. His other assignments include stints in Bolivia, Venezuela and Mexico.
    His lecture is sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs' Office of External Affairs.

Amnesty International head here Nov. 12

William Schulz, executive director of Amnesty International USA, will present a public lecture titled "In Our Own Best Interest: How Defending Human Rights Benefits Us All" at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 12, in 301 Frist Campus Center.
    Schulz will draw from his most recent book, "In Our Own Best Interests: How Defending Human Rights Benefits All Americans" (Beacon Press, 2001). In the book, he uses compelling arguments and vivid stories to respond to those who attack the importance of human rights. He maintains that the defense of human rights is essential to the protection of national security, the environment, international investments and public health in the United States. Schulz seeks to reach across political and cultural barriers to find a common strategic goal in human rights that concerns all Americans.
    The executive director of Amnesty International USA since 1994, Schulz was appointed after 15 years with the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, where he served the last eight years as president.
    Schulz's lecture is sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Campus Ministry, the Frist Campus Center, the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, the Princeton University Store, Amnesty International, Group #67-Mercer County, and Princeton University Amnesty International. Immediately following the lecture, Schulz will sign copies of his book.

Greenstein rates Bush since Sept. 11

Fred Greenstein, professor emeritus of politics and chair of the Program in Leadership Studies at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs, will discuss "The Political Leadership of George W. Bush: What a Difference Sept. 11 Made" at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 13, in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall.
    A recognized authority on the American presidency, Greenstein has written or edited eight books on the subject, including his most recent, "The Presidential Difference: Leadership Styles from FDR to Clinton." The book examines the leadership qualities of modern presidents and rates their performance in categories ranging from communication skills to leadership styles.
    The lecture is sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson School's Office of External Affairs.

Princeton Triangle Club

The Princeton Triangle Club will present its 111th performance, "Absurd to the Wise," at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Nov. 16-17, and at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 18, at McCarter Theatre. For tickets, call 258-ARTS or order them online by visiting <http://www.princeton.edu/~triangle/>.

The Art Museum

This head of a priest of the Imperial Cult is among the 48 works included in the "Empire of Stone: Roman Sculpture from The Art Museum, Princeton University" exhibition at the Art Museum through Jan. 20. The gallery has been dramatically illuminated, revealing subtle details of dress, ornament and modeling that bring to life the people, rulers and gods of ancient Rome.

Euthanasia, ethics is topic on Nov. 14

Wesley Smith, a prominent public advocate and writer, will speak on "Bioethics and Euthanasia" at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 14, in Computer Science Building 104. A reception will follow.
    Smith is an attorney and consultant for the International Anti-Euthanasia Task Force and the author of several books, including "Forced Exit: The Slippery Slope from Assisted Suicide to Legalized Murder" and, most recently, "Culture of Death: The Assault on Medical Ethics in America." He also is a consumer advocate and has co-written four books with Ralph Nader.
    Smith's address is the second lecture in the Alpheus Mason Lectures in Constitutional Law and Political Thought, sponsored by the James Madison Program in American Ideals and Institutions.

Glover to discuss death penalty

Actor and activist Danny Glover will speak on "State Execution: The Death Penalty in America" at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in McCosh 50.
    His public lecture is being sponsored by the University and the Mercer County chapters of Amnesty International. He is expected to address a number of concerns about state execution, such as execution of the innocent, failure to act as a deterrent, and racial and socio-economic biases.
    Glover has received wide recognition for his roles in more than 50 films, including the screen adaptations of Alice Walker's "The Color Purple" and Toni Morrison's "Beloved"; HBO's production of "Mandela," for which he received a Cable ACE Award and an NAACP Image Award; and the action-thriller "Lethal Weapon" series.
    A tireless human rights crusader, Glover is a recipient of the Amnesty International USA Lifetime Achievement Award for his "efforts to bring worldwide attention to the human rights struggle." Such efforts have included his role in the civil rights movement in Namibia, his work as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Development Program and his commitment to abolition of the death penalty.

Southeast Asia Lecture Series opens

Democracy, Capitalism and the Crisis: Thailand after 1997" is the title of the inaugural talk of the Southeast Asia Lecture Series at Princeton, set for Thursday, Nov. 15.
    Professor Pasuk Phongpaichit of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand and Chris Baker, a freelance writer, will speak at 4:30 p.m. in 0044 Friend Center.
    Pasuk is a visiting lecturer at the School of Advanced and International Studies at Johns Hopkins University. She earned her Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge and has been awarded the title of senior national research scholar of Thailand. Her work focuses on political economy, corruption, the sex industry and social movements.
    Baker also earned his Ph.D. at the University of Cambridge, where he has taught Asian history and politics. He currently is working on a history of Thailand. He and Pasuk are the co-authors of "Thailand: Economy and Politics" (winner of the 1997 National Research Prize for the Thai version), "Thailand's Boom and Bust" and "Thailand's Crisis."
    The Southeast Asia Lecture Series will bring to campus academics and practitioners to discuss political developments in the region. The series is sponsored by the Center of International Studies, the Department of Politics, the Council on Regional Studies, the Southeast Asia Students Organization, Foreign Policy in Focus and the International Center.

World Bank official lectures on gender

The World Bank's senior spokes-person on gender issues will present a lecture titled "Changing Policies and Strategies at the World Bank: The Example of Gender and Development" on Thursday, Nov. 15.
    Karen Mason, director of gender and development in the Poverty Reduction and Economic Management Network at the World Bank, will speak at 4:30 p.m. in Dodds Auditorium, Robertson Hall.
    Gender and development is one of the four areas of focus in the World Bank network. Staff working in this area carry out a range of activities in support of the bank's objective of mainstreaming gender in operational, research and policy work.
    The panel is sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs' Office of External Affairs.

'Comfort woman' to share experiences

Keum-Ju Hwang, a Korean woman who was forced into sexual labor for Japanese soldiers in China during World War II, will discuss her experiences as a "comfort woman" at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 15, in McDonnell A01.
    Her talk, titled "Lessons of Courage: Lost Innocence, Hidden Truth, Restored Honor," is sponsored by the politics department, history department, Humanities Council and East Asian studies program. David Howell, associate professor of East Asian studies and history, will provide opening remarks.
    Keum-Ju was forced into sexual slavery for four years. To this day, she has suffered lingering physical and psychological effects from the experience. She told her story in the 1999 documentary film "Silence Broken."

Sept. 11 impact on the arts considered

Tso sessions exploring the effects of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the subsequent U.S. military action in Afghanistan on the arts and humanities are scheduled for Friday, Nov. 16.
    The panel discussions, titled "Terrorism and War, the Arts and the Humanities: A Conversation in the Aftermath of Sept. 11," will run from 2:30 to 6 p.m. in McCormick 101. They are sponsored by the Council of the Humanities.
    The first session will focus on how Sept. 11 and its aftermath challenge, alter, limit and/or define the work of the academy. Panelists will discuss what kind of responsibilities such events place upon faculty members as teachers, writers and public intellectuals. Speakers will be Judith Butler, professor of rhetoric at the University of California-Berkeley, and Princeton faculty members Gyan Prakash, professor of history, and Michael Wood, chair of the English department. The moderator will be Karen Beckman, lecturer in English.
    In the second session, which will begin at about 4:30 p.m., panelists will explore if and how recent events have shifted the frame of their practice in terms of subject and style or context and reception. Speakers will be Princeton faculty members Eduarda Cadava, associate professor of English; Laura Kurgan, assistant professor of architecture; and Lynne Tillman, lecturer in the Council of the Humanities and creative writing. The moderator will be Hal Foster, the Townsend Martin, Class of 1917, Professor of Art and Archaeology.
 

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November 12, 2001
Vol. 91, No. 9
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Contents

Science
• Tilghman tells high school students of bright future in science
• Time travel: Truth not always stranger than science fiction
• Earth's light show is a clue to finding habitable neighbors

Classroom
• Freshman seminar looks at clothing as a social force

Campus
• Tilghman charges groups with planning for future
• By the numbers: Nassau Hall

People
• People/Briefs
• United Way drive begins Nov. 15