17 | Faculty News
Beth Bridgeman
Kim Landsbergen
College outcome, our federal govhas extended our life spans and our ernment has turned fully away from reach into the universe. So much of staffing most science policy positions our medicine, technology, materials, and declared intent to underfund knowledge of the world and everyday or fully cut programs and undo the living is a direct result of scientific reenvironmental gains of the last 12+ search and discovery. For our country’s years. Federal lands are up for sale, leaders to turn away from ALL OF and bills have been introduced to THIS for political gain is ignorant and the House to eliminate the Environimmoral. It is self-defeating madness mental Protection Agency. Federal to build walls and to reject immigrants, laws that have WORKED, like the because they drive much of our scienClean Air Act, the Clean Water Act tific enterprise and excellence. and the Endangered Species Act, are targeted for repeal. Although these “Lastly, I march because I am in love, laws might survive a repeal, they will deeply in love, with the natural world. certainly emerge weakened or crippled, I march in memory of the beautiful and we cannot let that happen. These times in my life I’ve spent in intilaws work so well; they are now in the mate observation of trees, fungi, moss, background in ways we don’t see or flowers, insects … with life. I want to appreciate anymore. But we can see fiercely defend landscapes and orbald eagles in Ohio, thanks to federal ganisms that can’t write a politician regulation of DDT and the Endana check or call a lawyer to defend gered Species Act. I could give many themselves. And I want to share that more examples of how peer-reviewed love of discovery with my students and science had resulted in policies help them learn how to do science and that work. be part of this larger community. “Fundamentally, science is ‘a candle in “These are just a tiny fraction of the the dark,’ to quote Carl Sagan. Science reasons why I march.”
Kevin McGruder
KEVIN MCGRUDER, Assistant Professor of History, saw his book Race & Real Estate: Conflict and Cooperation in Harlem, 1890–1920, published in paperback this spring by Columbia University Press. McGruder’s work explores how white residents of Harlem reacted to the influx of African Americans at the turn of the 20th century. Race & Real Estate also examines why they came to Harlem in the first place: not to flee difficult conditions but to build a lasting community. The American Historical Review called Race & Real Estate “a fine work of historical scholarship and incisive interventions in the history of Harlem. ... [McGruder’s] care for the place and its people shines through in [his] meticulous research andforceful arguments.” McGruder was selected by the Class of 2017 as its Commencement speaker. Commencement was held June 24 on the Antioch front lawn.