Collegian ACADEMIC FESTIVAL T he Cameron University
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Monday, October 2, 2017
Photos by Krista Pylant and Cheyenne Cole
present and future.” Mann decided to narrow the broad subject down to three main sub-topics – the Cheyenne Cole population in the Americas, how long the Managing Editor inhabitants had lived there and the natives’ effect on the environment. Cameron University officially kicked off To him, one of the most interesting elements Academic Festival X, “American Identities in was that the Americas’ population matched the 21st Century,” on Sept. 28. Author and journalist Charles Mann visited that of Europe. “There’s a tremendous argument about campus for a discussion with students at 3:30 the exact number [of people],” he said, “but p.m. in the Johnson Auditorium in Ross Hall and to lecture about “Migration, Immigration typically, they say 40-60 million, and I should and Emigration” at 7:30 p.m. in the University note that the estimates keep rising. I wouldn’t be surprised if it shook out at around 80 Theatre. million by the time everything is done.” Mann is a correspondent for “The Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Atlantic,” “Science” and “Wired.” Publications Ronna Vanderslice said Mann’s publications including “Fortune,” “The New York Times,” “Smithsonian,” “Technology Review,” “Vanity are unique because he writes about history from the perspective of a journalist. Fair” and “The Washington Post” have “Charles Mann is fascinating because he’s published his work. a journalist,” she said, “so he’s not a historian. Additionally, Mann is the recipient of He’s a journalist who’s written these incredible writing awards from the American Bar Association, the American Institute of Physics, books by researching topics that are just very really fascinating to the typical person.” the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation and the His follow-up, New York Time’s best-seller Lannan Foundation. “1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus He is most well-known as the author of “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Created” examines how European settlements Columbus,” which explores human civilization affected the Americas. Mann said Alfred W. Crosby Jr.’s book in the Americas before Columbus’ arrival. It won the National Academies Communication about the Columbian Exchange inspired him to research and elaborate on the concept. Award for Best Book of the Year. “The first 200 million years ago,” he said, As a writer, Mann wanted to create a “a single giant land mass, Pangea, [existed]. product that would retain readers’ interests. Geological forces break it up, and the various Differences between what he’d learned in parts of the world separate for tens of millions school and new science research sparked his of years, so there’s almost no communication interest in the topic. between them and no communication between “It wasn’t so much the discoveries ecosystems. What Columbus does is bring it all themselves as the kind of impacts that they’ve back together.” had on our society,” he said, “and I began He said the truth is much more complicated getting more interested in those, and one than the photos shown in history books of of the things that struck me was that new Columbus and pilgrims arriving to an empty developments in technology were actually land in the Americas. changing our views of the past as well as the
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Mann and human history
“It just wasn’t a matter of people,” he said. “It was a matter of plants, animals, insects [and] microorganisms, and then, they have just as much effect on human history as humans do – sometimes more. “One of the biggest kinds of things that move around are really ideas – these range from ways of thinking about agriculture to cultural movements to things as fundamental as freedom and liberty.” According to Vanderslice, Mann’s acute attention to detail is what sets him apart. “Most of us remember ‘In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue,’ and that’s kind of what we know about,” she said, “but what he studied about was – what were the effects of his discovery and how the most minute details that maybe we didn’t think about have really influenced kind of where we are today.” He advised students to consider the various ways humans can learn about the past today. “Genetics is now teaching us huge amounts about the human past,” he said. “All these new methodologies are contributing to our understanding of the past, which then helps us understand the present.” According to Mann, applying the past to the present is helpful. “The politics of the day don’t have much to do with what has actually gone on in the past and what is now going on in the present,” he said. “Maybe if you talk about what happened in the past, it gives you a different kind of [perspective] to look at what’s happening in the present and makes you think about it a little differently.” Mann’s next book “The Wizard and the Prophet: Two Remarkable Scientists and Their Dueling Vision’s to Shape Tomorrow’s World” considers two scientists’ conflicting opinions on how an increasing population will live in the 21st century. It will be released in January 2018. Every three years, Cameron hosts a themed
academic festival year in which noted guests address relevant topics. Vanderslice said this year’s academic festival theme is appropriate during the current political climate and corresponds to the major social issues, such as race and national security, in the U.S. today. “American Identities in the 21st Century is a very timely topic based on all the discussions about diversity and race and where we are today,” she said. “It shows the insight of the [academic festival] committee picking this a long time ago.” Mann said he was pleased to join Cameron for the academic festival and to interact with the students. “These state-regional universities are the frontlines of education,” he said. “These are the schools that really make a difference in students’ lives, so if I can – in a small way – help the school on its mission, I’m really happy to do that.” Throughout the 2017-2018 academic year, two more guest speakers will visit Cameron to lecture in conjunction with Academic Festival X. Former NPR host, special correspondent, founder of “The Race Card Project” and journalist Michele Norris will discuss “Social Justice and the American Dream” at 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 in the University Theatre. Retired General Jack Keane presents “America’s Place in the World: Power, Diplomacy and Commerce” at 7:30 p.m. on Feb. 27, 2018 in the University Theatre. Students, faculty, staff and the community can reserve free tickets to each presentation approximately 30 days before each event at cameron.edu/festivalticketrequestform. For more information about Academic Festival X, call the Office of Public Affairs at (580) 581-2211 or email publicaffairs@ cameron.edu.
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