Department of Anthropology

April 29th marked the annual Anthropology Department end of the year gathering to celebrate the accomplishments of our students and faculty in an atmosphere characterized by camaraderie and good cheer. Anthropology majors, minors, and friends were treated to culinary delicacies from around the world and around the block while the conversation flowed. This year, the event was held at St. Lawrence’s Brush Alumni house, a larger venue than in years past well suited to the increased popularity of the event.

This event is also the department’s opportunity to recognize the outstanding senior members of the Lambda Alpha honorary as well as the students who received departmental awards at Moving Up Day.

Especially poignant this year is the retirement of two long-time faculty members: Dr. John Barthelme and Dr. Celia Nyamweru. Students and alumni pooled memories, letters, and pictures together to make keepsake albums to honor the many dedicated years spent in the classroom by both professors. Students also prepared hand-designed t-shirts with personalized anthropology themes to be worn with pride.

Many thanks to the professors whose hard work in preparing this event for the students made it yet another success!

Students and professors alike took advantage of some long-awaited sunshine on the back deck. Here, Dr. John Barthelme and his daughter Mary.

Dr. Barthelme and Dr. Nyamweru during the retirement presentations.

“The food was amazing, the veggies, the amazing soups and rice and everything was simply fantastic!”- Heather Christie ‘11

Dr. Gonzalez and Dr. Pomponio preparing to recognize the Lambda Alpha seniors with the handmade cords. See Honorary Page for a description of the Lambda Alpha cords.

Senior majors gather around the cake for a group shot. "As a senior it was great to have a final get together with the faculty and other students before graduation." -Alyssa Magoon

This article, written by Dr. Alice Pomponio, chair of the Anthropology Department, appeared in the Spring 2009 edition of the St. Lawrence Magazine.

Anthropology Professor Emeritus Richard Perry has brought the notion of “giving at the office” to new heights. Recently, he donated the top of his femur to the department, after undergoing a full hip replacement.

“I am pleased and honored that my right hip bone has found a place among the specimens of our esteemed anthropology lab,” said Perry. “I do so with full confidence that Professor Gonzalez will soon teach his students to discern the difference between me and a chimpanzee.”

Richard Gonzlez, assistant professor of anthropology and a forensic anthropologist, accepted the bone on behalf of the anthropology department. “It is an honor to include a part of Dr. Perry in our anatomical collection,” he stated. “Dr. Perry will indirectly help teach our students about human anatomy, evolution, and variation. His donation highlights anthropology’s contibution to the natural sciences.” Gonzalez and his colleague, South Indian archaeologist and assistant professor of anthropology Shinu Abraham, are planning a complete renovation of the archaeology and biological anthropology teaching laboratory.

When asked about his future plans, Perry admitted, “I have no plans at this time to donate any additional body parts to the University.”

According to darwinday.org, “Darwin Day is a global celebration of science and reason held on or around Feb. 12, the birthday anniversary of evolutionary biologist Charles Darwin.”

This year is special in that it marks both the 200th anniversary of Charles Darwin’s birth and the 150th anniversary of the publication of his ” On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection”.

The site offers valuable resources for those wishing to schedule their own special Darwin event.

For existing local events at/near St. Lawrence, check out SLU’s Darwin Days Blog or the Darwin Day page on the SUNY Potsdam website.

Some highlights:

At SLU:

February 5th, Screening of “Darwin’s Dangerous Idea” at 7:30 PM in Carnegie 10  and February 26th, screening of “Great Transformations and Extinction” at 7:30 PM in Carnegie 10. More films to follow in March and April!

At Potsdam:

“To examine Darwin through the lens of anthropology, Dr. Bethany Usher, associate professor of anthropology, will give the talk “Humans Evolving” February 11 at 5 p.m. in 103 Kellas Hall…The events will culminate with Darwin’s Birthday Party on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Raymond Hall eighth floor dining room.” Dates and times for additional lectures may be found on the website. All events are free, and the public is invited to attend.

The Anthropology Club is hosting their annual end-of-semester get together for club members and faculty. This year, the culinary theme is Moroccan!

Meet at Eben Holden at 6:30 pm Wednesday, December 9, 2008.

Contact club presidents Madeline Meade or Victoria Harding for more details!

“The imminent arrival of Thomas Campbell as the director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art is much more than a simple changing of the guard after the long tenure of his predecessor, Philippe de Montebello. Mr. Campbell, who will take over one month from today, is a 46-year-old curator from the Met’s department of European sculpture and decorative arts, and he has a unique opportunity to shift the tone of an enduring and increasingly hostile debate in the world of art and museums: Who should own the treasures of antiquity?”

From today’s opinion section in the New York Times, a challenging question. Continue reading here.

“Brazilian officials flying over the Amazon recently photographed what they thought was an unknown tribe living in a remote region of the rainforest. But the real discovery was not the indigenous people they found—it was the world’s reaction to them.”

For more, read on at “Turning a Blind Eye”.

The Archaeological Institute of America publishes archaeological stories on the web daily! Check back for new updates each day at 1pm EST.

http://www.archaeology.org/news/