Humanities & Society

Black children are involved in reported cases of child abuse at approximately twice the rate of white children. Until now, this has generally been attributed to racial bias in the child welfare system. But in a new study published in the journal Pediatrics, F. Brett Drake, PhD, professor at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis, finds that much, if not most, of the overrepresentation of black children in maltreatment reporting is due to increased exposure to risk factors such as poverty.

Influential film theorist Laura Mulvey, professor of film and media studies at Birkbeck College, University of London, will discuss “Modernity and Obsolescence: The Use of Rear Projection in Film” at 4 p.m. Friday, March 4, for the Center for the Humanities in Arts & Sciences. Mulvey is perhaps best known for the germinal essay “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema”, which explored questions relating to spectatorial identification and the male gaze, and which arguably helped establish feminist film theory as a field of study. Mulvey’s talk is presented as part of the Center for the Humanities’ 2011 Faculty Fellows 
Lecture and Workshop Series.  

Song, dance and dishes from a variety of nations represented by students at the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis highlight the 17th annual International Festival Sunday, March 6 at the 560 Music Center. The event, which is open to the public, begins at 5 p.m. with a food tasting of 11 different dishes. This year’s theme is “1 Community, A World of Traditions.”

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker’s move to strip or significantly narrow his state’s public-sector workers’ collective bargaining rights has significant implications for all unionized workers, both in the public and private sector, says Marion Crain, JD, the Wiley B. Rutledge Professor of Law at Washington University in St. Louis and director of the Center for the Interdisciplinary Study of Work & Social Capital.

Sir Nigel Sheinwald, British ambassador to the United States, will deliver a major policy address at 4 p.m. Friday, March 4, in Holmes Lounge, Ridgley Hall. His talk is the annual T.S. Eliot Lecture, which is named in honor of the famed poet and author who was the grandson of WUSTL co-founder William Greenleaf Eliot. 

The Supreme Court should affirm the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act, contends Washington University in St. Louis law professor Greg Magarian, JD, because the Act fits comfortably within a proper understanding of the federal-state balance of power. Magarian, a constitutional law expert, says the basic argument against the constitutionality of the health care bill is that some parts of the bill, most notably the requirement that people purchase health insurance, exceeds Congress’ power to regulate interstate commerce.

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter (above and below, seated left on panel) spoke about her vision for ending the mental health crisis before a packed crowd in Graham Chapel on Feb. 14. A panel discussion featuring local and state representatives of the mental health community followed Carter’s remarks.

“Faces of Hope,” a campus-wide celebration of civic engagement and community service sponsored by The Gephardt Institute for Public Service at Washington University in St. Louis, will take place again this year at 4 p.m. April 7 in Whitaker Hall. All students, faculty, and staff are encouraged to participate. Applications must be completed by Monday, Feb. 22.

Members of the Center Aisle Caucus, U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (R-Mo.), U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-Mo.) and U.S. Rep. William Lacy Clay (D-Mo.) will discuss “A Vision for Civility” at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, in the main dining room of the Charles F. Knight Executive Education Center at Washington University in St. Louis.

Seven finalists were selected Feb. 10 from a field of 45 to compete for $100,000 in grants in April at the 2011 YouthBridge Social Enterprise and Innovation Competition (SEIC) offered by the Skandalaris Center for Entrepreneurial Studies at Washington University in St. Louis.