Humanities & Society

KaramustafaSince Sept. 11, 2001, a leading scholar of Islam at Washington University in St. Louis has sought to help an inquiring American public separate stereotype from complex reality and Islamic extremists from the many-sided moderate majority. Ahmet Karamustafa, Ph.D., chair of the Religious Studies program in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis, is trying to help Americans see that although Islam has its radical factions, these factions are small in number and the majority of the world’s Muslims are peaceful people.

In November, 26 incumbent U.S. senators will be on election ballots. Chances are, most of them will win, according to a study by Washington University in St. Louis professor Gautam Gowrisankaran and two colleagues.

Surgeons cut and reposition hip bones to reduce pain.When an older person has a hip problem, surgeons often replace the damaged hip with an artificial one. But that’s not a good option for someone in their 20s or 30s, so orthopaedic surgeons at the School of Medicine are repairing damage to the hip to prevent arthritis without having to replace the hip joint.

President George W. Bush’s recent push for the establishment of an ownership society features partial privatization of Social Security by diverting a portion of the payroll tax into individual accounts. “Privatizing Social Security is a dangerous idea,” says Merton Bernstein, a nationally recognized expert on Social Security. “Despite widespread criticism and misunderstanding, Social Security is in good shape for the future and its funding can be made solid by modest measures. In contrast, privatization would cost $3.75 trillion.”

A.G. Edwards Media Contact: Margaret Welch, (314) 955-5912 As a sponsor of the presidential debate at Washington University in St. Louis, A.G. Edwards is proud to support a forum for voters across the country to evaluate the ideas, opinions and beliefs of those who will shape our nation. When choosing the next president of the […]

Officials with both President Bush and Senator John Kerry agreed to three debates, including one on the campus of Washington University in St. Louis, at a press conference held September 20. Both Steve Givens, assistant to the chancellor and chairman of Washington University’s debate steering committee, and Jonathan Greenberger, editor in chief of Student Life, express excitement and relief over the announcement in this article by Philip Dine of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

PakrasiA research team of biologists and engineers led by faculty at Washington University in St. Louis is seeking to find the Fountain of Youth — not in Florida, but in photosynthetic cyanobacteria (ancient little blue-green algae). Looking at the cellular systems in cyanobacteria, and then in a model plant and a moss species, these researchers want to determine how these organisms protect themselves from radicals, which are chemical culprits in the aging process in everything from bacteria to human beings.

The institute’s goal will be to “offer teachers new and engaging ways to teach popular music as a humanities subject,” Gerald Early says.

Adults of all ages are being invited to become volunteer participants in research conducted by faculty and students connected with the Aging and Development Program of the Department of Psychology in Arts & Sciences. Some of the studies deal with practical problems, others with basic abilities such as thinking, memory and perception. Current projects range […]

Viet D. Dinh, professor of law and director of the Asian Law and Policy Studies Program at Georgetown University, will speak about “Liberty and the Rule of Law After September 11th” for the Assembly Series Sept. 22. The talk, which is part of the School of Law’s “Access to Justice” Public Interest Law Speakers Series, […]