Stephen Herrera – The Hilltop Monitor

Meet the Department: Political Science

Stephen Herrera — Sun, 24 Apr 2016 13:00:06 +0000

Critical Thought and Inquiry (CTI) classes allow students to learn subjects outside of their major and get to know professors in other departments. However, you take only one class in each of the CTI categories, so there are some faculty you may not know. This is the fifth part of a series of articles highlighting different departments on campus in order for you to become familiar with the faculty at William Jewell College.

Dr. Holiman

Dr. Alan Holiman, department chair of the political science department, received his Bachelor of Arts degree in political science from the University of Arkansas, a master of arts in political science from Ohio State University, a second M.A. degree in Russian and east European studies and doctorate in political science from the University of Kansas. Holiman especially enjoys discussing, and debating, comparative and American politics. Having lived and studied in the Soviet Union, Holiman has gained firsthand experience analyzing the similarities and differences between states, especially Russia and other post-communist states.

“Alas, no new subject has captured my fascination lately. I track what I track and follow what I follow and these are more than enough,” he said, when asked whether any specific topic had recently grabbed his attention.

However, his recent foray into Russian politics has brought him to a “wonderful read” called, “”Vsya kremlevskaya rat,” which translates to “All the Kremlin’s Men” by Mikhail Zygar, news director for TV-Rain in Moscow,” which details the rise and transformation of Vladimir Putin.

Dr. Gary Armstrong

Dr. Gary Armstrong has extended his role at William Jewell College beyond his own department. His titles include: professor of political science, director of the international relations major and associate dean of the core curriculum. While his administrative work does occupy some of his time, his classes still see his passion for political science. Armstrong came to Jewell after receiving a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Oklahoma and a doctorate from Georgetown University, where he now spends his summers teaching. While he primarily teaches political science courses, Dr. Armstrong instructs the CTI capstone course “Birth By Any Means” for William Jewell seniors and has also found interest in teaching “Preparation for Marriage” with his wife. His educational interests include American foreign and security policies, international relations theory, international conflict and war ethics and international political economy.

When asked if any new topic had recently captured his attention, Dr. Armstrong reflected on a course called “Intro to World Politics.”

“’Intro to World Politics’ has changed,” he said. “That’s been a lot of fun. Students get to try to connect politics to fundamental notions of human happiness. Of course, the students get to involve patterns and charts to create a hypothesis. However, I really don’t care too much about the statistical process in this case. I care about their ability to create an interesting hypothesis.”

Dr. Rien Staal

Dr. Staal, professor of political science, received his bachelor of arts from the University of California at Santa Cruz. He then received his Master of Arts and a doctorate at the University of California at Berkeley. His specialties include politics and literature, political philosophy and American political thought. While his work at Jewell occupies much of his time, Staal has found time to write several political and theological texts, including “The Forgotten Story of PostModernity,” “The Irony of Modern Conservatism” and “A Viable Russian Federalism.”

Dr. Fletcher D. Cox

Dr. Fletcher D. Cox, the most recent addition to the political science department, is an assistant professor of political science and he received his B.S. from William Jewell College. After graduation, he received his masters of theological studies from Harvard University, which he followed with his doctorate from the University of Denver alongside work with the Sié ChéouKang Center for International Security and Diplomacy. As a Jewell graduate, Dr. Cox has the experience of teaching at the same school where he first studied and is spending his first year back at his alma mater “focused on designing new courses for the department.” His special interests keep him focused on comparative politics and international political economy.

“In in addition to teaching, I am working on three research projects that will produce multiple publications over the next few years,” said Cox.

2016 Oscar Predictions

Stephen Herrera — Fri, 26 Feb 2016 14:00:57 +0000

It is the responsibility of the Academy of Motion Pictures, Arts and Sciences to present the most distinguished works of the year. Covering nearly all aspects of the filmmaking process, the Academy analyzes each film released throughout the year for quality and impact. The four most contested among the awards received during the Oscars are Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor and Best Actress. Predicting the full list of winners is practically impossible, so I offer here some of my predictions for the 2016 Oscars.

Best Picture: The Revenant

This may be the easiest pick of the year. While the Academy could easily disagree and give the award to “Spotlight” or another well-made film, I believe no other film this year can truly compete.

Best Director: Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu

Behind every great film is an even greater director. Having demanded so much of himself and his crew, Inarritu created a film that stunned all viewers with “The Revanant.”

Best Actor: Leonardo DiCaprio

At the danger of echoing the entire internet, it’s about time for Leonardo DiCaprio to get an Oscar. His role in “The Revenant” was simply jaw-dropping. The dedication required to climb inside a dead horse and eat a raw bison liver should be enough to make his case.

Best Actress: Brie Larson

Having already won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award and a Golden Globe for her performance in “Room,” Brie Larson is a strong pick for Oscars predictors. For those second-guessing, Charlotte Rampling may just strike gold with her first performance in “45 Years.”

Best Supporting Actor: Tom Hardy

While my heart is with Sylvester Stallone, returning to the franchise with his film “Creed,” it is hard for me to look past the harrowing performance of Tom Hardy in “The Revenant.” However, there is always room for an underdog.

Best Supporting Actress: Alicia Vikander

Many are calling for a second award for Eddie Redmayne’s performance in “The Danish Girl.” While possible, I view it as far more likely for his costar, Alicia Vikander, to bring an Oscar back for the film.

Best Animated Feature: Inside Out

Does this require much explanation? As one of the few animated films I watched this year, “Inside Out” quickly reminds our generation of the old “Toy Story” days of childhood.

Best Documentary Feature: Cartel Land

While many are predicting “Amy,” the story of Amy Winehouse’s career and life, to be the winner, I am predicting an upset. “Cartel Land,” impressive as it is, will have more than enough competition in a category that is often underappreciated.

Best Adapted Screenplay: The Big Short

This film, while incredibly impressive, will likely get the edge due to its important topic. Covering the issues surrounding Wall Street corruption, “The Big Short” has done well enough at previous competitions to warrant a win here as well.

Best Original Screenplay: Spotlight

While approaching a difficult topic, the film “Spotlight” is an easy prediction for this year. It follows an investigative journalism team as they examine practices within the Catholic Church.

Best Cinematography: The Revenant

Emmanuel Lubezki could win this Oscar for the third year in a row. Those who have seen “The Revenant” can attest to the beautiful shots in natural light that set it apart from the fellow nominees.

Best Costume Design: Carol

While my expertise in the area of costume design leaves much to be desired, I would hazard a guess that “Carol,” while perhaps not taking home as many awards as desired, may be able to add this Oscar to its numbers.

Best Film Editing: The Revenant

There is little that can compare to “The Revenant” in my mind. However, if another wins, I would expect it to be “Mad Max.”

Best Original Score: The Hateful Eight

As per usual, Quentin Tarantino delivered a shocking film via “The Hateful Eight.” While impressive, the score make the highs and lows of the film far more pronounced than one may anticipate.

Best Original Song: Writing’s on the Wall from Spectre

Sam Smith, popular pop artist, may have just earned his first Oscar. While followed closely by Lady Gaga and Diane Warren, odds are that Sam Smith has the best chance of winning.

Best Production Design: Mad Max: Fury Road

The stunning shots in the middle of deserts, followed by action-packed fight scenes in small caverns, will likely be the winning factors for “Mad Max.”

Best Sound Editing: Mad Max

If you saw “Mad Max: Fury Road” in IMAX you are likely still deaf. Naturally, high volume is not the same as high quality. Thankfully for “Mad Max,” the breadth of auditory assault may become an easy win for the film.

Obscure Sports Weekly: Caber Toss

Stephen Herrera — Fri, 19 Feb 2016 14:00:12 +0000

While Americans have football, soccer, basketball and baseball, the people of Scotland gather, cheering fans and all, to watch their strongest participants compete in the Caber Toss. What is the Caber Toss, you may ask? With its name coming from the Gaelic word “cabar” or “kaber”, meaning beam, the sport has elusive origins. Some believe that the event was originally developed through the tossing of beams across streams during wartime, while others say that the first Caber Toss was loggers hurling giant portions of trees into the river to be sent downstream. However complicated the history may be, there is one extremely important fact for those considering a place in the fandom: you get to watch giant Scotts throw logs through the air.

It is difficult to take seriously the idea of throwing logs across a field. However, the caber toss requires far more skill, strength and thought than I initially assumed. The tosser begins by selecting one of the available logs, which has been rounded at one end for gripping, and leaning it against his body. Weighing up to 180 pounds, these logs are more than difficult to balance. Any minor mistake in adjusting the log will completely ruin the throw. The individual then takes the 20-foot long log and begins to run forward as quickly as can be safely managed. Once the necessary speed has been reached, the thrower lifts the log from its base and begins to flip it over its top. Because the log is so large, it is necessary to allow gravity to push the log. This allows the thrower to avoid using up strength in a vain attempt to push the log outward.

The caber toss is a game of accuracy. If the thrower is facing directly forward, the goal is to have the caber land in a straight line in front of him. The toss is scored by the degree to which the caber lines up with the thrower.

It is difficult to grasp the skill associated with landing a “perfect” throw. The mix of strength and instinct necessary even to lift and balance the caber, much less throw it, completely escapes me. However, that does not mean that I cannot enjoy the spectacle, especially through the countless videos documenting the sport online. As popular and entertaining as our American sports may be, it is worthwhile to explore new sports that could draw in even more U.S. enthusiasts.

Photo courtesy of: https://www.flickr.com/photos/tomsaint/3415460772

Sustainability in the Dining Hall: Where does your food go?

Stephen Herrera — Sat, 21 Nov 2015 03:31:25 +0000

Every day, Jewell students choose a side of the dining room, eat their food, laugh with friends and scrape their plates into the small trashcans by the tray line. But what happens next? Fresh Ideas Food Service at William Jewell College has fully committed itself to sustainability through recycling, expediency and collaboration with the community. The process begins in the kitchen.

As the culinary staff prepares our food before every meal, they have the entire kitchen area organized to accommodate two waste receptacles. First are the “black bag” trashcans. The black bags are specifically used to contain all non-recyclable items that cannot be used any further by the school. Before being disposed of, these bags are taken to a small room in the bottom floor of the Union and sorted to ensure that no recyclable items are missed. The remaining items in the black bags are then taken directly to the trash receptacle behind the Union.

Though the process adds a significant level of time commitment to the process, “the process is worth it in the long-term,” said Kiki Strecker, catering director at Jewell.

Second are the “green bags.” These same bags we scrape our uneaten food into in the cafeteria are taken downstairs to check for items that will make recycling more difficult. Because glass is both a safety concern and a liability issue, the College makes sure that all glass is disposed of with the black bags.

Fresh Ideas encourages students to take part in the sustainability of their cafeteria and the food that passes through it.

“Leftovers that cannot be utilized in other ways are composted, along with paper products. When in the dining hall, please place organic waste in the blue ‘compost’ waste cans. This will be diverted from the landfill, composted and returned to campus for use in our landscaping and community garden,” according to the Jewell Dining Services website.

According to Dining Services, every aspect of the jobs in the Cage, Perch and cafeteria is influenced by sustainability policies. Students are encouraged to put on their plates only what they believe they will eat to avoid increased waste of food and any unnecessary additional preparation for future meals. In order to aid in this process, Dining Service members all eat their meals after the dining hall has closed in order to avoid unnecessary leftovers.

According to the World Resources Institute, approximately 33 percent of the food produced across the globe every year is wasted. In the U.S. alone, up to 40 percent of our food goes completely unused. In the end, this can total up to 20 pounds of food per person per month.

The Jewell cafeteria reportedly takes every opportunity it has to “stay green.”

“Every aspect of the dining process at Jewell is designed to promote sustainability. While other schools use styrofoam plates on visitor days, a far cheaper alternative, we ensure that every item that can be recyclable will be recycled,” said Strecker.

Jewell’s “Green and Go” program seeks to ensure that any item used by Jewell Dining Services, from boxes to tumblers, are recycled or reused. The process isn’t always easy to maintain. Because the company that handles the waste from our cafeteria has strict limitations, Dining Services managers have to put in extra work to ensure that what we send to be recycled will be responsibly managed.

“Glass and misplaced non-recyclable items have to be sorted on a daily basis. Although it adds a significant amount of work to sustain this process, we believe that it is worth every cent,” said Strecker.

For more information, you can visit the Fresh Ideas website.