FamiLee Life

Science and Diversity

When I decided to become a psychology major in college, my parents were disheartened because (a) they didn't know what the heck psychology was (b) they were hoping I was going to be pre-law or pre-med or choose engineering as a major even though I went to a liberal arts college that didn't even have an engineering school! In other words, they were hoping I was going to be a lawyer, doctor, or engineer because these were the only three occupations that they knew as a step up from what they were doing (which was working 14 hour days, seven days a week). Upon graduation and without a job, they were even more disheartened and worried about my future. To help, they bought me three suits as part of my graduation gift, as if a nice suit would get me a job and a career. It was touching but out of touch.

In the end, I got into graduate school in psychology and my parents were very relieved and happy. However, they still had no idea what psychology was. It was only after I got my Ph.D. (which was the one thing they understood and were proud about) that they began to understand what is psychology. For example, my mother would say, "So and so's son has problems in his head. He needs a psychologist. You should talk with him."

Well, it's pretty amazing that I somehow persisted growing up as a child of working class, immigrant parents. Here I now am as a tenured associate professor at a major research university. So what helped me out? What barriers did I overcome or avoid?

The Scientist - an online magazine for the life sciences - has put out a supplement on the myths and realities of diversity in the sciences. It is quite interesting and useful. It highlights key ingredients to recruiting, retaining, and nurturing for success students of color in the sciences.

Zombie Rights

Back in July, I was hanging out with friends, shooting pool at Grumpy's on Washington Ave. While playing a bad game of pool, a group of hipsters dressed as zombies made their way into the bar. They were funny and nice. I thought nothing of it, given that this group also had performed at the Art Shanty Projects over the winter. They were a known group in town and harmless as the walking dead.

Well, it turns out that this group of fun loving zombies were arrested by Minneapolis police under suspicion of carrying "simulated weapons of mass destruction." No joke. Here is the article on it from back in July.

Now, it is the zombie's turn to strike back. Looks like they have filed a lawsuit against the city for violating their civil rights. Click here for full story.

I also noticed that one of the arrested individuals has the last name of Utne....hm, I wonder if he is related at all to the founders of the Utne Reader. I imagine it is the case given the uniqueness of the surname. Incidentally, ten plus years ago, I used to read the Utne, not knowing that it was based in Minneapolis. Seems the past and present intertwine again and again.

Professional Etiquette

I was in a sour mood yesterday having come down with a cold. Of ourse, it was only made worse by the long line for the flu shot and, most importantly, the young man standing nex to me who was obnoxiously chewing his gum. This experience nevertheless got me thinking about etiquette which I have written at least once before (click here).

Part of the college and graduate school experience is learning to become a citizen of society. Citizenry means to most simply getting and holding down a job. However, it obviously means much more than just gainful employment. It means contributing to society in many useful ways. And to be blunt, to facilitate this process, it helps to learn basic social etiquette. It makes for a better co-worker and colleague and a more tolerable and enjoyable work environment. It reflects character for better or worse.

It just so happens that Inside HigherEd was also thinking of this same thing. Click here for an instructive article on this topic. A related topic is how to not sabotage your young academic career (click here).

Enough said.

Monday Annoyance

I awoke this morning with a sore throat. More precisely, I had a post-nasal drip sore throat that means I am coming down with a cold - the same cold that all my friends have had (or still have) and I foolishly had thought I had escaped. Alas, it's not so. The only good to come of it was as a concrete reminder to get a flu shot.

So -- 7 hours later -- I just returned from getting a flu shot. It was not so bad, but the line was long. There were actually two lines. The first line was to register and the second line was to get the shot.

In both lines, I was standing next to a young man with headphones on. I could barely hear the music but I wish I could have heard more of it. Instead, I was subjected to hearing this man voraciously chew his gum with an open mouth. Loud gum chewing (aka saliva slush sounds) is just down right annoying. Of course, I started to fixate on it because I had nothing else to do. I honestly wished he had his music on louder, so it would have drowned out his loud gum chewing. But alas, I had 25 minutes of gum chewing.

The good news is that I got my flu shot. Fingers crossed, I won't get the flu this year.

University of Minnesota Report Card :: A Solid "C"

Minority Access = A
Low Income Access = D
Minority Student Success = D
Overall Grade = C

Inside Higher Ed reported on a recent study by the Education Trust graded "50 leading public "flagship" universities and the group as a whole on their success (or, more often, their perceived lack of it) in enrolling low-income and minority students and in graduating minority students. The nonprofit group gave 4 of the 50 institutions an overall grade of B, while 14 received C’s, 25 earned D’s, and 7 were hit with F’s."

The actual report is called Engines of Inequality. According to the report, "there are more high-achieving low-income students out there who could enroll in a flagship university but don’t. Some of them are in other, less prestigious institutions. Some of them aren’t in college at all."

As for UMN, we have made progress in low income access but have fallen behind in progress in minority access. This makes sense given the recent abolishment of General College and the rising tuition costs. The real question, of course, is what are we going to do about it? In the College of Liberal Arts, we are trying to hire more faculty with expressed research interests in ethnic and racial issues, dedicate resources to recruiting and retaining a diverse student body, and improving financial aid. At the same time, there are other forces working against us, such as stiffening competition from private colleges with better scholarships and rising tuition costs. Also, not all faculty make an active effort to help in the recruitment and retention of students of color and from low income backgrounds. Too many expect administrators to handle this enrollment concern. What ends up happening is that the bulk of work falls into the hands of faculty of color who get overtaxed and undercompensated for this effort.

Recommendations and comments to this question are welcome.

Koreans and SPAM :: Thank the University of Minnesota

Ever wonder why Koreans (and other Asians) love SPAM? Well, blame it on the Minnesotans. First, SPAM was created and marketed by a Minnesota company (Hormel) based in Austin, MN (click here). Second, a UMN professor of physiology invented the K ration which eventually came to include SPAM (click to read article).

What did Koreans do with this meat that was given by relief workers and American G.I.'s? We made a soup out of it because we are a soup culture! As a sidebar, it's why we are a spoon culture (and not a chopstick culture like the rest of Asia). The most famous is budae jigae. However, we also have included SPAM in kimbap.

Styling Hair, Karaoke Rhymes, and Helping the Homeless

A letter from my good friend, Hapa9...

Dear Friends,
Oh yes, there are so many reasons to come by this weekend to support two great youth serving organizations!

For example:
1) Looking good. That is right folks, a $30 donation gets you the latest ultra styling hair do by a professional stylist!
2) Feeling good. Yes, feel good that you are supporting two organizations that support homeless teens in the twin cities.
3) Supporting Art. Come by Moxie Gallery and view some amazing photography by youth artists. Buy artwork (the holidays are coming...) Profits go directly back to youth artists!
4) Time is no issue. Yep, this event goes 24 hours straight!
5) Live entertainment! performances by L. Preston West, Michael Morris, and Jimmy Barnett, Ashley Gold, Angie Oase, and The Purple House Project. In addition, there will be an open mic and a DJ on the SOOVAC STAGE.
6) Karaoke insanity! Just think, at 3:00 AM you can have a personal serenade while you get your bangs trimmed! Think of the possibilities of a flock of seaguls hair do while someone sings "I Ran."
7) Sleep out and Pancakes!

Hope you can make it with three of your long haired friends! More details below...

Michael Hoyt
Kulture Klub Collaborative

Infuriations :: Wartime Chinese Laborers Sue Japan

World War II and the preceding Japanese occupation of Korea, parts of China and elsewhere in Asia are well documented historical events filled with atrocities, horrors, and gross abuses of power. Yet still in Japan there remains defiance toward these crimes - 60+ years later.

The NYTimes has a great article on recent efforts by elderly Chinese men who were forced into labor in Japan during the war and now are seeking apologies and reparations. It is ennobling of them and yet the response by Japan is infuriating.

Sometimes shaking a fist and grumbling grrrrr is all I can muster but not enough.

Of course, there is so much pain and misery associated with war in general. Closer to home, the University will be bringing to the Twin Cities a traveling exhibit - Still Present Pasts - on the Korean War created by Korean American artists and scholars. Stay tuned for more to come on this event which I along with a great steering committee have been working on for the past 6 months now.

Outsiders Within :: Book Release Party

On Saturday (November 18th) from 6-9 pm, come check out the Midwest book release party for the groundbreaking new anthology written by and for adult transracial and transnational adoptees - Outsiders Within. The event will be held at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance on the UMN West Bank campus. All sorts of fun stuff is planned, including dance performance, readings, and food and drink. Meet many of the local writers who contributed to the book, including editors Jane Jeong Trenka and Sun Yung Shin and Jae Ran Kim, Kim Park Nelson, Shannon Gibney, and more.

I had the fortunate to review the book before it went to press and they were foolish enough (or wise?) to print a portion of my review (although not the best lines, if you ask me).

Domestic transracial adoption and international transracial adoption often are viewed as distinct experiences. Outsiders Within demonstrates that the two histories and life courses are intricately intertwined. The selection of authors for this book reflects this symbiosis, as well as surveys the wide range of experiences of adoption in the United States and Europe . Outsiders Within will be a valuable addition to academic scholarship on adoption and will surely help to improve the lives of adoptee children and their families.
—Richard M. Lee, PhD, associate professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota

Living Art and a Bad Case of Mistaken Identity

A few weeks ago, my friends and I decided to go to the Walker After Hours soiree that is held on Friday nights. On the night of said event, they happened to have an interactive, online camera in which the public could get their photos taken to be a part of the Walker Flikr site. Of course, for all who know me, I could not pass up the opportunity to be a part of the Walker Art Center....ahem...to get my photo taken.

Now, during this same period of time, I have had a number of encounters with random people whom I don't know well in which they tell me that I look like (a) the Japanese guy on the new television show Heroes (b) Bobby Lee from MADtv and (c) Ed Bok Lee. Geesh. Do they really think we all look the same? ARGH!

Well, just to set the record straight, I am in only one of the above Walker Flikr photos! And I am neither jumping nor flexing!

Here are a few more just to make sure people know who is who.

Opening the Vault :: 1986-1987

I was 17 years old, a freshman in college (Simon's Rock), and had a dual cassette deck. Yeah, you know the one. Pre-compact disks, dvds, and mp3s. Mine was a Sony purchased through my older brother's friend who worked for Sony HQ. I think I got the deck for one-third the price. With the deck and a Technics direct drive turntable, I was all about the mixed music tape.

Recently, I got back in touch with a friend from SR. KR is now a medical historian at another midwestern university. She recently had moved places and in the process had unearthed one of these famed tapes. Here is what was on the playlist.

Side A
Pat Metheny: Farmer's Trust / Metheny & Bowie: This is not America / The Church: Don't open the door to strangers / The Jesus and Mary Chain: Some candy Talking / Golden Paliminoes: Boy / The Cure: Boys Don't Cry, Catch / Dumptruck: 7 steps (up) / Aztec Camera: Oblivious, walk out to winter / The Smiths: How soon is now?

Side B
R.E.M.: The Flowers of Guatemala / Sex Pistols: E.M.I. (orch) / Buzzcocks: What do I get? / Husker Du: It's not funny anymore, sorry somehow / Love and Rockets: All in my mind / Sesame Street: Sing, Sesame Street / Ramones: Something to believe in / The call: I still believe (great design) / The Style Council: You're the best thing / Fine Young Cannibals: Suspicious Minds

When I saw the songs, it brought back a flood of memories. Like opening the vault after having lost the keys for many years. I'm always amazed at how episodic our memories can be, especially as cued by music. As you can see by Side B, I was indeed into Husker Du...as well as the soundtrack from Sesame Street!

Friday Happening...

It's Thursday but it's time to plan for what to do on Friday night. My recommendation is to check out the show at First Ave tomorrow. Why? Because it's the record release party for Savage Aural Hotbed. More importantly, Mu Daiko will be opening up for them to energize the crowd with great taiko drumming. Mu Daiko goes on around 9 pm, so get your tickets and I will see you there.

Virginia Is For ... Swing Voters!

It's was an amazing election day yesterday and I found myself switching from channel to channel trying to get the latest poll counts. I am amazed and relieved and happy at how well the Democrats did in all levels of government (State, House, and Senate). Now, it looks like it's up to Virginia - my former residency for four years of graduate school. While living in Richmond, I became friends with an AP reporter (Zinie Sampson) and have continued to keep in touch with her, especially when its related to a hot news item.

Well, lo and behold, Zinie wrote a great story yesterday that has received a lot of press coverage. In fact, I heard about this voting intimidation on the radio and it turns out that she wrote the story! Click below to read the full story.

Stay tuned and fingers crossed! Remember -- Virginia is for Swing Voters!

FBI investigating Va. voter calls

By ZINIE CHEN SAMPSON
Associated Press Writer
Tue Nov 7, 5:53 PM ET
RICHMOND, Va.

In Ohio, a prosecutor also warned voters to be wary of fraudulent calls claiming that their voting precincts had been changed.

Get Out and Vote!

If you have one thing to do on the day's "to do" list, it is to get out and vote! If you don't know all the issues and are still figuring out the candidates, check out the Select a Candidate site on Minnesota Public Radio. Quite helpful but not definitive.

My first vote was back in 1992 when Clinton won the election. Legally, I was eligible to vote in 1988 and 1990 but I was a college student back then and not a very motivated one. Plus, I was out of state and completely clueless about mail-in ballots, but I digress. During the primaries, I remember mulling over all the Democratic candidates and not knowing a thing about them. However, I was one of those struck by Clinton's charisma and message. He was an underdog but I remember telling some classmates that he was the one. That was perhaps the most exciting election for me because I really felt that my vote counted. But, of course, they all count.

Heck, perhaps this one will be even more exciting if there are changes in power at the state and federal levels.

Guatemala Adoptions :: A Thought Experiment with Silence

The Sunday edition of the New York Times has a fascinating, investigative report on the current adoption process in Guatemala. Click on article to read the full story. Some notable quotes and issues from the article...

In other countries, adoptive parents are sought out for abandoned children. In Guatemala, children are frequently sought out for foreign parents seeking to adopt and given up by their birth mothers to baby brokers who may pay from a few hundred dollars to $2,000 for a baby, according to interviews with mothers and experts.

Key to that business are jaladoras, as the baby brokers are called locally. They ply the Guatemalan countryside looking for pregnant women and girls in a fix. Adoption is presented as the perfect answer, one that will leave the child with a wealthy family and the mother better off as well, by paying for her medical bills and providing some direct money surreptitiously.

Okay, so now the thought experiment for some of us and a reality for many adoptive parents -- Let's assume there is a high probability that the adoption was processed in this manner (through a jaladoras). It's too late to turn back time. Decisions were made with a mix of hopeful love, naïveté and ignorance, entitlement, urgency, and a host of other emotions. So now what? How will a family address this issue with the child who is growing up comfortably in a loving, supportive, nurturing home? What will be shared about the adoption process? The birth mother and birth father? The possible illegality of the experience? Obviously, these disclosures will vary depending on the age of the child, but the hard questions remain.

It is a tough and challenging issue that many adoptive families will eventually have to face as their children grow older. It is something that parents and other family members, as well as the adoptees themselves, must learn to confront, struggle, and eventually accept in order to truly embrace the circumstances of the total adoption experience. Importantly, love underlies this entire process.

Silence is a powerful defense but also powerfully destructive. When there is trauma or abuse or other shameful secrets, silence quietly works to disable us emotionally and prevents us from truly growing. Moreover, silence works across generations. It seeps into the lives of children and their children.

Who among us is without silence in our lives? Who among us does not yearn to shed this silence to live more freely?

It is critically important for us all to examine the silences in our lives and to make careful decisions, uncomfortable risks to address these silences. Maybe all at once. Most likely, incrementally.

UPDATE :: Check out the NYTimes audio backstory with the reporter. Pretty interesting.

Squirrel Attack :: My Greatest Fear

From the Star Tribune comes a truly freakish story. People who know me and my ongoing battle with squirrels and chipmunks in my Southwest Mpls home will appreciate this story. Actually, I have often said that being attacked by a horde of squirrels would be totally hellish. Much worse than Hitchcock's birds. Here is some initial supporting evidence. Click here and here for related, more vicious attacks by squirrels in recent years (hats off to Made in Korea for these links)

Letter carrier attacked by squirrel
Associated Press
Last update: November 02, 2006 – 10:32 AM

OIL CITY, Pa. — Barb Dougherty, a 30-year Postal Service employee, said she was attacked and bitten Monday by a squirrel while delivering mail in Oil City, about 75 miles north of Pittsburgh.