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Associate Professor of Government Steve Orvis, who studies fragile regimes, was quoted in an article about the future political structure of Iraq. "The U.S. has, at best, a checkered record on building democracy," said Orvis.  He said that democracy requires a population that knows it can trust its institutions, and is willing to abide by free and fair elections knowing the electorate has a chance sometime in the future to reverse the results - something that Saddam has systematically destroyed in his 23-year rule. Although Baghdad was once the cultural and literary capital of Islam, only 58 percent of Iraq's population today is literate, and the country's once-thriving middle class has been impoverished. This article appeared in the Knoxville News Sentinel among others.

Some of the most unlikely victims of the war in Iraq are right here in the United States sitting in their family rooms. If you have children, particularly young children, “turn the television off,” said Assistant Professor of Psychology Julie Dunsmore, a developmental psychologist.

Cheng Li, professor of government and Woodrow Wilson Fellow, was quoted in the L.A. Times article "China Hands Off Powers to Next Generation", about power transition struggle between old and new leaders. Jiang Zemin gave up his presidency during the March National People's Congress meeting but he also placed many of his own allies in the top positions. Zeng Qinghong, the new vice president of China has long been a friend of Jiang, and it is questioned whether if he will maintain a close relation with Jiang or try to get new President Hu's trust. However, some experts believe that these two will find a way to work with each other. Li said, "Probably Hu gets along with Zeng. The future depends on their cooperation, not vicious struggle. Although Hu is likely to proceed with caution at first, he has given some signals about the direction he intends to take."

Cheng Li, professor of government and Woodrow Wilson fellow, was invited to give a talk during an American University hold forum on "Who's Hu? Deciphering China's New Politics."

Hamilton's April 1 panel on the Iraq war was an impassioned session featuring six faculty members and moderated by government department chair Alan Cafruny. Speaking on the faculty panel were government professors Yael Aronoff, Peter Cannavo, Steve Orvis, Carlos Yordan and Phil Klinkner, and Tolga Koker from the economics department. Following the professors' remarks, a heated question and answer session was conducted.

Chinese AIDS activist and physician Wan Yanhai, and Bates Gill, Freeman Chair in China Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies will give the Edwin B. Lee Lecture on Thursday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m., in the Kirner-Johnson auditorium. Their lecture, “China's Looming AIDS Crisis,” is sponsored by the Edwin B. Lee Fund and the Dean of Faculty’s Office, and is free and open to the public.

Assistant Professor of English Dana Luciano presented a paper, "Melancholia and Counter-Mourning in Moby-Dick," in the Mourning and Melancholia in American Narrative session at the Society for the Study of Narrative Literature conference at the University of California at Berkeley on March 29.

While none of these employees would describe their work environments as solitary, each assumes responsibility for a specific College initiative, in most cases as a staff of one. In this issue of Around the Hill, we'd like you to meet a few of Hamilton's "one-person shops."

Last message from Sara Draucker on the Antartica 2003 expedition as they return to Punta Arenas.

From Sara Draucker on Antarctica 2003 expedition: Our trip across the Drake Passage continues. The sea has been very calm and though there's not too much scenery compared to the last couple weeks, we can't complain! We should arrive in Punta Arenas tomorrow night (Saturday)- a little early because the weather's been so great. Enjoy the sunset.