Cultural Anthropology 2009

Anthropologists have studied humankind all over the world for hundreds of years. Even before the scientific studies of humankind began people were curious about other peoples around them. Travel is quite an educator. Anthropologists' fieldwork has been instrumental in helping us see ourselves from worldwide perspectives.

Dr. Lin Davis-Stephens Colby Community College ude.ccybloc|snehpets-sivad.adnil#ude.ccybloc|snehpets-sivad.adnil

About Dr. Lin Davis-Stephens

Preparatory education: Wichita State University, (Master of Arts/Anthropology), Wichita State University, (Bachelor of Anthropology/Spanish, Magna Cum Laude with Honors), Wichita State University, (Degree Candidate/Elementary & Secondary Education); Legal education:Washburn University (Juris Doctor). Certificate: Visiting Scholar Certificate, Kansas State Board of Education.

Community Activities: National Park Service, Kansas State Historical Society, Prairie Museum of Art and History, Thomas County Historical Society, Jennings Heritage Associates, Oral Interviews, Kansas Folklore Society, Service Learning Archival Materials, Kansas Anthropological Association, High Plains Chapter, Special Collections Library.

Fieldwork: Spanish Interviews, Norton Correctional Facility, Restoration/Preservation Projects, Central High Plains, Action Anthropology/Archeology, Western Plains Region.

Selected Works in Media and Print: include Linda Davis-Stephens' Collection, Prairie Museum of Art and History; Summary, Nomination and Comprehensive Survey Reports, National Park Service, Cheyenne Action Archeology Tenth Millennium Series, Local History and Culture Documentaries, Theses, Sustainable Agriculture Policy, Central Plains Region, Mock Farm Mediation.

Positions held: President Hispanic American Law Student Association, Principal, West Plains Academy, Attorney with emphasis in Criminal/Environmental Law, Conflict Resolution, and International Law.

Classes taught: Forensic Anthropology, Criminal Justice Forum, Juvenile Justice, Homeland Security, Loss Prevention and Private Security, Judicial Functions, Corrections, Criminal Procedure, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Criminology, Great Plains Experience, World Regional Geography, American Frontier Literature, Spanish, Government, World Religions, Anthropology, Women’s Studies, Native American Cultures, Friends University—Conflict Resolution, Business Ethics, Organizational Behavior, Organizational Management & Leadership.

Student Digital Storytelling
Your posted work here is a personal, virtual reflection on cultural anthropology in the world of today and/or the past/future. Your posted work will be public, indefinitely, on the internet.

There are quides to digital storytelling online at places like

http://colbycriminaljustice.wikidot.com/creating-a-digital-story

If you need help using Windows Movie Maker this is a good tutorial:

http://frybreadqueen.googlepages.com/killtheindian%2Csavetheman

Shelton Harvey

Cultural Anthropology Hitting bottom vs Intervention Rex Van Horn

There are many differences between Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselors (ADAC) and Mental Health Counselors (MHC). One of the biggest differences is that many ADAC counselors wait for the person to” hit bottom” before they become involved with the person as a client. See this video for a description of hitting bottom http://www.videojug.com/expertanswer/stopping-your-behavioral-addiction/what-does-it-mean-to-hit-bottom-in-behavioral-addiction. MHC counselors on the other hand will become involved and start treatment at any stage of the client’s disease.

The problem with waiting until the person hits bottom is that their bottom maybe their death or that they have made such a mess of their life that they can no longer see any future or imagine any way out of the mess. Hitting bottom is the AA (Alcoholic’s Anonymous) way of doing things and is very successful if the person is willing to go to any lengths to stay clean and sober. But the risks of allowing someone to hit bottom are also dangerous if they have a low bottom- jails, institutions or death.
An intervention is what is recommended by MHC counselors. See this video for an example of an intervention http://www.aetv.com/intervention/video/. An intervention can sometimes stop the progression of the disease and stop the person’s destructive behavior’s before they hit bottom. Interventions are not as successful as the hit bottom approach and may need to be repeated a number of times before they are successful but are much safer for the client.

Many ADAC counselors’ are recovering alcoholic/addicts and have gotten clean and sober the AA way. But more and more ADAC counselors are coming around to the intervention idea. Removing someone from their home, family and job for thirty to one hundred eighty days seems harsh but not doing so can be even more disastrous.

With an estimated 30% of the US population suffering from drug and/or alcohol abuse and/or addiction the need for action is critical. 90% of the prison population is there because of alcohol or other drug use or the crime was committed while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. If tobacco is included alcohol and other drugs are the leading cause of death in this country today although the death certificate may not state it specifically. An estimated 30% of drivers on the interstate highway are under the influence.

Please see this website for a discussion of the history of the introduction of foreign intoxicants by dominant or conquering cultures http://www.peele.net/faq/indians.html.

Personal Interviews and Media Projects post here.

The knowledge of cultural diversity is important to all Emergency Management officials. The importance is knowing and understand each culture to help them with any disaster. Such as, knowing a certain language or be able to find a translator to help protect any citizen in need of assistance. Whether it is with a home due to tornado or snow damage, stranded cattle need fed. This video by Lindsay Frahm and Jake Cox is to help better understand the possibilities and importances.

heaven anderson Aims summer camp

Laura Williams
Summer Cultural Anthropology 2010

WHAT GIVES US OUR HUMANITY?

Researching this topic, I found an interesting paragraph in an article written by Michael Macher:

“From the moment we first open our eyes, we are immersed in complex rituals of language and signification that enable us to share our experiences with others. We share our hopes and fears—our struggles and victories. Such is the way we identify and empathize with one another within a common culture.”

He goes on to postulate that if we had none of those abilities to express ourselves, that if we tried to explain our feelings and needs but were ignored, we might have an idea of what it feels like to be an animal in a world dominated by humans. There is significant evidence that it is not only what we do to differentiate our behavior from those of animals that marks our humanity. Often, it is what we do for those who must live in that world without expression, those who in a clinical sense might be considered non- or sub-human, that distinguishes us as the most human.

Let’s look at three examples; how we treat very young children, how we treat the autistic, and how we treat animals.

First, in the treatment of infants, we find humanity in what seems a very obvious place; the hospital. Micro-preemies are children born before 23 weeks of gestation. They have a survival chance between 0 and 10%. Yet there are specially trained doctors and nurses, specially designed facilities and equipment, specially formulated foods and drugs that are dedicated to their survival. All of the above come with a very high price; survivors often leave the hospital having already accumulated in excess of $1 million in medical costs. Why would we make such an extreme investment in such long odds?

http://www.redorbit.com/news/health/1829462/researchers_find_micro_preemie_infant_outcomes_improve_over_longterm_due/index.html

How we treat the autistic is also very revealing. Once, those suffering from autism were simply discarded, placed into a system of life-long institutionalization. Even those who were “main-streamed” were shunned, treated with suspicion and derision. Today, they are much more fully embraced. Why have we reached out to this section of the population that knows not how to reach back?

Finally, consider the situation of animals stranded by Hurricane Katrina. While humans bewailed the slow response of human politicians, rescue efforts for the animals were organized within one day. Ultimately, over 10,000 animals were rescued. Why were such super-human efforts undertaken to save those who were admittedly not human?

Although science can place various definitions on our humanity, it appears to be the pursuit of it that makes us most human. Our ability to step away from anthropocentrism, to humble ourselves to those who need our help, may be the most precise definition of humanity there is.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-macher/what-animals-teach-us-abo_b_327816.html

Audacity for digital storytelling —part 1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDOCxlBkPO0&feature=share&list=ULGDOCxlBkPO0