Virginia Commonwealth University
Sixth Annual
International Studies
Student Research Conference
Final Program
Student Commons Academic Campus

October 26-27, 2000
Sponsored by the
International Studies Program
With valuable support from
Department of Foreign Languages
University Honors Program
College of Humanities and Sciences
Virginia Commonwealth University

Virginia Commonwealth University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution providing access to education and employment without regard to age, race, color, national origin, gender, religion, sexual orientation, veterans status, political affiliation or disability.
VI Annual International Studies Student Research Conference
Virginia Commonwealth University
October 26-27, 2000
All events take place in the Student Commons, Academic Campus
Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
The conference registration desk in the Commons
opens at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 26
and 8:30 a.m. on Friday, October 27.
Program Summary
Thursday, October 26
11:00-3:15 PM: Special Exhibit: Study Abroad & Peace Corps
Capital Ballroom A
11:00-12:15 PM: Session I panels, Capital Ballrooms B & C
12:30-1:45 PM: Session II panels, Capital Ballrooms B & C
2:00-3:15 PM: Session III panel, Capital Ballroom B & C
3:30-4:30 PM: Roundtable on Careers in International Affairs
Capital Ballroom D
7:30- 9:00 PM: Plenary Session: "Language: Origin & Destiny" Commonwealth Ballrooms A-B
Carlos Fuentes
world-renowned authorCo-sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and supported by the University Honors Program through an endowment established by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Friday, October 27
9:00-10:30 AM: Session IV panels, Capital Ballrooms A & B
11 AM-12:30 PM: Session V panel, Capital Ballroom A
Panel Schedule
Thursday, October 26, 11:00 a.m.-3:15 p.m., Special Exhibit
Study Abroad and Peace Corps International
(Capital Ballroom A)Ever dreamed of broadening your horizons? Drop in to see how far some VCU students have gone. Theyll share photos, mementos, souvenirs, and stories from their studies abroad. Shawn Davis, Peace Corps Regional Recruiter, will also be on hand to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the Peace Corps.
Thursday, October 26, 11:00 a.m.-12:15 p.m., Session I
Session I-B: Cultural and National Identity in Russian Cinema (Capital Ballroom B)
(Students in FRLG 200/INTL 203 Language & Identity: Russian Culture)
Chair/Discussant: Prof. Gina Kovarsky, VCU, Foreign Languages
Harry Brooks Ilia Brusilovsky Daynah Edwards
Vadim Freyyerov Amanda Hess Joseph Kraemer
Joyce Krawiel Lakeita McKoy Konstantin Nesterov
Denis Orlov Stephanie Saucier Hanna Sheridan
Session I-C: The Language of Building and Crossing Borders (Capital Ballroom C)
Chair/Discussant: Prof. Kathryn Murphy-Judy, VCU, Foreign Languages
Kasey Dolin, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Words Sounds, and Power in Jamaican Rastafari"
Pamela Salisbury-Smith, Blue Ridge Community College, "An English Speakers Cross-Cultural Experiences with Spanish Speakers"
Lindsay Henson, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Global High School Thinker?"
Thursday, October 26, 12:30-1:45 p.m., Session II
Session II-A: Native Foreigners: Cultural Dynamics in
German-Speaking Lands (Capital Ballroom B)
(Students in GRMN 320 German Civilization, Virginia Commonwealth University)
Chair/Discussant: Erin Helland, Virginia Commonwealth University
Andreas Dennis Merima Dulic Kerstin Ellen
Katherine Evans Irina Gavan Patricia Hollis
Berina Husejnovic Dragan Jerkic Happy Anne Kuhn
Freeman Lo Antonio Michetti Leonard Mick
Flanna Sheridan Nathan Shoemake Jennifer Stevens
Susan Wiltshire
Session II-B: Putting Boundaries to the Test: Nation-Building and Conflict Resolution
(Capital Ballroom C)Chair/Discussant: Prof. William Newmann, Virginia Commonwealth University, Political
Science and Public Administration
Cynthia Kuhnert, Fayetteville State
University, "Slovenia: A True European Nation" Lars Forssenius, Virginia Commonwealth University, "The New China: Transformation
from Totalitarian Communism to Socialistic Market Economy" Harajeshwar Kohli, Virginia Commonwealth University, "The Success of the 1991
Indian Liberalization Policy: The Impetus from Within" Umut Uzer, University of Virginia, "Congressional Politics During the Gulf Crisis
of 1990-1991" Thursday, October 26, 2:00-3:15 p.m., Session III Session III-A: I, Rigoberta Menchú
(Capital Ballroom B)
Chair/Discussant: Prof. R. McKenna
Brown, VCU, Foreign Languages Jason Cottrell, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Creating a Text within the
Text: I, Rigoberta Menchú" Kaira Fuentes, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Creating a Text within the Text:
I, Rigoberta Menchú" Ashleigh Garrison, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Creating a Text within the
Text: I, Rigoberta Menchú" Session III-B: VCU's Peace Corps Tradition (Capital Ballroom C)
Chair/Discussant: Shawn Davis, Peace Corps Recruiter, Mid-Atlantic Regional Office Prof. Ralph Hambrick, Political Science & Public Administration Prof. Jeff South, Mass Communications Prof. Christina Turner, Anthropology & Sociology Prof. Blue Wooldridge, Political Science & Public Administration 3:30-4:30 p.m.: Roundtable on Careers in International Affairs
(Capital Ballroom D)
Ever wonder how to pursue a career with room
for your international interests? Come learn from the experts! Thursday, October 26, 7:30-9:00 p.m., Plenary Session Commonwealth Ballroom A-B Language: Origin and Destiny Carlos Fuentes
Co-sponsored by the Department of Foreign Languages and supported by
the University Honors Program through an endowment established by a grant from
the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Friday, October 27, 9:00-10:30 a.m., Session IV
Session IV: Medieval Women at the Cross-Roads of the World (Capital Ballroom A)
(Students in FREN 330 Survey of Literature, Virginia Commonwealth University)
Chair/Discussant: Prof. Chantal Marechal, VCU, Foreign Languages
Elham Aboulhosn Sara Borey Raluca Ciulei
Bree Hays Kara Norman Kevin O'Brien
Mireille Truong Stephanie Vaugn
Session IV-B: The Role of Art in Shaping Cultural Identities
(CapitalBallroom B)
Chair/Discussant: Prof. Humberto Fabelo, VCU, School of Social Work
Nicole De Armendi, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Gerardo Suter: Bridging the Past into the Future"
Jennifer Lynn Harris, Virginia Commonwealth University, "The History of Russian Ballet"
Tiffany France, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Jewelry Traditions and Identity in East Africa"
Friday, October 27, 11:0012:30 p.m., Session V
Session V-A: Women and Children in Global Economies (Capital Ballroom A)
Chair/Discussant: Prof. Mark Wood, VCU, Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies.
Alison Kramer, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, "Womens Empowerment, Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and the Digital Divide"
Anisa Mohammed, Virginia Commonwealth University, "The Economics of Child Labor in the Age of Globalization"
Coleman Rose, Virginia Commonwealth University, "Capitalism vs. Reciprocity: Modes of Exchange and Child-Rearing Practices"
Many thanks to
The Department of Foreign Languages
The University Honors Program
The College of Humanities & Sciences
The National Endowment for the Humanities
Thank you for your interest in
The International Studies Program at VCU!
If youd like to join our mailing list
for announcements of future events, please let us know at: