Volume 1 Number 1
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This is the first issue of what will be a quarterly publication of AGSA, the Anthropology Graduate Student Association. The goal of this newsletter is to provide information to all graduate students and faculty of our department's accomplishments, needs, opinions, and resources.

Interaction between the subdisciplines of our department has generally been on an informal scale. We pass each other in the hall, sit at the bench for coffee, TA classes together, etc. There are, however, gaps in our communication. Many of us are involved in on campus projects, such as the Queretaro Project. Others are busy with their dissertations, publishing, and/or presenting papers at local, regional and national conferences. All of us have different ideas, backgrounds, theoretical perspectives and interests. But there has been no way to inform the department of these diverse activities.

To address this shortcoming, it was thought that a newsletter could disseminate news and information to all department members. This first issue reflects this goal with its articles. The two featured stories outline the function and importance of two on-going programs, the Queretaro Research Project and the Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections. Future issues of the newsletter will spotlight other programs and projects in our department.

As a way to highlight our individual achievements - that collectively strengthen the department - a permanent feature of the newsletter will be a listing of all student publications, presentations and grants/honors received. As well, each issue will focus on a particular student to provide us a detailed look at that person's research.

As with anything, the success of the newsletter depends on how newsworthy we are. Although I know that we are inherently interesting, the amount of information that goes into the newsletter depends to a large extent on you. Do you have an idea for an article, an editorial, a funny quote, an event to promote? If so, submit it via e-mail, or place a hard copy or disk in my mail. I believe that there are many dark secrets in our department that are waiting to jump out into the light......and that these are only secrets because up until now, there has been no forum for their presentation.

I am pleased to welcome the formation of the Anthropology Graduate Student Association (AGSA). Ours is an active, diverse student body, carrying out research in areas as far afield as southern Peru, the Canadian Arctic, Bali and Siberia. The differences among theoretical approaches guiding these studies sometimes dwarf the geographical distances separating them. Yet, in a time when Anthropology is dangerously fragmented, I sense a real commitment by graduate students to foster interaction and maintain the holistic ideals of the discipline.

I sincerely applaud your efforts, through this organization, to encourage communication among the subdisciplines and schools of thought, and to promote professional development.

Report from the Repository
The Queretaro Research Project
Featured Graduate Student
Student Achievements
A Modest Proposal
Notes from the Field
Where are they now?
Calender of Events

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