P R E V I O U S    F E A T U R E S
   last updated 1/6/05

Behind the HSSB Building

Ever wondered what goes on beneath the Humanities and Social Sciences Building? No, there are no strange X-Files like happenings in the basement of HSSB. Rather you will find the Repository for Archaeological and Ethnographic Collections, an extension of the Department of Anthropology that serves as a storage and management facility for archaeological collections generated by Cultural Resource Management (CRM), graduate student projects, and faculty research.

We curate collections from the local area, loosely defined as the geographic extent of the Chumash at the time of historic contact. This includes Santa Barbara County, the Channel Islands, the southern part of San Luis Obispo County, and the northern end of Ventura County. In addition, we house a few cultural collections derived from other areas including the American Southwest, Mesoamerica, the Philippines, and Australia. Our purpose is to store these collections for future use by archaeologists and other researchers. Currently, we are responsible for maintaining over 650 cultural collections and their associated documentation. This translates into caring for thousands upon thousands of artifacts ranging from food remains such as prehistoric shell and bone fragments, finished tools and their manufacturing debris including stone bowls, arrowheads, spear points, and fishhooks, as well as ornamentations such as finely worked shell beads and pendants.

The Repository accepts a small number of undergraduate interns each quarter (enrolled under Anthropology 178). Student interns get exposed to a variety of archaeological materials and methods as well as many principles of conservation. Possible tasks include identification of archaeological materials, upgrading the storage conditions of existing collections, preparing new collections for storage, cataloging new collections, updating computer data bases, and otherwise maintaining the facility.

The Zoo Tour

On April 28th ten members of the Anthropology Student Union were lucky enough to attend a private, behind the scenes tour of the primates that are housed at the Santa Barbara Zoological Gardens. Our knowledgeable guide was Alan Varsick, the zoo's general curator. We arrived to the zoo an hour before it was open to the public which allowed for us to spend some quality time interacting with one of the zoo's three resident gorillas. We all enjoyed observing the Gorilla and he presented us with several displays of dominance. Alan was extremely helpful in answering our many questions and providing us with information about gorillas.

Next, we were escorted underneath the exhibit to the gorillas' living area. We were "introduced" to Max, an older gorilla, who is kept in isolation due to necessary medical treatments. We also learned that gorillas in the wild have been observed to form bachelor groups and the zoo is attempting to create a similar social group with their three male gorillas.

The rest of the tour included an introduction and explanation of the remaining primates: Golden Lion Tamarinds, Langurs, Lemurs, and Gibbons. The zoo tries to incorporate species that would normally exist in close proximity in the wild. For example, the Langur exhibit was housed with a certain species of squirrel which seemed to provide much entertainment for the guests plus exercise and excitement for the animals. The Gibbons are temporarily off exhibit while their new exhibit is being built. We were again able to go behind the scenes and see the Gibbons in their temporary facilities. The Gibbons are typically monogamous in their family groups; the zoo houses a father, mother, and toddler. Overall, the tour was great fun and extremely educational. I think that we all came away knowing much more. It was refreshing to apply the knowledge that we learn in the classroom with real world significance.

Jaimi N. Butler - ASU Events Coordinator - azulnube@hotmail.com

Impressions From An Exchange Student

We asked ED EVANS,
an exchange student from Edinburgh University
for his impressions about UCSB and the Anthropology Department.
Here's his polite response! (Thanks Ed!)

Since arriving in Santa Barbara in September I have been continually surprised by the numerous differences between culture in the USA and Britain. One of the biggest challenges that has confronted me this year is trying to strike a balance between the heavy demands put on me by my courses, and finding time to make the most of this great opportunity to travel, experience ‘American' culture and socialize with friends. In Edinburgh, a higher standard of work is generally demanded by the university, but you are also given a lot of "thinking time", where you hang out in pubs, enjoying the local ales, and playing "who wants to be a millionaire" on the slot machines so as to lubricate the mind and increase your general knowledge skills. The continual assessment at UCSB, and the more restrictive liquor laws here seems to have somewhat thwarted my ability to party, but have also helped me to stay focused on my studies and make the most of the great outdoor life that is on offer.

In terms of academic life, I feel that I have benefited greatly from my year at UCSB. By combining the very structured approach of the British tradition with the more expressive style that confronted me at UCSB, I feel that I have developed both my written style and opened up my mind to new conceptual ideas. In Edinburgh the department focuses on Social Anthropology, which is roughly equivalent to what is called Cultural Anthropology in the USA. The wider scope of the anthropology department at UCSB and the sheer number and diversity of courses on offer has impressed me greatly, as has the standard of teaching and the willingness of most lecturers to discuss ideas that may or may not directly relate to their courses. As regards to experiencing another culture I feel that my time in the USA has been invaluable and I would greatly recommend such an exchange to anyone who is interested in developing their mind and learning more about another country and its culture.

A message from the Anthropology Department Chair, Michael A. Glassow:

Well, it's actually happened. The Anthropology Department finally realized that the digital revolution brings new ways of incorporating all of you into the life of the department beyond attending anthropology classes, bringing queries and problems to the undergraduate assistant, and going to a professor's or TA's office hours. Actually, the faculty began discussing ways to facilitate use the internet and web for communication with undergraduate majors a few years ago, but the vaguely formed ideas had to wait until our esteemed Prof. Sandy Robertson became inspired to put thoughts into action. He went to the department's graphics artist, David Lawson, who took Sandy's ideas and designed page you are now looking at.

We anticipate that Major News will accomplish several things. It will be a medium for anyone in the department, including all of you, to post notices that would be of interest to anthropology majors and other students interested in anthropology. It will serve as an aid in establishing an Anthropology Students Association, as Janelle Christensen proposes in this edition. It will facilitate setting up interest groups on specific anthropological topics. It will be a means for informing you about departmental happenings in which you may be interested, such as lectures and special courses to be offered. It will inform you about opportunities to become involved in the research of faculty and graduate students. The bottom line is that we want Major News to enhance your educational experience here at UCSB.

Recently all anthropology majors were sent a questionnaire asking you to assess your experiences as a major and your relationship with departmental staff and faculty. This questionnaire is part of the formal review process that our department undergoes every six or seven years. The results of this questionnaire will be made available to us (keeping your response completely anonymous) so that we can determine the strengths and weaknesses in our undergraduate major program. Graduate students received a similar questionnaire, and later on a committee of external reviewers from other anthropology departments will visit the department and collect information through interviews. These departmental reviews are an important mechanism for ensuring that we are responsive to the educational needs of students, and if you haven't done so already, I hope you will take the time to fill out your questionnaire and send it back to the campus committee coordinating departmental reviews.