Articles by Kevin Matthews
Research Tool for Latin Americanists Expands in Region by Giving Back
'HAPI: the Database of Latin American Journal Articles' has increased its subscriber base in that region by giving its online library product away in some countries and charging less for it in others. HAPI had flexibility to make the change, which shortens paths to knowledge for scholars, because of its good financial health.
Published on: 6/19/2009
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Language Teaching, Meet Innovation
This spring, two centers under the UCLA International Institute went live with standalone, online courses on Azeri and the Iraqi dialect of Arabic and with a custom application that allows instructors to share web-based lessons. Meanwhile, the New Language Classroom has added videos for instructors, and the Language Materials Project launched a portal for K-12 schoolteachers on "less commonly taught" languages.
Published on: 6/17/2009
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Experts Bring Africa Alive for Young Students
Nearly 1,000 middle and high school students came to campus on May 30 for the Teach Africa Youth Forum, the last and largest event in a yearlong collaborative effort carried out in Southern California schools to increase awareness about Africa and its place in global affairs.
Published on: 6/2/2009
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Shifting Standards in European Human Rights Rulings
In his contribution to an EU-backed project to study the impact of the European Court of Human Rights on selected countries, visiting professor Haldun Gulalp of Turkey's Yildiz Technical University observes the court preferring some models of church- and mosque-state relations to others. In "freedom of religion" cases, France and Turkey fare better than Greece and Bulgaria.
Published on: 5/29/2009
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Mexican Writer Elena Poniatowska Addresses 250 on Literary Women
In a Spanish-language lecture on Latin America's women writers, the versatile and prolific Poniatowska explains that her vocation means something distinctive for Latin American women, and that passing centuries have brought little relief and appreciation for those who dare to make art.
Published on: 5/21/2009
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Japan Honors Notehelfer With Order of the Rising Sun
At a May 12 ceremony, the government of Japan recognizes former UCLA Center for Japanese Studies Director Fred Notehelfer for his contributions to history and Japanese studies in the United States. He is one of 70 non-nationals to receive the Order this year.
Published on: 5/13/2009
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Japanese, South Korean Consuls Discuss Regional Security, Global Economics
The top representatives from Japan and the Republic of Korea in Southern California visited campus on Monday for a discussion sponsored by the Graduate Student International Affairs Association at UCLA and cosponsored by the Asia Institute and the Terasaki Center for Japanese Studies.
Published on: 5/12/2009
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Chilean Poet Raul Zurita Draws, and Stirs, a Crowd
Raul Zurita, one of Latin America's great living poets and one of Chile's most important voices against dictatorship, reads and discusses his poetry on campus.
Published on: 5/1/2009
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Ex-Interrogators Say Human Connection, Not Torture, Yields Results
In the national debate on whether the tactic of torture is warranted for the sake of national security, the experiences of the two former interrogators underscore the argument that torture is not an effective tool for unsealing secrets and getting at the truth.
Published on: 4/30/2009
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'To Know Mexico Better Is to Know Ourselves Better'
UCLA is expanding its studies of and ties with Mexico with the creation of a dedicated center under the Latin American Institute and new programs of scholarly collaboration and exchange. At the inaugural event for the Center for Mexican Studies, speakers honored decades of service by UCLA's "dean of Mexican studies," Professor James Wilkie.
Published on: 4/8/2009
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