Vehicle for change

The nature and scope of American policework underwent massive change across the last century, and one factor drove much of that evolution: the automobile’s emergence as a viable, and eventually dominant, form of transportation. The car’s role was so pivotal, in fact, that Spencer Headworth, an assistant professor of sociology, developed an entire course around […]

Parks project is perfectly Purdue

In the realm of the town and gown, a recent collaboration between the Purdue anthropology department and the City of West Lafayette is a certified win-win. Focused on the $34 million West Lafayette Wellness Center, which opened in February, this is the most recent municipal project involving Purdue’s applied anthropology students as part of an […]

Malcolm and Muhammad

To Randy Roberts, the tragic friendship between Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali is more than a compelling story from the American past. As with much of history, the past can provide a useful lens for thinking about today’s world. “I think history is endlessly relevant, and the story of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X shows […]