January 19, 2023

Fresh Perspective

UW-Madison students walking between classes in winter

Language bias

Language discrimination can be subtle or blatant, and it’s more prevalent on campus than many realize. It can take multiple forms, from making fun of an international student or teaching assistant’s accent, to asking non-native English speakers to speak more clearly. The UW-Madison Language Institute is raising awareness of the issue and offers training programs to help create change. Read More

From the Field

See-through fish

For faculty and graduate students in the Department of Integrative Biology who are studying how the brain works, zebrafish make ideal research subjects. These slim fish are almost perfectly transparent, making it easy to observe their brain activity. Our L&S undergraduate student, Ella Ruder, gets the scoop in a video interview.

Watch Here

Ask a Prof

Inflation Translation

Complaining about rising U.S. inflation has become something of a national pastime, especially in the wake of the pandemic. But how many of us understand what inflation is and what causes it? Professor of Public Affairs and Economics Menzie Chinn hones in on it every day and talks with us about some of the biggest things we get wrong about inflation.

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Life's Work

Kari Anderson posing with Ukrainian family

Helping Ukrainians

For almost a year, Kari Anderson (Russian Language and Literature/Violin Performance, ’05) has been stationed in Lviv, Ukraine, assisting refugees to navigate safe travel to other countries. She signed up to volunteer after seeing news coverage of the war-torn region, and soon found herself in a chaotic setting, using her language skills to help families problem-solve on every level. Read More

Listen In

Re-imagining Native Representation

Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, DeVon Wilson, hosts “L&S Elevate,” a podcast celebrating L&S DEI champions. This month: A candid, fascinating conversation with Aaron Bird Bear, former Tribal Relations Director for UW-Madison, about reimagining Native representation on campus. Listen Here

Madison Moment

Photo by: Carlin Sood / College of Letters & Science

Like the frozen surface of Lake Mendota, much of campus is quiet and still as students enjoy their well-deserved winter break.

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