April 29, 2026

EagleEye

A Newsletter for UMW Faculty and Staff

Eric Bonds Publishes Research Article

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Eric Bonds

Eric Bonds, assistant professor of sociology and anthropology, recently published an article, entitled “Indirect Violence and Legitimation: Torture, Surrogacy, and the U.S. War on Terror” in the journal Societies Without Borders: Human Rights and the Social Sciences.  The article uses data from the Wikileaks “Iraq War Logs” to document the extent of torture practiced by the Iraqi state during the years of the U.S. occupation.  In the article, Bonds argues that the U.S. shares responsibility for this torture, despite official efforts to create distance from this violence and deflect blame.  The article can be downloaded at: http://societieswithoutborders.com/.

Mark Snyder’s Multimedia Work “Harvey” Performed in Kansas City

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Assistant Professor of Music Mark Snyder’s multimedia work Harvey for processed clarinet, electronics and video was performed in Kansas City by the newEar contemporary music ensemble on the opening concert for their 20th season.

The Kansas City Star wrote  “Mark Snyder’s Harvey conveys well his shock and incomprehension of the sheer, random brutality of the Harvey family murders in his hometown of Richmond, Virginia in 2005. It’s a tribute to the human capacity to wrestle meaning and even beauty from evil.”

 

KC Metropolis wrote: “Simple and moving was Harvey (2008) by Mark Snyder, dedicated to the Harvey family who were victims of a brutal murder spree in Richmond, VA in 2006. This piece featured Aber playing a soft, straightforward melody on clarinet accompanied by electronics that increased the aural depth of the work in all directions. A visual aspect was also incorporated with projected drawings by children among swirling and flickering colors that, coupled with the haunting laughter of kids at play, had a cathartic power even for those not associated with the tragic events that inspired the work.”

Mark Snyder’s Nature Boy Explorer Featured in FLS

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Assistant Professor of Music Mark Snyder’s band Nature Boy Explorer is featured in the weekend section of the Free Lance Star.

“The attitude and sound of their songs can shift from ‘testosterone-fueled aggression to soft and delicate.’ And it’s this juxtaposition—the harp in the rock band, the students and the teacher, the atmospheric valleys between the rough-edged ridges of rock ‘n’ roll—that makes Nature Boy Explorer something worth exploring.”

http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/weekender/2012/09/12/sounds-nature-boy-explorer/

The Free Lance Star also reviewed the EP.

“Overall, these four tracks give a great example of what Nature Boy Explorer is. It might still be difficult to understand the music, and even harder to explain it to a friend but it will be clearer. They’re definitely doing something different from most any other band, especially any band around Fredericksburg, and if anything, it’s worth giving the album a listen to be able to sing along at a live show, which is where Nature Boy Explorer really shines.”

http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/therumble/2012/09/12/nature-boy-explorer-ep-review/

Ranjit Singh’s Chapter Appears in New Book

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Ranjit Singh

Associate Professor of Political Science Ranjit Singh’s work has recently been published in “The Middle East: Its History and Culture,” edited by Jason Tatlock. The book includes Singh’s chapter, “Dictatorship and Democracy in the Contemporary Middle East.”

The book can be viewed and purchased from the University Press of Maryland at http://www.cdlpress.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=187&osCsid=a28ac9308a7a735b5300806e1ab4f639.

Andréa Livi Smith Presents at International Preservation Conference

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Andréa Livi Smith, assistant professor and director of the Center for Historic Preservation, presented two papers at the Preservation Education Conference held in Providence, R.I., Sept. 7-9.

The first paper, entitled “Historic Preservation 101”, discusses curricular and pedagogical issues in the introductory course and is derived from Dr. Smith’s award of the College of Arts and Sciences Curricular Innovation Grant. The second paper, entitled “The Development of a Preservation Planning Board Game” discusses Dr. Smith’s most recent senior-level laboratory project and its effectiveness as a capstone experience.

Mark Snyder’s Nature Boy Explorer EP Release

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Assistant Professor of Music Mark Snyder’s CD release for Nature Boy Explorer will be held this Saturday, September 8 at 909 Saloon in Fredericksburg, Va . The EP contains four songs that were recorded from March to April of 2012. UMW students and alums, Becky Brown, Hunter Wooten, Paige Naylor, Katherine Preseren and Natasha Smoot performed on the CD as well.

Nature Boy Explorer makes music about love, lobotomies, death, dirty politicians and concrete deities with an energetic and emotional blend of rock/pop that puts on no airs.

The show starts at 8:30 and will also feature Paul Ivey and the Rubes from Richmond and The Crypts from Fredericksburg.

Deborah O’Dell Featured on Public Radio Program

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During an interview on the “With Good Reason” public radio program, Deborah O’Dell, associate professor of biology, discusses magnetic orientation in bees. The interview originally aired in July 2010 on public radio stations across Virginia.

The interview will be re-aired beginning Saturday, September 15 on several Virginia public radio stations, as well as stations across the U.S. The segment, “Hard Cider: Early America’s Drink of Choice,” also is available online at http://withgoodreasonradio.org/2012/09/hard-cider-early-americas-drink-of-choice-2/.

Stephen Davies Publishes Research

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Stephen Davies

Professor of Computer Science Stephen Davies’ research appears in the August 2012 issue of Computer, IEEE’s flagship publication. The article “Cinefile: A Category-Based Analytic Browser” is co-authored by Davies and two UMW alumni, Stacey Aylor Seal and Jesse Hatfield. Both Seal and Hatfield are graduate students at George Mason University.

Sally Scott Presents at International Conference

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Sally Scott

Sally Scott, director of disability resources, presented the workshop “College Students with Disabilities: A Partnership for Promoting Inclusive College Classrooms” at the  19th International Conference on Learning. The annual conference was held in August at the Institute of Education, University of London in London, England.