Professor examines Russian way of life
Intense and continuing study and a love for Russian
history have created a niche for Dr. Susan McCaffrey. She
is assistant professor of Russian history at UNCW.
"The Soviet Union is an exciting place where many
similarities and differences can be found between the
people and their respective lifestyles,” said McCaffrey.
Having lived and studied in Russia, McCaffrey brings
Russian history to life in her classroom.
McCaffrey’s interest in the USSR began early in life.
She was a high school student during the sixties when
political unrest was prominent and the threat of nuclear
war among the great powers was on everyone’s minds.
Political propaganda about communism and Russia en
compassed many lives and McCaffrey’s was no exception.
In order to get a better view on the criticism of Russia,
McCaffrey began to read about the USSR. She wanted to
get a true perspective on its past.
Over the years McCaffrey has continued to broaden her
perspective of the USSR. Most of her research was con
ducted in Helsinki, Finland and part of her education took
her to the Soviet Union in 1982.
This first-hand experience of a land unknown to many,
enabled McCaffrey to compare Russian and American
lifestyles, namely the differences in their economic and
material goods. "In the USSR, everything doesn’t ride on
what you wear and drive," said McCaffrey. "In contrast,
Americans enjoy a much richer economy." For example,
the Russians arbitrarily price goods. There are no supply
and demand quotients such as those in the United States.
Improvements in the Russian economy would require
much change, according to McCaffrey. "They could inject
more efficiency, decentralize decision making, and let the
manager or farmer make their own decisions," she said of
the Russians. On the other hand, Americans could be
more appreciative of their material wealth, she said.
The Russians separate themselves from the more mate
rialistic Western World by focusing their thoughts on
deep, philosophical questions of life, said McCaffrey.
Gorbachev, head of the Communist Party in Russia,
supports GLASNOST, a new philosophy that calls for
freedom of expression. This is a break with Russian
tradition. "I’m shocked," stated McCaffrey. "Gorbachev set
the tone for just speaking the truth out loud. It’s absolutely
stunning."
Gorbachev’s GLASNOST has no economic bearing, but
it does encourage cultural reform. "Gorbachev sensed a
disenchantment of the younger generation and made a
profound change with GLASNOST," stated McCaffrey.
Dr. Susan McCaffrey, assistant professor of Russian history
at UNCW.
McCaffrey received a grant to return to the Soviet Union
this fall as an exchange student in Leningrad. She will
spend fall semester 1989 studying GLASNOST and all of
Russian history. She will return spring semester 1990 to
teach and enlighten the students of UNCW.
Diane Schronce
UNCW student intern
The Marine Crescent
funds grant in Cameron
School of Business
The Center for Business and Economics
Services in the Cameron School of Business
Administration has received a grant to re
search and estimate the impact of marine-
related businesses on the counties of Bruns
wick, Carteret, New/ Hanover, Onslow, and
Pender. The grant is being funded by The
Marine Crescent.
The research will examine both the direct
and induced impacts of marine-related busi
nesses. The direct impact measures the dol
lars that flow directly into the local economy,
such as salaries, purchases of supplies, and
taxes.
The induced impacts are associated with
the multiplier effect, that is, the economic?
principle that looks to the total amount of
respending that takes place after the initial
dollars are spent. As every direct impact dollar
is recycled or respent, additional revenue dol
lars are generated.
Dr. William W. Hall Jr., director of the
center, will serve as project director during the
research.
The Marine Crescent is a nonprofit organi
zation that's designed to identify, recruit, and
support new and existing marine-related inter
ests in southeastern North Carolina.
Digital Equipment Corporation Sales Unit Manager Richard Kaufman, left, and Account
Manager Charles Knoedler, right, present a VAX Station 2000 computer to George Quinn,
director of UNCW’s computer and information systems. The computer is a corporate gift to
the university.
A determined Sandra Talley "goes for the gold" in the softball
toss during the recent Special Olympics as a UNCW student
looks on.
JSpsdal
aiympicm
New Hanover County Special Olympics, a year-round
program of sports training and competition, held its
1989 games April 18 at UNCW’s Greene Track and
Field Complex.
Nearly 300 participants, ages 5 through 50, compet
ed in a variety of events.
Volunteers who assisted with the event included
UNCW physical education and recreation majors as well
as UNCW fraternity and sorority members.
The concept of Special Olympics materialized in the
early 1960’s when Eunice Kennedy Shriver started a
day camp for mentally retarded people. Today more
than one million children and adults with mental retarda
tion participate in Special Olympics programs in more
than 70 countries.
The mission of Special Oljropics is to give mentally
retarded people the opportunity to develop physicd
fitness. Through their successful experiences in sports,
they gain confidence and build a positive self-image that
carries over into the classroom, the home, the job, and
the community.
Oevery Morgan, first-place winner in the tncycle
race of the 1989 New Hanover County Special
Olympics Spring Games, is joined by her student
trainers Heidi Betz and Silvia Bordeaux.
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