Activity Report: Provost's Fellow For Simian Success

Provost’s Fellow for Simian Success

Report of Activities

October 31, 2007

·         Rainforest living-learning community piloted in Blair-Shannon Residence Hall.

·         Matching grant sought from National Wildlife Federation leveraging endangered species status.

·         Dedicated class sections scheduled between 10 am – 2 pm to accommodate “active” phase of simian daily routine (see http://www.koko.org/about/facts.html).

·         Approached Blimpies about adding bamboo to condiment options.

·         Conducting exit interviews with mountain gorillas to ascertain why they are 30% more likely than lowland gorillas to transfer.

·         Proposal drafted for Dian Fossey Fellowship to support simian graduate students.

·         Implemented text-messaging alert system to warn of poacher threats.

·         Planned Campus Diversity Dialogue, “Apes are People, Too.”

·         Exploring possibility for symposium on harmful stereotypes perpetuated in popular American cinema, e.g., Planet of the Apes series, King Kong, Mighty Joe Young, Tarzan films.

·         Designed special section of IDS 110 aimed at building coping skills of first-generation “born in captivity” freshmen.