From: The Atlantic (Washington, D.C.)
A feature by Emily Esfahani Smith cites work by Knox College faculty member Tim Kasser, in an examination of “the conflict between career ambition and relationships [that] lies at the heart of many of our current cultural debates.” The article states: “In psychology, there is surprisingly little research on ambition, let alone the effect it has on human happiness… But a new study… found that the children who were the most conscientious (organized, disciplined, and goal-seeking), extroverted, and from a strong socioeconomic background were also the most ambitious… made more money in the long run and secured more high-status jobs…”
[The study also found that] “ambition is only weakly connected with well-being and negatively associated with longevity. Existing research by psychologist Tim Kasser can help address this issue. Kasser, the author of The High Price of Materialism, has shown that the pursuit of materialistic values like money, possessions, and social status — the fruits of career successes — leads to lower well-being and more distress in individuals… Read more…
From: The Register Mail (Galesburg, IL)
A two-day Peacebuilding Conference at Knox College this weekend celebrated the five-year anniversary of its unprecedented status in being the first college in the United States to implement a Peace Corps Prep Program for its students…
The weekend event was comprised mainly of panel discussions with participants in the program returning to Knox College to recount their stories. Judy K. Olsen, former Acting director of the Peace Corps, was the keynote speaker Friday. Saturday saw 15 different speakers discuss the impact the Peace Corps has had on their lives… Read more…
From: Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT)
Ask friends how many emails they have sitting in their inbox or how many photos are saved to their laptop, and don’t be surprised if the numbers tally in the thousands… All of this digital detritus is not a problem unless it interferes with your life, work or happiness, according to Tim Kasser, a psychology professor at Knox College, in Galesburg, Ill.
“If this acquisition of ‘e’ stuff ends up leading to a lifestyle that forces you to have less time for your family, or less time to draw or play music or run around in a park, or less time to be involved in your community, then I would say that to me is a problem,” says Kasser… Read more… Also reported in the Tampa Bay Times and other media via the Associated Press.
From: The Register Mail (Galesburg, IL)
Chairman of the Environmental Studies Department at Knox College, [professor Peter] Schwartzman serves on the Galesburg City Council and has a history of community-based projects aimed at protecting the environment and educating Knox County’s residents about energy and food options. Schwartzman founded The Center, helped start the Knox Prairie Community Kitchen and started a number of neighborhood gardens on property he purchased throughout Galesburg. But the professor had bigger plans — leasing 3 acres of unused land to turn into an urban farm, Growing Together Inc… “We want to show people that we can grow food in Galesburg that stays in Galesburg. We want to show people that it’s healthy, better for the environment and better for the community.” Read more…
[Playwright Tony] Kushner [told New Republic magazine] that he has “a short list of 20 or 30 books that were significant to me” in writing the script of the film Lincoln. Included on that list are Herndon’s Informants and Herndon’s Lincoln, both edited by Douglas L. Wilson and Rodney O. Davis, emeritus faculty and co-directors of the Lincoln Studies Center at Knox College. “One of the great joys of working on this,” Kushner said, “is I’ve gotten to read a number of really, really brilliant books… I heartily recommend everything on this list.” 