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	Politics in the Pews Researchers explore the role of religion in mobilizing African American and Latino voters The Sunday morning worship at Red Memorial* progresses like many services in African-American churches. Parishioners sing classic hymns, clapping and swaying along to the music. The pastor, the Rev. Red, greets the congregation the same way she does each week. However, there's something different about the service, explains Eric McDaniel, assistant professor of government, who studies the politics of faith and race. Read the story Learn more about McDaniel's research... Learn more about Ellison's research...
	Si Se Puede Politicians Court Latino Voters Modern U.S. political rhetoric generally holds that elected leaders should "look like America." But, while national demographics are changing rapidly, the face of the government is slow to follow. Latinos represent more than 13 percent of the U.S. population, but the community and the promise of a political leader sometimes called the "Great Brown Hope" have yet to dramatically alter the landscape of American politics. Read the story Read the complete story in the latest issue of Life & Letters...
	Cuba After Castro Professor sees little change since Fidel ceded power to his brother "Raúl, Raúl, Raúl!" chanted thousands of government supporters as acting president Raúl Castro took the stage at Cuba's 26th of July rally. The anniversary of the Cuban revolution is the country's most important national holiday. Notably absent was Raúl's brother, Fidel, who was last seen in public at the 2006 commemoration. In an hour- long speech, Raúl said Cuba suffered "a hard blow" when Fidel fell ill and relinquished power, but the island had avoided the economic collapse many predicted. Read the story Read the complete story in latest issue of Life and Letters... Learn more about Professor Brown...
	Primary Education From their views on the White House to the playground, children need mentors' help to reject stereotypes When asked how she knows only white men have been president of the United States, one elementary student simply responded, "Have you seen the money?" The amusingly astute commentary on power and money also is a reminder of children's attention to detail, says psychologist Rebecca Bigler, director of the Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab. The faces of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln and other commanders in chief appear on everything from currency to mountainsides. Read the story Learn more about Rebecca Bigler... Visit the Gender and Racial Attitudes Lab...
	Assignment Abroad From Argentina to Israel, students explore cultures around the world in quest for global citizenship Life-changing. Transformative. Inspiring. These are the dramatic descriptions that often excitedly tumble forth when students return from study abroad, says Dr. Terri Givens, vice provost and associate professor of government, who oversees the university's International Office. Ready to learn more about Liberal Arts students who have traveled far and wide in their quest for global citizenship? You won't need your passport for this jaunt around the globe. Read the story Read the rest of the story... Visit the study abroad office...
	Fact vs. Fairy Tale Research reveals young children distinguish between fact and fiction A child's life is filled with wonder and discovery. Doctors take an x-ray that seems to make skin invisible, revealing the inside of the body. Adults tell children intriguing stories about the Easter Bunny and Tooth Fairy. Elmo, a friendly monster, teaches science lessons on "Sesame Street," and Harry Potter, a human child, performs magic spells. The boundary between fact and fiction is often blurred, and navigating the complex worlds of reality and fantasy is no easy task for a youngster. Or is it? Psychologist Jacqueline Woolley studies how children understand reality and evaluate new information. Her research shows that kids may have a better grasp on reality than adults give them credit for. More about children's perception of reality... Dr. Jacqueline Woolley... The Children's Research Lab...
	Alumna Jenna Bush Writes About Her Work with UNICEF "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope" now available in bookstores In 2006, Liberal Arts alumna Jenna Bush (B.A. English, '04) left her job as a public school teacher in Washington, D.C. for an internship with UNICEF, the United Nations Children's Fund, in Panama. Her task: documenting the lives of children in Central America living in extreme poverty. More about "Ana's Story" Learn more about "Ana's Story" at HarperCollins... Visit the Department of English...
	Longhorn Confidential His dossier reads: Name: Enrique Class: Third-year Major: English/Spanish Also known as: spontaneous, poetic, driven The profile of an undercover government agent? Not quite. Enrique is a featured writer on Longhorn Confidential, student blogs that reveal a behind the scenes look at college life. Enrique joins fellow Liberal Arts students Ha (Plan II), Thomas (Chinese), Anneliese (History and Government) and Joshua (Government and Economics) as they share their thoughts on adjusting to college, adventures in cooking and mastering the art of life in a dorm. Read the full article Read the Longhorn Confidential blogs...