[Translation] [Imc-legal] Indymedia research project

[aaron d. samsel]

here is a little info about Handan, quotes from articles, that i
found, and below that, information on her academic advisor.

http://72.14.209.104/search?q=cache:DhHNZAnv3GMJ:www.themonitor.com/SiteProcessor.cfm%3FTemplate%3D/GlobalTemplates/Details.cfm%26StoryID%3D7661%26Section%3DLocal+Handan+Vicdan&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=1&client=firefox-a
"Many international students said that while they'd like to gain work
experience in the United States, they ultimately hope to return to
their homelands.
They expect American degrees and experience to increase their
marketability in their native countries.
"If you go back to Turkey and employers ask you where you got your
MBA, and you say you got it from a United States university, they'll
think that's very brave, and you're very successful," said Handan
Vicdan, who graduated in May with a master's of business
administration.
"From which school you graduated, it doesn't matter, just that you get
a degree from the U.S."
Home away from home
Vicdan chose to attend UTPA because a friend who was enrolled there
recommended it. She said she knew next to nothing about the
institution and the area before moving here.
While she's pleased with the academics, Vicdan was initially
disappointed with the Valley because of the lack of things to do. She
has made the most of her experience by befriending students from
various countries. She's now pursuing a doctorate in international
business, which should take four years to complete.
Because she and her friends have told friends at home about UTPA,
Vicdan expects more Turkish students to enroll in the semesters ahead.
She's growing accustomed to Valley life, which allows her to focus on
her studies more than a big city would, she said.
"It's much easier to live in a small place than in a busy city,"
Vicdan said...."

and about her advisor

"A. Fuat Firat is Professor of Marketing at Arizona State University
West. His research interests cover areas such as macro consumer
behavior and macromarketing; postmodern culture; transmodern marketing
strategies; gender and consumption; marketing and development; and
interorganizational relations. His has won the Journal of
Macromarketing Charles Slater Award for best article with co-author N.
Dholakia, and the Journal of Consumer Research best article award for
1995 with co-author A. Venkatesh. He is Co-Editor in Chief of the
journal Consumption, Markets & Culture. His latest book, Consuming
People: From Political Economy to Theaters of Consumption, co-authored
by N. Dholakia, is published by Routledge."
-http://www.jrconsumers.com/authors/a._fuat_firat

his most recent book "Consuming People: From Political Economy to
Theaters of Consumption" seems to be an effort to bring postmodernism
into the world of commercial marketing...
http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0022-2429%28200001%2964%3A1%3C106%3ACPFPET%3E2.0.CO%3B2-G&size=LARGE

If anyone is considering participating in this survey, i would be
cautious and ask for more information about Handan's perspective.

      -Aaron Samsel
      Richmond, VA IMC



On 12/13/06, handan vicdan <hvicdan at yahoo.com> wrote:
> Dear Sir/Madam,
>
> I am a doctoral student at the University of Texas—Pan American. I am
> researching what has come to be known as the Anti-Globalization Movement,
> exploring how social movements have developed and changed, especially with
> the proliferation of new communication technologies. The digital culture
> formed in network societies through alternative media, one of them being
> Indymedia, constitutes my focus in the study of contemporary social
> movements.
>
> I wanted to find an entity from which I could get permission in order to get
> in touch with the people who became a part of Indymedia through voluntary
> work, open publishing, discussion groups, and the like, to ask them about
> their involvement as well as their practices on Indymedia websites. However,
> due to the very democratic structure of Indymedia, there doesn't seem to be
> such an entity. Consequently, I am asking each person individually for
> permission and for their agreement to participate in this research study. I
> wish to ask you about your involvement as well as your practices on
> Indymedia websites.
>
> I also wish to assure you that I shall follow the strictest rules of
> research ethics in order not to violate your privacy. Everyone who
> participates in this study will retain anonymity, and the confidentiality of
> all responses will be respected.
>
> In order for me to complete my study, I would greatly appreciate your
> participation in this study by responding to a few inquiries. Please let me
> know at your earliest convenience whether you are willing to participate in
> this research study. Upon receiving your consent, I will send you the
> research questions.
>
> This study is for scholarship purposes only. There will be no monetary or
> otherwise commercial involvement. I am hoping that you will agree to help me
> in furthering my education and scholarly efforts.
>
> Please feel free to request or recommend any conditions of participation. I
> shall be happy to answer any questions you may have about this study.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Handan Vicdan
>
> PS:  Please feel free to contact Dr. A. Fuat Firat, Professor and Chair,
> Department of Management, Marketing, and International Business, College of
> Business Administration, University of Texas—Pan American (firatf at utpa.edu)
> if you have further questions.
>
>  ________________________________
> Everyone is raving about the all-new Yahoo! Mail beta.
>
>
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