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Anthropology and sociology major Brett Harvey ’04 (Timonium, Md.) is undertaking an honors thesis in passionate pursuit of solutions to the problem of childhood obesity.
“What really excites me about the work is that I think I can present some good solutions to the problem and I really think it is a disease that can be prevented,” says Harvey, a member of both the cross country and track & field teams. “If I can help in preventing and stopping the spread of obesity, that’s awesome. Making a difference in something important is what a thesis is all about and I would not be doing it if I did not think I could really help in solving a problem.”
David Shulman, assistant professor of anthropology and sociology, is mentoring Harvey in his independent research, which he is undertaking in pursuit of honors in anthropology and sociology.
“Brett’s going to learn as he takes his ideas and research literature, synthesizes them and develops his own argument; that this [honors thesis] will be rigorous and demanding,” says Shulman. “He is an example of another strong Lafayette student who seeks intellectual work.”
The project has three major components, says Harvey. The first is to identify and discuss the causes of obesity and their long-term implications on society and health in United States youth. In recent years obesity has soared in children, as have medical epidemics such as diabetes.
The second area is exploring and analyzing the methods and plans being used to try to curb this problem. This includes examining school meal plans and government programs aimed at turning children away from fattening foods.
“Finally, I hope to come up with my own solutions to the problem of obesity in children,” says Harvey. “I hope to mix and match some of the best parts of existing programs with my own ideas to come up with a viable and well structured program that can be utilized to lower obesity in children and combat the problem at its earliest stages.”
Harvey is pleased with his mentor’s guidance.
“I could not be working with anyone better,” he says. “Professor Shulman has been supporting me and teaching me since sophomore year and I think he has a terrific mind for the kind of work that I am doing.”
Recipient of several grants and awards, Shulman is coauthor of the book Talking Sociology, published in a fifth edition by Allyn and Bacon Press. He has written another book-length manuscript, Clothing Naked Emperors: The Role of Deception in Workplace Culture, which is under review at a university press. He has also published his work in academic journals and has other articles forthcoming.
“He is a very accomplished sociologist and I know he will push me on the thesis and ensure that I am doing everything I need to,” Harvey adds. “He looks very long term at things and really has me thinking about my future in writing and research.”
“Brett is insatiably curious about the problem,” says Shulman, “and with that comes ideas about what can be done about it, and to find some hidden implications and important consequences.”
Harvey is pleased with the education he has received at Lafayette.
“Lafayette has been everything I hoped for academically,” he says. “The size of classes and the level of commitment made by the professors encourages one-on-one work like theses, independent studies, and EXCEL research.”
“Brett had done independent research and research in conjunction with class, and he has good ideas,” Shulman says. “An honors thesis is a good articulation for these ideas.”
Harvey became interested in the anthropology and sociology major while taking a First-Year Seminar taught by department head Howard Schneiderman, professor of sociology. “I took the intro classes and found that I liked the material and really enjoyed the style and personality of the professors in the department. It was an easy choice then.”
In addition to competing on the cross country and track and field teams, Harvey is a peer mentor for the Lafayette Academic Resource Center and has covered sports for The Lafayette, the student newspaper. Through the English department’s internship program, Harvey earned credit while working for Dyestat, a national sports media organization that covers high school track and field through its website, www.dyestat.com.
He is a graduate of Dulaney High School.
As a national leader in undergraduate research, Lafayette sends one of the largest contingents to the National Conference on Undergraduate Research each year. Over the past five years, more than 130 Lafayette students have presented results from their research with faculty mentors, or under their guidance, at the conference.