by Deanna Fleenor
blog (blŏg) n. An online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page. Typically updated daily, blogs often reflect the personality of the author. Webster’s New Millenium Dictionary
Karama Neal 00PhD and friends found themselves frustrated about the way politics, business, and society work. Instead of simply complaining, Dr. Neal decided to be proactive and in October 2004 created a blog called "So what can I do?" It’s an outlet to explore ways of enacting social change, empowering each person to take action--however he or she sees fit. According to Dr. Neal, “It’s not so much about convincing people, but [encouraging them to] act on what they believe in.”
Dr. Neal posts different topics two to four times a week, most of which are driven by current events. The Terry Schiavo case generated a post on living wills, which drew much interest and continues to get hits and comments. Currently, there are over one hundred "So what can I do" posts, some of which focus on topics like donating life, economic justice, soldier support, domestic violence, the movie Hotel Rwanda, cell phone recycling, local food, tolerance, world water day, and frequent flyer miles.
Dr. Neal is not only an alumna, she is an Emory employee working on a National Science Foundation (NSF) grant that aims to broaden participation in the science professoriate.
To read "So what can I do?," click here.
