Victor Wallis

"I'm very concerned to keep up with as many dimensions as possible of what's happening now. I have a sort of listserv-an email list of people to whom I send items about current politics; for instance, an analysis of Obama's appointees in the economic realm. I've had an academic career in political science. I edit the journal Socialism and Democracy. The latest issue has a special focus on immigrants. I also write for Capitalism, Nature, Socialism, the Monthly Review—which has a pretty wide international circulation. So I keep busy!"

"I emphasize a kind of social awareness—a sense that students can do something about the world, that they're not helpless. I've written some stuff about the ecological crisis and political implications of that, reflecting on the scale of the changes that are needed. Everybody—especially given the threats to survival that exist now—everybody has a role to play in society."

"In class, there is an enormous range in backgrounds and tastes and levels of activism. As everyone here recognizes, in order to express yourself you have to have something to express. Some of the students have taken this very much to heart. Last semester, some students from my class formed a group called Activist Music for the People, AMP. They perform at political events, rallies, fundraisers...."

"When I was in college I started to study the cello. I practiced daily for five years. I was part of an amateur string quartet. I never attained great proficiency, though. Now I go to a lot of concerts, including some Berklee concerts. One of my sons is a professional musician."