literate population would be a more competitive A New York Times story published on the day of
work force, and basic research helps ensure a vital the visits, titled “For Today’s Graduates, One Word:
scientific enterprise. Statistics,” was serendipitous for the meetings. In
some cases, senators and staffers had already seen
the article, which the participants included in their
packets to be left with each office. The packets,
developed to help the participants deliver their mes-
sages, also included a one-page document highlight-
Statistics Cited
ing the asks, five “Statistical Significance” pieces,
NSF and NIH funding data by institution for the
Jana Asher
congressional member’s state, and NSF and NIH
time-series funding charts. (All these materials are
During our day of visits
available at
www.amstat.org/meetings/jsm/2009/index.
to congressional offices
cfm?fuseaction=capitolhill.)
(as part of the “March
on washington” AsA Receptive Response
President sally Morton
Participants reported a positive response to the ASA
described in her presi-
messages. While there were the inevitable glassy-
dential address), David
eyed staffers and short meetings in hallways, staffers
Marker, Keith Ord, and
(and senators) seemed to genuinely understand the
I—all of the Maryland
importance of statistical literacy and showed a will-
delegation—couldn’t resist
ingness to promote it. The following characteriza-
stopping at the Library of
tions by two participants were typical:
Congress during a break
to look at the beautiful
“There was interest across the board, and I think
architecture and artwork.
our visits were very successful.”
And, after discovering the
— Michelle Quinlan of Nebraska
mosaic titled “Minerva” in
the Great Hall East Side,
“I felt that the feedback was generally very posi-
I couldn’t resist describing
tive and that we, indeed, made a ‘splash’ in getting
it to you.
the word out about the ASA and the issues we wish
“Minerva” is by Elihu
to advocate for as statisticians.”
Vedder (1836–1923)
— Daniel Rudoy of Massachusetts
and depicts the Roman
goddess of learning and
P
In a meeting with HELP committee staff mem-
wisdom holding a scroll
hot
bers, the Massachusetts team reported that the
in her left hand that lists
o
b
y
staffer walked in with a copy of the Guidelines for
academic fields. Standing
Jana
Assessment and Instruction in Statistics Education
next to Minerva on the A
sher
(GAISE) Report and in the words of ASA member
left is a small statue of
Nicholas Horton, “made the case for us.” (ASA staff
Nike (the goddess of vic-
member Rebecca Nichols and I had met with the
tory) holding a laurel
staffer this spring.)
wreath and palm branch out to visitors, simultaneously sym-
Participants used examples to demonstrate
bolizing victory and peace. On the right side of Minerva is an
the relevance and value of statistical literacy. Jim
owl, representing wisdom. Finally, the sun is shining over the
Cochran of Louisiana wrote the following after
clouds in the mosaic. The viewer is left with the impression that
the visits:
the victory of knowledge over ignorance brings prosperity and
peace. Minerva, herself, holds a spear in her right hand, as if she
I found it very easy and compelling to
understands that constant vigilance is required to safeguard our
link statistical literacy (and the implied
knowledge and allow it to grow.
understanding of risk) to the broader
So why am I describing all this? Because prominently dis-
economic collapse and the crises in
played on the scroll listing academic fields is statistics. It is nice
the mortgage and consumer credit
to know that Minerva is there to continue reminding Congress
industries—statistically literate, analytic,
of the essential role of statistics in our academic pursuits and
critical thinking consumers understood
society—long after the first march of statisticians on Capitol
early in this process that the conditions
Hill recedes into memory.
were unsustainable and that these markets
were unstable, and these consumers used
36 AMsTAT NEWs OCTObER 2009
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