December 10, 2002 News Releases
Released 12/6/02 & 12/9/02
UTAH
STATE PROF EXAMINES HOPI CULTURE THROUGH THE LENS OF FRONTIER
PHOTOGRAPHER KATE CORY
LOGAN — Utah State University professor of English and
editor of “Western American Literature” Melody Graulich
will present “I Became the Colony: Kate Cory’s Hopi
Photographs” on Wednesday, Jan. 15, at 12:30 pm in the
Utah State University Haight Alumni Center. A light lunch will
be served, and everyone is invited. The event is part of the
Department of English Speakers Series.
As a specialist in Western American literature, Graulich has
explored the roles of gender and cultural diversity in the American
West, focusing primarily on the experience of women. She notes
that “life in the west has provided women, including Kate
Cory, opportunities to walk off society-made values.”
Cory, a well-educated urbanite and commercial artist, forty-four
years old and never married, bought a round-trip train ticket
in 1905 for a western tour. She was inspired by her friend Louis
Akin, who painted promotional scenes for the Santa Fe Railroad
and intended to establish an “artist colony” on
the Hopi mesas, where Cory planned to spend a few months. Akin
gave up his scheme, but Cory, as the legend goes, got off the
train at Canyon Diablo and never used her return ticket. “Louis’
plan did not bring the party to the reservation,” she
wrote, “and thus I became the ‘colony.’”
Unlike other Anglo photographers, Cory actually lived among
the subjects of her work for many years. “While she took
posed portraits and images of ceremonials,” says Graulich,
“informality characterizes her most suggestive work.”
Graulich points to an image she considers especially significant
of two men wrestling on the ground in 1906.
“This is the only known photo of the struggle between
two groups of Hopis, the ‘friendlies’ – willing
to compromise with the whites – and the ‘hostiles’
– opposed to white interference,” Graulich said.
Graulich’s work on Cory’s photographs appears in
the forthcoming book, “Trading Gazes,” which focuses
on various rebellious women who moved west, living with and
photographing various Native American groups. Graulich co-authored
the book with Susan Bernardin, assistant professor of Native
American and American Literature at SUNY-Oneonta; Lisa McFarlane,
associate professor of English at the University of New Hampshire;
and NicoleTonkovich, associate professor of Literature at the
University of California, San Diego.
Graulich also co-edited “Reading the Virginian in the
New West: Centenial Essays” with Steven Tatum, associate
professor of English at the University of Utah. The book is
forthcoming in March.
The Department of English Speakers Series was established to
promote the value of arts and humanities in American public
life. The series features faculty research accomplishments and
noted visiting authors sharing their work. Next in the series
is award-winning poet Robert Hass. On February 25 at 8 p.m.,
he'll read from his work in the Nora Eccles Harrison Museum
of Art Upstairs Gallery. For more information, contact Marina
Hall at (435) 797-3858.
December 9, 2002
Contact: Melody Graulich (435) 797-3855
Writer: Marina Hall (435) 797-3858
CHRONICLE
OF HIGHER ED LAUDS USU PRESS BOOK ON TEACHING UNDER-PREPARED
COLLEGE WRITERS
LOGAN — The Chronicle of Higher Education will focus
their spotlight on a new book out from Utah State University
Press. On Tuesday, Dec. 10, the book will be featured on the
Chronicle’s Web site teaching page at http://chronicle.com/teaching.
“Whose Goals? Whose Aspirations? Learning to Teach Underprepared
Writers Across the Curriculum” chronicles the struggles
of a teacher dealing with students who are not prepared for
college-level writing.
Ever since Horace Mann promoted state-supported schooling in
the 1850s, the aims of U.S. public education have been the subject
of heated national debate. “Whose Goals? Whose Aspirations?”
joins this debate by exploring clashing educational aims in
a discipline-based university classroom and the consequences
of these clashes for “underprepared” writers. In
this close-up look at a white, middle-class teacher and his
ethnically diverse students, authors Stephen M. Fishman and
Lucille McCarthy examine not only the role of standard English
in college writing instruction but also the underlying and highly
charged issues of multiculturalism, race cognizance and social
class.
Fishman teaches philosophy at the University of North Carolina.
McCarthy teaches composition and literature at the University
of Maryland. Together, Fishman and McCarthy have conducted a
number of theory and practice studies of the classroom. These
have appeared in “College English,” “Research
in the Teaching of English,” “Written Communication”
and “College Composition and Communication.” In
addition, Fishman and McCarthy have coauthored two books, “John
Dewey and the Challenge of Classroom Practice” and “Unplayed
Tapes: A Personal History of Collaborative Teacher Research.”
Ira Shor, professor of education at CUNY and author of numerous
well-known volumes, describes “Whose Goals?” as
“a brave and smart book. [Fishman and McCarthy] honestly
and thoughtfully reveal what goes on in the student-teacher
encounter when examined through the demanding lenses of oppositional
theory.”
Donald McCrary, English professor at Long Island University,
nationally known for his work with inner city students, writes,
“The authors challenge and support teachers in their attempts
to re-imagine pedagogy as both linguistically and socially emancipatory.
This is a book that may make readers uncomfortable, but it is
one they will read and use.”
For more information, see the “Chronicle of Higher Education”
Dec. 10 at http://chronicle.com/teaching or contact Brooke Bigelow
at Utah State University Press, 435-797-1362.
Dec. 9, 2002
Editor: Nadene Steinhoff, 435-797-1429, nadene.Steinhoff@usu.edu
Contact: Brooke Bigelow, 435-797-1362, bbigelow@upress.usu.edu
SIT, RELAX AND ENJOY A CUP OF CHRISTMAS TEA
LOGAN — Enjoy the holiday season with friends, co-workers
and community members at the Utah State University Alumni Center
Thursday, Dec. 12, from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Christmas Tea,
provided by the Utah State Alumni Association.
“Everyone is welcome, so bring a friend and come for some
fun and relaxation during the stressful holiday season,”
said Louise Young, Alumni Center director. “Come and take
pleasure in the intimate and cozy environment of the alumni
center and enjoy some delicious tasting goodies and stimulating
Christmas tea.”
Young started the tradition of the Alumni Center teas when she
became Alumni Center director in Dec. 2000 with the intent of
having a chance for people to come and take a short break from
their busy schedules and to mingle in a relaxed setting.
“The alumni teas provide the opportunity for alumni and
friends to get together and share Aggie news and other information
as well as renew friendships and meet new acquaintances,”
said Janet Appuhn, special assistant to the vice president for
university advancement.
Tea and other hot and cold drinks will be provided along with
assorted refreshments.
Parking is available in the Alumni Center circle, lot A2 located
next to the Alumni Center will open at 3:45 p.m. and terrace
parking will be validated.
The Christmas tea is free and open to the public. R.S.V.P. by
Tuesday, Dec. 10, to Louise Young or Echo Stocks (435) 797-2055.
December 9, 2002
Contact: Louise Young (435) 797-2523
LEAVES —
THE NATURAL COMPOST
LOGAN — “As a child, I loved to jump in the leaves,”
says Jerry Goodspeed, Utah State University Extension horticulturist.
“By the end of the day, the leaves were sufficiently crumbled,
smashed and shredded to be easily carried back into the forest
by a small gust of wind. By spring, the leaves once again had
returned their nutrients back to the soil.
“I always marveled at how quickly the leaves deteriorated
and were gone. We never bagged the leaves. We always placed
them on the garden, orchard or other areas, then allowed them
to work their magic in the soil.”
“I am still amazed at the way Mother Nature works, “
Goodspeed says. “The leaves falling off the trees this
time of year are one of the best sources of organic matter to
improve our soils. I am also surprised at how quickly we throw
away one of our greatest resources. In Utah our soils are very
low in organic material and desperately need the help.”
A typical soil in the United States is between 3 and 5 percent
organic matter, while an average Utah soil sample is at or below
1 percent, says Goodspeed. This is one of the main reasons some
plants have problems growing here. In order to thrive, most
plants prefer a high organic soil.
One of the problems with adding organic material to soil is
it does not last long. A large pile of leaves placed in a garden
may contribute 1 /2-inch of organic material the first year,
then less than 1/16th the next. Within three years, the large
pile of leaves is pretty much decomposed and gone. Organic matter
needs to be replaced in the soil every year, he notes.
“I once talked to someone who complained about how awful
the soil was in their garden and flower beds,” says Goodspeed.
“When I asked if he had used organic matter to improve
it, he replied, ‘Sure. I added an inch or two of leaves
about 10 years ago. Do you think I overdid it?’”
With a ready supply of amendments available, fall is one of
the best times to add organic matter to soil.
“I already mentioned leaves, but other composted materials
are available at most nurseries, as well as county and city
landfills and compost facilities,” he says. “Till
these materials into the soil now. By spring the soil will be
full of organic matter.”
Improving the soil around trees, shrubs and perennials can be
difficult to do. Place compost or shredded leaves on top of
the beds where they can slowly work into the soil over the winter.
This also helps reduce weed growth by providing a good mulch,
Goodspeed notes.
“I have often recommended using the lawnmower to create
shredded material out of leaves and other herbaceous garden
clippings. Place them on the ground and run over them with the
mower. It shreds and conveniently bags them for easy dumping
wherever it is needed.
“Or, you could also try shredding them the old-fashioned
way like I did in my childhood,” he concludes.
December 9, 2002
Writer: Julene Reese, 435-752-1945
Contact: Jerry Goodspeed, 801-399-8201
UTAH STATE NEWS RELEASES FOR 12-06-02
UTAH STATE
ALUM RECEIVES CARNEGIE TEACHING AWARD FOR NORTH DAKOTA
LOGAN — Utah State University graduate Lorraine J. Willoughby
was named North Dakota’s Professor of the Year in 2002
by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.
Willoughby received a doctorate in education in 1997 with an
emphasis in business information systems. She currently teaches
business information technology at Minot State University in
Minot, North Dakota.
The Carnegie Award honors professors who have an extraordinary
dedication to undergraduate teaching. Willoughby said she enjoys
teaching undergraduates because they have a fresh perspective
on life and are willing to try new approaches to learning. She
uses face-to face and online learning components in all of her
classes, providing her students the flexibility to learn in
either environment and work around their busy schedules.
“Business information technology is a constantly changing
field requiring me to learn something new all the time,”
said Willoughby. “With technology becoming obsolete every
18 months, it requires a continued learning adventure for me.
I have not reached a point where the material is ‘old
hat’ or boring.”
Willoughby earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees
from the University of North Dakota and teaches database management,
client/server database management, systems analysis and design
and technology management. She came to Utah State to receive
her doctorate because the university had a degree program she
wanted to pursue in a great environment.
Willoughby has been at Minot State for the past 15 years and
took a leave of absence to pursue her Utah State studies. She
plans to continue teaching at Minot State pursuing research
in virtual business and collaborative work environments.
December 6, 2002
Contact: Lorraine Willoughby, (701) 858-3314
Writer: Maren Cartwright (435) 797-1355
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