News from the College of Liberal Arts at Washington State University

WSU to Cohost Mock Trial Tournament in Spokane; Attorneys Sought to Judge

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 15:52:00 -0800

Washington State University and Eastern Washington University will cohost and compete in the American Mock Trial Association's Pacific Northwest Regional Tournament February 19-21 in Spokane. In addition to student participants and their coaches, the competition recruits attorneys from WSU alumni and the Spokane Bar Association as judges. "We are casting a net out to alumni who work in the legal profession in Spokane and across the state, not only to serve as judges but also to create contacts for and provide possible job opportunities to our students who will be entering the legal profession in the near future," said Mitch Pickerill, associate professor of political science and WSU Mock Trial coach. Professionals with law degrees who are interested in participating in the tournament may contact Mitch Pickerill (509-335-4544, mitchp@wsu.edu) or EWU's Jim Headley (509-359-2781, jheadley@mail.ewu.edu).

Gangs of Chicago

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0800

Fifty years ago James F. Short Jr., a young sociologist at WSU, was asked to lead a study of Chicago gangs. The resulting groundbreaking analysis opened a window into the everyday experience of the Vice Lords, the Egyptian Cobras, the Imperial Chaplains, and the Blackstone Rangers and set the stage for gang research for years to come.

Language, Money, and Loss

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0800

Sometimes loss can be an occasion for newly discovered vitality. Where better than the university to challenge ourselves to avoid linguistic lemminghood? [An essay in "Washington State Magazine" by English professor Will Hamlin.]

Desperately Seeking Sherman

Fri, 05 Feb 2010 08:00:00 -0800

Although his work is increasingly ubiquitous, the writer Sherman Alexie (B.A. '94, American studies) is a little harder to pin down. "Washington State Magazine" correspondent Hannelore Sudermann was undaunted.

Cruisin' the Fossil Freeway

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 07:47:00 -0800

Ketchikan-based artist Ray Troll (M.F.A. '81) migrated south this winter for the opening of his latest show at the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle. The exhibit pairs Troll's paintings and murals and paleontologist Kirk Johnson's research with real-life fossils from the museum's collections.

Will Corporate Contributions Corrupt Campaigns?

Fri, 22 Jan 2010 13:02:00 -0800

Political science associate professor Travis Ridout comments on the January 21 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that rolled back longstanding restrictions on corporate campaign contributions.

New Music Celebrated with Annual Festival

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:21:00 -0800

The WSU School of Music will present the 2010 Festival of Contemporary Art Music February 4-6. Concerts will feature original compositions by WSU students, faculty, and guest composer Robert Carl.

Gail Chermak Honored by National Organization

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 07:21:00 -0800

The American Academy of Audiology has recognized Gail Chermak, professor and chair of speech and hearing sciences, with the 2010 Distinguished Achievement Award for her contributions to the field of audiology.

Poised for Playing

Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:16:00 -0800

Anyone who has taken music lessons has probably absorbed enough instructions about posture to feel like a raw recruit at basic training: Stand straight! Head up! Toes forward! Leah Jordan, a double major in music and genetics/cell biology, says not to worry about forcing yourself into the "proper" position. In fact, she says you'll probably play better if you don't---and she has the hard scientific evidence to prove it.

Technology Invigorates History

Fri, 08 Jan 2010 12:12:00 -0800

Brett Oppegaard, a professor in WSU Vancouver's digital technology and culture program, is applying 21st-century technology to help visitors better understand and appreciate the 19th-century Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

Latest Issue of CLA Newsletter Now Online

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 08:02:00 -0800

The fall/winter issue features faculty research on a rare disease linked to speech disorders, recent NSF grant recipients, a retired professor's gifts to WSU and the Pullman community, federal stimulus grant funding for a psychology professor's marijuana study, curbing aggressive driving, and much more!

Journal Features Research by Four WSU Grad Students

Mon, 14 Dec 2009 09:43:00 -0800

In November, "Assessing Writing" published a special issue on the rich possibilities that emerge when students are given a meaningful writing prompt. The issue features the work of WSU graduate students Dorothy Worden, Jerry Petersen, Jared Judd Anthony, and Donna Evans, all of whom began their research projects in a 2007 seminar with WSU writing professor Bill Condon. "For a tier-one international journal to focus an entire issue on work done by WSU grad students is unprecedented," said Condon.