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Show I FOCUS: LANG & ·L THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1996 THE UNIVERSITY JOURNAL• SOUTHERN UTAH UNIVERSITY• FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1996 Spanish offers students another perspective individuals with extensive foreign language experience," said group in Utah is Hispanic and some of the highest Chidester. However, he also said that there are a fair number concentrations of Spanish-speaking persons are in the U.S. SENIOR STAFF WRITER . of students who begin their studies at the university with Even in Cedar City, which is often thought of as being a relatively little or no background in Spanish and are comparatively homogeneous town, qualified employees are successful in completing degrees. The Germ an writer Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said regularly being called upon in their places of business to that you do not understand your own language unless you A Spanish major requires students to complete 38 credit assist Spanish-speaking patrons. speak a second. This philosophy seems to be shared by E. "Many of our students who major and minor in Spanish are hours of instruction past the 100-level courses. Nineteen Leon Chidester, long-time professor of Spanish at credit hours beyond the same basic classes are required for a Spanish minor. SUU. Chidester, who is concluding his 30th year of Chidester pointed out the particular importance teaching at the university, said he appreciates the of several classes relating to a Spanish degree. "Most students benefit greatl y from the grammar value of learning a foreign language . " It gives you review classes that sharpen their understanding of another perspective on reality; another way to look the general structure and the <lei.ails of the at the world, " he said. "You can't do that if you're language," he said. bound u p by one language." Chidester also emphasized t he m erit of taking a T hough C hidester said he has had an interest in literature class. In fact, he said that one of his languages since childhood, the first formal favorite courses as an undergraduate was a instruction he received in the area came from a literature course which focused on late 19thSpanish class he took while a sen ior at American century Spanish authors. "A novel becomes a Fork High School. He later went on to study at Brigham Young reflection of history and cul t ure of the people," University, earning both h is bachelor's and mas ter's :.! Chides ter said. Chidester also stressed that Spanish, in addition degrees in Spanish . to education, can be utilized in va rious During his time as an LOS m issionary in Texas, l occupat ional fields such as m edicine, Jaw Chidester said he had the opportunity not onl y to z be able to hone his Spanish conversational skills, ~ enforcement, social sciences, business, government work and journalism. but to be on the soene of the civil rights movement ~ " Don't think of studying Spanish only as a means for Hispanics in the United States, giving him a ~ of acquiring a job of teaching a foreign language in better understanding of the culture. g schools," he said. "Think of Spanish as a skill that "I think there is little reason in denying the Professor of Spanish E. Leon Chidester said that he believes that learning a foreign will back you up in almost anything yo u choose to value of [theJ Spanish [language!," said Chidester, language gives you another way to look at the world. do for a career." pointing out the fact that the largest minority By GLENN HALTERMAN 8 FOCUS: LANG & LIT Humanities help provide a complete view By LEAH HARTMANN OF THE JOURNAL STAFF "In an age of technology, people often ask how things happen and the humanities remind us to ask why things happen," said James Harrison, professor of German, language and literature. Humanities, according to Harrison, is the study of the human condition throughout the ages. Often times, students see humanities classes as just another general education class, just another hoop they have to jump through in order to graduate. Harrison said he secs humanities in a different light. "Learning about the classics of literature, art, and music allows us as humans to see life more wholly and more completely," he said. In his humanities classes, Harrison said he emphasizes art from European history. T his is because he said he believes it is important to understand the roots of our Western culture. "There are other classes on campus about American art and about arts in the Orient, but this is the only one about European art history," he said. "Many people are afraid of the classics because they think it must be boring or you have to be a rocket scientist to understand it, but that is not the case. In my In troduction to H umanities class, I have the students read Homer's Odyssey and they find it as exciting as any Louis L'amour book. It proves l he human condition hasn't changed that much over history," said Harrison. fam es Harrison Harrison said he believes that if more people took an interest in the humanities, families would stay together and people would stay away from drugs . "If we are only concerned with the how, our society will go up in smoke," he said. Harrison also said he believes technology has slowed the growth of human relations in the past. " I don't think we spend time thinking about what it is we should use technology to do, " he said. "Since the 17th century and the Scientific ........---~--, Revolution, we've suffered from [too m uch] pride; we look at everything that went before as immature and we don't respect the past. We should be learning how to get along with each other. Our human relationships haven'! progressed, due primarily to fascination with technology," he said. Harrison said he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees at the University of Utah, and went on to earn his Ph.D. in German at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. After graduate school, Harrison sold vacuums door-to-door and was a security guard for six months before landing his job at SUU. Harrison has been teaching German and humanities at SUU for 20 years. As a percussionist in the Utah Symphony, Harrison has also been able to pursue his passion for music. '7l have found that s9me great ideas have to be expressed with music and not words, [classical] music is comforting and it captures the great qualities of the human soul," he said. As SUU grows, Harrison said he would like to see SUU offer a degree in humanities, and also noted that ..__ _ _ _ __. he is anticipatory of the establishment of a philosophy department on campus. Creative writing major offered Behunin has passion for classics Students .cultivate literary pursuits such diverse courses because of the talent of its faculty, By MICHELLE CLEGG according to Cook. "We· have well published faculty teaching," she said. OF THE JOURNAL STAFF Cook also said she is proud of having such active participation amongst the faculty in the department. In the past, SUU students interested in creative writing had to look elsewhere for a major. But now, "We're dedicated writers," she said. students looking to become published authors have Current writing projects being executed by faculty in som e place to go. "We understood there was a desire on the department are plentiful. Cook is working on a play, Language and Literature Lecturer William Ransom is in the part of the students to have the program," said Kay K. Cook, associate professor of the process of completing a screenplay and Director of Composi.,tion Julie language and literature. According to Cook, student need led to the creation Simon is well known for her recurring publication of essays . . of a creative writing major and minor. In addition to these works-inTo create a new m ajor, a department must prove that there is interest progress, Language and Literature am ongst the students. "We had to Department Head W. David Lee is show that our creative writing classes known throughout the country as an . were already fairly full," said Cook. award-winning poet and English "Creative writing classes close out Professor Michael Cohen has a book very quickly, " she added. coming out soon . T he faculty members of SUU's T he creative writing major in now in its third year, said Cook, and Language and Literature Department thriving. "It's a very popular have much to offer, but Cook said she would like to see some visiting program," she said. But popularity is professors come in. "It brings in fresh not always a good thing. Cook said perspective," Cook said. She also said she would like to keep the classes small and then expand the course she would like to see this offerings . implem en ted as an official policy of What kind of courses are necessary the department. " We feel it's / important to the program." for a creative writing m ajor? "We require a good number of literature So what can a student do with a classes," said Cook. But a variety of Kay K . Cook creative writing major? Cook said it's courses are beneficial, she added. _....:__ _ __ __ __ _____ aimed towards students who "What is important is the mixture of literature classes " understand that they want to be writers." She said with writing classes," she said. many creative writing majors will postpone a career to Some of the course offerings include fiction writing, further their education. "Many of them will look for graduate programs, " she said. Another option, poetry writing (both open and closed forms), play writing, introduction to drama, and early American according to Cook, is play writing. Students may even literature. decide to change course and write for movies or T he language and literature department is able to offer television. as his number one passion in life. "It worked out just right, one boy and three girls, so now we have a built-in baby sitter," Behunin JOURNAL STAFF WRITER said. At any given poetry reading at SUU, a person can He said that he likes to support them in anything turn around and see the face of a tall 32-year-old they enjoy, and do whatever they like to do. man listening intently to the speaker. According to Behunin, it makes him happy to see Robert Behunin, assistant professor of them enjoying themselves. composition, language and literature, has been "Children can know what's good and what's not, you just have to give them the right tools to make teaching at SUU for two years. Behunin grew up in Cedar City after moving the decision, " he said. from Downey, Calif., a suburb of Los Angeles. He According to him, his oldest daughter's favorite graduated from Cedar High School, movie is Kenneth Branaugh's Henry and went on an LOS mission to . . . - - - - - - - - - ---..-, V, and that his hom e is full of good Guatemala. After he returned, he 'It's like mining, music, good books and good fun. Part of the emphasis on the classics went back to school, earning his bachelor's degree from SUU. the 'further do,w n in his home is because of his own Behunin married his wife, educator VOU dig, the more interest, he said. LeAnne Smith, during his J · o; Behunin said he focused his undergraduate studies. He also real gems you'Jl Ph.D. studies on medieval and d b renaissance poetry, studying worked as a clothing salesman and law clerk at a local firm during this said Ro ert Chaucer, Spencer, Milton and some time. Behunin, assistant Shakespeare, but Behunin said his "That's when I decided not to do doctorate studies focused on long the lawyer routine, and to go into professor narrative poetry. education," Behunin said. • • He said that all of his peers at the After graduating in 1989, compos1t1on. time were focusing on Behunin went on to the University ...__ _ _ __ _,..__ _ _____. contemporary writers, and while he of Nevada at Las Vegas to earn his Ph.D. He said enjoyed contemporary writing, he could see its that he went to UNLV for five years straight, roots, and that peaked his interests. "It's like mining, it's one thing on the top, but teaching some classes on the side while he studied. He came back to Cedar City in 1994 on the advice the further down you dig, the more real gems of one of his mentors, Language and Literature you'll find," Behunin said. Department Head David Lee, to teach at SUU. Behunin is a faculty senator for the College of " It was weird at first, because people like Lee, Arts, Letters and Humanities, he is a member of the State General Area Education Task Force for [Professor of Spanish] Leon Chidester and Semester Conversion, has edited two literary [Associate Professor of Language and Literature] Kay Cook are my heroes. Now all of a sudden they . Il).agazines, including SUU's Tailwind, and was involved in the creation of a national publication were treating'me like a colleague, and I was expected to call them by their first names," based at UNLV called the Ben Johnson Journal, an Behunin said. annual publication that focuses on the literature He now has four children, whom he referred to of the renaissance era. By D.W. ANDERSON fin , ' of By J. ARTHUR FIELDS SENIOR STAFF WRJTER Last year, several students and faculty members in the Department of Language and Literature wanted to start an academically-oriented literary club. The result was Ymbsittendra, pronounced "im-su-TEND-ra." According to co-founder Peter Chidester, a senior english major from St. George, Utah, the name Ymbsittendra was suggested by Lecturer of Language and Literature William Ransom and is taken from an Old English word meaning "council of wise ones. " However, Chidester said he does not want the literal meaning of the group's name to deter anyone who wishes to join. "We don't look down at people who are not well-read," said Chidester. "No one is going to be quizzed about the books they've read. T he main reason we get together is to share information and have a good time." As an egalitarian council of students, the members of Ymbsittendra are attempting to create a scholarly community while cultivating their intellectual and literary pursuits. "It all com es down to something [Professor and Head of the Language and Literature Department! David Lee told me," said Chidester. "He said 'It's the student that makes the Peter Chidester education'." Chidester said that several members in the department wanted to start a student literary organization in order to stay informed of literary contests, conferences and submission deadlines. "Since many of us are considering going on to graduate school," Chidester said, "the first workshop we planned concentrated on the requirem ents and preparation for furthering our education." According to Chideste r, several faculty members including Ransom and Associate Professor of Language and Literature Kay K. Cook gave student attendees pointers on applying for and s ucceeding in graduate studies. In addition to the academic side of the organization, Chidester emphasized the creativity members bring with them to each meeting. Readings of poetry and short stories are featured often in meetings. "We encourage everyone to participate in the readings," said Chidester. "It is not necessary that you are an English major or even a regular m ember of the organization. T he important thing is that you enjoy yourself and learn." Chidester said that although the next Ymbsittendra m eeting h as yet to be sch eduled for fall quarter, plans are in the works. He said he encourages anyone interest ed to attend. Chidester can be reached by e-mail at "CHIDESTP" or contacted by phone through the Language and Literature Department at 586-7835 . |