OCR Text |
Show StatesmanCampus News Friday, Sept. 18, 2009 Speaker encourages in-class controversial topics By MIKAYLA RICH staff writer Mathew L. Ouellett, director of the Center for Teaching at the University of MassachusettsAmherst, visited USU Thursday as part of the Provost Lecture Series. This was the first of seven events. His lecture was geared toward faculty members creating more inclusive higher-education environments. USU faculty members were not the only ones in the audience, faculty members from other universities were present as well as undergraduate and graduate students. Ouellett said, “So I’m sure you’re wondering, what does a chubby white guy know about diversity? Everyone in this room knows something about diversity.” When speaking of his college experience he expounded on how coming to terms with being gay prepared him to teach diversity and social justice. After introducing himself, he opened the lecture to suggestions of what the faculty members wanted to discuss and get out of the lecture. He said, “We (educators) are about the business of creating better individuals. American academia has a very dominant way of going about Ouellett quoted Miles Davis, “There is no such thing as a wrong note. It’s what comes after.” He said when a situation takes people by surprise in the classrooms they need to be careful about what they do in response. Some suggestions Ouellett shared to help the faculty teach more inclusively was to build relationships with colleagues, befriend those who don’t reflect the faculty’s social identity and undo the habit of drive-by dialogues and lobbing points at students. He said in receiving back student surveys he found his students were more interested in the interaction between his African-American coteacher than the studies they had conducted for the class. “Students have said that the two single most important factors in graduating were meaningful relationships with a faculty member and with their peers. As educators we need MATHEW L. OUELLET INSTRUCTS STAFF on diversity in the classroom to be prepared to build meaningful as a speaker for the Provost Lecture Series. PETE SMITHSUTH photo relationships with our students to this. We expect the students to adapt takes them by surprise and tend to help them succeed,” said Ouellett. to us. We are an institution that is deflect it, he said. When educators The next lecture in the series will set. However, the institution needs to begin to be more inclusive there will be on Sept. 22, 2009, at 4 p.m. in the become more permeable.” be times when they are taken by surEccles Conference Center, Room 201. Ouellett said educators today tend prise, he said. –mikayla.rich@aggiemail.usu.edu to shy away from the controversial “Embrace the falling down,” he topics. They panic when a situation said. Group brings unique spin to poetry By JARED PRICE staff writer The Elephant Engine High Dive Revival cruised through Thursday night bringing along with it a whirlwind of words and wit that left the audience rethinking its existence. The troupe consists of poets Anis Mojgani, Derrick Brown, Shira Erlichman, Buddy Wakefield and Robbie Telfer. Their unique fusion of spoken word, music and even a hint of slapstick isn’t a performance that can be easily squeezed into one label. When asked to describe exactly what they are, Mojgani replied, “Not rock ‘n’ roll poets, but poets with rock ‘n’ roll poetry. We are excited to pump some life into people’s idea of poetry and create sort of rock ‘n’ roll poems. To create a different kind of spoken word experience that we feel, hopefully invigorates and empowers our audiences. We are just trying to get that message of what it means to own one own’s existence and be a part of humanity. We are just trying to inspire people in that regard.” This year marks the third incarnation of the Elephant Engine High Dive Revival. “Buddy, Derek and I have stayed with it since we started it with a couple of other poets,” Mojgani said. “This year, it’s the three of us with Shira and a rotating fifth member. Rob will be with us for two weeks then we will have a new member and then a new member. Essentially, this is our third tour but each year has been a little bit different.” USU was the third stop on this year’s tour. When asked what draws him to poetry, Telfer responded, “It always seemed like a place I could express myself. I’m not a musician, I’m not an actor, but it’s sort of a combination of the two.” Music and singing also played a huge role in the show with Mojgani providing the beats and background music. In regards to what makes good poetry, Wakefield said, “People are tired of tragedy. Everybody’s got a story. Don’t be self absorbed and think your stream of conscience is enough. If you want to give people something then give them the gift of your polished thoughts, your humor, your light and your good stuff.” The artists were eager to give advice to aspiring poets and writers. Telfer’s advice is, “Get in a community, get with people. What makes this tour fun for us, the reason why we do it, it is a way to earn a living but it’s also a way to have meaning in your life. All of us are in a community of poets that just adore each other, that all have the same world view. We really believe in being friends. The idea of friendship and kindness has a way to combat sadness and hopelessness. Find a community of people that think like you think, and the writing will take care of itself.” Mojgani said, “Write. Don’t worry about if it’s bad, if it’s good, that’s not necessarily the first step. That’s Briefs Campus & Community USU approved 11 patents of 44 filed USU’s success as one of the state of Utah’s flagship research institutions is evident in many ways and is celebrating as a record number of inventions are patented. In fiscal year 2009, after receiving 80 idea disclosures from students and professors about potential inventions, a record number 44 patents were filed and 11 patents were issued to USU, along with 10 commercialized technologies that fall into the “copyright category.” This is the most that has ever been received by USU’s Technology Commercialization Office in a single year. To compare, in fiscal year 2008, 62 ideas were disclosed to the TCO, 26 patents were filed and five patents were received by the TCO. While the number of patents received by USU’s Technology Commercialization Office continues to grow, the growth is witnessed in the real-world production of companies licensing USU technologies, creating spinout companies. USU established a record number of companies in fiscal year 2009. Two companies, Thermal Management Technologies and Eco Air Tech, were established by USU retired engineering professor Clair Batty. Batty, the former head of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at USU, is sometimes called a “serial entrepreneur.” He uses the momentum from one spinout to get the next one underway. In 2009, Batty’s company, TMT, was the first to license SDL technology and create a for-profit company. Student farm helps local school BEAT POET ANIS MOJGANI entertains the student body with his original works at the amphitheatre Thursday night. The four poets who performed describe their poetry as rock ‘n’ roll. They also made an effort to inspire the audience, encouraging them to obey the want to write. PATRICK ODEN photo not part of the equation. If you have the desire to write, then you just start writing and you don’t worry about if it’s good or if it makes sense. Just get it out. The more that you do that, you train your brain to think in a creative writing fashion. Creativity is a skill just like playing the piano or shooting basketball. The more you practice, the more growth and development you’re going to have with it. It’s really important for people to not censor themselves, to not edit themselves and just get the work out. Write a lot, don’t be afraid of what comes out and don’t be afraid to be honest with yourself about where your writing is.” Erlichman explained how she does it. “What’s worked for me is valuing my voice and thinking that I do have something to say. I might not know what it is yet, but I keep putting the pen to the paper and trying and seeing what works. Write bad stuff, don’t be afraid of it, trust your voice and keep pushing through,” Erlichman said. “Don’t put pressure on yourself and just enjoy writing. Do it because you love it.” –jared.price@aggiemail.usu. edu Concert: Faculty talent shines through for students -continued from page 1 “It’s important for the students to know that the faculty are performing,” Timmons said. Nicholas Morrison, who teaches clarinet and oboe, will be joining for an arrangement of “Sous le Dome Epais,” also known as the “Flower Duet,” by Léo Delibes, the release stated. Timmons and Morrison travel as a flute-clarinet duo, named AirFare, locally and internationally. According to the music department’s Web site, AirFare has performed in South America, throughout the Intermountain West, Florida and Mississippi. They also participate in the Logan Canyon Winds Quartet, of which they are founding members. There is one other performance on the music Page 3 department’s schedule this semester. A jazz guitar concert will be presented by professor Corey Christiansen. The concert is set for Oct. 13, according to the department’s Web site. Jessop said there will probably be more performances during the spring semester, but it all depends on faculty members deciding if or when they want to perform. “Our faculty are performing musicians,” said Jessop. “They are all extraordinary, some of the finest.” Hugo has showcased her harp playing skill with music celebrities Josh Groban, jazz pianist Dave Brubeck, and Anuna, a Celtic singing group. She is certified to provide bedside music for therapy to others, the release stated. Hugo also holds a diplo- ma from the Royal Academy of Music in London. Timmons directs the university’s Flute Choir, according to the department’s Web site. She accomplished post-graduate work at the Orff Institute at the University of Mozarteum in Austria and teaches lessons at the USU flute studio. “There’s something about the magic of a live performance,” said Timmons. “It’s different than live recordings, which are all prettied up.” According to the release, the duo plans to begin the program with a work by Joseph Lauber called “Four Medieval Dances” and, among other selected works, will play a opera piece from “Carmen.” –la.stewart@gmail.com A group of Utah State University students have teamed up with Canyon Elementary School in Hyrum, Utah on a collaborative project to teach the young students about incorporating fresh, local vegetables into their diets. The USU Student Organic Farm and dietetics students in the USU Department of Nutrition, Dietetics and Food Sciences (NDFS), are working with the elementary students to broaden their horizons and stimulate the children’s senses about vegetables, encouraging their parents to do the same. As part of the collaboration, field trips to the organic farm have been arranged throughout the fall for second and fifth graders from Canyon. Students will learn about composting, season extension techniques, plant parts and flavor preferences during these fieldtrips. Students will also be introduced to “sensory-based” (as opposed to nutrient-based) nutrition education in the classroom, and students, parents and teachers will be provided with produce to take home for meals. USU dietetics student will also host several parent/child food preparation classes that focus on simple-toprepare, low-cost meals utilizing the seasonal vegetables. USU presents “The Glass Menagerie” Utah State Theatre in the Caine School of the Arts at Utah State University will present “The Glass Menagerie” Sept. 24-26 and Sept. 30Oct 3 in the Caine Lyric Theatre (28 W. Center Street, Logan). The award-winning Tennessee Williams play opens the 2009-10 theater season at USU. The play is set in St. Louis in 1937 and describes the life of the Wingfield household. Tickets are available at the Caine School of the Arts Box Office in FA 138-B, 435-797-8022, or online (http://boxoffice.usu.edu) and are $13 for adults and free to USU students with a valid ID. Other discounts are also available. Presented as a memory, the play is a powerful tale that shows what happens when fragile dreams clash with reality, said the play’s director Colin Johnson, a USU theatre arts department faculty member. -Compiled from staff and media reports |