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Accents Volume 9 Fall 2005

Newsletter of the Department of English at State Coming Home to English

s the signs read, this year’s home- fah Save Shakespeare Studies?” Visi- at Fullerton. A coming (October 27-29th) was “Not tors also toured LL 316, which was Over 200 people signed the guest Your Typical Family Reunion.” ASU transformed into an art gallery, dis- books for various English Department alums who “Came Home to English” had playing some thirty original pieces cre- Homecoming events. Committee mem- much more than the football game to ated by English faculty, staff, students attend. Those making this possible in- and alumni. cluded Dan Shilling (PhD 1987), who Friday evening guests heard prelude opened the weekend celebration at the and intermission music from Kevin University Club with his inaugural Vaughn-Brubaker’s (MFA 2001) Monde- Alumni Lecture Series talk, “The Crea- green band at “The Play’s the Thing,” tive Economy and the Liberal Arts.” readings from two of Professor Jay Dan is the former Director of the Arizona Boyer’s plays. Cast members included Humanities Council and former Curator Brandon Barrios, Philip Bernick, O M for Humanities at Prescott’s Sharlot Hall “Skip” Brack, Jr., Sarah Dean, Maureen Museum. The afternoon event was ac- Daly Goggin, John Guenther, Randel companied by acoustic jazz music from Helms, Kristen LaRue, Neal Lester, The Luckys, directed by Tony Groesbeck Thelma Shinn Richard, Rhonda Steele, (BA 2000). and Johanna Wagner. Accomplished authors spoke to Eng- Alum Dan (PhD 1987) and Pam Shilling were among the Block Party revelers. lish classes on Thursday and Friday, and on Saturday presented readings at bers who deserve thanks for their crea- the Piper Writers House. Those auto- tive management along with their hard graphing books during the pre-game work, include event coordinators Mau- picnic in front of Old Main included reen Daly Goggin and Kristen LaRue; Jorn Ake (MFA 1999), Kevin Haworth and the rest of the committee: Philip (MFA 1997), Rosemary King (PhD Bernick, James Blasingame, Jay Boyer, 2000), Ruth Ellen Kocher (MFA 1994 Dan Cutrara, Karla Elling, Christine and PhD 1999), T. M. (Mike) McNally Helfers, Patricia Murphy, Alleen Nil- (MFA 1987), Irena Praitis (PhD 1999 Artist Alexander Hughes’s homage to Sylvia Plath was sen, James Procaccini, Sherry Rankins- the focal point of the Art Gallery’s south wall. and MFA 2001), Bonny Barry Sanders Robertson, Teryl Sands, Judith Van, (MA 1983), Alan Tongret (MFA 1992), Faye Verska, and Nan Zlotkowski. On Friday, returning alums attended and Richard Yaňez (MFA 2000). Watch for announcements about the Homecoming lecture series, “Classes Alums entered a drawing for dinner next year’s events, and plan to “Come without Quizzes,” presented by ten of with Chair Neal Lester and Associate Home to English” in 2006 when we ASU’s most outstanding professors. Chair Maureen Goggin. The winner promise to provide even more intellec- Ayanna Thompson represented the Eng- was Irena Praitis, now an Associate tual stimulation along with unabashed lish Department with “Can Queen Lati- Professor at California State University nostalgia and fun. ENG 372 Students Challenge: “Define Yourself”

rofessor Philip Bernick’s Spring keting the Department of English P 2005 English 372 “Document Pro- (featured on T-shirt at right). duction” class didn’t just raise the bar— Inspired by the loaded word play, the they cleared it. Charged with designing 2005 Homecoming Committee used the a “look” for the Department of English, slogan on new Department of English the students researched, developed, and merchandise. “Define Yourself” T-shirts, finally, unveiled their final projects. pens and mugs are still available! The product? A maxim to use in mar- See page 11 for ordering information. Page 2 Accents

The Chair’s Corner Faculty Publications

his new academic T year promises much excitement in the English department. A number of important initiatives will unfold as the department makes a more concerted effort to connect with Sally Ball. Annus Mirabilis: Poems. Bert Bender. Evolution and “the Sex its alumni, its emeritus New York: Barrow Street Press, 2005. Problem”: American Narratives During professors, its under- the Eclipse of Darwinism. Kent, OH: Kent State Press, 2004. graduate population, and its surrounding communities. First during Homecoming 2005, English hosted a number of activities and events to welcome back those affiliated with the unit for jour- neys down memory lane, and to help us think creatively about merging celebrations of the department’s past with the energy connected to the unit's future possibilities. The inaugural Alumni Lecture Series con- tinues with the Emeritus Lecture Series toward this end. Jay Boyer. Five New York Biker O M Brack, Jr. and Leslie A. Chilton, Chics, Out of Control. Saskatchewan, eds. The Devil Upon Crutches. Alain Canada: One-Act Play Depot, 2004. René Le Sage, trans. Tobias Smollett. “Serving some 24,000 students per , GA: University of Georgia Press, 2005. year, we continue to search for new and exciting ways to strengthen our programs . . . ”

We are equally excited to be in conversa- tions about international faculty/student exchanges with four in other parts of the world—Moscow State Linguis- tics University (Russia), Jendouba Univer- sity (Tunisia), Stellenbosch University O M Brack, Jr., ed. The Yale Edition of Cordelia Chávez Candelaria, Arturo (South Africa), and Royal Holloway Univer- the Works of Samuel Johnson, Volume J. Aldama and Peter J. García, eds. The sity (London). These conversations promise XVII: A Commentary on Mr. Pope’s Encyclopedia of Latino Popular Culture. invaluable opportunities for English depart- Principles of Morality, or Essay on Man. Westport CT: Greenwood, 2004. ment faculty and students to experience the New Haven, CT: Press, 2005. world in new and interesting ways. Our hope is to have the first exchange in place within a year. As this newsletter evidences, the English department is a vital part of the and larger University. Serving some 24,000 students per year, we continue to search for new and exciting ways to strengthen our programs, to make our faculty and stu- dents' more satisfying and enriched, and to recruit others to help share the de- Julie Codell and Laurel Brake, eds. Eugenia C. DeLamotte. Gates of Free- partment's stories. Please feel free to join Encounters in the Victorian Press: Edi- dom: Voltairine de Cleyre and the Revo- our conversations. tors, Authors, Readers. New York: Pal- lution of the Mind. Ann Arbor, MI: Uni-

—Neal A. Lester grave Macmillan, 2004. versity of Michigan Press, 2004. Chair, Department of English Volume 9 Page 3

Bettie Anne Doebler and Retha M. Norman Dubie. The Mercy Seat: Col- Linda Adler-Kassner and Gregory R. Warnicke, eds. ‘A True Guide to Glory’ lected and New Poems 1967-2001. Port Glau for the Conference on Basic Writ- by John Barlow, 1619. Funeral Ser- Townsend, WA: Copper Canyon Press, ing. The Bedford Bibliography for mons for Women 1601-1630. Ann Arbor, 2005. Teachers of Basic Writing, Second Edi- MI: Scholars’ Facsimiles & Reprints, tion. New York: Bedford/St. Martins, 2004. 2005.

Beckian Fritz Goldberg. Lie Awake Peter Lehman and Arthur M. Eck- T.M. McNally. The Goat Bridge. Ann Lake: Poems. Oberlin, OH: Oberlin Col- stein, eds. The Searchers: Essays and Arbor, MI: lege Press, 2005. Reflections on John Ford’s Classic West- Press, 2005. ern. Contemporary Approaches to Film and Television Series. Detroit: Press, 2004.

John Ramage. Twentieth-Century Jewell Parker Rhodes. Voodoo Sea- Jeannine Savard. My Hand Upon American Success Rhetoric: How to son: A Marie Laveau Mystery. New Your Name: Poems. Granada Hills, CA: Construct a Suitable Self. Carbondale, York: Atria, 2005. Red Hen Press, 2005. IL: Southern Illinois University Press, 2005.

Beth Fowkes Tobin. Colonizing Na- Rosalynn Voaden and Diane Vernon McClean and Cornelia Wells, ture: The Tropics in British Arts and Wolfthal, eds. Framing the Family: eds. Racism & Sexism: A Collaborative Letters, 1760-1820. Philadelphia: Uni- Narrative and Representation in the Study. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt, versity of Pennsylvania Press, 2004. Medieval and Early Modern Periods. 2005. Tempe, AZ: Arizona Center for Medie- val and Renaissance Studies, 2005. Page 4 Accents New Faculty Bring Intellectual Diversity to Department

oVeanna Fulton, associate professor, with professors from other departments.” ASU's Department of English, expressing D comes to ASU after teaching at the —Stephanie Serrano particular interest in serving as a con- University of Memphis for the past four PhD student, English tributing member to our progressive cur- years, but her interests and travels have riculum and in working with ASU's di- taken her all over the outhwest Studies expert and assis- verse student body. world. Dr. Fulton S tant professor Susan Scarberry- —Jennifer M. Santos earned her PhD in Garcia joins us from Colorado, where she PhD student, English American Studies at taught at Colorado College and earned the University of Min- her PhD from UC Boulder in Compara- ark James joins the ASU English nesota. Her interdis- tive Literature, specializing in American M department as an assistant profes- ciplinary focus on Indian Literature. In both teaching and sor of English. From the University of Black women’s writ- research, she champions an interdiscipli- Toronto (PhD 2003) and more recently ing and oral tradition nary, cross-cultural the University of Puerto Rico in May- in cultural represen- approach, drawing aguez, he specializes in Teaching English tations led to a teach- out connections be- as a Second Language. ing career as close to tween literature and Dr. James approaches his research her alma mater as performance art. In from both practical and theoretical per- DoVeanna Fulton Wayne State in De- doing so, she particu- spectives. Broadly speaking, he is inter- troit and as far away as Jimma, . larly emphasizes ested in issues related to curriculum, She taught in Ethiopia with the Interna- "roots literatures," or teaching, and learning in second lan- tional Foundation for Education and Self- literatures springing guage education. His current research Help because she wanted to immerse from past and ongo- focuses on instructional methods and herself in African culture. Dr. Fulton ing oral traditions. language learning processes and out- recently won a prestigious Educational In exploring Native comes. He grounds his work in contexts Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship from literatures, she pre- Susan Scarberry-Garcia such as language support for interna- the American Association of University fers to work with tional students at North American uni- Women. With this year-long leave sup- Native authors and artists on projects of versities. port, she will continue researching Afri- mutual interest; this philosophy inspired Dr. James is cur- can American activism as connected to her collaboration with N. Scott Momaday rently teaching Eng- temperance, inequality, and slavery. She and Andrew Wiget in Siberia, as well as lish 107, English for has discovered a temperance novel writ- more current collaborative projects, in- Foreign Students, ten in 1860 that she believes may add to cluding a photographic essay. Her ongo- and English 500, the recognition of African American ing research projects have brought her to Research Methods in voices in early American literature. Arizona repeatedly, and she is thrilled to Linguistics. His Dr. Fulton spends her “spare time” have a more permanent connection with teaching philosophy with her 19-month-old son, Israel, who the state and ASU. She was initially emphasizes experien- loves to go to museums and playgrounds. introduced to ASU in 1978 when Profes- tial learning that is sor Kay Sands invited her to campus to focused on problem- She says that moving to ASU from a col- Mark James lege of 24,000 comes as a big change, but meet Leslie Marmon Silko just after based activities one that she welcomes because of the Ceremony's publication. Dr. Scarberry- rather than lectures. “opportunities to work collaboratively Garcia is excited to create new ties with —Thomas Skeen PhD student, English Graduate Scholars of English Happenings ow in its fourteenth year, the Graduate Scholars of English guistics/TESL Symposium (set for April 7). Both events are in N Association (GSEA) counts as members nearly one-fourth their twelfth year, and GSEA volunteers are needed to serve as of English graduate students; its goal is to have one-half by the panel chairs and to assist in other ways. Graduate students close of 2006. GSEA advocates for graduate students, builds from all over the country and outside of the U.S. have already bridges between students and faculty, represents ASU through proposed papers for the first meeting. To get involved in confer- publications and conference presentations, and helps with vari- ence preparations, please contact one of the committee mem- ous community-based projects. Professional development work- bers: Sean Bolton, Stacey Jackson, Cindi Knight, Christy shops held this fall were presented by faculty members on such Kuehn, Natalie Martinez, or Stephanie Serrano. Proposal dead- topics as preparing vitae, letters of application, conference pres- line for the Linguistics/TESL Symposium is February 14. Com- entations, and teaching portfolios. The group also sponsors mittee members include Shannon Berry, Fify Juliana, Mei- mock interviews and through its travel grant programs helps Ching Ho, Agustini Nolastname, and Nichole Nicholson. students get to conferences to present their work and to advance For an event calendar and more information about GSEA, ASU’s visibility. visit the GSEA website www.asu.edu/clubs/gsea.

Spring 2006 GSEA will help host the Southwest Graduate —Johanna Wagner English Symposium (February 25-26) and the Graduate Lin- PhD student, English, GSEA President Volume 9 Page 5 English Department Integral to New Interdisciplinary BA in Film and Media Studies

our core faculty members from and The Politics of Iden- the Herberger College of Fine Arts, F ASU’s new multidis- tity and author of Con- where a related concentration in Film ciplinary BA in Film and testing Identities: Sports and Media Production is being planned. Media Studies are “at in American Film. Asso- The new degree program is housed in home” in the English ciate professor Paul Pri- CLAS’s Undergraduate Programs Office. Department. Professor vateer is author of In- The founding of the Center for Film and Director of the Film venting Intelligence: A and Media Research and the launching and Media Studies Pro- Social History of Smart. of the new degree program were cele- gram is Peter Lehman, Lecturer Daniel Cutrara, Paul Privateer brated in September at several events author of Blake Ed- a former Jesuit priest with filmmaker Blake Edwards, de- wards, Running Scared: Peter Lehman with an MFA in Film Production/Writing scribed as “one of the most important Masculinity and the Rep- from USC, is the author of two scripts for filmmakers in the history of American resentation of the Male Body and Think- which producers have secured rights, cinema.” Edwards has more than fifty ing about Movies: Introduction to Film Gypsies and Kali Danced. films to his credit, including such hits as Studies. He is also the The BA in Film with The Pink Panther, Victor/Victoria, and editor of Close Viewings: a concentration in Film Breakfast at Tiffany’s. As a Distin- An Anthology of New and Media Studies, inau- guished Fellow of ASU’s Center for Film Film Criticism and De- gurated this fall, in- and Media Research, Edwards is plan- fining Cinema. Associ- cludes multidisciplinary ning on teaching a class at ASU. ate professor and Com- course work not only parative Literature area from departments —Cornelia Wells coordinator Aaron Baker throughout the College Instructor, English is editor of Out of of Liberal Arts and Sci- Aaron Baker Bounds: Sports, Media, Daniel Cutrara ences (CLAS), but also in English Department’s New Lecturers Enthusiastic ajsa Baldini is originally from Stock- be his first choice (his specialization is research and teaching C holm, Sweden, where she completed Native American oral traditions), but interests include rhetori- her undergraduate work at the Univer- "oral traditionist" is a bit unwieldy, and, cal theories of identity sity of Stockholm. She recently received adds Dr. Ellis, “somewhat redolent of construction, teaching- her PhD in Literature from our Depart- dentistry.” As a second generation Ari- assistant education, and ment, and joins the zona native, he is a rarity among Eisen- writing program admini- teaching faculty emi- hower-era baby boomers, and rarer still stration. She enjoys nently prepared by our as a BA through PhD alumnus of ASU. travel, cooking, and inte- own in-house specialists Larry's teaching interests lie in American rior design. in 18th-and 19th-century literature, specifically in the role folklore Camille Newton literature. While Cajsa's and folk performance play in our fiction, eryl Sands completed research focuses on 19th poetry, and oratory. He is presently T her PhD in Composition, Rhetoric, century drama and po- working on a collection of tales, oral his- and Linguistics this past summer at etry, her teaching inter- tories, and family legends of the Creek/ ASU. Her focus in teaching and research ests span the 17th-19th White/Cherokee mixed bloods of the is effective use of in writing Cajsa Baldini centuries on both sides western Panhandle. He likes instruction, technical communication, of the Atlantic, as well as computer- sheep dogs (although he doesn't own one), assessment of effective teaching and mediated teaching and classroom tech- fine wines (although he can't afford learning, and computers and composi- nology. When the spring them), and long walks in the desert. tion. Teryl feels honored to join the Eng- semester is over, she lish Department as a Lec- regularly flees the toasty amille Newton is originally from turer in Composition and Arizona climate to work C Buffalo, NY. She lived in Lake Rhetoric. In addition, she with the Arizona State Charles, LA, for four years and in Louis- is a mom to two great kids Summer Program in Flor- ville, KY, for nine years before coming to and enjoys volunteering at ence, Italy. Arizona. She earned a BS from Cornell Madison Rose Lane Ele- University and an MA from McNeese mentary School. f Lawrence Ellis had to State University. She received her PhD I define himself with an in English/Rhetoric and Composition —Cajsa Baldini Lecturer, English "ist," "folklorist" would Lawrence Ellis from the University of Louisville, and her Teryl Sands Page 6 Accents News from the Programs English Education: Students and Faculty Receive Accolades nglish Education students and faculty ence “unearth meaning” from such books as Soto's Buried On- E have been active in scholarship this ions included Megan Hoover, Caitlin Horrocks, David Pegram, past year. In May 2005, Professor Alleen and Rebecca Sandhoff. Patricia Jimenez discussed some thirty Nilsen was awarded the International Read- young adult books with Hispanic characters and settings and ing Association Arbuthnot Award, given showed a video of her Sunnyslope students discussing Soto's annually to an “outstanding college or uni- books. versity teacher of literature for children and Other talks by students included April Brannon on develop- teenagers.” ing ecological literacy in the English classroom, Katherine Ma- Later, the October 7-8 meeting in Tucson son on cooperative learning in college composition classes, and of the Arizona English Teachers Association Bryan Gillis on collaborative writing strategies for elementary with keynote speaker Gary Soto, featured classrooms. Wendy Kelleher was presented an "Emerging Lead- the participation of ASU students. Students ership" award because of her work as editor of Connections, the Alleen Nilsen from professor Jim Blasingame's young organization's newsletter. adult literature class who helped the audi- —Wendy Kelleher PhD student, English Education Writing Programs / Rhetoric and Composition: Doing the Numbers n line with the recent ASU Insight students (offered in traditional, hybrid, Teaching Assistants. Our students, I headline that “the Tempe campus and online environments). then, not only are succeeding at a higher boasts the nation’s largest enrollment,” Writing Programs offers so many sec- rate, but their evaluation numbers indi- the 188 teachers in Writing Programs tions of writing classes because Presi- cate that they appreciate the smaller have been busy teaching more students dent Crow’s “Project 85” initiative calls class sizes. than ever before: this fall, we have 9,123 for (starting in the fall of 2004) all 100- Finally, this fall—thanks to Depart- students in 488 class sections. As al- level writing and math classes to be ment Chair Neal Lester and Associate ways, Writing Programs is involved in capped at 19 students. Initial statistical Chair Maureen Goggin—we have the (seemingly) every aspect of the univer- results indicate that more students now return of Writing Notes, our in-house sity, from Service-Learning to Rainbow pass our 100-level classes, more continue newsletter, capably edited by Assistant sections, from Stretch Program classes to from fall-to-spring, and student evalua- Director Jen Clary-Lemon. Campus Match sections, to special sec- tions are better for 100-level classes, for —Greg Glau tions of ENG 301 for College of Business Professors, Lecturers, Instructors, and Director, Writing Programs Linguistics / TESL: Teaching English, Learning Compassion t the start of each semester, new tions were clear: to learn to speak, read, reused plastic bags. When swarms of A ASU students begin the Masters in and write English; to find employment; bees attacked refugees, Mohamed and Teaching English as a Second Language and to start a new for their children. Fatuma coordinated construction of a (MTESL) Internship. They divide into It was not until later in the year, when beekeeping area which drew bees away teaching teams, plan lessons together, Mohamed and Fatuma shared some of from the camp and generated a profit and visit local community centers where their experiences with me, that I began when honey was collected and sold. they teach ESL classes. Nervousness is to understand these ambitions in the Mohamed and Fatuma carry with palpable on the first day. There is often context of the obstacles that this family them the hope and patience of those who no common language among interns and had already overcome. have over- students. For some interns, this is their During the 1992 civil war in Somalia, come un- first time teaching English; for some stu- Mohamed and Fatuma were forced to thinkable dents—adults from the greater Phoenix leave their home and flee to a refugee obstacles. area—this is their first time learning camp in Kenya. They spent twelve years I am English. Over time, this initial nervous- in camps before being accepted for reset- thankful ness dissipates. In its place, trust tlement to the U.S. in July 2004. When for the emerges, allowing those who might oth- describing this time in their lives, Mo- chance to erwise never have gotten to know one hamed and Fatuma speak of progress. have met another to share experiences, cultures, The two worked as volunteer community them and and ideas. leaders to improve living conditions in to become As an AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer their camp. When harsh sun and wind a part of a Fatuma Mahat with Anne Clark working with the Internship, I got to caused curtains around latrines to disin- relationship that has been both eye- know two particular members of the Fall tegrate, Mohamed and Fatuma organ- opening and soul-stirring. 2004 ESL class. When I met Mohamed ized a group to make hundreds of new, —Anne Clark, Salat and Fatuma Mahat, their ambi- durable curtains by weaving them out of former AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteer Department of English Volume 9 Page 7 News from the Programs Creative Writing: The Art of Cultural Activism he Creative Writing Program has trated in at least two instances: one, T been involved in a number of ini- by the reading given September 16 by tiatives this fall, some beginning to alumnus Rigoberto González, who come to fruition and others catalyzed mentioned at his moving reading by events having to do with commu- sponsored by the Piper Center, that nity engagement and outreach. MFA he thinks of himself not only as a candidates Katie Cappello, Beth Sta- writer, but also as a "cultural activ- ples, and Diana Park organized a ist." benefit for survivors of Hurricane A year after writing an article on Katrina, an evening of New Orleans the international conference on the food, jazz, and poetry, held on Septem- Lost Boys of Sudan, held in 2004 in ber 23. In addition, Karla Elling and Phoenix, Melissa Pritchard initiated Alberto Ríos, along with MFA candi- what may well turn into a monthly 2005-2006 Creative Writing Program students and faculty date Sheilah Britton, continue their potluck. She hosted fifty of the 450 work at the Hospital young men from Sudan currently liv- capacity of the human to survive un- through the "Humanities in Medicine" ing in the Phoenix metropolitan re- speakable harm, while also acknowledging the program, bearing witness through gion, as well as students and faculty continued local, national, and global struggle poems for Palliative Care patients. from the CWP, and community volun- to stop harm to children. Faculty in the CWP have a twenty- teers working at the Lost Boys' Cen- —Cynthia Hogue year track record of such community ter. The evening under the full Interim Director, Creative Writing Program outreach, a fact dramatically illus- and beautiful palms celebrated the Literature: Presenting Multi-Cultural, Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives Oprah’s Presentation of Hurston Literary A Tradition of Excellence Classic a Teaching Moment for ASU enerally, college students dents, faculty, and community he English Department Devoney Losser, University G are not encouraged to attendees from across the val- T offers a wide variety of of Missouri, Columbia. watch television—professors ley. The event took place in courses in British, Irish and Also in 2006 (November 9- would prefer the ASU Memorial Union and American literature and cul- 12), the International Confer- that they included discussions led by ture. Our award-winning ence on Romanticism will keep their English professors Aaron faculty participate in profes- hold its annual meeting on noses inside Baker, Angelita Reyes, and sional conferences and pub- campus. Plenary speakers books in- Neal Lester. lish their works in books and for this conference are Alan stead—but a While the ABC network journals that find their way Bewell, movie that film starring Halle Berry, Mi- to libraries all over the world. and Stephen Behrendt, Uni- aired Sunday, chael Ealy, Ruben Santiago- We also strive to host im- versity of Nebraska. March 6, 2005 Hudson and Ruby Dee met portant conferences at ASU. We expect that many stu- was an exception. with mixed critical reviews For instance, the Western dents and faculty will partici- Organized by Neal Lester, from this ASU audience, the Society for Eighteenth- pate in both conferences in a professor and chair of the De- broadcast created an excellent Century Studies annual variety of capacities. Through partment of English, with co- teaching moment; it was the meeting will be held Febru- this, the Literature faculty sponsorships from the ASU first time this literary classic ary 17-19, 2006 on the Tempe and students will continue Film and Media Studies Pro- was produced for the general campus. The meeting, hosted the tradition of excellence as gram, the Department of His- viewing public. Free movie by Hank Keithley and O M ASU evolves into the New tory, the Women and Gender posters were provided by Brack, will bring together American University. Studies Program, the African HarperCollins, while Bedford, approximately eighty schol- —Gregory Castle Professor, English and African American Studies Freeman &Worth, and Allyn ars interested in all aspects Program, Co-Curricular Pro- & Bacon/ Longman publishers of the eighteenth grams, and Chandler-Gilbert- provided food and drinks. century. Plenary Community College, the tele- ABC/Channel 12 highlighted speakers will be film showing of Zora Neale the event in its late evening Professor Joseph Hurston’s Harlem Renaissance news. M. Levine, Syra- cuse University, novel Their Eyes Were Watch- —James Hathaway / Neal Lester ing God drew nearly 100 stu- and Professor Page 8 Accents In Memoriam: A Department Grieving Together

Marianna Brose (1929-2005) | Gary Walker (1956-2005) | Eugenia DeLamotte (1951-2005)

n June 27, Marianna Brose, professor emerita, died after a brave struggle with emphysema. For more than O 35 years, Marianna taught Shakespeare and other literature courses here in the department. Gary Walker, who came to the ASU English program in 1996 and completed his PhD in the spring of 2004, passed away on July 30. Gary was a Teaching Associate for five years while in the PhD program and then taught as a Faculty Associate in the department. Eugenia Caroline DeLamotte, an English professor, died on August 22, 2005 after a courageous fight with lym- phoma. “Genie” came to ASU in 1994 and was a much-accomplished teacher-scholar. English Department’s Reach Far and Wide

he Department of English was acknowledged for its varied outreach programming at T an Office of University Initiatives ceremony on November 29, 2005. The gathering celebrated the unveiling of the new “ASU in the Community” website, which features the university’s community engagement activities. Included in the English Department’s highlighted programs were the following: the “Come Home to English” project (see page one for story), Creative Writing’s Community Writers Workshop, the Alumni Lecture Series, the Faculty Emeritus Colloquium Series, English Education’s Multicultural Child & Adolescent Literacy Project, the Doug- las/Marana Prison Book Drive, MTESL’s Adult and Family Literacy Project, the ASU/U of A Faculty Exchange Lecture Series, and the Young Adult Writing Project. Visit the website at: www.asu.edu/community. Institute for Humanities Research Encourages Electronic Engagement

he newly-minted ASU Institute for provides texts that would otherwise be in the Engaging Radio T Humanities Research (IHR) funded unavailable for classroom or public use. Project include David two “high-tech” projects: “The Antislav- Local affiliated researchers working Birchfield (ISA/AME); ery Literature Project” on the project include April Brannon Prasad Boradkar (School and “Engaging Radio.” (English) Chouki El Hamel (History), of Design); Daniel Gilfil- According to Project Stephen Marc (Photography), Elizabeth lan (Languages and Lit- Director Joe Lockard, McNeil (English), Sharon Kirsch (ASU- eratures); Gwyneira the goal of the Antislav- West), Michael Stancliff (ASU-West), Isaac (Anthropology); ery Literature Project Angelita Reyes (African and African and Torin Monahan “is to increase public American Studies), and Alyce Nadine, (School of Justice and access to a body of lit- an independent graphic artist. Non- Social Inquiry). The Philip Bernick erature crucial to un- ASU affiliates come from Harvard Uni- group project explores derstanding African versity, , Univer- “the social, cultural, and material ex- American experience, sity of Haifa (Israel), , perience of radio” and plans to share Joe Lockard United States and hemi- University of North Carolina-Chapel their findings through exhibitions, spheric histories of slavery, and early Hill; Trinity College; and the University sound productions, publications, and a human rights philosophies.” IHR fund- of Massachusetts-Amherst. website. The project is based on the idea ing enabled Lockard and collaborators to Visit the project web page at: of radio as a “vehicle of expression” and further develop a website which provides http://antislavery.eserver.org. a medium for mass-communication. document digitization, text annotation, Bernick describes the project as “looking and online publishing for 18th and 19th- SU English assis- at how radio engages us as consumers, century texts. The site averages some A tant professors observers, listeners, and then, how we 500 visitors a day, and has been fea- Philip Bernick and Jen- engage it—by looking at its history, its tured at the University of Pennsyl- nifer Parchesky are par- currency, and its future.” vania’s “Online Books Page.” The pro- ticipating in a trans- Visit the project’s academic portfolio ject operates in cooperation with the disciplinary research at: www.public.asu.edu/~dgilfill/radio Eserver at Iowa State University, and group investigating the obtains its digitization work from India. materiality of radio. —Kristen LaRue Outreach Program Coordinator, English As both a research and teaching site, it Other ASU participants Jennifer Parchesky Volume 9 Page 9 New Members Fill Out English Department Staff

uth Johnston is the Administrative Secretary for the Writ- hile finishing his dissertation, Bruce Matsunaga is filling R ing Programs office. Before taking this position, she W a one-year position as the department’s technical support worked in the Financial Aid office for five years. She is enjoy- person. He helps faculty members create webpages, navigate ing her time in Writing Programs because her previous job was MYASU, and problem-solve various kinds of software. He de- more behind the scenes, processing loans. signed the template for the main English Department websites Prior to moving to Arizona in December 1999, Ruth and her and now assists unit coordinators with their individual sites. family lived in Bourbonnais, IL for 22 years. She has two chil- Bruce earned his Literature degree from Cal State at Stanis- dren, a daughter, 30, who lives in Illinois with her husband and laus and then completed his MA here. For his PhD disserta- two sons, and a 26-year-old son who lives here. In Illinois, tion, he is doing ecological criticism on the writing of Romantic Ruth worked at Kankakee Community College as the secretary poets William Wordsworth and John Keats. He recently pre- in the Financial Aid Office and worked with the Foundation sented a paper on Wordsworth and his relationship to nature at Board of Directors. There she proc- the Rocky Mountain MLA meeting in essed paperwork for the annual schol- Coeur d’Alene, ID. arship program and for veterans at- —Wendy C. Kelleher tending school. Ruth was the re- PhD student, English Education cording secretary for the Alumni Asso- an Zlotkowski is the new Office ciation at the school. Assistant/Senior Receptionist in Ruth loves to cook and bake. Music N the main office. Her duties include is also a big part of her life. She has dealing with student questions, train- been a song leader in her church for ing student employees, and keeping over 25 years and has sung at wed- the Department Chair’s calendar. For dings, funerals and a variety of shows. faculty, she holds the keys and assists —Kirsti Cole PhD student, English with equipment check-out. Before Nan came to work for ASU, onnie Rigmaiden, a familiar face she worked eight years for Mesa Pub- B we’ve seen either in the English L to R: Nan Zlotkowski, Ruth Johnston, lic Schools, most recently as Registrar/ Education office (afternoons) or in the Bruce Matsunaga, and Bonnie Rigmaiden Secretary for Mendoza Elementary in new sixth floor Film and Media Stud- East Mesa. She has lived in Arizona ies office (mornings), has been an ASU employee for almost 14 for eighteen years, but confesses that her “heart belongs to the years. She has lived in Arizona for forty years and for much of Midwest.” She attended Northern Illinois University in Dekalb that time has been an administrative assistant. and especially at this time of year yearns for fall colors and A Mesa resident, Bonnie is a grandmother three times over, Notre Dame football. She loves to decorate and on the week- and one of her two daughters promises another grandchild ends enjoys working on projects. soon. She says that her kids and her grandkids play a major Nan has been married for 25 years and has two children: a part in her life, making the perfect balance to the right job in daughter who is an Early Childhood Education major at ASU, the right place. and a volleyball-playing son who is a junior at Red Mountain —Wendy C. Kelleher High School. PhD student, English Education —Johanna Wagner PhD student, English

A Favorite Staff Member Retires o doubt many of you have noticed ites were working on the employee in her Home Own- N that after 11 years in the English searches each fall, working with the ers Association Department’s Main office, Kay Dingman various English Department commit- where she has has retired. Before she was hired by tees, coordinating itineraries for campus served as a mem- ASU, Kay worked for a number of years visits, and meeting prospective hires. ber of the Board with Mesa Public Schools as a reading She truly enjoyed all aspects of her and as Secretary aid. In 1989, she became a receptionist work. for the last three in what was then called the ASU Aca- In retirement, Kay says she enjoys years. demic Advising Center. In 1994, Kay having her days free and is spending Kay seemed to moved to the English Department as an time with her grandchildren. She is always have the Administrative Secretary, advancing expecting her first great-grandchild in answers to our through the years to Administrative As- October. Her three Papillion dogs and many questions, sistant, and finally to Office Supervisor. her Persian cat keep her company while and we will miss As the Office Supervisor, Kay took on a she enjoys her hobbies: reading, swim- her knowledge and her quiet efficiency. variety of duties, but among her favor- ming, and playing cards. She is active —Johanna Wagner PhD student, English Page 10 Accents New Emeritus Faculty with 04-05 Retirees

fter fifteen years as a Rhetoric and teach composition, and he characterized muk's writings are of particular interest A Composition professor at Montana teaching this class as a “unique chal- to Kehl since his recent trip to Turkey State University, lenge.” He also taught undergraduate and Greece. An avid , he also John Rammage courses, and found English 217: Reflec- plans to take a Caribbean cruise in the decided he was tive Writing to be particularly interest- coming months and looks forward to ready for a change. ing. By teaching students to reflect on traversing the U.S. to spend time with He traded in his their experiences, he was given “a his four grandchil- snow shovel for a glimpse into other people’s lives,” and dren. When not bottle of sunscreen said that he enjoyed the to traveling, reading, and relocated to help students write about topics they or writing, Kehl Arizona. Dr. Ram- normally wouldn’t. anticipates volun- mage has been at Currently, Rammage can be found in teering at a local ASU ever since, the corridors of the English Department library and at a and despite his and the stacks of the library, still re- homeless shelter. retirement last searching and still working with gradu- Although he year, he is still re- ate students. misses his interac- searching and working with students. —April Brannon tions with faculty His research interests include rhetorical PhD student, English and students at theory, Kenneth Burke, writing program ASU and values fter a 40-year tenure at ASU as a administration, and argumentation. He the experiences he Professor of English, Del Kehl is currently working on a book about A has had here, he looks forward to pursu- might well be ready for some serious teaching argumentation with graduate ing other interests and opportunities. rest and relaxation. Not so! He's eager students Jennifer Clary-Lemon, Zac to continue writing about American lit- —Jennifer M. Santos Waggoner, and Mike Callaway. erature and is excited to have more time PhD student, English Before retirement, Rammage taught to read a variety of authors, including several courses, including the class that Turkish novelist Orhan Pamuk. Pa- prepares new teaching assistants to

Our distinctions do not lie in the places we occupy, but in the grace and dignity with which we fill them. —WILLIAM GILMORE SIMMS

Word Lovers Corner: Waiting for the Readers of Harry Potter

e have something in common with man goddess of This is exactly what the students do with W the ’s coach fruit and of an her even though they probably do not Lute Olsen. Just like he scouts 12-year- American city in realize that her first name comes from olds in hopes of grooming them for the U one of the most dolor, (“pain”) as in doleful and in the of A basketball team, we are eagerly fertile parts of Cali- name of the Via Doloroso (“the way of waiting for adolescents now reading fornia. The Latin pain”) that Christ walked in Jerusalem. Harry Potter books to enroll in our lin- meaning of pomona Our favorite example is the Den- guistics classes because they will have a is “apple,” as in saugeo! curse, which causes people's head start in understanding the richness such English words teeth to grow uncontrollably. Augēre of English and how much we owe to as pomegranates means “to increase” and has given Eng- Latin roots. (“apples with lish such words as augur, auxiliary, and J. K. Rowling uses Latin roots to cre- grains or seeds”) augmentative. Dens or dons means teeth ate the names for many of her charac- and pommels, which are the apple- and has given us dentist, orthodontist, ters as well as the spells they cast. For shaped handles on western saddles. and dentures. Mastodons (“breast- example, Ludovic Bagman’s first name In Book Five, the Ministry of Magic teeth”) were named because of the shape comes from ludere (“to play”) as seen in sends the mean-spirited Dolores and placement of their tusks, while the such words as ludicrous, to delude, and Umbridge to replace the beloved Profes- heterodontosaurus got its name from to elude someone, which is appropriate sor Dumbledore. She gives herself the being a dinosaur with different kinds of to his job as head of the Department of title of “High Inquisitor,” which fits well Magical Games and Sports. Professor with the meaning of “to doubt or sus- teeth—incisors, molars, and canines. Pomona Sprout teaches herbology. Her pect” in the phrase to take umbrage —Don and Alleen Nilsen first name is the same as that of the Ro- (from Latin for “shade” or “shadow”). Professors, English Volume 9 Page 11 Leaving a Legacy of Inspiration eaving a legacy by donating in a given to an undergraduate student in L loved one’s name cultivates a lifetime creative writing. of inspiration and support for future gen- The John Doebler Memorial Award erations. The generosity of donors en- for Renaissance Studies is presented ables the English Department to offer annually at the Southwest Graduate prestigious awards to students. Award Literature Symposium. John Doebler monies vary and can be used for students’ was a former English professor at tuition, books, and research. ASU. The gift is from his widow, Bet- The Wilfred A. Ferrell Memorial Fel- tie Anne Doebler, an English Depart- lowship is an endowment from former ment professor emerita. Director of Graduate Studies and English The ASU Eddie Dyer Memorial Department Chair Wilfred Ferrell, who Writing Scholarship was recently es- sought to strengthen our English gradu- tablished by Cindy Dyer in honor of ate program. It is awarded annually to a her husband, Eddie. Beginning Megan Faragher (left), 2005 Nick Ivins Memorial Litera- PhD student. Spring 2006, it will be awarded annu- ture Award recipient, with the Ivins family. The George and Collice Portnoff En- ally to an undergraduate English ma- dowed Fellowship in Comparative Litera- jor with an emphasis on written expres- Frank, Mrs. Kirsner’s sister and a former ture is awarded to a graduate student sion. creative writing student at ASU. working in two literatures in the original The Nick Ivins Memorial Literature The Katharine C. Turner Scholarship languages, not including English. Collice Scholarship, established in memory of supports graduate student recruitment. Portnoff was a former English Depart- Nick Ivins (BA English 2004), is given to Professor Katharine Turner, a faculty ment chair. an English literature senior with a spe- member in literature, is also credited The Anatole Creative Writing Scholar- cial interest in Irish studies. with starting ASU’s Creative Writing ship honors Jules J. Anatole, a lifelong Dorothy and Alvin Kirsner’s gift Program. learner and inspiring individual, and is makes possible the Esther Frank Memo- —Sheila Luna rial Poetry Reading in honor of Esther Graduate Program Coordinator, English Friends of the Department of English

lease take a moment to join the Friends of the Please make checks payable to ASU Foundation/Friends of P Department of English by completing and returning this English. Funds will be deposited with the ASU Foundation, a form. Membership benefits are outlined under each separate non-profit organization which supports ASU. Fees membership level. and contributions are tax deductible. LENGP6D 30AMLEN0003 Name______Mail to: Friends of the Department of English Address______Arizona State University PO Box 870302 City______State_____ Zip______Tempe, AZ 85287-0302

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Coming events . . .

Emeritus Colloquium Series, ASU Department of English Thelma Richard with Barbara Levy: LL 316, 3:15 p.m. January 25, 2006

Alumni Lecture Series, ASU Department of English Nancy-Jo Merritt: LL 316, 3:15 p.m. February 23, 2006 Nikki Buchanan: LL 316, 3:15 p.m. March 30, 2006

Ian Fletcher Memorial Lecture Jerome McGann, Victorian scholar March 27, 2006 University Club, 7:00 p.m.

Faculty Colloquium Series, ASU Department of English Susan Scarberry-Garcia: LL 316, 3:15 p.m. March 29, 2006

Glendon & Kathryn Swarthout Awards in Writing Lee L. Abbott, Fiction Writer April 18, 2006 MU Turquoise Rm 208F, 7:30 p.m.

Graduation Reception & Awards Ceremony, ASU English MU Turquoise Rm 208F, 3:00 p.m. May 10, 2006