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Summer 08 Newsletter Issue No. 50 San Antonio Summer 2008 Convention News The 65th annual SCMLA San Antonio will host the Find links and more informa- convention will be held at gathering. Highlights will tion on how to pay by credit the Sheraton Gunter in include the plenary address card on page 6 and on-line at San Antonio, Texas. Close by Naomi Shihab Nye on www.ou.edu/scmla. If you to the border between Mex- Friday, November 7 at would like to contact the ico and the United States, 5:45p.m., entitled Sheraton Gunter in San Anto- San Antonio offers a fitting “Language as Gravity: We nio before you receive the venue for discussions that Have No Borders When We registration information, call cross borders in the many Read. ” Nye has been a (888)-999-2089 and ask for fields that SCMLA mem- Lannan Fellow, a Guggen- the South Central Modern bers represent: languages, heim Fellow, and a Witter Language Association rate literatures, linguistics, cul- Bynner Fellow (Library of ($139 single & double.) You tural studies, theory and so Congress). She is the au- can make your hotel reserva- on, and many sessions ad- thor of 19 Varieties of Ga- tions online using dress this theme. While zelle: Poems of the Middle www.ou.edu/scmla and click- “borders,” this year’s East. Honeybee, a book of ing on Make Reservations at theme, can represent cur- poetry for young adults, was the Sheraton Gunter Hotel rent political debates on published in March 2008. link on our main page. immigration, security, Arturo Madrid, the Mur- We look forward to welcom- boundaries, and division, chison Distinguished Pro- ing you to San Antonio and to the theme also covers more fessor of Humanites at Trin- a stimulating convention this expansive definitions. Not ity University, San Antonio, year! will give Thursday after- only do borders divide, but Reminder: they can also unite and noon’s 6:00 keynote before All SCMLA Conference hinge together two separate the SCMLA Social, which areas or topics. They con- starts at 7:00. Paper Prize submissions are jure up images of passage, The Sheraton Gunter will due on September 1, 2008. embarkation, arrival, new provide space for 69 regular For more information challenges, and inter- and allied sessions as well please visit www.ou.edu/ change, as well as blending, as 25 special sessions. scmla blurring, being “on edge,” Registration packets will Paper Prizes: “on the fringe,” and “in the arrive in late August or • Historical Literary margins,” to name only a early September and will few of the ways that bor- include hotel reservation and/or Cultural Studies ders affect us. information as well as the • Hispanic Gender Stud- The department of Eng- conference registration form ies lish and Communication that will allow you to re- Arts and the department of serve your space at recep- Please mail four (4) copies Languages at St. Mary’s tions, breakfasts, luncheons, to SCMLA, University of University as well as the and socials. However, mem- Oklahoma, 104 Fourth department of Modern Lan- bers will be able to register, Street, Baker, B64, Nor- guages and Literatures at pay dues, vote, and make man, OK 73019-6410. the University of Texas- hotel reservations on-line. Newsletter Inside this issue: Naomi Shihab Nye 2 Awards 4 Convention Socials & Opportunities 2 Call for Special Session Form - Baton Rouge 2009 5 2008 Conference Paper Prizes 2 South Central On-line Registration and Dues Payment 6 Sustaining Departmental Members 3 San Antonio Information 6 SCMLA Deadlines 3 Convention Hotel and Reservation Information 7 The South Central Modern Language Association Association The South Central Modern Language Future Conventions 4 Directions to the Sheraton Gunter, San Antonio 8 Executive Committee Elections 2008 4 2008 San Antonio Plenary Speaker-Naomi Shihab Nye Naomi Shihab Nye grew up in St. Louis, Jerusalem, and San Antonio and has traveled the United States and the world leading writing workshops and inspiring students. Her books of poetry include 19 Varieties of Gazelle: Poems of the Middle East, A Maze Me: Poems for Girls, Red Suitcase, Words Under the Words, Fuel and You & Yours. Her other works include prize-winning poetry anthologies for young readers, including This Same Sky, The Space Between Our Footstep, and Poems & Paintings from the Middle East. A book of poetry for young adults entitled Honeybee was published earlier this year. Naomi Shihab Nye has been a Lannan Fellow, a Guggenheim Fellow, and a Witter Bynner Fellow (Library of Congress). She has received a Lavan Award from the Academy of American Poets, the Isabella Gardner Poetry Award, the Lee Bennett Hopkins Poetry Award, the Paterson Poetry Prize, four Pushcart Prizes, and numerous honors for her chil- dren’s literature, including two Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards. Her collection 19 Varieties of Gazelle was a finalist for the National Book Award. She is a regular columnist for Organica and poetry edi- tor for The Texas Observer. Her work has been presented on National Public Radio’s A Prairie Home Companion and The Writer’s Almanac. She has been featured on two PBS poetry specials: The Language of Life with Bill Moyers and The United States of Poetry. She has also appeared on NOW with Bill Moyers. Nye will give the Plenary Address at the SCMLA conference in San Antonio at the Gunter Hotel on Friday, November 7, 2008 at 5:45 p.m Convention Socials & Opportunities French, German, & Spanish Breakfasts Mock Job Interviews Receptions The South Central College English The workshop for academic job seekers Once again there will be a French, Ger- Association (SCCEA) and the that provides informal advising and man, and Spanish reception on Friday Women’s Caucus will hold profes- mock interviews will be Saturday afternoon from 4:00-5:30. The French, sional breakfasts on Friday and Satur- morning, November 8, 2008. The German, and Spanish representatives day mornings. The Women’s Caucus workshop is sponsored by the South will host the reception for members to will meet on Friday at 7:30a.m. and the Central Association of Departments of share ideas and information pertinent to SCCEA will meet Saturday at 7:45a.m. Foreign Languages and Departments their disciplines. Please mark your Please pre-register on your convention of English. If you are interested in registration form in the convention registration form to participate. scheduling a mock interview, contact Grady C. Wray, SCMLA Executive packet to participate. Director, at [email protected]. Volunteers may also be needed to conduct the inter- views. Volunteer by contacting [email protected]. SCMLA 2008 Conference Paper Prizes Deadline: September 1, 2008 Members with appropriate papers scheduled for the Fall 2008 conference are encouraged to compete for our two conference paper prizes, jointly sponsored by the SCMLA. Please submit your paper to: SCMLA, U of Oklahoma, 104 Fourth Street, Baker House B46, Norman, OK 73019-6410 by September 1, 2008. For more information on all SCMLA prizes go to: www.ou.edu/scmla/grants.html Historical Literary and/or Cultural Studies / $250 Bill L. and Gerre D. Andrist Hispanic Gender Studies Prize / $750 in 2008 Page 2 SOUTH CENTRAL NEWSLETTER 2008 Sustaining Departmental Members SCMLA is proud to announce its Sustaining Departmental Members for 2008. If your university is not listed here, please contact [email protected] or www.ou.edu/scmla to become a member. Louisiana State U (Foreign Languages & Literatures) Midwestern State U (Foreign Languages) Southwestern Oklahoma State U (Language Arts) St. Mary’s U (English and Communication Studies) St. Mary’s U (Languages) U of Oklahoma (English) U of Oklahoma (Modern Languages, Literatures, & Linguistics) U of Texas - Austin (Germanic Studies) U of Texas - San Antonio (Modern Languages and Literatures) U of Tulsa (English) Xavier U of Louisiana (English) SCMLA Deadlines 2008-2009 SEPTEMBER 2008 FEBRUARY 2009 27 Deadline for submission of Papers/ 01 Deadline for SCMLA office receipt 02 Deadline for Humanities Re- Abstracts for Baton Rouge 2009 to of 2008 Conference Paper Prize search Center/SCMLA award. Regular/Allied Session Chairs. submissions. Apply directly to the HRC. See Grant / Award information at www.ou.edu/ APRIL 2009 OCTOBER 2008 scmla. 10 Deadline for SCMLA office receipt 06 Deadline for SCMLA office receipt 20 Deadline for receipt of SCMLA of Final Program copy for all 2009 of 2008 convention Research and Travel Award and sessions. pre-registration and ballots. the Graduate Student Grant appli- 10 Deadline for requesting audio- 06 Deadline for 2008 convention cations to the SCMLA office. visual equipment for Baton Rouge hotel reservations at the Sheraton 20 Deadline for SCMLA office receipt 2009. Gunter, San Antonio. of Final Proposals for Special Ses- sions, Baton Rouge. MAY 2009 NOVEMBER 2008 22 Deadline for 2010 Special Session 21 Deadline for SCMLA office receipt MARCH 2009 Calls for Papers for inclusion in the of items to be included in the 01 Deadline for application for Summer Newsletter. Winter Newsletter, including Regu- Newberry Library/SCMLA award. 22 Deadline for SCMLA office receipt lar/Allied and Special Session Calls for Apply directly to the Newberry Library. See of items to be included in the Summer Papers for 2009. Grant /Award information at Newsletter. www.ou.edu/scmla. 22 Deadline for 2009 convention par- JANUARY 2009 27 Proposers of approved Special Ses- ticipants to become members of 20 Nominations/Self nominations for sions will be notified. SCMLA. SCMLA officers and representatives to 27 Deadline for receipt of Book Prize F. Blackwell. nominations. ISSUE NO. 50 Page 3 Executive Committee Elections Representative, the German Representative, Future Conventions 2008 & 2009 Nominations and the Vice President. Candidates for these positions should be ready to serve three-year terms and to meet twice a year, in the spring The Fall Convention Packet will include a (in February or March) and on the first day of 2008 ballot and information on the candidates for the fall convention.
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