Fall Faculty Lecture

Professor Frances E. Dolan was the fea- precisely is that legacy? My book off ers an tured speaker for the 2005 Fall Faculty Lec- assessment of one particular origin of our ture. Professor Dolan specializes in Early ideas about marriage, arguing that we need Modern literature and culture. to understand the provenance and content Contents of this legacy before we can assess its val- GF ue. As I show, to the extent that marriage is “So you got yourself a partner. I’ve got a a legacy it is a burdensome one. Marriage is wife. Not exactly a partner. More like a certainly “historic,” as Dobson describes it, but its history is one of constant, constitutive Fall Faculty Lecture ...... 1 rival. A rivalry. I wish I could say ‘this is my partner.’” , “Mel’s Off er,” crisis and confl ict. Curb Your Enthusiasm (2004) What do we even mean by “marriage”? This From the Chair ...... 2 My current project, “Marriage and Violence: question is at the center of recent debates. Our Early Modern Legacy,” builds on the re- While debate usually focuses on who can Creative Writing search I’ve been conducting for years into or should marry, the most basic question remains: what does it mean to be married? Update...... 4 the complexities of early modern English culture (1550-1700). But it is as informed by What is the shape of the intimate relation my own experience living in the world today that marriage sanctions? Our fundamen- PhD Program Update...5 as it is by my reading of early modern pam- tal defi nitions of this fundamental institu- phlets, diaries, ballads, plays, trials, and tion are contradictory. On the one hand, Alumni Bulletin.....6 legal statutes. I am attempting to respond marriage is defi ned as a loving, erotic bond to my students, who consistently bring me between two equal individuals. On the oth- newspaper clippings, advise me to watch er hand, it is construed as a hierarchy in Student Awards...... 6 Desperate Housewives, and tell me that I which someone, usually the husband, has have to see JLo in Enough--immediately. I to be the boss. Marriage is celebrated as Faculty News...... 7 don’t think that they are trying to divert me the ecstatic melting of two into one and as from the rigors of historical study by luring a contract between two autonomous par- me into a discussion of the familiar, the pop- ties. The confl icts among diff erent models Retirements...... 8-9 ular. Instead, I have come to see that they of marriage are often taken as evidence fi nd the present disturbing and bewildering that marriage is in unprecedented crisis. I In Memoriam...... 10 and they are wondering if the past can help argue, instead, that these confl icts are the them understand it. They perceive deep history of marriage. They are thus mani- continuities between present and past and festations of continuity rather than rupture. Staff News...... 11 they want to explore them. So do I. We have inherited these models, and the ir- reconcilable diff erences among them, from My particular focus in this project is mar- early modern England. Friends of riage. Today, marriage is celebrated as the English...... 11 enduring foundation on which the rest of so- In that time and place, a radically visionary ciety builds. For instance, in his 2004 State model of marriage as a loving partnership of the Union Address, President George between equals emerged into prominent W. Bush described marriage as “one of the visibility, in part because of the Protestant most fundamental, enduring institutions of Reformation. While this ideal was not wholly our civilization.” Yet this claim that marriage new, it fi rst found stable institutionalization, is a foundation often precedes the claim that full articulation, and broad dissemination in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Its Volume 10, 2006 it needs to be shored up. Marriage requires “defense” and “protection” in the form of ed- promise remains unfulfi lled because it never ucational programs and fi nancial incentives replaced a model of marriage as a hierar- that would promote “healthy marriage” and chy in which the husband must take the lead bans on same-sex marriage. Even the De- and the wife must obey. Similarly, the ideal fense of Marriage Act of 1996, the fi rst to de- of marriage as a contract coexists uneasily fi ne marriage at a federal level, is not enough. with the ideal of marriage as a near-mysti- James Dobson, for instance, argues that we cal fusion in which one loses oneself. The need a Federal Marriage Amendment to the tensions among these models lodge the po- Constitution in order “to defi ne this historic tential for violent confl ict at the very core of institution exclusively as being between one marriage. man and one woman.” Dobson urges his In my book, I am especially interested in readers to “fi nd the wisdom and strength to a legacy that does violence to spouses by defend the legacy of marriage,” through po- suggesting that marriage only has room for litical action and personal choice.1 But what one of them. Early modern religious, legal,

continued on page 3 2 From the Chair

Next year should be a very exciting one for the English Depart- ment. It will have a new chair, Margaret Ferguson; the University Writing Program will have a new director, Christopher Thaiss; and the Division of Humanities, Arts and Cultural Studies will have a new dean, Jessie Ann Owens.

In addition the department will have three new faculty members, Mark Jerng in Asian American Studies, Parama Roy in Postcolonial Literature and Theory, and John Marx, also in Postcolonial Litera- ture and Theory. (Professor Marx will not actually be on campus until the fall of 2007.)

I confess that I have some regret that I won’t be in the thick of all these changes, but I am ready to have Margie occupy the chair I have leaned back in for the past three years, and I am ready to retire after teaching at Davis for 35 years. So next fall I will be an avid fan sitting in the stands watching the plays develop. Jeannette and I plan to stay in Davis. (I fi nd it interesting that the typical questions I am asked by people who learn I am retiring are, Are you going to move? Any travel plans? What will you do now? The most common comment is, Con- gratulations?) The biggest change in our lives may be going camping in the middle of the week instead of on weekends. I plan to continue photographing and writing.

I have no trouble whatsoever saying what is most rewarding about UC Davis ENGLISH is published being chair. It is working with the people in the department. This goes once a year and is sent to graduate especially for the staff . They are the ones I see most and work with students, faculty, Friends of English, and alumni. Please send correspon- most closely on a day-to-day basis, and, thank goodness, they know dence to Chair, English, One Shields what is going on on campus and know how to negotiate a complex Avenue, Davis, CA 95616. Email: [email protected] and sometimes cumbersome institution. Many thanks to them and to Visit http://wwwenglish.ucdavis.edu/ faculty and students!

Editor: Anett Jessop When I think of what the department has accomplished in the past Copy Editor: Pam Self three years, the six faculty we have hired come immediately to mind Layout and Design: The Printer (Lucy Corin, Desireé Martín, Colin Milburn, Mark Jerng, Parama Roy, Photos: Janie Guhin, Ron Ottman, and John Marx) as well as the Tomales Bay Workshops, so ably David Robertson initiated and run by Pam Houston. When I think of what I wanted to Advisory Board: David Robertson and Terry Antonelli accomplish and have not, memory serves up frustrations with matters digital on a big platter. David Robertson, chair Overall, however, frustrations have played a decidedly minor role in Terry Antonelli, MSO my tenure as chair. I have genuinely enjoyed the job and leave it with Scott Simmon, graduate advisor Pam Houston, creative writing director very many good feelings. Timothy Morton, undergraduate advisor David Robertson continued from page 1 3 and popular discourses assume that once documented the complexities of early mod- It is not comfortable to entertain the possibil- spouses confront one another as equals, only ern marriage and the development of mod- ity that marital equality is supplemented by one can win the resulting battles. This is the ern marriage, none has focused on the pre- the labor, even the exploitation, of domestic case, I argue, because the notion of marriage cise relationship between the early modern workers. Promoting that kind of discomfort is fi rst fully elaborated in the early modern pe- and modern.2 This relationship is obscured my goal. Many historians of marriage and the riod insists that marriage welds two into one, by the many changes that have intervened, family stress the dangers of dwelling on con- but raises questions as to which including reliable birth control, tinuity; making connections between now one that will be. The crucial the wider availability of divorce, and then, they warn, obscures the crucial oth- fi guration of Christian marriage married women’s changing legal erness of the past, turning it into a mirror in as the creation of “one fl esh” status and access to paid work, which we can see only refl ections of ourselves at once powerfully expresses the criminalization of domestic and our own concerns. I am mindful of E. P. theological, emotional, and violence, and the greater visibil- Thompson’s scathing put-down of Lawrence erotic union and upholds an ity and acceptance of same-sex Stone’s The Family, Sex, and Marriage in Eng- ideal that is technically impos- and cohabiting couples. These land: “The prospective purchaser is supposed sible. The common law off ered changes have utterly transformed to squeal excitedly: ‘Darling, look, the history a parallel formulation, suggest- the experience of marriage and of us!’”3 The recognition I hope to make pos- ing that, through a legal fi ction domestic life. But if we focus on sible is considerably less pleasurable. I seek to called coverture, husband and them we cannot see the conti- estrange the present rather than to domesti- wife should become one legal nuities that persist despite them. cate the past. Professor Frances Dolan agent by means of the hus- These continuities stand out more 1 was the featured faculty George W. Bush, Jan. 2004 State of the Union Address, as quoted band’s subsumption of his wife clearly if the present and the early in (Wed, Jan. 21, 2004), A13; James Dobson, speaker for the 2005 Fall Marriage Under Fire: Why We Must Win This War (Sisters, OR: into himself. While common Faculty Lecture. modern period are viewed side by Multnomah Publishers, 2004), pp. 9, 79, 82. law did not wholly defi ne mar- side. Rather than myself undertake 2Stephanie Coontz, Marriage, a History: From Obedience to Intimacy or How Love Conquered Marriage (Viking, 2005); Nancy F. Cott, Public ried women’s legal status, the another comprehensive history of Vows: A History of Marriage and the Nation (Harvard UP, 2000); David Cressy, Birth, Marriage, and Death: Ritual, Religion, and the Life-Cycle fi ction that husband and wife achieved “uni- marriage, then, I have chosen to contrast the in Tudor and Stuart England (Oxford UP, 1997); Hendrick Hartog, Man ty of person” had wide-ranging infl uence in long twentieth century to the early modern and Wife in America: A History (Harvard UP, 2000), and Lawrence Stone, The Family, Sex, and Marriage in England: 1500-1800 (Harper the early modern period and beyond. Finally, period in order to emphasize the ways in & Row, 1977). a comic tradition, including plays, ballads, which our current problems are embedded 3E.P. Thompson, “Happy Families,” New Society (8 Sept, 1977): 499- 501, esp. p. 499. and jokes, assigned husband and wife equal in an early modern construction of what mar- claims on wit, desire, authority, and material riage is and requires. resources. Yet it depicted this equality as a The book has four main chapters. The fi rst UCD/Globe Theatre Initiative source of confl ict because husband and wife two chapters focus on spouses locked in one- UCD has embarked on a partnership with war for mastery within their marriage and on-one struggles with high stakes: salvation Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. In household, mastery fi gured as a single pair or damnation, life or death. The third chapter July 2005, a deputation from Davis visited the of pants only one can wear. considers what happens when spouses share Globe to work out the details for a two-year The conceptual similarity underpinning their household-- and their confl icts--with program. During each year of this pilot, these familiar fi gures only stands out when other dependents, particularly servants and Davis will send two Ph.D. students to London one compares all three, as my study is the slaves. This was the chapter I presented as my for a quarter of independent research. These fi rst to do. Taken together, the scriptural fi g- lecture. I show that early modern and twen- UCD/Globe Exchange Scholars will have ac- ure of “one fl esh,” the legal fi ction of “unity tieth-century accounts of household govern- cess to the programs and archives at the of person,” and popular debates about who ment warn that equality between husband Globe. In fall 2006, the fi rst two UCD/Globe wears the pants all suggest that marriage and wife creates fruitless struggles for the Exchange Scholars will be Tara Pedersen and is an economy of scarcity in which there is breeches. The husband can ameliorate these Andrea Lawson, both from the English De- only room for one full person. What hap- confl icts, however, by granting his wife equal partment. Pedersen and Lawson both focus pens when both spouses assert their distinct power over their dependents, and thus de- on sixteenth- and seventeenth-century dra- and potentially opposed wills and interests? fl ecting violence away from the couple and ma and its relation to the visual arts, material Many representations of marital confl ict lo- onto their subordinates. I explore how such a culture, and social history. Pedersen will be cate violence of one kind or another in just compromise might play out in Shakespeare’s researching mermaids and Lawson will look such moments. They then present further The Taming of the Shrew (1592) and in diaries at lovers’ parting gifts. violence as the only way to resolve the prob- by Samuel Pepys, William Byrd, and others. lem of two fractious persons within the union As I argue, this compensatory strategy, by During the exchange, Davis will send faculty of marriage. This defi nitive violence can take which the exploitation of servants shores up members over to the Globe to present their the form of spiritual struggles for salvation or the apparent equilibrium between husband research. UCD will also host the visits of Globe damnation, battering and murder, or “tam- and wife, persists in subtler forms in twenti- experts (actors, directors, costume designers, ing.” In each chapter of my book, I show how eth-century assessments of the relationship and researchers) to the Davis campus. The the early modern apprehension of marriage between marriage and domestic work such partnership will also allow Davis to tap into as an economy of scarcity haunts the present as Arlie Hochschild’s The Second Shift (1989), the Globe’s expertise on K-12 outreach. Even- as a conceptual structure or plot that con- a ground-breaking analysis of marriage and tually, we hope that UC’s involvement in the centrates entitlements and capacities in one domestic work, and Barbara Ehrenreich’s best- exchange will extend to the whole UC system, spouse, and achieves resolution only when selling Nickle and Dimed. Seeing the connec- with Davis as the hub for these expanding con- that spouse absorbs, subordinates, or elimi- tion between the nameless employees of big nections. nates the other. cleaning services and the brutalized slaves in The partnership is already raising the visibility colonial households is extremely disquieting. While many historians such as Stephanie continued on page 4 Coontz, Nancy Cott, David Cressy, Hendrick Hartog, and Lawrence Stone have 4 continued from page 3 of Shakespeare and early modern studies on at Shakespeare’s Globe.” Vanessa Rapatz par- campus. It is creating opportunities for gradu- ticipated in an ArtsBridge initiative to intro- ate students specializing in these areas. Natalie duce primary school students to Shakespeare Grand served as the Research Assistant to Pe- performance. ter Lichtenfels, Chair of Theatre and Dance and coordinator of the UCD/Globe relationship. In Expect to hear more about on-campus op- conjunction with a performance of Macbeth portunities: perhaps a UCD trip to London at the Mondavi Center, Genna Pearson, with and the Globe for Shakespeare buff s! Frances Dolan, presented an illustrated talk on “Witches, Traitors, and Royal Blood: Macbeth Creative Writing Update

The creative writing side of the department had many things to be proud of this year. Eight fiction writers and five poets will receive their Creative Writing Contest Winners M.A. degrees in June. We admitted six new fiction writers and eight new poets whom we look forward to welcoming in the fall. Last fall I taught INA COOLBRITH POETRY PRIZE Finalists from UCD the very first two-quarter honors class (194H) designed especially for Taylor McHolm and Katharine Lu undergraduate creative writers. Eleven seniors created a set of very di- verse honors projects, including fiction, poetry, a play, and a narrated PAMELA MAUS CONTEST IN CREATIVE WRITING: animated film. POETRY First Place: Michael Giardina Our faculty published several books this year including: Reading, Writing and Second Place: Patricia Killelea Leaving Home, by Lynn Freed; The Total- Honorable Mentions: Uyen Hua and Gus Caravalho ity for Kids, by Joshua Clover; The Holy PAMELA MAUS CONTEST IN CREATIVE WRITING: Spirit of Life: Essays Written for John FICTION Ashcroft’s Secret Self, by Joe Wenderoth; and Westernness: A Meditation (Under First Place: James Xiao the Sign of Nature), by Alan Williamson. Second Place: Sam Spieller The highlight of the year was our Honorable Mentions: Marie Burcham and Emily Conner first annual Tomales Bay Workshop in POET LAUREATE AWARD October. Attendees included our 13 second-year creative writing graduate Fourth Place: Kate Asche students, several UCD faculty, and 50 State Finalist: Phoebe Wayne non-UCD affiliates, enjoyed the great beauty of the Marconi Center, CELESTE TURNER WRIGHT POETRY PRIZE the hands-on instruction from our exceptional Tomales Bay faculty, and what is undoubtedly the best food of any writers’ conference nation- First Place: Anne Manuel wide. Registration is in full swing for next October’s conference, which Honorable Mentions: Katharine Lu, Michelle Jackson will include T.C. Boyle, Ron Carlson, Judith Ortez Cofir, Nick Flynn, Tayari and Patricia Killelea Jones, Dorianne Laux, and Gary Short. DIANA LYNN BOGART PRIZE FOR FICTION Pam Houston First Place: Carmen Lau Second Place: James Xiao Third Place: Emily Conner

2006 MAURICE PRIZE IN FICTION First Place: Shawna Ryan (M.A. 2001) for her novel, June 2006 Creative Writing M.A.s Conferred Locke 1928 Bonnie Roy, Speed At Which You Go (poetry) Honorable Mention: Kate Swoboda (M.A. 2004) for her Oreste Belletto, A God Less Powerful (poetry) novel, Leaving Normal Kate Asche, Slantroof, Mandolin, Nightwalk (poetry) Finalists: Augustus Rose (M.A. 1998) Revolutionaries; Mandy (Gourley) Jessup (M.A. 2004) Maplines; Martin Phoebe Wayne, Into Scale (poetry) Woodside (M.A. 2003) Wop; and Hogan Hayes (M.A. Yvonne Gando, Shiva Swept into Debris (poetry) 2004) Miffl in Melinda Moustakis, Hunting the Kenai (fi ction) 2006 ELLIOT GILBERT PRIZE CONTEST Benjamin Kamper, The Boss’s Son (fi ction) First Place in Poetry: Kate Ashe Carola Strassburg, A Small, Impenetrable Universe (fi ction) First Place in Fiction: Ben Jahn Elizabeth Chamberlin, These People, They Crawl All Over The Place (fi ction) Julialicia Case, Shelter and Keep (fi ction) Adam Scott, The Somnambulist and Other Stories (fi ction) Melanie Thorne, I Come From That Place (fi ction) Aimee Whitenack, The Vacationers (fi ction) 5 Graduate Student Publications & Achievements

Shellie Banga received a UCD Com- Kristian Jensen had four encyclopedic Genevieve Pearson presented two pa- munity Service Award for work with the entries published in The Greenwood Ency- pers this year: at the 4th Annual Hawaii Make-A-Wish Foundation on behalf of the clopedia of American Poetry. He has been International Conference on Arts and Hu- Graduate Student Community Service the Bordeaux, France exchange lecturer manities and the Northern California Re- Committee. She also published a profi le of this year and will teach in Mainz, Germany naissance Conference. Houston Baker for The Greenwood Ency- for the 2006-7 academic year. clopedia of African American Folklore. Vanita Reddy has an article, “The Na- Anett Jessop was awarded an Ethel tionalization of the Global Indian Woman: Rebecca Ellner’s son, Camilo Ernesto O. Gardner P.E.O. Scholarship for the next Geographies of Beauty in Femina,” in the Andarcia-Ellner, was born on December 4, academic year. Spring 2006 issue of the Routledge journal 2005, weighing 7 lbs, 3 oz. and measuring Jessica Hope Jordan published an ar- South Asian Popular Culture. 20 inches. ticle, “Women Refusing the Gaze: Theoriz- Katie Rodger’s second book, Breaking Maura Grady delivered a paper, “The ing Thryth’s ‘Unqueenly Custom’ in Beowulf Through: Essays, Journals, and Travel- Devil Wears Pulp: Female Masculinity in and The Bride’s Revenge in Tarantino’s Kill ogues of Edward F. Ricketts, was pub- Corporate Chick Lit,” at the Popular Cul- Bill, Vol.1.,” in The Heroic Age: A Journal of lished this spring by the University of Cali- ture Association/American Culture As- Early Medieval and Northwestern Europe. sociation National Conference in Atlanta, fornia Press. April 2006. Her daughter, Philippa Delle, Christian Kiefer will release four separate Kendra Smith presented her paper, was born in May 2005. full-length albums this year on four diff er- “Queer Relics: Martyrlogical Time and ent record labels. His fi rst ‘06 release, The the Eroto-Aesthetics of Suff ering in Ber- Brynne Gray accepted a two year ap- Black Dove, is out on the Tompkins Square pointment at Principia College in Elsah, IL tha Harris’ Lover,” at the 41st International (Fontana/Universal) label. Christian and as Acting Director of the Writing Program Congress on Medieval Studies, Western his wife, Macie, celebrated the arrival of (2005-2007). She presented a paper, Michigan University (May 2006). their new baby boy, Hudson Jeff erson “Robert Southey’s Madoc and the Trans- Mattson Kiefer, on April 27, 2006. Melissa Strong presented a paper on national Providential Plot,” at the Modern the Edith Wharton Society Panel at the Lynn Langmade presented “Stealing into Language Association convention in De- American Literature Association’s con- the Sublime: Origin, Ownership, and Crim- cember 2005. ference. She received the Friends of inal Intent in the Construction of Plagiarism Courtney Hopf presented a paper, “Voic- English Outstanding Graduate Student in Longinus and Martial” at the Original- es in Gethsemane: Aemelia Lanyer’s use Research Award. of Apostrophe in Salve Deus Rex Judeo- ity, Imitation & Plagiarism: A Cross-Disci- rum,” at the November Pacifi c Ancient and plinary Conference on Writing, Ann Arbor, Modern Language Association conference MI, September 2005. Lynn was awarded a at Pepperdine University. In April she pre- UCD GSA Travel and Research Award. sented “The Divorce Plot: White Noise and Colleen Pauza participated in the Dick- 2005-2006 Ph.D.s AWARDED the Family as Anti-Narrative” at the Society ens Universe last summer and she pre- for the Study of Narrative Literature con- sented a paper on George Eliot and mysti- Mark Bradshaw Busbee: “N.F.S. ference in Ottawa, Canada. Courtney was cism in February at the Dickens Graduate Grundtvig’s Interpretation of Beowulf as a awarded an Ethel O. Gardner P.E.O. Schol- Conference at UCLA. This May, Colleen Living Heroic Poem for the People” arship for the next academic year. presented a paper at the Artful Strategies Daniel Cook: “Orthodoxy and Aporia in Jennifer Hoofard has been hired full time and Necessary Risks: Negotiating Gen- the Victorian Narrative of Unconversion” at Mills College for the 2006-2007 aca- der and Identity conference, California demic year. State University, Sacramento. Aaron DiFranco: “Available Ground: Shaping American Nature Poetry” Helena Feder: “Coming into Culture: 2005-2006 PLACEMENT NEWS Ecocultural Materialism and the Bilduns- roman” Karen Burchett, American River College (tenure track) Brad Busbee, Florida Gulf Coast University (tenure track) Dana Fore: “Masculinity, Disability, and the Literature of Bodies on Display” Daniel Cook, Saginaw Valley State University (tenure track) Kathleen Kalpin: “Charming Tongues: Aaron DiFranco, Napa Valley College (tenure track) Representations of Women’s Speech in Helena Feder, East Carolina University (tenure track) Early Modern England” Janice Hawes, University of Wisconsin, Superior (visiting assistant professor) Elaine Musgrave: “Shadows of Mutiny: Katie Kalpin, University of South Carolina, Aiken (tenure track) Englishness, Masculinity, and the 1857 In- Roy Kamada, Emerson College, Boston (tenure track) dian Uprising in the Victorian Imagination” Tiff any MacBain, University of Puget Sound (tenure track) Jodi Schorb: “From Sodomy to Indian Elaine Musgrave, Blackwell Publishing, Boston (editorial coordinator) Death: Sexuality, Race, and Structures Jodi Schorb, University of Florida, Gainesville (tenure track) of Feeling in Early American Execution Cheryl Shell, University College, Bangor, Maine (tenure track) Narratives” Kella Svetich, Foothill College, Los Altos (tenure track) Kella Svetich: “Flesh and Blood: Colonial Dominick Tracy, California College of the Arts, Oakland (humanities and sciences Trauma and Abjection in Contemporary program manager) Filipino American Fiction” 6 2006 Undergraduate Program Citation Winners Alumni Bulletin Elisabeth Anderson Patricia Killelea Lori Price Jodi Angel (M.A. 2003) published her fi rst collection, The History of Las Geraldine Bibat Crystal Koell Lauren Quan Vegas: Stories (Chronicle, 2005). Her story “Portions” was published in Brooke Blanchard Scott Koningisor Katherine Raff etto Diana Chan Michelle Sarah Roby Zoetrope: All Story and is currently being made into a feature fi lm starring Konstantinovsky Billy Zane and Christina Ricci. Tristen Chang Jon Schuller Melissa Chordas Lindsey Krabbenhoft Elaine Siegel Azin Arefi (M.A. 2002) has a short story in the new anthology, Let Me Tell Emily Conner David Lacy Kaelan Smith You Where I’ve Been: New Writing by Women of the Iranian Diaspora, ed Galloway “Quena” Taylor McHolm Samuel Spieller Persis Karim (University of Arkansas Press, 2006). Crain Margaret Murphy Aldrich Tan Lewis DeSimone (M.A. 1993) is employed as Director of New Business Serena Donovan Laura Nelson Stephanie Tong Development at United Behavioral Health in San Francisco. In March Joseph Gatti Tiff any Ng Mathew Walker 2006, he published his debut novel, Chemistry, with Haworth Press. Michael Giardina Julia Niazov Theresa Walsh Caitlin Gutenberger Kathleen Nitta Christina Watson Alejandro Escude (M.A. 2003) published his fi rst book of poems, Where Daniel Hoff heins Kimberley O’Rourke Christopher Wecks Else But Here (March Street Press, 2005). Daniel Hyslop Ruth Parsley Evangeline Wong Christien Gholson (M.A. 2003) published his fi rst book of poetry, On the Jessica Ingram Michael Pereira Gary Wong Side of the Crow (Hanging Loose Press, 2006). Sara Jones Stephanie Polizzi Ka Hin “Alvin” Wong Thomas Heise (M.A. 1997) received his Ph.D. from New York University (2005) and was hired as a tenure-track assistant professor of 20th cen- tury American literature at McGill University in Montreal, Canada. His fi rst UNDERGRADUATE STUDENT book, Horror Vacui: Poems (Sarabande) was just released. His work can UCD & DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS also be found in the new anthology Legitimate Dangers: American Poets of the New Century (Sarabande, 2006). FRIENDS OF ENGLISH UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH Nicole Henares (B.A.1998) is in her third year of teaching English at Low- AWARDS ell High School in San Francisco. She has published two chapbooks: Lush Tristen Chang and Duende. In October 2005, she participated in the 50th Anniversary of Lori Price the Six Gallery Reading, alongside Ntozake Shange, Herb Gold, Latif Har- FRIENDS OF ENGLISH OUTSTANDING ris, Daisy Zamora, and Sharon Dubiago. GRADUATING SENIOR AWARD Sara Heredia (B.A. 2004) teaches language development, grades six Daniel Hoff heins through eight, in the Esparto Unifi ed School District. ENGLISH DEPARTMENT ESSAY PRIZE Chris Markus (M.A. 1996) and Steve McFeely (M.A. 1996) accepted a First Place: Emily Conner 2005 Emmy award for “outstanding writing for a movie or miniseries” for Second Place: Mathew Walker HBO’s The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. They also wrote the screen- ELLIOT GILBERT MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR BEST HONORS play for the movie The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the CRITICAL ESSAY Wardrobe. Markus and McFeely met in 1994 as students in the creative Ka Hin “Alvin” Wong writing program. ELLIOT GILBERT MEMORIAL PRIZE FOR BEST HONORS David Masiel (M.A. 1988) released his second novel, The Western Limit CREATIVE WORK of the World (Random House), in December, 2005. Diana Chan Andrew Ramos (B.A. 2004) works as a fi eld representative for assembly- woman Lois Wolk. GRADUATE STUDENT Eric Paul Shaff er (Ph.D. 1991) published his fi fth book of poetry Lahaina UCD & DEPARTMENTAL AWARDS Noon with Leaping Dog Press (September 2005). In November, he toured Northern California doing readings with UCD alum Jordan Jones (M.A. FRIENDS OF ENGLISH RESEARCH AWARDS 1990), whose second book, The Wheel, was released in the same month. Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award (Ph.D.): In April 2006, Eric was invited speaker at Cedarville University in Ohio, Melissa Strong Kentucky Country Day School in Louisville, and the University of Wiscon- Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award (Creative sin in Wausau. In addition, he won a fellowship to attend the Summer Writing): Ben Jahn Fishtrap Workshop and Retreat at Lake Wallowa, Oregon, 2006. DISSERTATION QUARTER FELLOWSHIPS Barry K. Shuster (B.A. 1980) lives in Cary, North Carolina and is a practic- Sean Allan, Maura Grady, Jennifer Jones, Jung-kook Paik, ing attorney. He is also an editor and part-owner of Restaurant Startup & Karma Waltonen Growth magazine, an award-winning, national trade journal for restaurant SUMMER FELLOWSHIPS owners and managers (50,000 reader circulation). Barry was an award Steven Blevins, Jason Dunn, Karen Embry, Seth Forrest, recipient in the 2004 North Carolina State Bar Fiction Writing Contest for Jessica Howell, Tony Magagna, Mindi McMann, Colleen his short story “Alice Buckthorne Misses Her Target.” Pauza, Tara Pederson, Ryan Poll, Anna Pruitt, Chris Matt Silady (M.A. 2005) held his second exhibition of his comic book, The Schaberg, Kendra Smith, Jessica Staheli, Melissa Strong, Homeless Channel, at the 2006 Alternative Press Expo in San Francisco. Daniel Thomas-Glass, Kara Thompson, Nicholas Valvo, James Van Pelt (M.A. 1990) will have a second collection, The Last of Barbara Zimbalist the O-Forms and Other Stories, released this summer. The title story was 2005 DAVID NOEL MILLER SCHOLARSHIP ESSAY PRIZE a fi nalist for the Nebula Award, the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Christopher Schaberg, “Air Force One: Sovereignty at the Edge” of America’s highest literary award. Other stories in the collection were 2005-2006 PROFESSORS FOR THE FUTURE PROGRAM reprinted in editions of Gardner Dozois’s Year’s Best Science Fiction, Da- Jennifer Jones vid Hartwell’s Year’s Best Fantasy and Stephen Jones’s Mammoth Book of Best New Horror. James’s fi rst collection, Strangers and Beggars, came 2006-2007 CHANCELLOR’S TEACHING FELLOWSHIP out in 2002; the American Library Association named it a Best Book for Tony Magagna Young Adults and it was a fi nalist for the Colorado Blue Spruce Young OUTSTANDING GRADUATE STUDENT TEACHING AWARD Adult Book Award. In the meantime, Jim continues to teach at Fruita Mon- Jessica Jordan, Tony Magagna, Karen Walker ument High School and Mesa State College in Colorado. This year the high school recognized him with a Teacher of the Year award. 7 Twain,” in A Companion to Satire, ed. Rubin Quintero (Blackwell Publish- ing Co., In Press); “The Eloquent Silence in ‘Hellfi re Hotchkiss” (Mark Twain Faculty News Annual, In Press). Linda presented talks at the 2005 American Literature Association, “Mark Twain’s Hellfi re Hotchkiss,” State of Mark Twain Criti- Joshua Clover’s second collection of poems, The Totality for Kids, was pub- cism Tri-annual Conference, Elmira College, NY, “Laughter and the Body in lished by the University of California Press this April, 2006. the Works of Mark Twain.” This spring, she she taught in the UCD Quarter Abroad program in London. Lucy Corin published stories in Conjunctions, The Southern Review, Fic- tion International, The Cincinnati Review, The Notre Dame Review, and Timothy Morton gave a lecture at Duke on ecology, and lectured at online at Diagram and Double Room. She was selected to be a Walter E. Miami University on food studies. His book Ecology without Nature: Dakin Fellow at the Sewanee Writers’ Conference (summer 2006). Rethinking Environmental Aesthetics is forthcoming from Harvard University Press and an essay on Hegel and Buddhism is forthcom- Frances Dolan just completed her tenure as president of the Shakespeare ing in Romantic Praxis. This summer, The Cambridge Companion to Association of America. Shelley will be released and Shelley and the Revolution in Taste: The Margaret Ferguson published a chapter from her current book project, Body and the Natural World (Cambridge Studies in Romanticism) “Conning the ‘Overseers’: Women’s Illicit Work in Behn’s ‘The Adventure will appear in paperback. In addition, he co-edited four issues of of the Black Lady,’” in the electronic journal Early Modern Culture (http:// Eighteenth-Century Studies. eserver.org/emc). She is co-editing, with Susannah Brietz-Monta, a collec- Riche’ Richardson is co-editor, with Jon Smith, of “The New South- tion of essays on early modern English prose—for which she wrote the ern Studies” book series at the University of Georgia Press, whose introduction and also a chapter called “The Prose Style of Thomas Nashe.” advisory board includes Houston A. Baker, Jr., Trudier Harris, John T. Margie has a review of The Vulgar Tongue: Medieval and Postmedieval Matthews, Jennifer Greeson, Tara McPherson, and Scott Romine. She Vernacularity. ed. Fiona Somerset and Nicolas Watson, forthcoming in served as program coordinator for Society for the Study of Southern Modern Philology. She gave the following lectures: “A Shady Story,” DHI Literature conference, “Labor, Literature and the U.S. South” (March Early Modern Cluster; “Women and Literacy: A Discussion of Dido’s Daugh- 30-April 1). Riche’ was recently elected to the Executive Committee ters,” University of Pittsburgh; “The Illicit I/Eye: Aphra Behn’s Theory and of the Southern Literature Discussion Group in the MLA for a fi ve-year Practice of Translation,” University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign; “Aphra term (2006-10). Behn’s Eccentric English Styles,” Sacramento State University; University of Catherine Robson contributed “Historicising Dickens” in The Pal- California at Santa Cruz; “Reading ‘Bifocally’: Revisiting Bakhtin’s Rabelais,” grave Guide to Charles Dickens, ed. John Bowen and Robert L. Pat- Whitney Humanities Center, Yale University. ten; “Bloody, but Unbowed” in The Times Literary Supplement (July Lynn Freed published Reading, Writing & Leaving Home: Life on the Page 29, 2005: 13); “Standing on the Burning Deck: Poetry, Performance, (Harcourt, Inc, 2005), which appeared on The San Francisco Chronicle History,” PMLA 120 (2005). She coedited, along with Carol T. Christ, “Best Books” of the year list, and on Jonathan Yardley’s end of year “critic’s “The Victorian Age,” The Norton Anthology of English Literature. 8th favorites” list, The Washington Post. An essay, “Happy Birthday to Me,” ap- ed. New York: Norton, 2005. Catherine made two presentations: peared in Kiss Tomorrow Hello: Notes from the Midlife Underground by “Reciting Alice: What is the Use of a Book without Poems?” at the Twenty-Five Women Over Forty, ed. Kim Barnes and Claire Davis (Double- “Lewis Carroll and the Idea of Childhood” conference, hosted by the day, 2006). Lynn will travel this summer to give invited talks at the Sydney University of Southern California and the Huntington Library, March Writers’ Festival in Australia and at the Prague Summer Conference. 2006, and “Memorization and Memorialization,” at the British Studies Elizabeth Freeman was awarded the UC President’s Research in the Hu- Seminar, University of Texas, Austin, October 2005. manities Fellowship for 2006-07 to work on her book Time Binds: Essays Winfried Schleiner completed his second and fi nal year as Educa- on Queer Temporality. She published the article “Time Binds, or, Eroto- tion Abroad director in Bordeaux, France. He gave papers at Renais- historiography” in a special issue of Social Text on new queer theory (Fall sance literature conferences in Cambridge, England, San Francisco, 2005), and “Monsters, Inc: Notes on the Neoliberal Arts Education” in a and Bordeaux. A paper on Renaissance earthquakes was accepted special issue of New Literary History devoted to the crisis in the Humani- by the French periodical “Cahiers Elisabethains,” and an article on ties (Fall 2005). She is editing a special issue of GLQ: A Journal of Lesbian early modern lesbian fi ction will be published by Routledge. and Gay Studies on “Queer Temporalities,” forthcoming in March 2007. She David Simpson coedited (with Nigel Leask and Peter de Bolla), also received a UCD Faculty Development Grant for Fall 2005. Land, Nation and Culture: Thinking the Republic of Taste, 1740-1840 Professor Emeritus Peter Hays was instrumental in bringing the new PBS (Palgrave: 2005), a collection of essays on the arts and civil society in documentary fi lm Eugene O’Neill to UC Davis’s Mondavi Center. In press the long 18th century; and published 9/11: The Culture of Commemo- is an essay on modernism for Blackwell’s Companion to American Litera- ration (: 2006), a critical inquiry into the political and cultural ture; “Enough Guilt to Go Around: Morality in The Great Gatsby” for the uses and abuses of the dead of 9/11 and thereafter and an account of MLA’s World Approaches to Teaching “The Great Gatsby”; “My Problems their place in the tradition of nationalist mourning and remembrance. in Teaching A Farewell to Arms,” for Teaching Hemingway’s “A Farewell to He gave lectures this past year at Brown, Yale, USC, UC Berkeley, Arms” with Kent State Press. He gave a paper on Hemingway and partici- Cambridge and the University of Cyprus. pated in a panel on Fitzgerald at May’s American Literature Association, Professor Emeritus Raymond Waddington received the third Aldo and will give another paper on Hemingway at the International Heming- and Jeanne Scaglione Prize for Italian Studies for his book Aretino’s way Conference in Ronda, Spain, this summer. He has an article on Fitzger- Satyr: Sexuality, Satire, and Self-Projection in Sixteenth-Century Lit- ald accepted by ANQ, and a paper submitted for a book on commodifi ca- erature and Art, published by the University of Toronto Press. He tion in Hemingway. recently gave a paper, “Breaking News: Representing the Other on Sandra McPherson published two poems in the March 2006 issue of Po- Renaissance Medals,” at the Renaissance Society of America meet- etry, and made “Featured Poet” for the online version of the issue. Sandy’s ing in San Francisco. tenth collection of poems, Expectation Days, will be published by the Uni- Joe Wenderoth’s new book of poems, The Holy Spirit of Life: Essays versity of Illinois Press next year. Written for John Ashcroft’s Secret Self, was published by Wave Books Colin Milburn published two articles this year: “Nanowarriors: Military (November 2005). Nanotechnology and Comic Books,” Intertexts 9 (2005) and “Science from Alan Williamson’s new prose book, Westernness: A Meditation Hell: Jack the Ripper and Victorian Vivisection,” in Images of the Sciences (Under the Sign of Nature), was released by the University of Virginia in Public Media, ed. Bernd Happauf (Routledge, 2006). His national and Press this March, 2006. international talks include “Biotechnologies of the Wounded Body: Be- coming-Molecular,” Society for Literature, Science, and the Arts Confer- Karl Zender has been chosen as one of their five Professors of ence, Chicago, 2005; “Posthuman Gothic,” Narrative Conference, Ottawa, the Year by Chi Omega, one of the eight Pan-Hellenic sororities on Canada, 2006; “Digital Matters: Video Games and the Cultural Transcoding campus. of Nanotechnology,” European Association for the Study of Science and Technology, Lausanne, Switzerland, 2006. Linda Morris published “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and The Prince and the Pauper as Juvenile Literature,” in A Companion to Mark Twain, eds. Peter Messent and Louis J. Budd (Blackwell Publishing Co., 2005), and “American Satire: Beginnings Through Mark 8 become incarnated as an English professor. There is a consistent glow about her, and A Tribute to LINDA MORRIS one cannot help but feel uplifted by her pres- on the Occasion of her Retirement ence–so Linda, you can admit it now, and after all these years, you don’t have to hide those wings any more! That should be one What a delight to write in honor of Linda! Our myself and the world through literature and words. This is a gift I enjoy every day. You gave of the benefi ts of retirement. I wish that you connection stretches back to my very fi rst day in enjoy it as much as you have enjoyed teach- grad school when she introduced herself as I bat- me thoughtful, sound advice about my studies and career—before graduation and after. You ing, and that in the many travels I suspect tled with the copy machine, trying desperately you will embark on you visit many of us ad- to act like I belonged in a Ph.D. program. Linda’s encouraged me when I was very young and provided an example of academic and personal mirers, especially me. All the best and much warm welcome put me at ease immediately. I happiness! knew, then, that I had made the right decision integrity, curiosity and kindness. ~ Martin Japtok (Ph.D. 1995) to attend Davis, and since that lucky meeting, I Linda, it is with profound gratitude, love and have continued to be the benefi ciary of Linda’s respect that I congratulate you on your retire- One of the last times I visited Professor legendary generosity. ment and wish you all the best today, in the Morris in her offi ce, after working with her My fondest memory of Linda? There are simply future and on the tennis court. in a class and on two research projects, we too many from which to choose. But a recent fa- ~ Rose Gabaeff (B.A. 1994) talked about the state of politics, Mark Twain, vorite is the time we spent together last year at , and South Park. It was my last an academic conference in Boston. We present- So Linda Morris is lighting out for the territory! quarter and I told her, I was going to miss fur- ed our respective papers We should have known it would come to this, ther examining the work of David Sedaris— and then played hooky of course, but who can imagine the actual de- the subject of most of my research. The only for the rest of the week- parture of such a person? Surely the rumors book of his I had yet to read was , but end by exploring the of her retirement had been greatly exagger- out of Independent Research units, I would just read it on my own, probably in lieu of city. I’ve never had such ated. But now the news has become offi cial, something boring I was required to read for a fun time at a confer- and I fi nd it hard to think of the Department of English without her. Whether as teacher, another class. We said we’d keep in touch. ence – and the ease with I left. Out in the busy corridor of Voorhies which I make that claim mentor, colleague, or chair, she has been so important in the lives of so many of us. Hall it was fi nals week and students fl ocked (after all, what academic around offi ce doors. Haggard students and event is ever “fun”?) cer- Appropriately enough, it was thanks to an professors talked loudly about fi nal papers tainly doesn’t diminish academic fl uke that I met Linda. I was a and grades. Ten paces down the hall I turned its truth. How better to graduate student seeking only to fulfi ll a “ma- back to Professor Morris, her head poking spend a few days than jor author” requirement, and the course of- out of the doorway, and I shouted, “Yeah, prowling through old fered that semester was Professor Morris’s I’ll talk to you later—oh and maybe we’ll graveyards, chatting class on Mark Twain. Never mind that my read Naked together over the break!” Heads about their inhabitants, studies focused on literature by women (hats turned. I giggled. and then hoisting back off here, too, to Professor Emerita Sandra Through our work together, Professor Morris a few of Boston’s famous Gilbert)! Within a few weeks, Linda had, in taught me to explore the meaning of the lit- libations? her inimitable way, turned me into a budding erature I was reading and what an incredible Teacher, mentor, confi dante, and friend, Linda Twain scholar. Her blend of erudition, rigor, tool a sense of humor is. I learned how to ask has played all these roles for me at one time or open-mindedness and—yes—humor felt like why something works—what makes it funny another (and often simultaneously), all with her a cool drink in those days of dry critical stud- and what it means. After I received a B on inimitable Linda-esque grace and aplomb. Few ies. I wanted then, as I do now, to be just like my fi rst essay in her class, Professor Morris people have had a greater impact on my career her as a teacher, writer, and scholar. And I approved my second essay idea, focusing on – or, indeed, on my life. I am continually thankful know I was not alone. an off ensive story from David Sedaris’s fi rst to know her. So here’s to you, Linda Morris! May your book . The subject was a four- teen-year-old homosexual boy. It was dis- ~ Michael Borgstrom (Ph.D. 2002) days after Davis be as glorious as the Missis- sippi River; may your words keep fl owing with turbing and hilarious. But I didn’t understand Linda, you’ve been an outstanding mentor and the power of its waters; and may you have why it was funny—how did he keep my atten- model for leadership. I’ll miss your presence in as many adventures as the boy who rode so tion with such appalling content? Why was I the department ridiculously. There are many famously down it on a raft. laughing at such a sad story? I felt comfort- able going to Professor Morris and saying, things I won’t forget, but one of them is that ~ Paula Harrington (Ph.D. 2002) you and Kay trekked up to Davis on that rainy “I already laughed at this, but I’m not sure I Saturday night of my campus visit to have din- When I came to UC Davis as an exchange understand it”— the academic equivalent of ner with me, quietly letting me know that if I lecturer from Mainz in 1988, I attended one laughing at a joke and then saying, “I don’t came to Davis I would not be alone. Another is of Linda Morris’s African American Literature get it” in a room full of peers. Linda encour- those junior faculty lunches where we all traded surveys, simply to see how African American aged my curiosity and her encouragement, stories of our mishaps and neuroses, and you literature was taught at Davis. With her en- in turn, compelled me to write the essays I smiled calmly and let us know it would be all gaging manner and the radiant warmth that am most proud of from my time at Davis. I don’t want to give the impression that she right. I wish you the very, very best of luck in the is so unique to her, she engaged the students was an easy professor. Very much to the future. immediately and though she thematized it, contrary, she challenged me tremendously. she simultaneously made the students forget ~ Beth Freeman After the American Literary Humor course, I (Associate Professor, English) that she, a “white woman,” was teaching the was compelled to do two research projects course, and from then on the focus was on with her because I felt that I had been laugh- Linda, thank you for being a great teacher what it ought to be on: the literature. I so en- ing at jokes and missing the point for twenty- and advisor to me for the last fi fteen years! I joyed her teaching style and personality that, eight years. Working with Professor Morris am deeply grateful for all you shared with me once in the Ph.D. program, I took seminars was both humbling and empowering. personally and with the entire community. You from her and she became one of my disserta- shared your intellectual strength—which was tion advisors and, several years later, one of Although I realize that the title professor car- so wonderfully accessible to all the students in the specialist readers for a book (on African ries a lot of weight around here, Linda Morris your classroom. You shared your humanity— American and Jewish American literatures) is an outstanding teacher and an extraordi- your appreciation for comedy and life’s weird I published with University of Iowa Press. nary friend. I’m sure that the faculty of the UC unexpected twists. You shared a rich under- And, lo and behold, I too came to teach Afri- Davis English department will get by without standing of American culture—especially the can American Studies. That is the outline of her. But I am sorry for future graduates of this experience of American women (and the Twain my encounter with Linda Morris; however, it school, as they will never know what a joy it is characters that dressed up like them). I was al- does not convey what I have always secretly to be under the wing of such a woman. ways passionate about books and you taught suspected: that she is really an angel who ~Theresa Walsh (B.A.2005) me to read critically—to better understand has somehow, in an eccentric turn of events, 9 The John Natsoulas Gallery mounted a ret- He was the rock of reality rospective, David Robertson: On The Road in the whirlwind that is Ecology, with exhibition dates May 31-June graduate school. While I 25, 2006. David’s retirement party coincided celebrate the freedom he with the show’s Opening Reception on Satur- has more than earned, I day, June 10, 2006. feel sorry for all those fu- For David: Sometimes, events will change a ture Davis students who life; sometimes time in and of itself will. But won’t see David smile in the best times, someone will change a life, when someone makes and change it for the better. David Robertson a comment that sparks has changed more lives, for the better, than his abundant curiosity. anyone I know. Because he is both intelligent ~ Rod Romesburg (Ph. and kind, he is able to come in and through D. 1999) the very fact of his existence infl uence life and make it worth noting. His own life, while In the mid-80’s, I was often led quietly and out of the mainstream, a doctoral candidate has been noted, notable, and worth noting at UC-Davis, and (the three are not always in confl uence). I whenever I spoke to consider myself lucky to know him, but even fellow graduate stu- more, I consider myself blessed to have had dents about writing my life changed by him. my dissertation on the work of Lew ~ Jan Goggans (Ph.D. 2002) Welch, I would hear, “You When I was just starting on my dissertation, should meet David Robertson.” I don’t know I had little more than a vague idea to work how everyone else met him fi rst, but when I just as the human soul loves the intersection of with, something to do with national parks in fi nally did, I worked to make up for lost time. sacred and profane, and the human stomach literature, or…something. I didn’t know. Still, Once he agreed to be my dissertation direc- seeks fullness when empty, and vice versa. I, on everyone I talked to told me to go to David tor, we met regularly at the old Café Roma on the other hand, seek order from chaos–a bor- Robertson. I put it off for a long time, nervous the corner of A and Third Street. We sat as I ing one way street compared to Dr. Robertson’s about asking someone whom I then scarcely fl ipped through the pages of Welch’s Ring of lively two-way boulevard. This is probably why knew to take on so big and awful a thing as Bone, blathering on enthusiastically about what he was a successful department chair who was a dissertation project, but when I did fi nally I intended to write. One November day, David invited back for more by the English Depart- go see him, he took it on without hesitation, listened for what must have been an hour and ment, while I limped out my own brief depart- and with enthusiasm. When we got into the a half, sipping coff ee and fi nishing his muffi n ment chairmanship directly into the psychia- actual writing, I was inclined to produce a te- (isn’t it always a muffi n or a cookie with this trist’s offi ce. diously conventional dissertation, but David guy?). When I fi nally stopped, he grinned at me How does one fi nd that delicate balance over encouraged me to experiment. I had spent and said, “Sounds like you know what you’re triple-plus decades as a compatriot “academia a great deal of time living in national parks; talking about.” When I left Davis, moved to Oki- nut”? David Robertson, more than any colleague why not devote part of the document to writ- nawa, and then to Maui, he continued his sup- I know, has demonstrated that particular talent. ing about them from a personal perspec- port and encouragement, cheering loudly as He bends with the academic political winds, tive? I did so. These passages turned out to each of my fi ve books of poems has appeared. yet is fi rmly rooted in place. He fi nds challenge be the best part of the book—and a book it As a teacher and as an artist–his photography is in the unforeseen dimensions of problems, in- soon became. I sent the dissertation manu- his own expanding genre–he is an inspiration, stead of breaking under their weight. He asks script to the University of Virginia Press, and and I have never met a kinder man, a more com- a hell of a lot of questions (remarkable for a full they published it. I found out later that what passionate man, a more generous man, a more professor, many of whom–many of “us”–think- they liked most of all were the passages of gracious man. Over a second helping of dessert ing we know all the answers!). He circumscribes personal history. I mention this episode here or on a Sierra peak, David Robertson is a man thorny problems and issues with many diff erent because it is just one example, one of many, I admire more all the time. Looking back over viewpoints, instead of attacking straight ahead. the decades, I recall that pesky question with of the sort of creative thinking that has made Most of all, David Robertson is a remarkably David such an invigorating presence in this which adults harangue children: “What do you want to be when you grow up?” At fi fty, I have creative person. Perhaps not everyone realizes department. It’s the sort of thing we have this. That creativity has propelled him success- come to expect from him. my answer: “When I grow up, I want to be just like David Robertson.” fully past barriers that might have thwarted the ~ Scott Herring (Ph.D. 2001) less imaginative amongst us. Because he is so ~ Eric Paul Shaff er (Ph.D. 1991) successfully, interestingly, creatively (and only David Robertson is a scholar who truly cares slightly) crazed, he is more sane and solid than about students. I fi rst met David in the summer Dawn often fi nds David Robertson walking along Goldberry Lane, stopping occasionally in the rest of us battered old academics. No doubt of ’93 when I drove into Davis on a tour of Cali- his retirement from UC Davis, although it will fornia universities for grad school. Though I’d front of my house or nearby, to look down at a small piece of electronic equipment he carries in result in a conspicuous absence, will just propel given him no advance notice, David came from David Robertson into fascinating new dimen- his house to discuss the department’s support of his hand. When I ask what it is, he tells me it is a Garmin GPS locator, and he is measuring his dai- sions of his life. Just you wait . . . he ain’t done the fl edgling fi eld of ecocriticism. A few months yet! later, he again gave of his time to attend a con- ly constitutional walks. Secretly, I suspect him of ference session in Utah, where I was presenting blatant technophilia. Although it may look like Thanks for the inspiration, example, and friend- a paper. After that I knew, more than anywhere, he doesn’t, the esteemed professor knows ex- ship, David! actly where he is in all respects…he merely plays I wanted to go to grad school at UC-Davis. Over ~ Robert Thayer (Professor Emeritus, games with the instrument and his position in the the next six years, David taught my favorite Department of Environmental Design) classes, chaired my dissertation, took me to see neighborhood to introduce the necessary Gary Snyder’s zendo, connected me with fellow trademark Robertsonian element of chaos into ecocritics, and, most importantly, showed me I his place on earth. could be academic without being too academic. David loves the edges of order and disorder, A Tribute to DAVID ROBERTSON on the Occasion of his Retirement 10 In Memoriam

William E. Baker The Department of English honors the memory of Professor Emeritus William E. “Will” Baker, who died on August 27, 2005 at his ranch home in Guinda in the Capay Valley. At UC Davis for 26 years (1969-1995), Will taught courses in 19th century English poetry, 19th and 20th century British novels, cinema history, fi lmmaking and creative writing. Before coming to Davis, he taught for four years at Reed College in Portland, Oregon. Born May 10, 1935, in Idaho, Will grew up in the western United States. He earned his B.A. (English) at the University of Washington, M.A. (English) from the University of Hawaii, and Ph.D. (English) at UC Berkeley. Before coming to academia, Will worked as a reporter for the Idaho Free Press, a farm laborer, construction worker, sawmill and iron worker, seaman and teamster. Will’s education and broad experience of life served him well: he authored two critical studies and eleven books of fi ction, science fi ction/ fantasy, and non-fi ction. He was recognized with a Rockefeller humanities grant, a Fulbright for research in Peru, an Associated Writing Programs award for creative nonfi ction, and a Silver Spur Award from the Western Writers of America. An environmentalist and community activist, Will was committed to preserving the Capay Valley. This May, a benefi t was held to raise funds for the commemorative Will Baker Native Plant Garden, an educational display of native plants found in the Capay Valley. The garden is a project of community members both in and out of the valley as well as the Western Yolo Grange, Yolo County RCD, and Cache Creek Watershed Stakeholders Group. The garden will be located in the Vernon A. Nichols Park, Guinda, Capay Valley, and will be open to all. Will is survived by his wife Malinda Penn-Baker, and three children Cole, Montana, and Willa.

Steve Howard Cassal

Steve Cassal’s unexpected passing on December 21, 2005 of a heart attack, at the age of 52, is a great loss to the Department of English and the University Writing Program. In his decade-long affi liation with UC Davis, Steve earned his M.A. in creative writing (1997), his Ph.D. (2003), and went on to serve as a postdoctoral fellow and a lecturer in the English department and the University Writing Program. Shakespeare’s plays were Steve’s passion and the focus of his dissertation, as well as the subject for his many freelance reviews. In 2000, Steve was awarded an Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award. In Chair David Robertson’s words, Steve “was a remarkable teacher, with a deep and abiding concern for his students, one who approached teaching with energy and imagination. We will sorely miss him.” A plaque in his memory wll be placed in the Voorhies courtyard. Steve is survived by his wife, Leslie Ballan. 11 Friends of English The English Department at the University of California, Davis Friends of English encourage alumni and community members to stay connected to the English Department and to the read- ing and study of literature. Friends will be in- vited to attend scholarly talks and readings by our own sterling creative writers, and will receive our annual departmental newsletter. In return, “Friends” will be helping the depart- ment continue to achieve distinction by sup- porting graduate and undergraduate fellow- ships and awards, supporting faculty and student research, and sponsoring public lec- tures and readings. (back) Dee Shannon, Cindy Dufern, Pam Self, Ron Ottman, Terry Antonelli, Sally Gunter, Vita Simonsen, Mary White, Janie Guhin, Lynda Jones, Levada SUPPORTS: Friends of English Fall Lecture, McDowell; (front) Jeanene Hayes, Maria Saldana-Seibert, Melissa Lovejoy Outstanding Graduate Student Research Award to a Ph.D. Student, Outstanding Grad- uate Student Research Award to a Creative Staff News . . . Writing Student, Outstanding Undergraduate Student Research Award, Friends of English Pam Self retired from UC Davis on Thursday, June 29th after 20+ Outstanding Graduating Senior Award. years of service. She joined the department in 1980 and has served in the Graduate Program offi ce in several incarnations. Pam’s service was recog- To become a Member, complete the mem- nized at a staff luncheon and by gifts from the graduate students and from bership form included in the attached en- the department as a whole. velope, along with payment information or check. Thank you!

We are sincerely grateful to these individuals who have contributed to the English Department during the 2005-2006 academic year.

Susan Alarcon Lenore Edelstein Anne Lincoln David Robertson Martha Alvarez Joseph William Engler Francisco Lopez Colleen Ronan Christine Andranian-Sherry Patty Enrado Greg Louie Kathryn Rutecki Mica Bennett Timothy Flynn Michelle Snider Luna Kristina Shepherd Sally Bimrose Susan L. Goldberg Christina Marcon Don W. Sieker Karen Blankenburg-Winger Beth Hamlet Wendy Martin Gary Snyder Robert Brill Laura Hand Tom May Richard Stookey Bob Brown David Harvey Diane Mayfi eld Gary Stringfellow Doris Cheng Nicole Henares Nancy McGee Erie Vitiello Jana Cira Randal Hendee Deborah Melendy Norman Lori Lindgren Vorhees Jane Cohen Jane Hopkins Sabrina Montes Susan Walsh Lindsey Crittenden M. Melanie Howell Linda Morris Christopher R. Webber Julie Dalrymple Soraya Jenkins Kevin H. O’Connor Daniel Wettstein Jacqueline Davidson Wendy Kendall Paula Ogden Patrick Williams Marian B. Davis Melissa Kirschner Lori Peelen Alan Williamson Sally Day Charles Kollerer, Ph.D. Andrew Porter Jose Zelidon-Zepeda Carolyn Di Piero Noreen Kukkonen Tara Porter Laurie Duesing John Leonard Elizabeth Ralser

Fiction! Poetry! Interviews! More! Greenbelt Review! http://greenbelt.ucdavis.edu/ UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, DAVIS CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAM TheTomales Bay Workshops October 25-30, 2006

For more information, call (800) 752-0881 ext 2112, or visit: www.extension.ucdavis.edu/arts

DEAR ALUMNI: Please share your good news with fellow graduates! The annual newsletter traces the professional lives of English department alumni, so tell us of your recent career accomplishments, promotions, professional awards, and publications. Email your news to Mary White ([email protected]) and include your name, UC Davis degree, and year graduated. Please make the subject heading “Alumni News.” We look forward to hearing from you!

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID UC DAVIS