October 26, 2001

Cameron Sawyer, assistant professor of mathematics and computer science, presented "The Cohomology of the Complement of a Toral Arrangement" to the Math Colloquium at Murray State University in Kentucky over fall break. The advertisement for the talk announced "A Pioneer in Toral Arrangements Visits Murray State."

Kendall Richards, associate professor of mathematics, co-authored the paper "A Note on the Hypergeometric Mean Value" which was recently accepted for publication in the Journal of Computational Methods and Function Theory.

Upon the recommendation of the Austin Arts Commission, Rick Roemer, professor, chair and artistic director of the Department of Theatre, was recently appointed by the Austin City Council to the Austin Arts Commission Theatre Advisory Panel. The Theatre Advisory Panel is responsible for assessing theatre organizations in Austin for city grants and funding based on their artistic merit and community involvement. Over 100 theatre groups in Austin vie for city funding through the Austin Arts Commission Theatre Advisory Panel.

On September 27, Julie M. Thompson, Assistant Professor of Communication, conducted a day-long communication skills training session for the Williamson County Auditor's Office personnel.

Julie M. Thompson, Assistant Professor of Communication, has been honored with a "Top Four" paper award for her essay titled "Stop! You're Making Me Sick! Disciplining Lesbian Mothers in Psychological Rhetoric." The award has been granted by the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Studies division of the National Communication Association. The NCA annual conference will be held Oct. 31-November 4 in Atlanta, GA. In addition to presenting the above essay, Thompson is co-conducting a workshop on sexual harassment in the academy and is presenting portions of her current research on the anti-racist critiques of gay liberation rhetoric offered by documentary maker Marlon Riggs.

Patrick Veerkamp was selected to participate in the Texas Clay Festival in historic Gruene, Texas, Oct. 27-8. Forty artists working in clay (pottery and sculpture) will have work on display (and for sale) at this two day event.

October 19, 2001

Upon the recommendation of the Austin Arts Commission, Rick Roemer, Professor, chair and artistic director of the Department of Theater, was recently appointed by the Austin City Council to the Austin Arts Commission Theatre Advisory Panel. The Theatre Advisory Panel is responsible for assessing theatre organizations in Austin for city grants and funding based on their artistic merit and community involvement. Over 100 theatre groups in Austin vie for city funding through the Austin Arts Commission Theatre Advisory Panel.

Bruce Cain, assistant professor of music, will be the baritone soloist for Faure's "Requiem," to be presented by Austin's Civic Chorus, Austin Youth Orchestra and the local area high school choirs at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at the Westlake High School. Tickets are $12 each. Contact: Chorus Austin at 719-3300

An article titled "Using Latex Elastomer to Illustrate Euler's Chain Rule Relationship" by Fred Hilgeman, professor of chemistry, and junior Ana Alcaraz has been accepted for publication in the "Journal of Chemical Education." The article is a laboratory experiment that was first developed as a part of the physical chemistry class and was further refined and improved by work done last summer Alcaraz, a second year chemistry major. The summer work was supported by the Robert A. Welch Foundation through a Welch Departmental Grant given to the chemistry department.

Laura Hobgood-Oster, assistant professor of religion and philosophy, has had an article, "Wisdom Literature and Ecofeminism," published in volume three of "The Earth Bible -- The Earth Story in Wisdom Traditions" (Sheffield Academic Press, 2001).

Helene Meyers, associate professor of English, has published a book titled "Femicidal Fears: Narratives of the Female Gothic Experience" (State University of New York Press, Feminist Criticism and Theory Series).

October 12, 2001

Directed by Professor and Chair of the Music Department Kenny Sheppard, the 100 voices of Austin's Civic Chorus will unite with Austinâs young musical talent to perform one of the worldâs most popular choral works, FaurŽ's magnificent "Requiem." Sheppard will join forces with Austin Youth Orchestra's Bill Dick and the local area high school choirs to present this deeply moving concert to the public at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Westlake High School. Tickets to the "Requiem" performance are $12 each. For more information or to order tickets, call Chorus Austin at 719-3300 or visit the web site at www.chorusaustin.org.

October 5, 2001

Mary Visser, associate professor of art, has been invited to jury the international digital sculpture exhibition I N T E R S C U L P T 2001, Deuxime Concours International de Sculpture NumŽrique, sponsored by Ars Mathematica, The Computer and Sculpture Forum, and FasT-UK. She will be one of three jurors representing the United States. She also has artwork entered in the international juried digital sculpture exhibition at the Sarjeant Gallery, Te Whare O Rehua, Whanganui, of New Zealand for this fall.