There were several interesting findings, such as that writing declaratively (lacking metaphor) might aid in the reduction of avoidance. Also, facilitating incubation (a flash of insight following putting a task out of one’s conscious thoughts for a period of time), especially if aided by a low cognitive task such as reading or writing, during a session focused on the reduction of these symptoms caused by moderate trauma might aid in this same reduction. Additionally, writing about an upsetting event with any technique may help in the reduction of negative reactions to the event, as was shown by the overall reduction of negative affect and intrusion of the trauma memories across the groups.

Throughout the semester, Ariel also served as a teaching assistant to Dr. Elizabeth Nelson in a special topics class she offered on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), which broadly covers the symptomatology, risk factors, trauma characteristics, and therapies for those that survive trauma but develop PTSD as a result. Despite the, at times, gloomy subject matter, the class still managed to have fun through a scattering of upbeat final lectures, many of which involve an experiential activity to enhance learning.

Ariel’s contribution was based on the use of Art Therapy for those suffering from PTSD. After covering the why’s and how’s of the subject, the class, including Dr. Nelson, got to experience one of the discussed methods of Art Therapy, mask making. Mask making is a commonly used, efficacious method for trauma survivors, as it can allow them to create a physical therapy goal, can allow for indirect communication with the therapist or group they are working with, or can allow them to express who they believe they have become because of the trauma they went through. While rocking out to Disney tunes, the class snipped, colored, and glued all manner of materials to their provided masks as they created their way to a better understanding of how Art Therapy can aid trauma survivors, and how they can have fun while doing it.

Ariel hopes to go on to a PhD program in Clinical Psychology in the next few years, and was recently hired at the Brain Imaging Research Center at the University of Arkansas Medical Sciences. As a Research Coordinator in this lab, she will aid in work that is hoping to find the best mental health treatment for victims of trauma through the use of fMRI technology.

Her research experience and the knowledge gained through the Behavioral Science Department of Christian Brothers University has been an invaluable asset in the furtherance of her passion for helping those with post-traumatic stress and other anxiety and depressive disorders. She will be presenting this research several more times this semester, most recently at Arkansas Symposium of Undergraduate Psychology Students.

On February 1, 2012, Clifton B Gibbs, a Christian Brothers University graduate and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, was critically injured in a car accident involving another car whose driver was driving distracted. On February 3rd, Clifton, 23, died from his injuries. As a result, his fiancé, Larissa Redmond, also a Christian Brothers graduate, decided to create C.L.I.F in Clifton’s memory in order to help raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving, whether it be texting, eating, talking on the phone, putting on make-up, etc. It is just not worth it.

Attendees were able to see some up-and-coming designs from small businesses run by young adults. Those featured in the show were La’Belle Couture designed by Ashley, Team You are Bless designed by Garrison Green, FabGlam Accessories designed by Britney Jackson (me), Big Impressions designed by Demetrius Blade, and PREPared Fashion designed by Prep Curry. Even Clifton’s fraternity brothers were featured in the show as a tribute to him.

Morgan Hanna, a student at Rhodes College, and Essence Owens, Project Coordinator of the Collegiate Life Investment Foundation, helped to make Distracted Runway 1.0 possible. The event had its own special meaning to everyone involved, but the overall meaning mutually shared was making sure Clifton’s memory lived on and those everywhere know that driving distracted is just not worth it. Food was served courtesy of Davielle Boyce, owner of Davielle’s Dee-Licious Entrees, and there was a silent auction featuring the works of various artists around the city and products donated by the Memphis Grizzlies.

When asked briefly about the production and overall turn out of the show, Essence replied, “As Project Coordinator of the Collegiate Life Investment Foundation, Distracted Runway 1.0 was the first event I was given the privilege to oversee from beginning to end, being that it was the first event completely funded by the foundation. The amount of support we received from family, friends, strangers, and vendors was more than we had ever anticipated. I am humbled by the knowledge and experience I’ve gained and look forward to continuing to expose the dangers of distracted driving.”

For more information on C.L.I.F. or information on how you can get involved, please visit http://www.clif2012.org/

Written by Brittany Jackson, English for Corporate Communications, ’14

Last November, in the midst of the political news cycle, an event transpired in Kenrick Hall that received no media attention but will have lasting significance nonetheless: the faculty of the School of Arts voted for change. No, we didn’t decide to lend our support to those torchbearers of novelty, Mitt Romney and Barack Obama. Our ambitions were far more radical, to be sure. Rather, after much deliberation and introspection, we approved, as a body, a revision of the School’s mission statement.

(Are those gasps of astonishment I hear?)

Perhaps you were unaware that we had one. If so, don’t feel too bad—you probably had other things to think about. Still, we believe you ought to know that we’ve been thinking about it, and more concretely, that we’ve been endeavoring to articulate the values and goals shared in common by the six academic departments comprising the School of Arts. This was no easy task. The School’s programs in the behavioral sciences, humanities, visual and performing arts, and education are methodologically diverse, to say the least. Considering that a good mission statement will unite an institution’s activities through a common set of ideals, it is little wonder that the previous mission for the School was two paragraphs in length. As such, it was long enough to capture accurately each department’s goals and values, but as we came to agree, it was also too long to provide effective guidance that could unify our activities.

Let me be clear that we are indebted to the vision and expression of our predecessors. Even more so, we are inspired by the charism of the Christian Brothers whose educational mission very much informs our work in and out of the classroom. We hope and believe that much of the meaning of the old mission has been retained in the new. As such, we hope that our new statement will sustain the traditions and collegiality that have defined the School of Arts for so long and will have a lasting impact in how we adapt and execute our academic programs in the dynamic landscape of the Twenty-First Century. Thus, in November, the faculty approved the following:

“The mission of the School of Arts at Christian Brothers University is to advance the Lasallian synthesis of knowledge and service by teaching students to think, to communicate, to evaluate and to appreciate.”

In the coming issues of the newsletter, we will reflect on these core values of the School of Arts, showcasing the variety of ways they appear in the achievements of our students, alumni, faculty, and staff. We are eager to share with you our stories of academic success, community engagement, and discoveries of the richness of our community and world. These are the ideals shared by our community, and we hope that you will support us in embracing them.

Paul Haught, Dean
School of Arts
E-mail: phaught@cbu.edu

UBOWED
April 16th, 2:30-4:00 p.m. in the LLC Lounge

In celebration of Earth Week, Dr. Neal Palmer (Chair, History and Political Science) and History Honors Society Phi Alpha Theta are hosting a panel discussion of Wangari Maathai’s memoir Unbowed. Wangari Maathai won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 “for her contribution to sustainable development, democracy and peace.” She was the first African women and first environmentalist to win the prize.

Panelist include Shadrack Nasong’o (International Studies professor at Rhodes), Dennis Laumann (History professor at the University of Memphis), Mark Behr (Literature professor at Rhodes), and Ben Jordan (History professor at CBU).  It will be part of our campus celebration of Earth Week and the culmination of efforts to encourage as many people as possible on campus—faculty, staff, and students—to read Maathai’s inspirational and important story. The panel will discuss their scholarly and personal understandings of the meaning and importance of Maathai’s work and participate in a question and answer session with the audience.

Please read the book and plan to attend the discussion, and encourage students and other faculty to do the same.

Charles A. Gallagher, Ph.D.
Professor and Chair, Sociology Department, LaSalle University.
April 16th, 7 p.m. in Spain Auditorium

Dr. Gallagher’s research focuses on racial and social inequality and the ways in which the media, the state and popular culture constructs, shapes and disseminates ideas of race. He has published articles on the sociological functions of colorblind political narratives, how racial categories expand and contract within the context of interracial marriages, race theory, racial innumeracy and how one’s ethnic history shapes perceptions of privilege.

He is the author of various publications some of which are White Reconstruction in the University, Ten Simple Things You Can Do to Improve Race Relations and Color-Blind Privilege.

SENIOR THESIS EXHIBITION
April 19th, 4-6 p.m. in Gallery “B” (located in Kenrick Hall basement)

Please join the Visual and Performing Arts Department as they exhibit their BFA Senior show. Opening night is April 19th. The works will remain on exhibit untill the end of the semester. The Graduating students are: Mary-Micheal Ryan, Lauren South, Nell Brandon, Carliegh Stratton, Katie Valdez, Desiree Mitchell, and Hannah Nelson. Refreshment will be served.

6th Annual CBU “Last Lecture” with Dr. Max Maloney
April 23rd, 12:45 p.m. in Spain Auditorium.

Please join the Honors Program and the CBU community for this extraordinary event during which Dr. Max Maloney will give his hypothetical “Last Lecture.” If you like big words, tall professors, and yummy food for thought, this is your lucky day! Last Lectures usually include the professor’s reflections on their academic career, advice for better living, and even a few laughs. Let’s see what Dr. Maloney comes up with. Light refreshments will be served prior to the talk. Based on past Last Lectures, this is a not-to-be-missed event!

GreenFaith with Reverend Fletcher Harper
April 25th, 7 p.m. in Spain Auditorium

The CBU Sustainability Committee, The Student Sustainability Coalition, CBU Honors Program, and Department of Religion and Philosophy welcome Rev. Fletcher Harper as this year’s Earth Day guest speaker. Fletcher is an Episcopal priest and Executive Director of GreenFaith. GreenFaith’s mission is to inspire, educate and mobilize people of diverse religious backgrounds for environmental leadership. Their work is based on beliefs shared by the world’s great religions – GreenFaith believes that protecting the earth is a religious value, and that environmental stewardship is a moral responsibility.

Under his leadership, GreenFaith has developed innovative programs linking religious belief and practice to the environment. An award-winning spiritual writer and nationally-recognized preacher on the environment, he teaches and speaks at houses of worship from a range of denominations in New Jersey and nationwide about the moral, spiritual basis for environmental stewardship and justice. A graduate of Princeton University and Union Theological Seminary, he served as a parish priest for ten years and in leadership positions in the Episcopal Church before becoming GreenFaith’s Executive Director.

The Other Wes Moore
November 21st, University Theater, time TBA

Author Wes Moore will speak to CBU students and the Memphis community as this year’s Fresh Reads special guest. Fresh Reads, CBU’s freshman summer reading program, was started in the summer of 2011 in order to give our new students a common academic experience. If you are interested in leading a one-time discussion (want a free book, lunch, and to change some lives) for incoming freshmen on Welcome Weekend, please contact Dr. Karen Golightly.

PAST EVENTS

Prince Among Slaves
Tuesday, March 19

The Plough Library and Student Life sponsored a showing of this documentary by Unity Productions, which focuses on Abdul Rahman Ibrahima Sori, an African prince who was enslaved in the American South for 40 years in the early years of the Republic. Dr. Mary Campbell (Behavioral Sciences) and Dr. Neal Palmer (History and Political Science) led a discussion group after the movie as part of Multi-Cultural Awareness Month.

Dennis Foley
Thursday, March 21 • 7:00 p.m.

Lifelong Chicagoan and alumnus of CBU, Dennis Foley read excerpts from his second book, The Drunkard’s Son (Side Street Press, 2012), which details Foley’s days growing up on Chicago’s South side in the 1960s and ‘70s, a time of strife that also found his family running head on into an endless series of roadblocks.

His short stories, memoir pieces and freelance work have appeared in a number of literary venues including HairTrigger, Poetry Motel, The2ndHand, The Chicago Red Streak, The Beverly Review, Gravity, The Use of Personal Narratives in the Helping Profession and centerstagechicago.com. Dennis’ first book, The Street’s and San Man’s Guide To Chicago Eats, won the Midwest Independent Publishers Association Book Awards—1st Place for Humor.

Michalyn Easter (History ’13) has been accepted into Columbia and Vanderbilt’s excellent graduate Education programs, though she has yet to decide which she will attend. She has also applied for a summer archival/museum internship at the Smithsonian Museum of American History in Washington D.C.

Tavares Mondrell Floyd (History & Political Science ’13) and Mary Catherine Hogan (Special Education ’13) attended President Barack Obama’s Second Inauguration on January 14th. Mary Catherine and Tavares agreed to further share their experiences via video. In this video, they tell us a bit more about the trip of a lifetime! To see highlights of their live-tweets, take a look at: http://storify.com/fromcbu/cbu-in-dc.

Desiree Mitchell (Visual and Performing Arts ’13), Hannah Nelson (VAPA ’13), and Emily Phillips (VAPA ’15) were selected to participate in the CODA exhibition at Rhodes College. Special acknowledgement goes to Desiree Mitchell, who won the Viewer’s Choice award.

David Skull (Psychology ’13) was selected for the 2nd time as an All-GSC selection at defender (soccer), with a 3.63 GPA.

Amanda Willhite (Psychology ’13) was a finalist for the Vanderhaar Student Peace award, with which came a monetary reward. Over the past three years Amanda worked to bring Safe Zones to CBU. “Safe Zones” is a program found on numerous college campuses (including U of M and Rhodes) that works to educate the community about LGBT issues and to reduce instances of bullying, violence, and harassment against LGBT students, as well as depression and suicide among LGBT youth. After completing a training program, faculty, administrators, staff, and student leaders (such as RAs) can be certified as a “safe zone,” a safe space that will listen to and support LGBT students. Next steps planned for the spring semester, will be to secure faculty approval and then to form a committee, on which Amanda has volunteered to serve, to revise and adapt the program for use at our distinctively LaSallian University. Dr. Buscher and I anticipate that the program will be ready to launch next year, at the beginning of the fall 2013 semester.

Clinton School student Dylan Perry (Religion and Philosophy ’10) completed research which found that more than 80 percent of the Central Arkansas community thinks that developing a strong local food system is important. Perry found that the community wants healthy, local, accessible and affordable food, and is concerned for local growers and those who buy from them.

Jermel Tucker (Psychology ’07) and Chris Peterson (Religion and Philosophy ’10) were selected in the Memphis Flyer’s 20<30.

Dr. Marius Carriere (History and Political Science) attended The Society for Military History Conference in New Orleans this past week. Dr. Carriere also did research in the archives of The Historic New Orleans Collection and the New Orleans Public Library.

Dr. David Dault (Religion and Philosophy) traveled to Chicago at the end of February for a meeting with the Seminary Consortium for Urban Pastoral Education. The theme of the gathering was “The Art of Gospel Entrepreneurship.” While there, he had a chance to meet with noted scholar Eboo Patel and others from across the nation who are working to help keep education for ministry at the cutting edge of relevance for the 21st century. To find out more about the Consortium, visit their website.

Dr. Karen Golightly (Literature and Foreign Languages) has three pieces of photography in the latest edition of The Meadowland Review! Dr. Golightly is also presenting a paper at the American Conference of Irish Studies on April 10, 2013: “Firing up Their Minds: The Use of Multimedia in Teaching Bridget Cleary.”

Dr. Paul Haught (Dean) has accepted an invitation to serve on the editorial advisory board for the journal Environmental Ethics.

Religion and Philosophy Professors Dr. Scott Geis, Dr. Emily Holmes, and Dr. James Wallace participated in the Lenten Reflection Series – February 25-27 – at Saint Paul the Apostle Catholic Church in Memphis.  Their respective presentation topics were as follows:

Dr. Scott D. Geis: “An Epiphany of Divine Grace: Christian Friendship and Lenten Devotion”
Dr. James B. Wallace: “The Apostle Paul on Spiritual Transformation”
Dr. Emily A. Holmes: “Lenten Spiritual Practices in Relation to Food and Eating”

Dr. Emily Holmes lectured on April 3rd at The University of Memphis as part of the Tigers Initiative for Gardens in Urban Settings (TIGUrS), her talk was titled: A Christian Theological Perspective on Food Justice. She also attended the Southeastern Commission for the Study of Religion (SECSOR) meeting on March 17 in Greenville, SC (pictured below), where she presented her paper “Narrative, Agriculture, and Food Justice: Reading A. Whitney Sanford’s Growing Stories from India: Religion and the Fate of Agriculture” as part of a panel discussion with the author.

Emily Holmes; Geoffrey Claussen, Elon University; Amy Allocco, Elon University; Whitney Sanford, University of Florida

Congratulations to Nick and Cat Pena (Visual and Performing Arts) who both have work on display in the new exhibit Present Tense at the Dixon Gallery and Gardens.

Dr. Jeff Sable and 10 undergraduates from his time at Rhodes and The U of M co-authored a study titled “Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder reduces automatic attention in young adults.” The study was published in the March addition of Psychophysiology.

In collaboration with faculty at the University of Missouri-Columbia, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Emory University, Dr. Sable also co-authored the paper Effects of alcohol on sequential information processing: Evidence for temporal myopia.
Fleming, Kimberly A.; Bartholow, Bruce D.; Sable, Jeffrey; Pearson, Melanie; Fabiani, Monica; Gratton, Gabriele – Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, Vol 27(1), Mar 2013, 184-190.

On March 21, Dr. Ric Potts, Chair of the Department of Education, was a panel member on community conversations that reflect the findings and priorities of the annual report, the State of Education in Tennessee: 2012-13, sponsored by the report’s publisher, SCORE (State Collaborative on Reforming Education).

Dr. Brendan Prawdzik presented a paper to the Marvell Society of America at the South Central Renaissance Conference in Omaha. Most of world’s preeminent Marvellians were in attendance. He also chaired a panel on John Donne.

Dr. Prawdzik has developed a new eco-literature course that he will teach in the Fall. He also holds a weekly open poetry close reading group at Otherlands Coffee House, each Friday, 5-6. Please email him if interested.

Papers Presented

Jacqueline Baker & Stephen Schenck - The relationship between corporal punishment and aggression.

Kimberley Gardner - The relationship between information communication technology use and psychological impairment.

Andrea Guyton & LaShaniqua Gregory - The hope study.

Posters Presented

Hailee Brown - The relationship between narcissism, depression, and peer rejection. 

Allison Davis, Taylor Goode & W. Richard Walker – Potential flashbulb memory for the re-election of President Obama: The roles of vividness and rehearsal.

Kimberley Gardner & Jessica Jameson - The relationship between peer rejection in
childhood, personality, and modes of communication.

Taylor Goode, Allison Davis, & W. Richard Walker - Potential flashbulb memory for the re-election of President Obama: The roles of personal significance and emotional impact.

Sheleinia Henderson – The relationship between aggressive driving and fear of dying.

Katelynn Hicks & Devinn Schwarzman – The relationship between boredom proneness and reality television.

Rochelle Rodriguez & April Collins – The relationship between sex roles and satisfaction in cross-sex friendships.

Caitlin Waldrop, Michelle Rivas & Kristin Robinson – The relationship between reality
Television, trends, and fashion consciousness.

Prose
1st Place: “Look Away” – Madeline Faber
2nd Place: “I Can’t” – Amber Lipford
3rd Place: “Lost and Found” – Sarah Longaria

Fine Art
1st Place: “Full Moon Phase” – Hannah Nelson
2nd Place: “Mourning Elegance” – Desiree’ Mitchell
3rd Place: “Untiltled 6″ – Hannah Nelson

Poetry
1st Place: “Roma” – Katelyn Morris
2nd Place: “Running Errands” – Candace Lester
3rd Place: “Haiku” – Amanda Shaeffer

Undergraduate: be working toward BA in Child Development or BA in Special Education, have completed 30 hours of courses, have at least 12 hours in education courses, and demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or greater.

Graduate: enrolled in a graduate program, have completed at least 12 hours in education courses, and demonstrate a cumulative GPA of 3.25 or higher.

If you are eligible for KDP membership, please fill out the Initiate Information Form, enclosed with an unofficial transcript, and check or money order for $63.00.  Membership fees include local chapter dues, national dues, initiation fees, and honor cords. Please make checks payable to: Christian Brothers University, Memo Line: Kappa Delta Pi fees.  Membership information and Initiate forms can be located outside of Kenrick 118.

All paperwork and money must be submitted to Kappa Delta Pi’s mailbox, located in the Department of Education Copy Room (accessible through Kenrick 118), on or before April 9, 2013.  If you are mailing your paperwork, please address to Department of Education, Box 101 attn: Kappa Delta Pi.

Click here for the Kappa Delta Pi website.
Mark your calendars!! Initiation will be held on May 6, 2013!!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact:

Carol Simpson
Kappa Delta Pi President