“This could be just a blip,” WSU sociologist Clay Mosher said after two workplace shootings and one drug-related shooting in two days in Vancouver left three people dead and three injured.
“You could see this many things in this many days…. Then you could see nothing for quite some time,” said Mosher, who analyzes crime trends and teaches criminology at WSU Vancouver. It’s possible that our society is growing accustomed to hearing about random gun violence breaking out anywhere and everywhere.
Project team, from left to right: Nicholas Rudy, WSUV Student & Project Manager; Greg Shine, NPS Chief Ranger & Historian; Dr. Dene Grigar, WSUV Course Instructor & CMDC Director; Bryan Ruhe, WSUV Student & Lead Designer; and Kyleigh Williams, WSUV Student & Content Specialist. Not pictured, Meagan Huff & Heidi Pierson, NPS Museum Technicians.
“Our plan is quite simple – we want to take over New York City publishing.”
That’s how Dr. Dene Grigar feels after witnessing her students produce a new digital book on the life of Dr. John McLoughlin, chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company at Fort Vancouver.
Grigar, an associate professor in English and director of WSU Vancouver’s Creative Media and Digital Culture (CMDC) program, believes that the old model of publishing is dying, and that the 225 students in her program are gaining real-world experience in the new model: digital.
Three CMDC students worked with the National Park Service on the digital publication which is called “The McLoughlin Family Collection: A Look Inside the Fort Vancouver Museum Collection.” The e-book features photos and 3D images of McLoughlin family artifacts from the National Historic Site collection, an animated overview of Dr. McLoughlin’s life and struggles on the frontier, and music recorded directly from the family melodeon, a type of early organ.
“This project fits well in the vision for the CMDC program,” Grigar explained. “We are developing a digital publishing track in our program and experimenting with open source technologies to produce scholarly, artistic and commercial publications.”
Avantika Bawa, assistant professor of fine art at Washington State University Vancouver, is the 2014 recipient of the Oregon Arts Commission’s Joan Shipley Award. Bawa was selected for outstanding talent, demonstrated ability and commitment to the creation of new work.
The Portland-based artist topped a group of 13 Oregon artists selected for fellowships from a pool of more than 190 applicants from 35 cities. Fellowships support artists working in visual arts and design and include small financial stipends.
Renee MagnanAn change in cigarette warning labels could give researchers insight to changing the behavior of smokers and giving them motivation to quit.
Renee Magnan, assistant professor of psychology at WSU Vancouver, recently received a grant to research the effectiveness of graphic warning labels, rather than those with text only, on cigarette packages. “There is currently a big need for research in this area to help inform policy,” she said.
Tahira Probst, professor of psychology and interim assistant vice chancellor of Academic Affairs, WSU Vancouver, discusses employee evaluation methods, including the controversial practice of “stack ranking,” which Microsoft recently announced it will discontinue.
