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Leonard to give keynote at 2013 MLK Distinguished Service Awards

David Leonard, associate professor and chair of the college’s Department of Critical Culture, Gender and Race Studies, will give the keynote speech at the University’s 2013 MLK Distinguished Service Awards ceremony on January 24.

“Dr. King’s Dream, Body Politics and the Continual War on Women of Color” will examine links between Martin Luther King’s legacy, the life of Henrietta Lacks (portrayed in this year’s Common Reading book), the historical experience of African-American women, and social justice.

Read more about the MLK Awards >>

Learning from the best

Students in a new music survey course are getting front-row seats to video performances by top WSU faculty.

“I think we have recorded faculty or students from every area, and these include jazz, traditional instrumental works, percussion ensemble and opera scenes – which are quite theatrical,” said Keri McCarthy, an internationally known oboist, master-class teacher, Fulbright scholar, and professor for the new online course.  Read the full story story →

Warrior Geronimo inspires WSU book collaboration

Buddy Levy
Buddy Levy

By Kaylee Ray and Kenny Short, WSU News interns

An upcoming book coauthored by Washington State University’s Mike Leach and Buddy Levy about Apache warrior Geronimo will focus on leadership.

Levy, a clinical associate professor who teaches English at WSU, said he originally pitched the idea to his agent who also represents Leach, WSU head football coach. The agent suggested talking to Leach because he knew Leach is fascinated by Geronimo.

Mike Leach
Mike Leach

“It started when my mom would read us books when we were kids, and for some reason I got into Geronimo,” Leach said. “We’d go to the library and grab these historic books about him, and she would read them every night.”

The book, still in the works, will talk about general leadership and problem-solving skills that spill over into all aspects of management and people, Levy said. His strong point is the history, whereas Leach has a profound understanding of leadership, he said.  Continue story →

NBC: Distracted emergency drivers cause crashes

Officer driving while using computer

NBC’s Bay Area Investigative Unit found, on average, there is a crash every other day in California, caused by an emergency driver who is distracted.

Bryan Vila
Bryan Vila

The report features Bryan Vila, a professor of criminal justice and a researcher associated with the WSU Sleep and Performance Research Center at WSU Spokane. The study reviewed more than 2.4 million collision reports recorded by the CHP from 2006-2011. Click the following link to see the NBC video report.

Vila and his team have been examining the impact of fatigue and distractions on law enforcement officer driving performance. They also have been comparing collision risks for those who work day shifts with those who work night shifts.

The work is being done under a two-year contract with the California Commission on Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST).

The study is part of a continuing line of research related to police officer performance, safety, and health spearheaded by Vila, who heads a simulation laboratory that is designed to mimic police officers’ work environments and is located in WSU Spokane’s Sleep and Performance Research Center.