Social Work's Stephanie Julian Studies Sexual Orientation Disclosure

Social Work major Stephanie Julian (sponsored by Dr. Michael Vimont, Director of Social Work) will share her findings of her exploratory study on the decision making process initiated by lesbian and gay older adults in disclosing their sexual orientation to external systems. Her presentation is scheduled for the 10:30 a.m. URCA session in the Faculty Room of the Convocation Center on April 12. As explained in her abstract:

Ten older adults identified as lesbian or gay were interviewed in one-on-one sessions ... The study is not meant to generalize the populations, but rather to obtain rich stories from members of this population.

Creative Writing & Religion Major Reveals His Nonfiction Essay

Photo Credit: Max Klingensmith
www.flickr.com/photos/mklingo/

At the URCA Symposium's 10:30 a.m. session in the Trustees' Room at the Convocation Center on April 12, Creative Writing and Religion major Garrison Stima (sponsored by Dr. Joe Mackall, Professor of English) reveals his nonfiction essay, "My Tree House." As he states in his abstract:

My essay explores my interior causes for depression and self-loathing..."My Tree House" is not about renouncing my psychological issues; rather it is about who I am because of them and how rectifying them unto myself has helped to open up the avenue for moving forward.

Music Education Major Opens 2016 URCA

Junior music education major Jaylynn Buchmelter (sponsored by Dr. Christina Fuhrmann, Professor of Music) will be the first oral presenter for the 2016 URCA Symposium on April 12 at 9 a.m. in the John C. Myers Convocation Center. Below is a synopsis of her abstract which is published in the URCA program.

Jaylynn's presentation titled "Acceptance of Fate in Franz Schubert's Winterreise (1827-1828)" will focus on particular songs in this song cycle which are poems by Wilhelm Müller set to music by Schubert. In the series of songs, the protagonist (the wanderer) embarks on a long journey resulting in an acceptance of his own destiny. Winterreise's wanderer moves toward his destiny throughout the cycle by relinquishing old ways of thinking and feeling, becoming self-aware, and finally embracing his fate. Jaylynn will explain how this work conveys the wanderer's discovery of and acceptance of his destiny. She will also analyze musical devices used by Schubert to represent the wanderer's internal and external journey toward his destiny.