USU’S HASS Hour Looks at the Internet and 21st Century Literature

 HASS Hour, presented by the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences at Utah State University, is a monthly activity that highlights faculty from the college discussing timely topics in a causal atmosphere. Faculty members discuss a variety of topics from their areas of expertise, presented in what is called the “TimePiece.”
                May’s HASS Hour features associate professor of English David Hailey presenting “New Genres in 21st Century Literature: How the Internet is Changing Creative Writing.” The presentation is Thursday, May 20, at Hamilton’s Steak and Seafood.
                HASS Hour is open to everyone and begins at 5:15 p.m. with a social gathering. The TimePiece begins at approximately 6 p.m.
                Hailey came to USU in 1994 with an initial mandate to help build a digital media component to the technical writing program in the Department of English. At that time in the state of Utah, there were more students in kindergarten than in all of higher education, and the state was looking for research into online education. Working with his colleague, professor Christine Hult, Hailey wrote a grant proposal for funding to produce an online writing program designed for the early composition courses in the USU curriculum. The program was funded and proved successful. That success provided Hailey and another colleague, Keith Grant-Davie, a platform for proposing an online master’s program. That program was also funded and, like the composition program, proved highly successful.
                Hailey is currently researching how discourse works in digital media, focusing on communication problems arising out of complex information systems.
                At USU, Hailey is the chair of the online master’s program in technical writing. He also advises the student chapter of the Society for Technical Communications.
                He holds a doctorate in English (language and rhetoric, theory of criticism) from the University of New Mexico, as well as a master’s in professional/technical writing. He earned his bachelor’s degree at the University of Puget Sound in creative writing.
                HASS Hour is held at Hamilton’s Steak and Seafood, 2427 N. Main St., Logan. A buffet with appetizers, desserts and soft drinks, iced tea or coffee is offered. Cost is $6.95 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and is billed on an individual basis. Guests can also order from the menu, and a cash bar is available.
                For planning purposes, please RSVP to Natalie Archibald Smoot in the HASS Office, 435-797-2796, or email, natalie.archibald@usu.edu.
                The next HASS Hour is June 17 and features Bobbi Herzberg from the Political Science Department. HASS Hour, perhaps with a new name, will continue when the college separates into two new colleges beginning July 1, 2010. Details of the series going forward will be announced at that time.