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News Archive - September-November 2006

November 16-19, 2006
National Communication Association Hosts Annual Convention
On November 16-19, 2006, professors Ken Chase, Lynn Cooper, Christy Gardner, Em Griffin and Emily Langan traveled to San Antonio to participate in the annual National Communication Association (NCA) Convention.

This year's theme, "Creating Sites for Connection and Action," focused on "[encouraging] participants to examine Communication within the discipline, society or world through a literal, metaphorical, or virtual lens," according to the NCA web site, www.NatCom.org. The web site also stated that NCA expected over 400 participants and 1200 sessions.

For Wheaton College faculty, the convention served as a forum to present their own research, as well as learn from other Communication colleagues. The main speakers for this year's conference were Dr. Carole Blair from the University of North Carolina at Chapel-Hill, speaking on Civil Rights/Civil Sites: "...Until Justice Rolls Down Like Waters," and Judge Evan Wallach, speaking on "Splendid Little Wars": Parallels Between U.S. Policy and Conduct in the Philippines and Iraq at the Beginnings of Two Centuries.


November 2006
Arena Theater Starts Another Season
What do Albert Einstein, Pablo Picasso, and Steve Martin have in common? The answer lay in the fall production of Arena Theater, Picasso at the Lapin-Agile, the first of many spectacular shows performed by Arena Theater this upcoming academic year. Set in Paris in 1906, the comedy engaged audiences for all nine performances, running November 3-11.

In addition to Picasso at the Lapin-Agile, the Theater will also produce Secret in the Wings, February 16-24, and The Hamlet Project, April 20-28. Co-director Michael Stauffer describes the playbill as having "great variety this year," with "something for everyone." With shows in November, February and April, there is plenty of opportunity to participate in and support Arena Theater.

For Communication majors, Stauffer states that "Theater is Communication art," serving as a "laboratory for practicing what it is to be human." Attending Arena Theater shows is not only a good way to support one of the four Communication major concentrations, but also a "case study in Verbal and Nonverbal Communication."

The Theater is always in need of volunteers willing to help with set construction, sewing and other "shop" needs, prior to and during the show. Those interested in contributing can contact Andy Mangin. No previous experience is required to help. The Theater Hall is accessed through the ground-level door to the right of the main entrance into Jenks Hall. The entrance to the state itself is located on the left-hand side of the building, under the awing appropriately titled "Arena Theater."

Over the summer the theater space went through renovations, including dressing rooms with lockers and showers, a common make-up room, and an entirely new and updated lighting system.

Season tickets are availabe for purchase at the Jenks Box Office, open Monday through Friday 1-5 pm. Weekday season tickets are $21.00 for Wheaton Family and $24.00 for weekend performances. Make sure to reserve your ticket now for an Arena Theater season sure to prove extraordinary.


September 13, 2006
Esteemed Scholar, Dr. Judee Burgoon, Visits Campus
On September 13, 2006, students in Dr. Em Griffin's Communication Theory class had a close encounter with two of the theories in their textbook; they met the scholar who wrote them. Dr. Judee Burgoon of the University of Arizona, acclaimed as one of the most productive Communication scholars in the country, visited Wheaton on September 12-13. Dr. Emily Langan described Burgoon as a "hardcore social scientist" who in many ways has "defined systematic research".

Burgoon's disciplined research has resulted in several lasting theories in Communication, especially in the areas of relational and nonverbal Communication. Burgoon's recent work, known as Interpersonal Deception Theory, defines deception as more than calculated trickery. Her main lecture at Wheaton elaborated on this theory. The lecture, entitled "Thruth, Deception, and the Virtual World," was a venue to explore and delve into the study of deception in a technologically advanced world.

Dr. Langan said of Dr. Burgoon, the "stuff she studies is the stuff of everday life," making Burgoon, as Langan put it, an "absolute pragmatist." Langan's comments speak to the wide applicability of Burgoon's research.

Burgoon was also available for questions from students, giving them a gold mine to dig for information about graduate school and research. Burgoon is a mentor of many of today's leaders in Communication. She has also spoken for the National Communication Association and other large conferences, giving her national recognition in the Communication world. She is "an engaging speaker," said Langan.

The main lecture took place in Blanchard 339 at 7:00 pm on September 13. Burgoon also visited Communication classes throughout the day.