The College of Liberal Arts Screenwriting Workshop – Fall 2014

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The College of Liberal Arts is providing the opportunity for Liberal Arts Undergraduates to do work and research in a screenwriter’s roundtable program this semester. Students who successfully complete the workshop will receive a $500 scholarship at the end of the semester.

This free semester-long program will teach students to conduct research and write scripts based on individual, political or social stories in the UT and Austin community. Scripts will beresearched, written and edited by all students in the group with the help of a facilitator and mentor.  At the end of the workshop, students will present and pitch their ideas to an external audience to collect feedback about their scripts and their potential for funding.  It is hoped that any films created from the scripts will be of high enough quality to submit to various film festivals.

The program will be facilitated and directed by Evan Roberts, an Austin documentary filmmaker, screenwriter and mentor. Evan brings extensive experience to this area of work and has taught students at various levels the practice of screenwriting.

Participants will receive hands-on experience in

– Qualitative research

– Pitching topics and stories

– Interviewing subjects and organizations

– Individual and group screenwriting

– Critiquing and re-working scripts

Participants will also be provided with access to equipment, training, basic supplies, and direct support from professional filmmakers.

Two students will also be selected to film and document the screenwriting process of the workshop participants. These student filmmakers will be required to produce short documentaries that focus on the screenwriters, their interview subjects and the process of adapting life stories into short film scripts.  They will also take part in the weekly workshop meetings and learn the process of researching and writing scripts, but their focus will be on filming the writing process and not the scripts themselves.

The program is limited to students who are enrolled as undergraduate majors in the College of Liberal Arts.  Seats are very limited, only eight students will be accepted into the program.  The application deadline is September 12th at 5pm, but given limited seat availability, we encourage potential workshop participants to submit their materials as soon as possible.

Workshop members must commit to attend weekly meetings

Wednesdays from 5-7:30pm from September 24th – December 10th, 2014.

Click here to complete the application

URL: https://utexas.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_738CL0Vx6sPsvNb

For questions contact:

Mystie Pineda, Radio TV Film Specialist IV

512–471–3720 mystiepineda@gmail.com

Or

Evan Roberts, College of Liberal Arts Screenwriting Workshop Director evandavidroberts@gmail.com

World Affairs Council – 2014 National Conference Scholarships

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2014 NATIONAL CONFERENCE SCHOLARSHIPS –WAC_Austin_Scholarship_-_Application

The World Affairs Council of Austin invites undergraduate students, with an academic interest in international affairs, to apply for a scholarship to attend the 2014 National World Affairs Council of America Conference, America and the World.  The Conference will be November 5 – 7, 2014, at the Fairfax at Embassy Row Hotel in Washington, D.C.  The scholarship includes registration fees and $1,000 to help cover travel, lodging, and/or incidentals.  Awards will be announced no later than September 24, 2014.

Scholarship recipients attending the conference will be expected to blog and post on social media (twitter, facebook, Instagram, etc.) before, during, and after the National Conference and submit a two-page report on their experience no later than December 1, 2014.

To apply, complete the application and submit to GlobalAustined@aol.com.  Deadline for receipt of applications is Wednesday, September 3, 2014.

The World Affairs Council of Austin is a member of the World Affairs Councils of America, the largest national non-profit grassroots organization in the United States dedicated to educating and engaging Americans on global issues with nearly 100 councils across 40 state reaching more than half a million people a year.

Fall 2014 Archer Fellowship Program Info Sessions

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Interested in learning about public policy and public service first hand by living, learning, and interning, in Washington, D.C., for a fall or spring semester?

If the answer is yes, the Archer Fellowship Program may be for you! Come learn about this unique program by attending an information session. We welcome applications from students representing all majors and disciplines on campus. In fact, each year we select Archer Fellows from across campus who then pursue their personal policy passions in Washington,D.C. Previous students have interned with Amnesty International, the Sierra Club, the US Supreme Court and The U.S. Department of Education among many others. Applications for the 2015-2016 academic year will be due in February (students who will be abroad spring 2015 should apply by November 3rd). Check us out on Facebook:  like UT Austin Archer Fellowship Program to stay informed.

Fall 2014 Information Sessions

Wednesday, September 17 | 3:00pm

Thursday, September 18 | 4:00pm

Wednesday, October 8 | 4:00pm

Thursday, October 16 | 4:00pm

Wednesday, November 5 | 4:00pm

Thursday, November 13 | 4:00pm

All Information Sessions will be held in FAC 328.

 If you need accommodations for an information session, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact the UT Austin Archer Fellowship Program Coordinator, Christine Anderson.

Teach and Perform Shakespeare for Kids!

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Shakespeare at Winedale Outreach is looking for students to join our new touring troupe, the Winedale Outreach Players. Participants will build a performance of Shakespeare scenes and then travel around Austin to perform for elementary school children in under-served communities. We would be delighted if you would include details about our upcoming information session in the LAH Newsletter.

Here is our event description:

Teach and Perform Shakespeare for Kids!

Wednesday, September 3 and Thursday, September 4 at 6:00pm to 6:30pm in PAR 301

Come learn about the Winedale Outreach Players. Join us as we travel around Austin and perform scenes from Shakespeare for elementary school children. This program will provide its members invaluable experience both as an educator and a performer.

Information sessions will be from 6:00 to 6:30 in PAR 301 on Wednesday, September 3, and Thursday September 4. Members will be selected after an audition/interview process. If you are interested but unable to attend either session or if you have questions about the program please contact Allison at allison.dillon@austin.utexas.edu.

LAH 350 Leadership Strategy in Sports – Open Seats!

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In February of 2014, Michael Sam, a former outside linebacker for the University of Missouri and SEC Co-Defensive Player of the Year, announced that he was gay.  The announcement did not come as a surprise to his former teammates – Sam had shared his sexual orientation during a fall practice session the previous year – but the news sent shockwaves through the news media.  His declaration was met with both scorn and praise.  With the NFL Draft nearly four months away, would Sam become the first openly gay player in the NFL?

His courage attracted international media attention and drew the support of First Lady Michelle Obama via Twitter: “You’re an inspiration to all of us, @MikeSamFootball.  We couldn’t be prouder of your courage both on and off the field.”  But some NFL players, including Jonathan Vilma, voiced uneasiness about Sam’s reception in the locker-room.  “I think he [Sam] would not be accepted as much as we think he would be accepted,” Vilma cautioned.

The Sam Saga underscores the extent to which sports reflect ideological divides in our culture. In this course, we will frame our discussion of contemporary issues in sports through a historical lens that examines the introduction of athletic contests into American society.  Next, we will use this backdrop to wade through complex social, economic and cultural issues including: compensation of college athletes, use of analytics to inform decision-making, minority representation among players and managers, introduction of openly gay athletes and the health implications of player safety.

Most importantly, we will take on the role of key decision-makers (e.g., athletic directors, head coaches and general managers) and construct our own ethical framework for dealing with these issues in the sports context.

Assignments and Grading Policy:

Grades will be based on the following: (1) regular class attendance, careful preparation of the readings, and active participation in the class; (2) timely submission of all work; (3) a term paper.

Final grades will be calculated using the following formula: (1) short response papers – 35%,  (2) term paper and presentation – 35%, and (3) class participation – 30%. There will be no final examination.

Texts/Readings:

Michael Lewis, Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game (2004)

William Rhoden, 40 Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall and Redemption of the Black Athlete (2007)

Mark Faninaru-Wade & Steve Fainaru. League of Denial: The NFL, Concussions and the Battle for Truth (2013)

There will also be a course packet comprised of short readings.

About the Instructor:

Daron K. Roberts is a former NFL coach who has been featured in ESPN the Magazine and Sports Illustrated. In the fall of his third year at Harvard Law School, Roberts decided to pursue a career in football coaching and wrote 164 letters to college and professional football teams.  The Kansas City Chiefs offered Roberts a training camp internship for the 2007 season. After completing his internship, he joined the Chiefs in a volunteer capacity and was elevated to the position of assistant coach in 2008.  That experience led to coaching stints with the West Virginia Mountaineers, Kansas City Chiefs, Detroit Lions and Cleveland Browns.

A native of East Texas, Roberts holds a B.A. in Plan II Honors and Government from the University of Texas (2001), an M.P.P. from Harvard Kennedy School (2004) and a J.D. from Harvard Law School (2007).

During his tenure at the University of Texas, Roberts was elected Student Government President.  At the time, Texas was the largest public university in the United States.  For his leadership, Roberts was awarded the university’s highest distinction – Most Outstanding Student in 2000.

Roberts has been recognized as one of the Harvard Kennedy School’s 75 Most Fascinating Alumni and the World Economic Forum’s Young Global Leaders for cultivating a nonprofit football camp – 4th and 1, Inc.  4th and 1 offers free SAT prep, life skills development and football training to at-risk youth in Michigan, Texas and Florida.  The camp has served over 300 students since 2010.

LAH Echo Literary Magazine Accepting Submissions for 2015 Issue

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Echo Literary Magazine is now accepting submissions for the 2015 issue! Please submit your poetry, prose, and photography to echolitmag@gmail.com. Feel free to submit any number of pieces in any or all of the categories. We look forward to a brilliant batch of submissions. If you are interested in being a Reader, helping us to read and choose submissions and put together the magazine, please email the same address (echolitmag@gmail.com) requesting to be put on the mailing list. We will begin emailing out information regarding reading sessions later this semester.    

Normandy Scholars Program

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This letter is to invite you to consider the Frank Denius Normandy Scholar Program (NSP) as a part of your educational experience at The University of Texas at Austin.  The Normandy Scholar Program, which is open to all majors on campus and does not require a foreign language, offers one-semester (Spring 2015) of intensive study of the causes, course, and impact of World War Two, followed by a three week-long faculty-led trip to the most important World War Two sites in London, Normandy, Paris, Berlin, Cracow, and Warsaw.  Students who meet the program requirements and are looking for an extraordinary educational opportunity are invited to inquire and apply.

We would like to encourage you to come to the Info Session and stop by the NSP table at the Study Abroad Fair to talk to former Normandy Scholars about their experiences in the program.

Info Session on the Program and on History Honors, with pizza: Tuesday, September 9 at 5:00 in GAR 1.102
Study Abroad Fair: Wednesday, September 10 Gregory Gym Plaza, 10 a.m.-3:00 p.m.

If you would like to acquaint yourself with the program and get an application, please view the NSP web site: http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/history/normandy-scholars/overview.php (listed on the left-hand side of the History Department home page).  There you will see testimonials from past students, such as the following from last year:

“The Normandy Scholar Program has been hands down the best semester I’ve spent at UT. I had high hopes for the program, but I never could have imagined how rewarding it would actually be. Being able to take interesting and in-depth courses here at UT and then go visit all the places in Europe that you’ve spent a semester studying is a truly unique experience. It provides a greater understanding of the impact of what you’ve been studying than you could get from just the classroom or just the travel. The program tested me every day but in the end I gained an invaluable appreciation for the struggles faced by all nations during the war, and I was able to do so with 19 other students who I know I will remain friends with long after the program is over. I honestly cannot recommend the program enough and urge anyone interested in World War II or history to apply. You will not regret it.”

— Amanda Carter, History

For further information, please contact the Director of the Normandy Scholar Program, Dr. Charters Wynn at wynn@utexas.edu, or you can visit the History Department’s Undergraduate Advising Office, Garrison Hall, Room 1.140, 471-7670.


NSP Application Deadline: Monday, October 6.

Ian McEwan READING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 7 P.M

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Ian McEwan READING WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 7 P.M

JESSEN AUDITORIUM IN HOMER RAINEY HALL

Acclaimed writer Ian McEwan reads from his new novel, The Children Act. A reception and book signing with the Booker Prize–winning author of Atonement, On Chesil Beach, and Solar follow. McEwan’s archive resides at the Ransom Center. Jointly presented with the Michener Center for Writers.

Ransom Center members receive complimentary parking and priority entry at this program. Doors open at 6:20 p.m. for members and at 6:30 p.m. for the general public. Members must present their membership cards for priority entrance; one seat per membership card. Members arriving after 6:30 p.m. will join the general queue. Complimentary parking for members is available at the University Co-op garage at 23rd and San Antonio streets.