Volume 56, Number 16    December 1, 2008         

Vampires in pop culture
In a Nov. 24 San Diego Union Tribune article, Assistant Professor of English Sara Hackenberg commented on the allure of vampires in light of the release of "Twilight," which chronicles the life of Bella and her vampire boyfriend Edward. Some experts say that to many, vampires represent a kind of enduring love, but Hackenberg said the representation is more basic. “Vampires are pretty much always about sex," Hackenberg said.   

Getting back to nature
In an opinion piece in the Nov. 21 Marin Independent Journal, Professor of Secondary Education Mark Phillips discussed the importance of connecting children with nature during adolescence. Phillips noted the lack of experiences in nature by children in both inner-city and rural backgrounds, and said that experiences in nature can be transformative and helpful for at-risk youth. "There are many high schools throughout the country for which outdoor education serves as a short-term, high-impact therapeutic alternative to help get troubled teens back on track and develop a sense of personal responsibility," Phillips said. "The wilderness serves as the ultimate teacher that teens cannot manipulate. The therapeutic aspect combined with the adventure of the wilderness camping experience has been highly effective in transforming the attitudes and behaviors of adolescents. " 

For more media coverage of faculty, staff, students, alumni and programs, see SF State in the News.

1600 Holloway Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94132 415/338-1111
Last modified Dec. 1, 2008 by University Communications.