CLU annual festival showcases research

(THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. - April 3, 2012) The Sixth Annual Festival of Scholars at California Lutheran University will showcase the work of undergraduate and graduate students from Monday, April 23, through Friday, April 27.

Scholarly work by students and faculty in the College of Arts of Sciences, the Graduate School of Education and the School of Management will be featured in poster and oral presentations, panel discussions, exhibitions and performances.

In a session on "Declassifying the Cold War," students will present conference papers based on declassified CIA documents from the 1980s that they analyzed. Abstracts will be presented on "Choosing Gorbachev," "Taking the Moral High Ground: Reagan, Abortion, and the Cold War" and "Youth Revolts in the Soviet Union."

Moviemakers in the HD Digital Cinema class will present works-in-progress and completed narrative, animated and experimental shorts. A poster session highlighting student research from a variety of disciplines will include topics ranging from combating healthcare fraud to gender identity differences in television viewing to the representation of women in print advertisement.

Students from The History and Literature of Music class will present formal papers in a public reading. Mark Swed, noted author and chief music critic for the Los Angeles Times, will serve as guest commentator. Student musicians will present recitals.

Faculty soloists will perform "Twelve Poems of Emily Dickinson," set to music by American composer Aaron Copland. Prior to the performance, two faculty lectures will focus on the poetry and music on which this 20th century song cycle is based. The event will conclude with Music Director Wyant Morton conducting faculty soloists and the CLU Women's Chorale in "Will There Really Be a Morning?"

Presentations by clinical psychology doctoral students on "Phantastic Phindings in Physiological Psychology" will include abstracts on stem cell treatment as a promising intervention for degenerative diseases, effects of cognitive enhancement therapy in early schizophrenia, and sports-related concussions.

This year's festival includes a fundraising gala to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Graduate School of Education and the School of Management. The Silver Anniversary Gala will be held in University Plaza from 5:30 to 9 p.m. April 26. Business ethicist James O'Toole will present the keynote address and soprano Jacquelynne Fontaine, a 2005 CLU alumna from Moorpark, will entertain.

CLU's Office for Undergraduate Research is presenting the free public events. For a complete list, go to http://www.callutheran.edu/fos. For more information, contact Michele LeBlanc at our@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3795. To purchase tickets for the Silver Anniversary Gala, go to http://www.callutheran.edu/25gala or contact Kristine Calara at kcalara@callutheran.edu or 805-493-3837.