Many 'U' profs. extend ideas outside courses

First-year students are often stunned to open their textbooks on the first day of class and discover their professors are listed as authors.

But this shouldn't be a surprise. Many University professors are well known in academic circles, and several have gone far beyond their realm and gained a national reputation for their work.

One such person is communication studies Prof. Susan Douglas, who participates in outreach programs to young women across the country. Her book, "Where the Girls Are: Growing Up Female with the Mass Media," has sparked speaking engagements and educational sessions.

"It's really gratifying. I find young women who are concerned about media image, but who don't have a language for what they want to say," Douglas said. "They enjoy someone with a viewpoint that enjoys aspects of the mass media but who also criticizes it as well."

Douglas appeared on "The Oprah Winfrey Show" to talk about her book in March 1995. The show's theme was how families in sitcoms have changed over the years, with guests including Barbara Billingsly, June Cleaver from "Leave It To Beaver," and Roseanne.

"The show wasn't really about my book," Douglas said. "Often the format you get put into on these shows isn't exactly the image in which you want your book framed."

Still, Douglas said, doing the show was worthwhile. Despite the fact that "they put so much makeup on you that you look like (actress) Carol Channing," she enjoyed the experience and also agreed to appear on several other shows, including "The Today Show."

Other professors have earned recognition for their writing, including theater and drama associate Prof. Charles Gordon, commonly known as OyamO, theater and drama associate Prof. Wendy Hammond and English Prof. Charles Baxter.

Plays written by OyamO are in demand across the nation and have been produced in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and New York City. He said balancing theater life with teaching is not easy, as he travels constantly to keep the productions of his plays running smoothly.

"You respond by going crazy," he said, "and if you stay crazy you will survive and if you are sane you won't be able to function."

Hammond has written several plays, among them "Jersey City" and "Julie Johnson," which have been adapted as screenplays.

Pre-production for "Julie Johnson" is underway and the director hopes to begin shooting in February, after finding a cast. "We've been turned down by a lot of famous actors and we've turned down a lot of famous actors," Hammond said. Shooting Gallery Films, which produced "Slingblade," is sponsoring the movie.

"Jersey City" is still in the financing stage, but actress Thora Birch from
"American Beauty" has been tentatively cast as a lead.

Hammond said that she sometimes struggles to find time for writing while teaching, but admits that her students provide motivation.

"The students inspire me a lot. I really get fed a lot from them," she said.

Baxter has written three novels and four short-story collections, earning several literary prizes.

Baxter refuses to teach his own writing because "it would be vain." He added, "Writers shouldn't go into classes and teach their own work - it's too self-centered. There are too many other good things out there to teach."

But in other contexts, Douglas said she feels professors sharing their work outside the classroom can be valuable.

"I think it's one of the many things that's good about this university. There are a lot of professors trying to get academic work out to the public," she said.

11-18-99