VSU to host conference on South Georgia

Valdosta State University will host "Understanding Place: A Gathering to Study Place in South Georgia," Oct. 12-13, at the VSU University Center. Sponsored by the Georgia Council for the Humanities, VSU's College of Arts and Sciences, Department of English and Honors Program.

According to Dr. Thomas Hallock, assistant professor of English, the conference will bring together scholars and professionals from a variety of disciplines. Panel discussions will include nature writing and ecology, folklore and historic preservation, geography and race, literary study and education.

The following conference events are planned:

Oct. 12

* 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m, "Guided Nature Walk."

Dr. Bradley Bergstrom, professor of Biology and Janisse Ray, author of Ecology of a Cracker Childhood will lead a nature walk at Grand Bay Wildlife Management Area. (Group is to meet outside the University Center for transportation to Grand Bay, reservations are required).

* 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., "Place and Education: A Model for Writing Teachers."

* 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., "Pleanary Reading."

Featuring Janisse Ray and Janice Daugharty, VSU's writer-in-residence and author of Like a Sister, they will read selections from their works.

Oct. 13

* 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., "Place in Literature."

* 10:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m., "Space and Place in Valdosta: Testimony and Racism."

* 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., "Heritage and Place." A look at regional tourism, the Georgia Folklore project and historical preservation.

* 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., "Defining Place: A Session Roundtable."

All events are free and open to the public. For more information, call the English Department at 229-333-5946 or visit their Web site at www.valdosta.edu/english/place.html .