News for English and Film Studies Students

April 24 - May 8, 2020

Colorful books on shelves

Hours

The English Advising Office is closed for the remainder of the semester. All appointments will be conducted online through Zoom or email..

Appointments

Please go to Canvas (under Account--> Settings--> MyPlan--> My Success Network--> Kathleen Lacey). The schedule tab will allow you to see what times are available for individual appointments. You can also search for Kathleen Lacey in the MyPLAN Directory. You are also welcome to call 402-472-3871 to schedule an appointment.

Walk-in Hours

No appointment necessary

The English Advising Office is closed for in-person meetings for the remainder of the semester. Dr. Lacey will be meeting with students on a virtual basis.

Connect with us

Reminders

April 27 – May 2 (Mon. - Sat.)  Last week of classes**
May 1 (Fri.)  Last day to apply for undergraduate admissions for Summer and Fall Semester 2020
May 2 (Sat.)  Last week of classes**
May 4 – May 8 (Mon. - Fri.) Spring Semester Final Exams - Final Exams Information 

Courses to Check Out

Open Summer English & Film Studies Courses

You can still enroll in summer courses! ALL are ONLINE. The following are still open:

Presession (May 18-June 5)

ENGL 261: American Literature Since 1865 – fulfills ACE 5 or CDR C and survey requirement forENGL major; will also count toward the ENGL minor.

ENGL 405E: Modernist Fiction – fulfills CDR C and the recent literature requirement or concentration course for ENGL major; also counts toward ENGL minor.

1st 5-week Session (June 8-July 10)

ENGL 317: Literature & the Environment - fulfills ACE 5 or CDR A and diversity/global awareness requirement or concentration course for ENGL major; will also count toward ENGL and ENVR minors.

2nd 5-Week Session (July 13-Aug 13)

ENGL 207: Bob Marley: Lyrical Genius – fulfills ACE 5 or CDR C. With permission, can also fulfill recent literature or ethnic literature requirement for the ENGL major; also counts toward ENGL minor.

ENGL 269: Film Period: "How to Survive a Pandemic: Cinematic Visions of Resistance and Resilence in the Viral Apocalypse" - fulfills ACE 5 or CDR C; Group A course for Film Studies majors; also counts toward both the ENGL and FILM minors.

Fall Course Preview - AMERICAN LIT!

ENGL 332: American Authors to 1900: The Queer 19th Century, TR 2-3:15, Dr. Homestead

Historians of sexuality have established that homosexuality as an identity category was invented in the late nineteenth century (1800s). This does not mean, however, that everybody was straight. Rather, it means that the relationship between sexuality and identity was different for everyone. In this course, we will read works in a variety of genres by a range of authors, reading both for representations of same-sex romance and eroticism and for queerness more broadly, including in relation to gender. We will read some authors whose names may be familiar to you (Herman Melville, Walt Whitman, Emily Dickinson, Sarah Orne Jewett) and others less familiar (Theodore Winthrop, Margaret Sweat, Sui Sin Far). Students will write short essays across the semester and a longer paper requiring research as the end of the semester. (NOTE: This course will fulfill the early literature requirement or a concentration course in the English major; will also count toward the English minor.)

 

ENGL 345D: Chicanx Literature, MWF 12:30-1:20, Dr. Castro

This course engages contemporary Chicanx literature through a careful inquiry into 6 very new collections of poetry by Mexican American writers: Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, Eduardo Corral, Ángel Garcia, Ada Limón, Erika Sánchez, and Natalie Scenters-Zapico. What are Chicanx poets thinking, dreaming, and making right now? How are they responding to and shaping the experience of what it’s like to be a Mexican American person in the United States in our current sociopolitical moment? What does the medium of poetry offer to such endeavors? We’ll also read Mexican American history and poetry criticism, to give us a shared sense of context, and we’ll watch films about Mexican American experiences. You will be held accountable for completing all readings, writing weekly argument papers and a final researched long essay, and participating vigorously in class discussion. (NOTE: This course will fulfill diversity/global awareness or ethnic literature or a concentration course for the English major; will also count toward the English minor.)

 

ENGL 445B: Seminar in African American Literature: Race, Law, & Lit, MWF 9:30-10:20, Dr. Rutledge

Students will be introduced to and meaningfully reflect upon critical race theory (CRT), an analytical mode useful for interrogating the narrative immanent in American Law. Fundamentally, this has meant the appropriation of Humanities methods—of storytelling and literary criticism—to expose the narratives of the law. We will push this even further, however, by taking the next logical step and seeing opinions, the judge-made law, as written texts. The close reading of these reveals “judicial irony,” the hidden motivations of “objective” legal minds contained in these opinions. African-American literature and its engagement with American jurisprudence will be the centerpiece, but select readings in Asian-American literature will enable us to explore international and contemporary implications. Thus, we will approach the law through the critical lenses pertinent to literature and the methodologies and terminology fundamental to the study of law. We will read a few select items over the course of the semester (or portions thereof), such as novels, landmark U.S. Supreme Court cases, statutes, and law review articles. Our discussions and critical assignments will be calculated to introduce students to methods of researching, assaying, and presenting the law, critical legal/race theory, and the responses made to the law by writer-activists. If possible, we will also visit the Nebraska State Penitentiary to close the vast divide between canonical scrutiny and the real-world stories proponents of CRT would have us apprehend. (NOTE: This course will fulfill a 400-level requirement and a concentration course for the English major; will also count toward the English minor.)

 

ENGL 244: African American Literature Since 1865, MWF 11:30-12:20, Dr. Rutledge – fulfills diversity/global awareness or ethnic literature requirement for the English major; also counts toward English minor.

ENGL 245N: Native American Literature, TR 9:30-10:45, Dr. Gannon – fulfills diversity/global awareness or ethnic literature requirement for the English major; also counts toward English minor.

ENGL 260: American Literature Before 1865, MWF 10:30-11:30, Dr. Gailey – fulfills historical survey requirement and pre-1800 lit requirement for English majors; also counts toward English minor.

ENGL 261: American Literature Since 1865, MWF 11:30-12:20 or online, Dr. Reynolds – fulfills historical survey requirement for English majors; also counts toward English minor.

ENGL 334: American Literary Traditions: Disease & Trauma in American Lit, MWF 12:30-1:20, Dr. Gailey – fulfills a concentration course for the English major; also counts toward the English minor.

Department of English Announcements and Events

Campus Resources & Other Important Info during COVID 19

SETTING UP AN ADVISING APPOINTMENT

All advising will be done remotely for the rest of the semester. This means that I can meet with you via email or through a teleconference service such as Zoom or Skype. You can still make an appointment with me through MyPlan, but you’ll be able to choose if you want to meet via email or Zoom. If you decide to meet via email, I will respond to your email at your appointment time and we can continue communicating as long as necessary. If you decide you’d like to meet via Zoom, I’ll send you instructions on how to connect at your chosen appointment time. You can make an appointment on MyPlan in two ways:

  • Sign on to Canvas, click on “Account” in the upper left corner, and then click on MyPlan. Once in MyPlan, you can find me one of two ways. If I am your main advisor, you can click on the menu icon on the top right corner, click on “My Success Network,” and then I should pop up on the next screen (you might need to scroll). Otherwise, you can also search for me by name (Kathleen Lacey) in your success network. Once you find me, you can schedule an appointment by pressing the arrow near my name.
  • Go to https://its.unl.edu/myunl/, and click on the gray MyPlan box. From there, you can follow the above directions to find me and make an appointment.

UPDATED! UNL CLOSED

UNL is closed to all except essential staff until May 4. All physical buildings will be locked and inaccessible, though you can still access wifi from your car in certain areas (see below). I still do not yet know if, after May 4, there will be places on campus open to students.

STUDY ABROAD 101 VIRTUAL VISITS

Every Tuesday and Thursday at 2pm, Education Abroad will host Study Abroad 101. Interested in going abroad but don’t know where to start? Attend a Huskers Abroad 101 session to take the first step toward going abroad! This session will cover researching program options, selecting a program, funding and the timeline for the process.

DEADLINE EXTENDED FOR CHANGING COURSES TO P/NP

The Pass/No Pass deadline has been extended (again) to May 29. Yes, this is after final grades for courses have been posted. However, you cannot do this on your own in MyRed as you would have done earlier in the semester. English and Film Studies majors must go through me in order to request a class change from graded to P/NP.

This new policy overrides existing policies about courses that are allowed to be taken as P/NP as well as academic programs that do not allow P/NP, or allow a specific number of P/NP credits, to count within majors or minors. This means that any course you are taking during the spring semester can be changed to P/NP; provided you receive a Pass, these courses will fulfill requirements even in cases where they normally would not.

Unless you are graduating in May, all applications for P/NP (again, completed by the student’s advisor) will essentially be “held,” and then batch processed after May 29. I am advising students to simply wait until final grades come out and then make the decision to change the course to or from P/NP. Finally, all failing grades for Spring 2020 will automatically be changed to NP. You literally cannot fail any course this semester.

NEW! TEXTBOOK RENTAL RETURN & BUYBACK PROCESS!

According to guidelines released by Follett, the owner and operator of University Bookstore, students may ship rented textbooks back to the bookstore free of charge. A link to a shipping label will be included in a rental reminder email sent to customers 14, 7 and 3 days prior to due date. A shipping label may also be generated by accessing the customer account through the University Bookstore website, by following these steps:

  • Go to the University Bookstore website and click “Sign In.”
  • Once signed into your account, click on "Rentals" to view all rented titles.
  • Click "Return All Rentals by Mail," then select the books you wish to return.
  • Print the free return label, and ship books back to the bookstore. Be sure to print and include the packing slip along with your books.

The due date for rented books has not changed, but Follett said the “non-return charge date” has been extended 15 days past the current return due date to allow time for mailed books to reach the store. Follett recommends having books in transit prior to the due date to avoid late charges. Book buybacks are also taking place via the website. Students wishing to order textbooks for the summer term are encouraged to do so through the University Bookstore website. Free shipping has been extended to all customers.

NEED TO CHANGE/ADD A MAJOR OR MINOR?

The CAS Advising Center in 107 Oldfather is no longer be open to students for the remainder of the semester. If you need to add or change a major or minor, you’ll need to do this by emailing casadvising@unl.edu. Include your name, NUID, and what you would like added, changed, or deleted from your academic program. Please note that you can still make appointments with the other advisors inside and outside of the center if you need to.

CAREER COACHING

Both Meagan Savage and Kristin Aldrich, our CAS Career Coaches, are available for career advising appointments. Career Coaches are available to help students identify opportunities and strategies to gain useful experience this summer; explore and determine major/career paths that fit for them if they become unsure as they register for fall classes; and develop strategies to connect with opportunities and create persuasive applications for jobs and graduate school as they approach graduation. You can make an appointment with Meagan or Kristen through MyPlan (see directions above).

HUSKER HUB SERVICES INFORMATION

Husker Hub will no longer be servicing students in person. However, they are still taking phone calls, responding to emails, scheduling phone appointments, and virtual appointments. Currently, there is a 1-2 business day response time for any return calls and/or responding to emails. If you have questions about financial aid, scholarships, registration holds, and the like, you can contact them via phone at 402.472.2030 or email at huskerhub@unl.edu. If you need to submit documents or forms (ie, SAP forms, scholarship reinstatement forms, etc.) you can upload these forms to MyRed, fax them to 402.472.9826, or mail them to Husker Hub, PO Box 880411, Lincoln, NE 68588-0411.

OFFICE OF SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) is available to support students and families and will make every effort to mitigate financial burdens created by this extraordinary situation. If you have incurred—or will incur—additional expenses or severe financial hardship, please contact Husker Hub at 402-472-2030 or huskerhub@unl.edu to request a financial aid review for the Spring 2020 semester.

OSFA has suspended the 9 graded hour requirement for scholarships for Spring 2020. So, as students make decisions about changing a class to pass/no pass, there would not be any immediate scholarship or financial aid implications. General criteria like completion of 24 credits for the year and GPA are unchanged.

The deadline to complete and submit the FAFSA has been extended to May 1, 2020.

The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid has assembled a list of contacts and resources for current, incoming and former students in need of financial support. The list includes information on loans and loan repayment, scholarships, financial aid and refunds. Students are encouraged to contact Husker Hub at huskerhub@unl.edu or 402-472-2030 to discuss their situation and needs.

PRORATED PARKING PERMIT REFUNDS

UNL students who will not be parking on campus during the COVID-19-driven shift to remote classes can return their permits for prorated refunds. Students interested in obtaining a refund should contact Parking & Transit Services at unlpts@unl.edu.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FUND FOR STUDENTS, STAFF, & FACULTY

Established in 2019 at the University of Nebraska Foundation, the University of Nebraska Emergency Assistance Fund was created to help members of the NU community facing financial distress due to unexpected crises — including last year’s flooding, other natural disasters, home displacement, food insecurity or other emergencies. As the current pandemic may cause economic uncertainty for families and individuals, the university’s senior leadership is encouraging those in need to apply for support from the emergency fund. Those who are able to give can make a contribution. Students, faculty and staff can apply for the NU Emergency Assistance Fund through April 30 online or by sending email to nuemergencyfund@nebraska.edu. Aid from the fund will be awarded by the NU president on the basis of need.

FREE LEGAL HELP

Employees, students and members of the public can receive free legal help with issues like eviction, debt collection, employee rights and more by calling the COVID-19 Disaster Relief Hotline at 1-844-268-5627. The hotline is hosted by Legal Aid of Nebraska in partnership with the Nebraska State Bar Association’s Volunteer Lawyers Project.

SPRING 2020 COMMENCEMENT UPDATE

Sadly, the Spring 2020 Commencement Ceremony has been cancelled. Instead the ceremony will be conducted via livestream. There will be an opportunity for you to send thoughts and feelings you’re having about completing your degree, and those sentiments will be shared with the entire university community so Huskers everywhere can celebrate with you all around the world. You'll be receiving a box from UNL that will have in it very special things that will help you to commemorate and remember this time of completion for you. And of course, in that celebratory moment, we’ll complete the conferral of your degree so that it becomes official for you, in moving forward.

Should you desire to participate in the physical ceremony, you can participate in one of the upcoming ceremonies in August or December of this year, or May of next year, or a date further into the future – whatever will work for you and your families to celebrate this degree and to celebrate this moment in person in our tradition at Nebraska. And we're setting aside a special thing for you as the class of May 2020 when you come back to participate in those ceremonies.

OTHER CAMPUS RESOURCES

Center for Academic Success & Transition (CAST)

The CAST staff is available during regular office hours (8am-5pm) for Zoom, Skype, email, and phone appointments. Students can schedule appointments with academic success coaches through MyPLAN, by calling 402-472-1880, or by emailing success@unl.edu.

University Health Center

UHC is currently open 8am-5pm, Monday through Friday. They will be closed on weekends. To best serve the needs of the student body, their focus will be providing care for students with immediate needs. If you are concerned you have COVID-19, complete the Department of Health and Human Services survey. If you have other immediate needs, call the University Health Center at 402.472.5000 before you visit so that they know to expect you. For the health and safety of everyone, all visitors must enter the building through the north doors that face patient parking. Expect to be screened upon arrival.

If you have a previously scheduled University Health Center appointment and you are no longer able to attend, please call as soon as possible to cancel so that they can open the appointment time to another students who needs it.

The University Health Center now offers telehealth home video visits through Zoom as a convenient appointment option for primary care and mental health medication services. Appointments are required. Call 402-472-5000 or message your provider in your One Chart | Patient portal to schedule. Telehealth visits are offered Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

You must meet the following criteria to be eligible for a telehealth visit:

  • Be physically located in the state of Nebraska or Iowa at the time of the telehealth visit (due to state medical licensure laws)
  • Have access to an electronic device with video and microphone capabilities, such as a mobile phone or laptop
  • Be able to participate in the telehealth visit from a private location
  • Have an existing One Chart | Patient account or create one here 

There is no additional fee for telehealth visits.

Dental Services @ UHC

At the guidance of the American Dental Association, the University Health Center Dental Clinic is immediately postponing all routine care services until further notice. We will continue to offer emergency care for toothaches, wisdom tooth pain, jaw pain, facial pain, a broken tooth, facial or gum swelling and loss of a crown from 9am to 1pm, Monday through Friday. Call 402.472.7495 to schedule.

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS)

CAPS will be closed for in-person visits, though you can still see a counselor via telehealth services (virtual/phone). If you would like a remote (i.e., Zoom, phone) appointment or if you are in crisis, please call CAPS at (402) 472-7450 between 8am-5pm for assistance. AFTER BUSINESS HOURS: If you need to speak with a counselor on duty for your urgent needs or you are in crisis, please call (402) 472-7450 and Press 4. If you are in imminent danger to yourself or others, please call 911. CAPS also recommends this page for resources about how to tend to our mental health during this time.

Husker Pantry/Food Resources

Students living in the Lincoln area who are unable to access affordable meals can contact Student Affairs at studentaffairs@unl.edu for assistance. Though the Husker Pantry is currently closed, free meal vouchers are available and can be obtained so that students can eat in campus dining centers. If students need additional items, check out this link for a pantry near you.

Housing & Dining

Residence Halls remain will open to students already residing there. To further reduce exposure to the 2019 novel coronavirus, Dining Services will shift to a daily meal pick-up for students with meal plans.

Internet & Wifi Access

Charter will offer free Spectrum broadband and Wi-Fi access for 60 days to households with K-12 and/or college students who do not already have a Spectrum broadband subscription and at any service level up to 100 Mbps. To enroll call 1-844-488-8395. Installation fees will be waived for new student households. Comcast, AT&T, and Cox Communications also appear to be doing similar things.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln students seeking Wi-Fi access to engage in remote learning for the remainder of the spring semester can use multiple outdoor spaces on campus. Parking lots within the highlighted map areas would allow for internet access on campus without having to leave a personal vehicle. As the university is now shut down for the next two weeks, there are no physical indoor spaces on either campus where students can study or access wifi.

International Student Scholars Office

ISSO is offering virtual advising which students can sign up for through a Google Form on their main ISSO webpage. Students can also email isso@unl.edu with their questions.

Writing Center

You can still get help with your writing! Beginning March 30, 2020, all writing center appointments will be taking place online. Please schedule your appointments as usual through WCOnline.

Office of Academic Success and Intercultural Services (OASIS)

Starting Monday, March 30, 2020 until Friday, May 1, 2020, OASIS be offering their tutoring services virtually through Zoom! The tutoring sessions will be in 40-minute time blocks Monday-Friday from 11:00 am until 3:40 pm. Students can find the schedule and Zoom link to each session here. (Scroll to the bottom for the link.)

 

Math Resource Center

Beginning March 30, the Math Resource Center will be running as an online resource. There are two ways to get help with eligible math courses: 1) use the Piazza discussion board forum in Canvas or 2) join a Zoom meeting with a counselor. See this page for more details on hours and how to join a meeting.

University Announcements and Events

Overwhelmed? Try Mindfulness!

GUIDED MINDFULNESS MEDITATION THRU CAPS

Every day from 2-2:30pm, Counseling and Psychological Services is offering guided mindfulness exercises. Students are invited to take a moment for themselves by participating in a guided mindfulness exercise lasting approximately 15-20 minutes. Each exercise will be followed by a 10-minute Q&A session to answer general wellness questions and offer info about CAPS services. Join at https://nuhippa.zoom.us/j/602437743.

Internships, Jobs, and Professional Development

5 TIPS FOR JOB SEARCHING DURING COVID-19

If you are feeling concerned about the impact of COVID-19 on your job-search process, here are some tips to keep you moving forward. 

  1. Keep looking - people are still hiring! Do your research to know which industries are most impacted, and manage your expectations. Hiring may take longer in some industries than others. 
  2. Use LinkedIn regularly for up-to-date information on how the pandemic is impacting job searching/hiring practices. Use hashtags to search for relevant information (#gethired #hiringnow #jobsearch #remotejobs).
  3. Grow your network by connecting with and following people and organizations on social media channels. For networking tips, check out this article.
  4. Tailor your resume for each position you apply for using keywords from job descriptions. Focus on quality of applications over quantity of applications. 
  5. Connect with a CAS Career Coach for support in your job search. Schedule an appointment on MyPLAN. 

Literary News

t’s the 21st century, yet Spanish books are still suffering from censorship

"Two generations have passed since the death of dictator General Franco – yet his legacy is felt to this day. Jordi Cornellà-Detrell explains how doctored literature from his reign has a chilling effect on free speech

It’s 80 years since the end of the Spanish Civil War, when General Francisco Franco’s populist forces finally overcame the leftist resistance and plunged the country into full-blown dictatorship. Decades after his death, Franco continues to cast a long shadow over Spain, from the rise of the far-right Vox party to the hundreds of mass graves of people who died in the war that are still waiting to be exhumed.

One other hugely important legacy that few people are aware of is the continuing effect on books, both in Spain and throughout the Spanish-speaking world. To this day, translations of many world classics and works of Spanish literature are being reprinted using expurgated texts approved by the dictator’s censors – often without publishers even realising it, let alone readers. It has had a chilling effect on freedom of speech over the years, and must be addressed as a matter of urgency......"

To read more on the cencorship of Spanish litrature see Jordi Cornellà-Detrell article here.

The Week in Books LIVE: The Best Reviewed Books of the Week and More

With Book Marks Editors Dan Sheehan and Katie Yee

"Featuring the good news and the bad news from the week in books, the big titles everyone is talking about, the best reviewed books, adaptation news, and, of course, the incomparable banter of Book Marks editors Dan Sheehan and Katie Yee.

 

Discussed in the episode:

Streaming Shakespeare plays from the Globe Theater 

“Mondays with Michelle Obama” children’s book Read-Along series

The Women’s Prize for Fiction shortlist

The ALA’s list of most frequently challenged books

Sex, angst, and Sligo: Sally Rooney’s Normal People on the small screen"

To see more on "The Week of Books", see here.

Film News

Showing This Week at the Ross

The Ross is closed until further notice

Stay tuned for more film news