English Professors Present Papers

By Chrystal Houston

Three members of the English Department are bringing distinction and recognition to York College by presenting at prestigious academic conferences.  In January Dr. Ben Larson  presented a paper entitled “Naming in Action Footwear: Tread Lightly” at the Linguistic Society of America’s annual meeting in Albuquerque, NM. Larson is considering having the paper published.

To present his paper, Larson had to submit it in advance for peer review. Out of all the applicants, he was invited to be one of the 38 presenters. There were several hundred students, professionals in linguistics, and college professors in attendance, including many from outside the U.S.

“While it is somewhat intimidating to rub shoulders with some of these people…it does open up your eyes to the wider world, more global academic world out there and provides good inspiration!” said Larson of his experience.

Larson is a member of the American Name Society, a branch of the Linguistic Society of America. The Society promotes onomastics, the study of names and naming practices, both in the United States and abroad.   

Dr. Larry Van Meter has written a paper entitled: “Jarhead, Epistemological Incapacity, and Original Sinlessness” that has been accepted for presentation at the National College English Association’s annual conference, to be held in San Antonio, April 6-8, 2006.

In the coming months, Professor Beverly McNeese will be participating in the Oxford Round Table sponsored by the Harris Manchester College in the University of Oxford in Oxford, UK. Her presentation will be titled “Philosopher and Technologists: Vicarious and Virtual Knowledge Constructs.”  The conference will be July 9-14, 2006.