As part of my class ANTH 453/553: Archaeological Field Research Design I took a group of CLA students to the Desert Studies Center at Soda Springs. You can read about this here: http://biology.fullerton.edu/dsc/. This center is funded by the CSU system through the CSU Fullerton foundation and the California Desert Studies Consortium, an organization of seven southern California CSU campuses: Dominguez Hills, Fullerton, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Northridge, Pomona and San Bernardino.It is a remarkable place — bunks for 75, a kitchen facility, classroom (with data projector, slide projector, overhead), wireless internet, computers, and other resources. It is located past Barstow at ZZYZX, a one-time mineral spring “health center.” The desert location is ideal for archaeology, biology, geography and other kinds of environmental studies — or really anything that would benefit from an off-campus setting. We all had an excellent time there.The DSC is located 3 hours from Campus. Costs are $11.00/person/night for lodging and one can arrange catering for 3 meals a day (which is around $35/person/day, I believe). Arrangements need to be made well ahead of time (especially in Spring).

As a means of organizing the participants of the 2008 CLA Student Research Showcase (scheduled for the last Thursday of the Spring Semester 2008 from 10-2:00PM), we have established a registration web site. This web site enables students/faculty to submit titles and abstracts for poster submissions. Having each student (individual or group) register will enable us to coordinate the numbers of poster boards need, provide a means for tracking who is involved, and will enable us to communicate more efficiently. To check out the website (in its initial state), please see: http://huxley.cla.csulb.edu/conferences/index.php/CLA/

Hello Colleagues,

I just wanted to remind and encourage everyone to attend our upcoming CLA Faculty Retreat, which will happen on Friday, Feb. 1, from 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. The theme of the retreat is “Promoting Peace: Harmony Through the Liberal Arts”. Thanks! Raul Reis.