Bear Briefs

Hurricane Class—This wintersession, UM’s environmental studies department will offer students a unique opportunity to visit Louisiana and explore the factors that resulted in Hurricane Katrina and what their effects are — particularly the racial and class divisions exposed by the damage and response. “Katrina — The Making and ‘Unmaking’ of a Disaster” was organized by environmental studies Assistant Professor Robin Saha and EVST/social work Professor Emeritus Tom Roy. In January they plan to meet with a group of between eight and 10 UM upper-division and graduate students in New Orleans. Once there, they will explore the social and environmental causes and consequences of the disaster, visit affected areas and more.

Winning Journalist—Peter Bulger, a UM junior in journalism from Missoula, has received the $5,000 Jim Murray Memorial Scholarship, named for the legendary Los Angeles Times sports columnist who died in 1998. Bulger won the award on the basis of his academic performance and an essay he submitted to the Jim Murray Foundation. Bulger and six other national winners will be honored Dec. 11-12 in La Quinta, Calif.

Animal Art—Wild and domesticated animals are the subjects of works that will be exhibited at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture through Dec. 21. “Creatures from the Permanent Collection” will be in the museum’s Paxson Gallery, located in the Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4 to 8:30 p.m. For more information about this free exhibit call (406) 243-2019 or go online to http://www.umt.edu/partv/famus.

Female Portraits—A current exhibit at the Montana Museum of Art and Culture presents a lesser-known side of Missoula artist Dirk Lee. “The Beauty in Her…Works by Dirk Lee” will be in the Meloy Gallery, located in UM’s Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center, through Dec. 21. The exhibit features Lee’s oil paintings depicting female portraits and female nudes that are done in a style reflective of surrealism and mannerism. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Friday and Saturday from 4-8:30 p.m. Visit http://www.umt.edu/partv/famus for more information.