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Of radical bumper stickers, activism and classic flicks: Meet USU's uncommon liberal academician By
Amy Hayes Some people put one or two bumper stickers on their vehicle to show what causes they believe in or who they voted for during the last presidential race. Dr. Jay Anderson, professor of folklore and film studies in Utah State University's history department wouldn't know where to begin if he had to pick just two. Dr. Jay, as he likes to be called by students, has creatively decorated his '87 silver Subaru wagon with more than 50 bumper stickers. Some of the messages include: "Why be normal," "I'm straight, but not narrow," "Assume nothing," "People who abuse animals rarely stop there," "Another man against violence against women," "It's too bad that the people who know how to run the country are busy teaching school," "I'm too proud to vote Republican," "Feminism is the radical notion that women are people," "The last time we mixed politics with religion, people got burned at the stake," "Living sober" and "Thelma and Louise live." In a conservative town like Logan, it is hard enough to find people who believe in such liberal views, let alone advertise them. "I get a lot of really funny looks when I drive around. The car receives mixed reactions. People either laugh and honk or look at me real funny," Anderson said. Dr. Anderson is married to Jan Anderson, a campus services librarian at USU. They met when Dr. Jay was working on his masters degree in folklore and Jan was working on her undergraduate degree at the University of Pennsylvania. They are both faculty advisers for the Pride Alliance, a group that supports gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender individuals. Pride Alliance meets at 7 p.m. on Mondays in the Taggart Student Center in Room 356 and afterward at the Depot/The Junction. Pride Alliance celebrates diversity and establishes a safe a comfortable place for students and community members to meet. Dr. Jay traces his activism to an old friend. "I was inspired by a dear friend, Allen Stokes, who was always rooting for minorities. When he passed away I wanted to find a cause that I believed in and work for it. Pride Alliance became my cause," Dr. Jay said. The Stokes Nature Center, located close to the mouth of the Logan Canyon, is named after Allen Stokes, who died six years ago. The Andersons became faculty advisers during the early '90s when acceptance of gays and lesbians at USU hadn't reached the point where it is today. "The past president didn't have the commitment to minorities and women as President Hall does," said Dr. Jay. "Jan and I figured that a straight couple, both tenured professors, would be a good loyal support system. We are not needed as much now." Dr. Jay also wanted to support this club because in previous years he had many students who were gay. "I had a student that died of AIDS before anyone really knew what AIDS was," Dr. Jay said. Dr. Jay has a great fascination for films and movies, which overflows into many aspects of his life. The Andersons' home is a110-year-old farmhouse in Providence that is filled with bookshelf after bookshelf lined with movies. His movies are neatly organized by foreign films, romantic films (he likes to watch with his wife), films that deal with food, political films, dark comedies and historical films. His favorite movie is The Cruel Sea, a British movie about World War II. "I don't know what it is, as soon as the movie comes on it makes me feel good," Dr. Jay explained. "Maybe we will open a video rental store when we retire," Jan said. Dr. Jay teaches three classes at USU: Film and Popular Culture (English/History 6630), Sex, Drugs and Rock n' Roll (LAS 2020), and Interpreting the Past for Teachers (History 4850). Films and movies are big elements in each class. Film and Popular Culture examines the concept of "foodways," which is the study of culinary traditions. Foodways is often a subject of many movies. As part of this class the students are required to view different movies that deal with this theme including, Chocolat, Women on Top, Soul Food, and What's Cooking. Sex, Drugs, and Rock n' Roll revisits the revolutionary period of the 1960s. Through lecture and film the class examines the music, the Vietnam War, and the many movements (civil rights, womens' liberation) associated with the time. Some of the films that the students are required to watch are A Hard Day's Night, Born on the 4th of July, A Long Walk Home, and Pleasantville. Interpreting the Past for Teachers is a class for students in the department of history or education. This class focuses on non-formal educational experiences for children. Often films and movies are great ways to establish a non-formal educational experience. Students in this class are required to conduct a class using a film or movie as an educational tool. Dr. Jay and Jan have three children and five grandchildren. "But the real babies of the family are our dogs," Dr. Jay said. The Andersons have three dogs: a 6-year-old Golden Retriever named Buddy, a 5-year-old Border Collie named Jaque and a 4-year-old Black Lab named Katy. All of the children are grown and live all over the country, so the dogs have become the next generation of the Anderson family. Dr. Jay takes all of the dogs in his car when he runs errands, whether going to take them for a walk or going to the store to buy dog food. Dr. Jay loves being a teacher and it is his true passion, even above movies. He believes that teaching has taught him tolerance, understanding of other cultures, and support of "the common man." "My goal is to try to understand every man and woman in my class," Dr. Jay said. "We need more teachers like Dr. Jay. He really cares about the students and the experience they gain from his classes," said Kari Mendenhall, a former student. Dr. Jay lives be many mottoes, but one of his favorites sums his life up well, "Life is more like a tennis game with lots of unforced errors, than rock climbing--one fall and you're dead."
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