Reynolds College Blog

RCASH departments host screening of “Black Box Diaries” documentary

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Academic departments within the Judith Enyeart Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH) recently teamed together to co-host a screening of Shiori Itō’s 2024 documentary “Black Box Diaries.”

The screening, coordinated by Assistant Professor of East Asian History Dr. Linshan Jiang, was held Nov. 14 at the Moxie Cinema in Springfield, Missouri.

“Shiori Itō is such an iconic figure of the Japanese #MeToo movement and holds significance for me personally,” she said.

Missouri State’s Department of History; Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film; Department of Languages, Cultures and Religions; and Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology joined the Moxie Cinema to sponsor the event.

Jiang estimated 50-60 people attended the screening.

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Missouri State Debate Team logs solid wins at Oklahoma and Wake Forest

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Evan Siever and Nico Neal, two Missouri State University Debate Bears, reached the quarterfinals at the University of Oklahoma Debate Tournament in Norman, Oklahoma, Oct. 31-Nov. 2.

The pair entered the tournament as the top seed with a 6-0 record.

“Oklahoma is the largest tournament on our regional schedule this fall, and this is our best showing so far,” said Dr. Eric Morris, director of forensics in the Department of Communication, Media, Journalism and Film.

Six other Debate Bears also competed in the Oklahoma tournament. They were Avery Bates, Levi DeAngelis, James Granger, Quentin Cooper, Shelby Hahn and Asher Neal. Undergraduate observers Gabe Diaz and Connor Burns also attended and helped the teams prepare for the competition. Morris, graduate assistant Aaraf Azad, Matthew Wilkinson and Peyton Reeves also accompanied the students.

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RCASH student wins third place in public affairs essay contest

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Freshman Design/Technology/Stage Management major Iris Vallier, a student in the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Science and Humanities (RCASH), won third place in the 11th annual Dr. Michael N. Compton Public Affairs Essay Contest.

Young man presenting an award to a young woman
Iris Vallier receives her award certificate from Sigma Pi President Nate Walls.

Vallier received an award certificate and a $150 cash prize.

The annual contest is open to all Missouri State full-time undergraduate students, according to Stacey Trewatha-Bach, assistant director of the Office of Public Affairs Support.

“The contest is a joint undertaking between the MSU Sigma Pi fraternity, its alumni through the Institute for Development of Ethics and Leadership and the MSU Office of Public Affairs Support,” she said.

Along with a $1,500 cash prize, the first place winner received $500 to donate to a charity or non-profit of choice, Trewatha-Bach said. Sigma Pi fraternity’s alumni non-profit organization, IDEAL, provides these prize funds.

Second place winners receive a $300 MSU Bookstore gift card, sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Philosophy. Third place winners receive $150.

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Dean Shawn Wahl honored with Uebel Award

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Dr. Shawn T. Wahl, Dean of the Reynolds College of Arts, Social Sciences and Humanities (RCASH), has been honored with the 2025 Rick and Dee Uebel Award.

Created in 2019 and named after key supporters Rick and Dee Uebel, the award honors long-term commitment, generosity and support of the Missouri State University Choral Studies program.

Director of Choral Studies and Clif and Gail Smart Professor Dr. Cameron LaBarr, along with the Missouri State University Choral Studies program, presented Wahl with the award Oct. 18 at the annual Choral Gala event, held at The Old Glass Place in Springfield, Missouri.

“I can say without a doubt that Dean Wahl’s support has been and continues to be critical to the success of all the arts programs at MSU, including the MSU Choirs,” LaBarr noted. “He’s the absolute faculty and student champion, with a work ethic second to none.”

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Dr. Herbert Rodrigues publishes research in top international sociology journal

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Associate Professor Dr. Herbert Rodrigues has had his research published in the Brazilian journal Contribuciones a las Ciencias Sociales (Contributions to the Social Sciences).

Rodrigues co-wrote “Parental Discipline and Legal Socialization in Brazil: A Longitudinal Analysis of Adolescent Rule Violating Behavior,” with Justin Lopez-Medina. The article examines the impact of parental discipline on adolescent responses to authority.

“This research represents years of collaboration with colleagues in Brazil and the United States,” Rodrigues said. “I’m grateful for the opportunity to share these findings with a broader audience.”

Rodrigues teaches in the Department of Sociology, Anthropology and Gerontology. He specializes in youth development, legal socialization and juvenile delinquency. In particular, he examines how young people, especially those from marginalized communities, develop attitudes toward authority and law.

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