SPJ AWARDS: Columns, the UW alumni magazine, picked up six awards at the Excellence in Journalism competition sponsored by the Western Washington chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. Associate Editor Jon Marmor won a first place award for his profile of artist Chuck Close, “Close Call,” a second place award for humorous writing for his “On and Off the Ave.” column and a second place award for his article on diet drugs, “Fat City.” Editor Tom Griffin and Marmor shared a third place award for the historical column “Our Back Pages.” Griffin also won a third place award for sports reporting for his article on the economic impact of professional sports, “Only a Game.” UW writer Nancy Wick won a second place award in social issues reporting for “Seeing Red.”

FIRST POETRY: When the White House held a “Millenium Evening and Celebration of American Poetry” last month, our own Heather McHugh was among 140 invited guests. McHugh, the Milliman Distinguished Writer in Residence in the English Department, describes the evening this way: “Mr. Bill and Ms. Hillary gave speeches, and the whole thing was broadcast on C-Span, with questions fielded from the Internet. Then the proceedings adjourned and the first gentleman and lady talked with the poets for a considerable time (amazing they have such time for poetry: it couldn't have been merely a politicking move—not much use, one would think). I myself found some world-class crab cakes at the buffet. (Now that is good for the soul.)”

KUDOS: Gunnar Almgren, assistant professor of Social Work, has won the Students' Choice Teaching Award for the department. ¶