Continuum

From humble beginnings, the University of Utah theater program has grown into a major player on the collegiate stage. Photo courtesy Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, University of  Utah While Utah, as a state, has a distinguished history of theater, in the early days of the University of Utah there was little money to […]

Here’s a challenge: Think back to those days of your freshman year at the U. Maybe you were a little nervous, or maybe not—perhaps you were supremely confident. Whatever your state of mind, odds are that you had no clue what the next four or five (or more) years would bring. The freshman year of […]

Prizewinning Professor Christopher R. Johnson MS’84 PhD’90, Distinguished Professor of computer science, was honored at last May’s Commencement with the Rosenblatt Prize for Excellence, the U’s most prestigious award. The $40,000 gift is presented annually to a faculty member who displays excellence in teaching, research, and administrative efforts. As director of the Scientific Computing and […]

The University of Utah’s long-awaited dream of joining the Pac-10 finally comes true. Until the end, it was never a fait accompli. When it came down to it, news that the University of Utah had been invited to join the prestigious Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10)—rumored, buzzed about, mulled over, discussed for months—really came down to a […]

Mike Dunn’s commitment to telling meaningful stories with film makes him a great fit as the new head of KUED. Michael A. Dunn BS’81 MA’06 loves challenges. And in August 1994, he faced one never before taken on by a human being in Grand Teton National Park. Dunn was on an early morning run when […]

Author Zoe Murdock chronicles a journey back in time  leading to self-discovery. ~ Zoe Murdock (aka Susan Sudbury Murdock) BS’81 published her debut novel Torn by God: A Family’s Struggle with Polygamy in January 2009. Inspired by true events, Torn by God is a drama that unfolds in a small town in Utah in the […]

Long lines and wait times often characterized student registration at the U—until the technological revolution. Registration at the University of Utah didn’t reach the 1,000-student mark until after the turn of the 20th century, and even in those days, registering for classes was no problem. Students received a “yellow ticket” from the registrar and then […]

This issue of Continuum marks the beginning of the magazine’s 20th year. In May 1991, the first edition of this magazine appeared, complete with a cover story about genetics research at the U.  What the editors and writers back then knew (and it’s no less true today) is that the University of Utah is at […]

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News of the University Tightening Our Belts The 2010 legislative session proved difficult for higher education—but it could’ve been worse. Like most legislative sessions, the 2010 assembly offered a few surprises. Fortunately, there were no bombshells for higher education in general or the University of Utah in particular. But like the rest of the nation, […]

Two U of U grads help the NBA champions stay on top of their game. In the Los Angeles Lakers’ locker room, superstar Kobe Bryant changes into his jersey, then rubs his ankles. The 6-foot-6, 205-pound guard is all muscle, but for this afternoon’s practice session, some of his joints and tendons will need a […]

Professor Bill Farley reflects on the influences that have fueled his 50-plus years in social work. How does a man whose career spans half a century sum up his tenure? “It was one of the most gratifying and rewarding experiences of my life,” he says. O. William “Bill” Farley BS’58 MSW’59 PhD’68 began his career […]

Professor, writer, and editor Lance Olsen might make your head explode. As the author of 10 novels, four short-story collections, four critical studies, one hypertext, a poetry chapbook, and a textbook about fiction writing, as well as editor of two collections of essays about innovative contemporary fiction and chair of the board of edgy publisher […]

The U’s med school has grown from a collection of “frontier doctors” to become one of the world’s best academic medical centers. This turn-of-the century photo from the Ralph Vary Chamberlin collection might depict the first medical school class at the U to use a human cadaver. Chamberlin, a med student, once wrote, “At the […]