2004 Ballots. A ballot to elect a Vice-President/President-Elect for 2004, two Executive Committee members, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the Editor of Language and a ballot concerning proposed changes to the LSA Constitution were mailed 1 August along with the dues notices for 2004. If you did not receive this mailing, please contact the Secretariat; the deadline for returning both ballots is 1 December 2003.
Long Range Planning. The Society wishes to thank those who took part in the sessions devoted to long-range planning for the LSA last summer during the Linguistic Institute: Anthony Aristar (Wayne SU), Betty Birner (N IL U), Mary Bucholtz (UC-Santa Barbara), Jeanette Gundel (U MN-Twin Cities), Mike Hammond (U AZ), Beth Hume (OH SU), Ray Jackendoff (Brandeis U), Polly Jacobson (Brown U), Bill Ladusaw (UC-Santa Cruz), Terry Langendoen (U AZ), Alec Marantz (MIT), Sally McConnell-Ginet (Cornell U), Dennis Preston (MI SU), Ivan Sag (Stanford U), Donca Seriade (MIT), Elaine Tarone (U MN-Twin Cities), and Gregory Ward (Northwestern U).
Thanks. The Society thanks Geoffrey Pullum (UC-Santa Cruz) and Bruce Fraser (Boston U) for preparing "Guidelines for Giving an LSA Paper" which was sent to all 2004 Annual Meeting presenters.
Student Welcome Packets. The
Secretariat would like to provide "welcome" packets for new and returning
graduate students in linguistics and related fields. The packets contain a welcome
letter and information about LSA membership. Departments and programs are urged
to request them by emailing the Secretariat (lsa@lsadc.org).
New members in our field are the future of the Society, and we want to welcome
them as Society members as soon as possible.
New Website. The third generation of the LSA website is now up. Thanks to those
who made many suggestions for this new version.
Results of Balloting on Resolutions. Balloting by members of the Linguistic Society on the two resolutions approved by those attending the 2003 Annual Meeting in Atlanta has been completed. The first resolution expressed opposition to the US military's policy of dismissing linguists, translators, interpreters, or other members of the armed forces on the basis of their sexual orientation. The second stated the society's opposition to all discrimination and political sanctions against scholars in any aspect of professional life, where such discrimination is based not on the conduct of the scholars themselves but solely on the scholars' religion, ethnicity, citizenship, or policies and actions of the countries in which they work and live. Both resolutions were overwhelmingly approved by the members of the Society who cast ballots by the 1 July 2003 deadline.
NSF Vacancy. NSF is searching for a new Assistant Director for the Directorate of Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE) to be appointed 1 March 2004. It is a 2-3 year rotating position. The Director controls significant funds and has opportunity to create initiatives, set agendas, and channel the progress of research in the areas covered by SBE. The job involves a lot of legislative and other government contact as well as keeping a finger on the pulse of the various fields. Information about the position can be found on the left side of the following web page: http://www.nsf.gov.od/.