News from CLASS 

Student Spotlight: Destyni Harris, ASLI Major

October 20, 2023

Mesmerizing signing, captivating storytelling and expressive visuals were used in “Peter & Wendy,” the first dance performance collaboration between Miller Outdoor Theater and the University of Houston. Destyni Harris, a junior studying American Sign Language Interpreting (ASLI), was a part of the Aug. 25 production. We caught up with Destyni, who noted the experience breached language barriers for both deaf and hearing individuals to appreciate the aesthetic beauty of dance.

Student Spotlight: Alfonso Garza Núñez

October 12, 2023

Alfonso Garza Núñez (he/him), a graduate student at the department of history, always took unconventional routes. After growing up between Houston and Mexico, he chose to go to study in Europe – only to find a way back home through his research.

Addressing the Soaring Suicide Rates Among Black Adolescents

October 4, 2023

Grim statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on suicide among young people indicate that Black youth under 13 are twice as likely to die by suicide compared to their white peers, and the suicide death rate among Black youth is increasing faster than any other racial or ethnic group. The disturbing reality leads scientists to wonder if Black adolescents are properly represented in suicide research, the path to finding answers and possible solutions to the tragic increase.