Sonoma State University is adding a new minor in Jewish Studies, a first step toward a full curriculum in Religious Studies

Professor Mike Ezra says the addition of Jewish Studies courses at Sonoma State should help develop wider religious tolerance.

Ezra explains that introducing the Jewish Studies program as a minor allows a wider array of students to particpate.

After living in Sonoma County for nearly 60 years, civil rights advocate Willie Garrett has seen--and instigated--some substantial changes here. But he'd still like to see more.

One of Willie Garrett's first moves toward expanding integration in Santa Rosa, focused on the city's swim center, sometime around 1956.

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In the late 1960s, Mr. Garrett (seen more recently here)  was one of the co-founders of the Ethnic Studies Department at Sonoma State University, where he told the mostly white students not to expect an easy A, because community service would be an important part of his classes.

Typically, Mr. Garrett has not joined in recent public handwringing over the continuing absence of ethnic diversity among the Sonoma State student body. But he is planning to do something about it.

Willie Garrett has been named the 2009 recipient of the Jack Green Civil Rights Award from the Sonoma County chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, an honor that will be bestowed at the group's annual Awards Dinner tonight (April 3). Last minute reservations can be made by calling (707) 765-5005.

California's budget problems dominated the dialog at the convocation to open the new semester at Sonoma State University.

Profanity on the airwaves is outlawed, and subject to steep fines, at least some of the time. But why do these forbidden words carry such an emotional charge?

Steven Pinker is author of seven books, including The Blank Slate. He is a professor at Harvard University. His new book, The Stuff of Thought, tackles the wide world of semantics, and how they can reveal the truth about human nature.

Pinker says he wrote his latest book to explore and explain the links between the ways we speak and the thoughts and feelings that shape that speech.

No matter what language or culture one examines, says Pinker, the same general types of linguistic taboos can be found.

Small, personal stories fill the pages of Petaluma's tiniest literary magazine.

Susan Bono is the editor of Tiny Lights, “A Journal of Personal Narrative”  which features short personal stories not often found in other literary magazines. To view her website, click here .

Tiny Lights publisher Susan Bono on why she does what she does.

You'll find the details on Tiny Lights' annual essay contest here , along with links to past winning entries.