His free, public presentation, the second for the 2002-03 academic year in the CWU Presidential Speaker Series, is slated for 7 p.m. in the Samuelson Union Building (SUB) Ballroom. Seats will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, with the doors opening at 6:30 p.m.

Johnson, who serves on the faculty at Hartford College for Women at the University of Hartford, is a frequent speaker on university campuses, where he presents controversial, often difficult issues, in a way people can relate to on a personal level.

"As a white male, I am especially concerned with reaching men and whites who may feel so uncomfortable with issues of privilege that they won't even talk about them," Johnson says. "I try to offer a blend of life experience, humor, social reality, audience participation and clear analysis that opens windows to new and productive ways of thinking and living in the world."

Johnson has been interested in and worked on issues of privilege, oppression and social inequality since receiving his Ph.D. from the University of Michigan. That work has included authoring several books, including "The Gender Knot: Unraveling our Patriarchal Legacy" in 1997 and "Privilege, Power, and Difference" in 2001.

Johnson will also autograph copies of his books by request following the public lecture, which is sponsored by the CWU president's office, theatre arts department, student empowerment center, student health and counseling center, office for equal opportunity, residence life, diversity education center and campus life.

Craig Karges provides the entertainment Feb. 22 with a display of illusion and the paranormal using total audience participation at 9:30 p.m. in the SUB Ballroom. Tickets are $7 for CWU students and $10 general. The National Association of Campus Activities has named Karges Campus Entertainer of the Year six times.

Also planned for Saturday are snowshoe tours, cross-country skiing, innertubing, CWU men's and women's basketball at Nicholson Pavilion, campus and residence hall tours and a Chimposium. On Sunday, participants can listen to CWU's Vocal Jazz group during brunch in the SUB's Club Central. Brunch is $8 per person.

Hertz was department chair and director of the concert choir, which, in 1948, adopted as its official name "The Central Singers." The group made yearly tours of the Northwest and one trip to Chicago in 1954 to appear before the Music Educators National Conference (MENC). With that, a tradition began.

Today, CWU performance groups regularly earn invitations to prestigious regional and national conferences, such as MENC, and other events. Last year, CWU's Vocal Jazz group, directed by Vijay Singh, performed at the International Association of Jazz Educators Conference in Long Beach, Calif., and MENC in Nashville, Tenn.

This year, CWU's Symphonic Wind Ensemble, conducted by Larry Gookin, will be featured at Northwest MENC Feb. 15 in Portland, Ore. Central's selection was made from approximately 80 tapes considered.

"The Wind Ensemble is a fine representation of the music department's commitment to excellence in musical performance, which is characterized by a high level of technical attainment, without obscuring the expressive qualities that are intrinsic to all genuine musical experiences," Peter Gries, music department chair, said. "Under the leadership of its director, Professor Larry Gookin, the CWU Wind Ensemble has developed a reputation as one of the foremost groups of its kind, and the exceptional expressive and emotional quality of its performances set it apart from most other similar groups."

And, Central graduates find teaching jobs or other careers in the music industry. About 80 percent of the department's students are music education majors - those who will continue a successful trek into teaching. Many of the top school programs in the Northwest are run by CWU alumni.

The CWU music program is growing to a projected 326 students in 2010. In Washington state today, CWU music graduates teach more than 250,000 students annually.

The music program also serves as a valuable cultural resource for the central Washington region. Each year, the music department presents approximately 200 public performances and invites more than 10,000 high school students to participate in music festivals on the Ellensburg campus.

A new CWU music education facility being constructed will enhance the student, faculty and visitor experience.

Gries said, "The thought of having a facility that will provide our students with enough room to study, practice, rehearse, perform and store instruments after so many years of insufficient, cramped, outmoded and crowded conditions is almost too marvelous to believe."

A total of $14 million for Phase I construction was included in Washington state's 2001-03 budget. It will allow for development of an approximately 40,000 square foot, functional building containing the 600-seat concert hall, 150-seat recital hall, four rehearsal rooms, an entry lobby, locker storage, performance library and an administration wing. It will provide the infrastructure to adapt to changing music technologies.

Now, to complete the project, Phase II is CWU's highest capital project for the next biennium.