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For years, Dr. Terry Easton has taught college students about working class studies. During the summer and fall 2018 semesters, the associate professor of English at the University of North Georgia (̨Íåswag) collaborated for the first time with a student on a research paper about the topic.

"I thought it was fantastic," Easton said. "It's hard to carve out time for research and writing. When I learned about the (FUSE) grant from Castiel Dixon, I had no idea what it was. But I saw it as an opportunity to do a project in the summer."

Easton’s FUSE grant proposal analyzing Sherman Alexie’s 1995 novel “Reservation Blues” was accepted. Dixon, a senior from Buford, Georgia, majoring in literature, was hired to collaborate with him on the project. Later, the pair submitted it for publications in the Journal of Working-Class Studies.

"I thought it might not get accepted," Dixon said. "It was my first publication."

"Falling Down, Falling Apart and Finding Home in 'Reservation Blues'" was published in the December 2018 issue, pleasing Easton and Dixon.

After the experience, Easton said he would be open to collaborating with other students because it was a positive experience.