FALL 2012 MULTI-CULTURAL / DIVERSITY
Students scan Eagle ID cards for attendance tracking
Sept. 20, 2012 7:00 p.m. YO SOY LATINA!
Backdoor Playhouse
YO SOY LATINA! is a funny and very moving play that challenges a group of diverse Latina women to examine their identity and their connections in the contemporary American landscape. The play's premise unites these women who come to share their individual anecdotes of living Latina in contemporary America. There is Migdalia, a Nuyorican, who experiences prejudice from her own family because of her interracial marriage; Jennifer, a young Mexican-American college student who has discovered her Chicana rights; Alicia, a Colombian actress who struggles with what keeps her from landing Latino roles because of the 'lightness' of her skin; Maria Elena, a Panamanian, who faces inequity from other Latinos because of the 'darkness' of her skin; Soledad, a Dominican mother who finds the courage to leave her machista husband in pursuit of her own dream; and Louisa, a Cuban-Irish who defends her right to be Latina. www.latinoflavored.com
Sept. 24, 2012 7:00 p.m. EDUARDO TAMI TANGO TRIO
Derryberry Hall Auditorium
The Eduardo Tami Tango Trio includes three musicians (flute, piano, and bandoneon) and tango dancers. The event will include tango instrumental and dance performances as well as explanations about the history of tango and its significance in Argentina's history. Since the tango emerged as a result of a large influx of immigrants coming to Argentina to work in the agro-export industry in the late nineteenth century, this event combines history, economics, cultural studies, music and dance. www.eduardotami.com.ar
Sept. 25, 2012 7:00 p.m. JUAN WILLIAMS PRESENTS "MUZZLED: THE ASSAULT ON HONEST DEBATE"
Roaden University Center Multipurpose Room
Juan Williams is currently a political analyst with Fox News. Previously he reported for NPR as a senior correspondent and the host of "Talk of the Nation," but was dismissed after commenting that Muslims in traditional dress boarding planes made him nervous. In the wake of the news organization's controversial decision, Williams penned Muzzled: the Assault on Honest Debate, discussing "the countless ways in which hones debate in America. . .is stifled." Williams is also an award-winning writer/columnist (20+ yrs) at The Washington Post. http://www.apbspeakers.com
Sept. 27, 2012 7:00 p.m. RACHEL HELD EVANS PRESENTS "A YEAR OF BIBLICAL WOMANHOOD"
Derryberry Hall Auditorium
Rachel Held Evans is an award-winning author and popular blogger from Dayton, Tennessee--home of the famous Scopes Monkey Trial of 1925. Rachel's first book, Evolving in Monkey Town, explores the relationship between faith and doubt and recounts the challenges of asking tough questions about Christianity in the context of the Bible Belt. Her latest book, to be published in 2012, is an account of her yearlong experiment in "Biblical womanhood" in which she attempted to follow all of the Bible's instructions for women as literally as possible. In addition to her blogging and writing, Rachel has maintained a busy speaking schedule across the country. www.chaffeemanagement.com
Oct. 9, 2012 7:00 p.m. WLADIMIR KAMINER HOSTS A "RUSSENDISKO"
Memorial Gym
Wladimir Kaminer hosts a "Russendisko," a multcultural dance event (with a charismatic DJ) which combines Rusian folklore with contemporary music. Kaminer is a Russian-born German short story writer, columnist and disc jockey of Jewish origin. He was born in Moscow, and after initially training as an audio engineer for theatre and radio, he then studied dramaturgy at the Moscow Institute of Theater. Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Kaminer emigrated to Marzahn, Berlin, in 1990 where he became a prime mover in Berlin's art and literature scene. www.russendisko.de
Oct. 22, 2012 6:00 p.m. DR. MARGARET C. LEE PRESENTS "CHOCOLATE CITY (GUANGZHOU) IN CHINA"
Derryberry Auditorium
Dr. Lee's lecture/presentation is about "Chocolate City in China," which is located in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong province. Guangzhou is known as "Chocolate City" because of the estimated 100,000 Africans that live there. This is the location of the largest number of African traders in China. She will discuss the historical origin of "Chocolate City" and what contribution the traders make towards the enhancement of economic development in both China and Africa through their trade networks in Africa and other parts of Asia. Many of these traders have migrated to China from other parts of Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Malaysia.
The remarkable story of "Chocolate City" serves as the context to examine the interplay of immigration, entrepreneurship, market mobility, and African-Chinese relationships. China has become a major player in Africa, which has resulted in African traders relocating to China to compete with Chinese traders in Africa. In addition, there are African market women and men who travel frequently to China to purchase goods for their shops and to sell to cross border traders in other African countries.
Oct. 25, 2012 3:00 p.m. DR. MICHAEL GROFE PRESENTS "MEASUREMENTS IN DEEP TIME: 2012 AND THE ANCIENT MAYA ASTRONOMICAL SYMBOLISM OF THE YEAR"
Bryan Fine Arts Room 324
Maya hieroglyphic texts contain numerous intervals of time that count both backward and forward from a fixed point of historical reference to specific mythological dates, often thousands of years into the past or future. The most commonly referenced deep time event in Maya hieroglyphic texts is the era base of the Long Count in 3114 BC, while only one text references the upcoming completion of 13 Bak'tuns in 2012. Dr. Grofe specializes in Maya heiroglyphic writing and archaeoastronomy. In his doctoral research at the University of California at Davis, he explored a new astronomical interpretation of the Serpent Series within the Dresen Codex. His talk will address the 2012 and Maya "end of time" speculation, as well as the interest in native cultures of the American continent.
Nov. 8, 2012 7:30 p.m. ISLE OF KLEZBOS (concert)
Wattenbarger Auditorium
Isle of Klezbos approaches tradition with irreverence & respect. Based in New York City, this soulful, fun-loving powerhouse all women's klezmer sextet has toured from Vienna to Vancouver. The band's repertoire ranges from rambunctious to entrancing: neo-traditional folk dance, mystical melodies, Yiddish swing & retro tango, late Soviet-era Jewish drinking song, re-grooved standards, and genre-defying originals. Isle of Klezbos concert footage has been broadcast internationally on CBS Sunday Morning, CNN WorldBeat, and PBS In The Life. Formed in 1998 by drummer/leader Eve Sicular, Isle of Klezbos has been honored with multiple awards by New York State Council on the Arts, Outmusic, and Sparkplug Foundation. www.klezbos.com
Nov. 27, 2012 11:00 a.m. STEVE BUCKINGHAM PRESENTS "HOW RHYTHM AND BLUES & ROCK 'N' ROLL TORE DOWN THE WALLS OF SEGREGATION" Roaden University Center Multipurpose Room Mr. Buckingham uses personal stories and rare video footage to show how rock music was a primary driving force for social change during the Civil Rights movement. This talk is part of the "Mix It Up At Lunch Day". As a producer, Steve Buckingham, is a four time Grammy winner with 27 number one singles to his credit. He has been awarded 11 Platinum and 19 Gold albums. In addition, he is also a musical historian. www.wolfmanproductions.com