Here’s an overview of Special Events for Spring Semester. Watch for additional information–and mark your calendars.
- January 9: Paterno Fellows Recognition Event
- January 26: Discovery Grant information session, 4 pm, 124 Sparks
- February 2: Presidential Leadership Academy information session (for first-year students), 4 pm, 124 Sparks
- February 3: Coffee-hour conversation about the 2012 presidential election season with Dr. John M. Murphy from the University of Illinois. Informal and fun–come to 124 Sparks from 10:00am-11:00am for coffee and snacks. (Dr. Murphy is a leading scholar of presidential rhetoric. He has published academic articles about the presidential rhetoric of John Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. He will be sharing his thoughts about the current election cycle, responding to your questions, asking asking you some.)
- Special Series on Civil Rights:
- Bettye Collier-Thomas (Temple University): “Women, Religion, Race, and Civil Rights:” Friday, February 3, 12:20-1:10 in 124 Sparks (lunch included)
- Charles McKinney (Rhodes College): “Narratives in the Civil Rights Story:” Wednesday, March 15, 12:20-1:10 in 118 Willard (lunch included)
- Frank Walker (University of Kentucky): poetry reading – Thursday, March 29, 11:30-12:45 in 124 Sparks (lunch included)
- Jeff Ogbar (University of Connecticut): “Black Power and Hip Hop:” Thursday, April 5, 11:30-12:45 in 124 Sparks (lunch included)
- February 29: Big Event of the Semester: Attend at a substantially reduced price the performance of “American Idiot” in Eisenhower Auditorium. Details to follow.
- Early April: Sarah Vowell will be meeting Paterno Fellows in an event to be announced. Ms Vowell, an essayist and social commentator (and the voice of Violet in The Incredibles!), for over a decade was a regular contributor to features on NPR’s This American Life series. Details to follow.
- April 22: Sue Paterno’s Beaver Stadium 5K Run for Special Olympics. Details to follow.
- April 24: Meet Kathleen Hall Jamieson, an expert on presidential elections. See http://vimeo.com/36951741
- May 4: Ceremonies honoring the first graduating class of Paterno Fellows. Details to follow. Liberal Arts graduation will be the next day, May 5.