Liberal Arts Voices

Read the perspectives of our current students

Lunch with a Legend: John Edgar Wideman Visits November 1

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Paterno Fellows and aspirants are invited to enjoy an informal luncheon conversation with John Edgar Wideman, a nationally known writer who is visiting Penn State. 

Date:  Noon to 1 pm on Tuesday, November 1

Place:  Grucchi Room (the ground floor of Burrowes Building, in the middle of the building).

Details:  Lunch will be provided; no charge.  In order to make this an intimate exchange, the event is reserved to the first ten Paterno Fellows and aspirants who express their desire to attend.  Write to Jack Selzer at jls25@psu.edu–reserve your spot now.

John Edgar Wideman, who was raised in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh, was the second African American to earn a Rhodes Scholarship, and he later was honored with a MacArthur “genius grant.” A widely-celebrated writer of fiction and non-fiction, he has won numerous awards, including the International PEN/Faulkner Award (in 1984 for Sent for You Yesterday and in 1990 for his novel Philadelphia Fire). In 2000, he won the O Henry Award for his short story “Weight.” Following the publication of his Homewood trilogy, the New York Times proclaimed John Edgar Wideman, “one of America’s premier writers of fiction,” and in 1997 his novel Cattle Killing won the James Fenimore Cooper Prize for best historical fiction.

English majors and students with an interest in careers as writers will be especially interested in this lunch, but it is open to anyone interested in American culture and African American culture.  The atmosphere will be informal, and everyone from freshmen to seniors will be comfortable taking part. 

Democracy Matters; So Does Lunch–So Come!

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Who Owns Democracy? How Students Can Make a Difference
October 21 (Friday), 12-1:15 in 124 Sparks
RSVP required.

Joan Mandel, the executive director of “Democracy Matters,” will lead an informal discussion over lunch on the subject “Who Owns Democracy? How Students Can Make a Difference.” On their campuses, in their communities, and in the politics of the nation and the world: Joan Mandel will stimulate students’ thinking about enterprising and interesting ways to be involved in civic affairs.

Democracy Matters has generated internships and other opportunities for students at hundreds of colleges and universities. Now it’s coming to Penn State Liberal Arts.

This event is limited to two dozen Fellows and aspirants and should especially (but not only) appeal to people interested in political science, international politics, law, sociology, women’s studies, and Crime Law and Justice.

No charge for this event or for lunch. But so that we know how much food to order, please RSVP to jls25@psu.edu by October 18 (Tuesday). That will secure your place. The event is limited to the first 24 students who sign on, so secure your place NOW.

PS: Joan Mandle has been the Executive Director of Democracy Matters since 2001. Prior to that, she was Associate Professor of Sociology and Anthropology at Colgate University, where she also directed the college’s Women’s Studies Program. Her teaching and her extensive published work explore social change and social movements. She has been actively involved with many efforts to reform the political system–e,g., spearheading grassroots organizing drives in Oakland and in San Francisco that resulted in the successful passage of significant campaign finance reform; and serving for three election cycles as campaign manager for incumbent congressman Robert W. Edgar of Pennsylvania.

The PF Year in Preview

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At our September 20 meeting, members of the Paterno Fellows Student Advisory Board and I agreed on a list of Paterno Fellows Events for the year.  There will be some additions and minor tweaks to come, but essentially you have these things to anticipate this year.  Make note of them now, and watch for further information to come:

August 30:  Food Ethics Forum (for first-year students only)

October 21 (Friday), 12-1:15:  Joan Mandel, executive director of “Democracy Matters” will lead an informal discussion over lunch concerning ways that students can get involved in political and social reform efforts. Democracy Matters has generated internships and other opportunities for students at hundreds of colleges and universities. This event is limited to two dozen Fellows and aspirants and should especially (but not only) appeal to people in political science.

November 2 or 3:  The PF Program is a cosponsor of the visit to Penn State of writer John Edgar Wideman.  A Pittsburgh native and now a professor at Brown, Wideman has been honored for his 1990 novel Philadelphia Fire, his 1997 historical novel The Cattle Killing, his nonfiction book Brothers and Keepers, and his memoir Fatheralong. Paterno Fellows will have a chance for one-on-one interaction with Mr. Wideman. Stay tuned for particulars.

November 8 or 9 or 10:  For a bargain price, Fellows can attend the musical theatre production of Kiss Me, Kate, a production inspired by Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.

Early January (date TBA):  The second annual Recognition Event for new Paterno Fellows will be scheduled to accommodate the schedules of Joe and Sue Paterno.

January 15-16:  Paterno Fellows can support the Martin Luther King, Jr., Day of Service by participating in a blood drive.

February 29:  For a modest charge, Paterno Fellows can enjoy the amazing production of American Idiot in Eisenhower Auditorium–complete with a reception beforehand with some of the performers.

April 9:  The PF Program is a cosponsor of Sarah Vowell’s visit to Penn State.  Ms. Vowell, a frequent participant in NPR’s “This American Life” and the author of many books, is a social commentator and documentarian.  (She was also the voice of Violet in the animated movie The Incredibles.)

April 22:  Paterno Fellows support and participate in Sue Paterno’s favorite charity, Special Olympics, through the 5K Beaver Stadium Run.

Again, watch for more details, prepare for an enjoyable year, and let me know if you have ideas for other events.

Key Issues in Food Ethics : A Paterno Fellows Town Hall Forum (and Reception) for First-Year Students

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Danger in the Corn
Originally uploaded by Roger Smith

Tuesday, August 30
4:00-5:30p.m. (with reception to follow)
HUB, Heritage Hall

Co-Sponsored by the Rock Ethics Institute and the Center for Democratic Deliberation

Few issues animate Penn State students more than those related to food ethics.  Under what conditions is it ethical to eat animals?  Is genetically engineered food both safe and ethical?  Does the government have a responsibility to address the problem of obesity–or is it a matter for individuals only?  Should we strive to consume only those foods that are grown locally, under sustainable conditions?  Do we have a responsibility to explore who benefits and who is harmed by the production of the foods we eat–and if so, what should each of us do?  Should corporations be allowed to patent the seeds they develop through research?

In this event specifically designed for Paterno Fellows (it is a required for Paterno Fellows freshmen), students will debate these and related issues in a Town Hall Forum.  First, a panel of faculty experts will frame the issues.  What are the most pressing controversies, challenges, or problems relating to food production or consumption, and what kinds of questions need to be raised?  What makes these controversies, challenges, or problems ethical issues? Are they local, national, or global problems?  Who are the stakeholders, and what approaches currently are being employed to address those challenges or problems? 

The experts enlisted to introduce the issues include Paul Thompson (W. H. Kellogg Professor of Agricultural, Food, and Community Ethics at Michigan State University); Leland Glenna (an award-winning faculty member in Penn State’s College of Agriculture); Susan Squier (Brill Professor of Women’s Studies, English, and Science Technology and Society–check out her Poultry Science, Chicken Culture blog spots); Don Thompson (Penn State professor of food science); Bryan McDonald (a Penn State professor whose book Food Security appeared last year); and Paterno Fellows senior Lisa Lotito (whose honors thesis in philosophy deals with food ethics).

Then for most of the sessions students will discuss the issues themselves in small groups of ten, develop recommendations, and share those recommendations in a Town Hall forum created by students involved with the College of the Liberal Arts Center for Democratic Deliberation.

Following the event, students will have a chance (as refreshments are served) to engage faculty and each other at a reception in Heritage Hall. 

First-year aspiring Paterno Fellows are required to attend unless they have a class conflict.

(Final note:  Prepare for the Forum, if you wish, by attending Paul Thompson’s lecture on Monday, August 29 at 3:;00 p.m. in Foster Auditorium in Pattee Library.  His title is “What Makes Food Good?)

Volunteer for the Beaver Stadium Run

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Calling all volunteers!

Interested in supporting Special Olympics Pennsylvania? Helping Sue Paterno? Doing some good for State College?
Sign up now to volunteer with the Beaver Stadium Run 5k /1k Family Fun Walk!
Background:
The Beaver Stadium 5K Run/ 1K Family Fun Walk will be held during Blue-White Weekend on Sunday, April 17, 2011 to benefit Special Olympics Pennsylvania.  The run will start in front of the Bryce Jordan Center on Curtain Road, continue through Penn State’s campus and finish through the Beaver Stadium Tunnel onto the field to the finish line. Last year, over 800 runners and walkers participated raising $35,000.
Volunteers Needed:
Sunday, April 17:
      Registration tents – 7am – 10:30am
      Tunnel and Course – 9am-11:30am
      Food, Water, and Awards – 9am-12noon
Saturday, April 16:
      Canners! Any time before the game to collect $ from 
      tailgaters
      Registration/Information Tent – Anytime between 9am-6pm
Friday, April 15:
      Registration/Information Tent (outside the carnival!) 6-9:30pm
Contact:
Please email me, Lauren Perrotti, at lyp5028@psu.edu. Let me know your name, email, and when/where you would like to volunteer! You choose!
Want to run in the race instead?
Visit http://www.stadiumrun.org to sign up today for the 5k or 1k Family Fun Walk.
All proceeds go to helping the Special Olympics PA, so get out there and help! 

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Fellows Spring Gala March 23: “The Color Purple”

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Make plans now to attend the Paterno Fellows springtime Big Event:  a performance of the Broadway musical “The Color Purple” in Eisenhower Auditorium–an evening that includes a pre-show dessert reception featuring Professor Keith Gilyard and Sue Paterno.

We have reserved sixty tickets for this event, so secure your ticket now by coming to Billie Moslak in 119 Sparks Building.  The cost of each ticket is just $10; Fellows may also bring one non-Fellow guest if they wish; but all ticket-holders must also commit to attending the pre-show. The pre-show begins at 6:15 in the Conference Room within Eisenhower Auditorium (you’ll easily find it after presenting your ticket at the door), and “The Color Purple” begins at 7:30.

“The Color Purple” is an amazing show, an unforgettable musical based on the classic Pulitzer Prize-winning novel by Alice Walker and the film by Steven Spielberg. Nominated for eleven Tony Awards (!), the play is both a landmark theatrical event and musical achievement, featuring a Grammy-nominated score that draws from jazz, gospel, and blues. Check out the Center for the Performing Arts website for more information about the show.  

But “The Color Purple” is also a controversial work, for reasons that Keith Gilyard will explain in a short, informal pre-show presentation that will contribute mightily to your enjoyment of the show. One of the nation’s leading experts on African American culture, Dr. Gilyard is Distinguished Professor of English and was recognized as the 2006 Faculty Scholar medalist for his research, scholarship, and poetry.  You can read his faculty profile on the English Department’s website. 

Sue Paterno attended the Fellows springtime event last year–a lecture by Nobel laureate Toni Morrison–and she is planning to attend once again this year. This will give Fellows a chance to meet her personally, and to thank her for her family’s support of the Fellows Program.  And it will give Sue Paterno a chance to thank Fellows for their service in support of the 5K Run for Special Olympics that she is so passionate about.

Attending “The Beaux’ Stratagem”

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Friday night, a full audience arrived at the Theatre Building for a performance of 18th-century play, “The Beaux’ Stratagem.”  But only a fraction of the audience arrived early for a special event–dinner and a talk with acclaimed Theatre professor Robert Hume and renowned English director Di Trevis. 

I was part of that fraction. My name’s Noelle, and I’m a freshman majoring in French. This is my first blog post for Paterno Fellows Program blog, so hello! As a freshman who’s hardly used to attending academic events, let alone dinners with distinguished professors, the idea of the program being stiff and formal worried me, to say the least. But when I entered the event room, I was pleasantly surprised to find that it really was just an informal chat, meant to give us some extra information before watching the play. Dr. Hume spoke from a scholar’s point of view. He highlighted the key literary themes of the play, and also provided a historical context–apparently, writer George Farquhar was on his deathbed when he wrote the piece, which seems odd for such an apparently light-hearted play. 

Note that I said apparently light-hearted. Director Di Trevis pointed out that even though “Beaux’ Stratagem” often comes across as a silly romp, there are several dark themes beneath the surface. For example, “divorce” is a theme that almost never comes to mind when thinking about 18th-century England. But according to Trevis, Farquhar was really an advocate of the right to divorce, and used the terrible marriage among two characters in his play to point this out. There’s also an underlying theme concerning the mistreatment of women, and the unfairness of not being allowed to provide for themselves in society. These are all themes that I would never have picked up on by just watching the play, and I appreciated being able to view the play through the lens of this knowledge. 
Now here comes the important part– why do you care? Why does it matter that I saw a play, went to a dinner, and kind of liked it? First, I’ve never been a huge fan of plays, probably because I’ve always considered them a little too high-brow a form of entertainment. I’m more likely to kick back with a recent romantic comedy, and I imagine many of you are the same way. But here’s the thing — “Beaux’ Stratagem” is a romantic comedy. And even if our society today views theatre as a more elitist pastime, this sort of thing was pop culture in the 18th-century. In a world without movies, TV, iPods, etc. — theatre was the creme de la creme of popular entertainment, and as someone who loves pop culture today, I can certainly appreciate this. 
Attending the “Beaux’ Stratagem” not only enlightened me as to the complexity of theatre (as discussed in the pre-show talk), but it also led me to reconsider my preconceptions. And whether or not you’re a fan of attending academic events, I encourage you to try it– at least just once. Honestly, there’s more similarities between an 18th-century play and How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days than you might think. 

Tunisia, Egypt, now Libya? Public Forum on the Events Unfolding in the Middle East

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Wednesday, March 2
7:30-9:00 p.m.
101 Thomas Building

Free and Open to the Public

Panelists include:

  • Riadh Bounatirou, Graduate Student in Comparative Literature
  • Jonathan Brockopp, Associate Professor of Religious Studies and History 
  • Arthur Goldschmidt, Professor Emeritus of Middle Eastern History 
  • James Piazza, Associate Professor of Political Science and Fellow, International Center for the Study of Terrorism 
  • Moderator: Christian Brady, Dean of Schreyer Honors College

 For more information about this event, visit the Rock Ethics Institute website.

This event is supported by the Schreyer Honors College, Rock Ethics Institute, Center for Ethics and Religious Affairs, Middle Eastern Studies Program, and the Department of History and Religious Studies. 

CDD Flash Forum: Collective Bargaining in the U.S.

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Tuesday, March 1
2:30-4:00 pm
Memorial Lounge, Pasquerilla Spiritual Center

The recent swell of protests in Wisconsin, Ohio, and other states signals the continued life of labor unions and a strong belief in the importance of collective bargaining. The controversy over collective bargaining matters for more than union members: it cuts to the heart of deliberation, of democracy, and the livelihoods of workers everywhere. In response to these protests, the Center for Democratic Deliberation presents a “Flash Forum” – an event organized with due speed to respond to the exigencies of the moment–to give members of the campus and community an opportunity to consider what this issue might mean for people in Pennsylvania and especially for students at Penn State.

The CDD has invited a group of people who know something about unions, labor, collective action, and/or collective bargaining to briefly share their thoughts on these matters, and you are also invited to join our discussion.

Featured Presenters:

  • John Marsh, Assistant Professor, Department of English
  • Emma Gaalaas Mullaney, Graduate Student, Geography & Women’s Studies
  • Paul F. Clark, Professor and Chair, Department of Labor Studies and Employment Relations
  • Samuel Zucker, Undergraduate Student, College of Liberal Arts
  • Dominic Sgro, Director, Southwestern Pennsylvania Public Employees Council 83, AFSCME

Questions? Contact the flash forum organizer, Debra Hawhee, Interim Co-Director of the Center for Democratic Deliberation at hawhee@psu.edu. 

Showtime Friday (Food Too!)

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Paterno Fellows, Paterno Aspirants, and their guests are invited to a special evening out on Friday, February 25.  For just $5, you’ll get to see “The Beaux Strategem” at the Playhouse Theatre (the reviews have been raves!) with a pre-show dinner preview at 6:30 in 111 Arts Building.   

At 7:30 you’ll enjoy a wonderful performance of George Farquhar’s famous comedy The Beaux Strategem at the Playhouse Theatre (next to the Forum Building).  Directed by distinguished visiting artist Di Trevis, the play is a hilarious romantic comedy involving two dirty rotten scoundrels–two fashionable beaux–with a strategy for getting rich by separating naive young heiresses from their dowries.  Their plans go haywire, though, when true love intervenes, not to mention mistaken identities and robberies gone strangely awry. 

Before the play, at 6:30 (and over a free dinner provided right there for you), in 111 Arts Building, director Di Trevis and PSU Evan Pugh Professor Robert Hume will offer an informal orientation to the play.  This should be tremendous because the food will be good and because Trevis and Hume are experts on the English stage.  Trevis (according to wikipedia) has been directing plays in Britain and the US since 1981.  The first woman to run a company at Britain’s Royal National Theatre, she has directed a host of wonderful performances, particularly at the Royal Shakespeare Company. Hume is one of 22 Penn State Evan Pugh Professors (the highest honor a PSU professor can receive) because of his remarkable and sustained studies of English theatre.

And both Trevis and Hume have a pretty good sense of humor.

Fellows and aspirants can pick up tickets ($5 each) from Billie Moslak in 119 Sparks beginning Monday, February 21.  First come, first served.  Each Fellow or aspirant can also buy a ticket for one non-Paterno guest.  But all ticket holders must commit to attending both the pre-show dinner as well as the play itself.

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