Lecture Notes
April 13 to 28, 2006
Universal Mercy: Prophet Muhammad
April 16, 5 to 8:30 p.m., Whittenberger Auditorium, Indiana Memorial Union, Bloomington -- A keynote speech called "The Universal Mercy" by Alan Godlas, an associate professor in the Department of Religion at the University of Georgia, will be featured at this commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad's birth. Godlas is most well-known for his Islamic Studies and Sufism Web sites, which are the most comprehensive academic Web sites for the study of Islam and Sufism on the Web. He's the director of the University of Georgia Virtual Center for Interdisciplinary Studies of the Islamic World. Also part of the event, sponsored by Bloomington Muslim Dialog Group and Muslim Student Union, are a recitation from the Holy Quran, a recitation of poems in praise of the Prophet, impressions and refreshments. For more information, contact the dialog group at info@bmdg.org or visit http://bmdg.org.
Union Board presents: A Lecture by David Wann and a screening of Affluenza
April 18, 6 p.m., Whittenberger Auditorium, Indiana Memorial Union, Bloomington -- By revealing personal stories, expert commentary, hilarious old film clips, dramatized vignettes and anti-commercial breaks, Affluenza examines the high cost of achieving the most extravagant lifestyle the world has ever seen. Take, for example, the fact that Americans made up only 5 percent of the world's population last year but used nearly a third of its resources and produced almost half of its hazardous waste. David Wann, author of the book, Affluenza, has spent more than 30 years pondering a qualitatively better, more sustainable future and has produced four books, more than 100 articles and 20 videos on the subjects. He's taught at the college level and has worked as a policy analyst for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for more than a decade. For more information on this free event, contact Adam Newman at debates@indiana.edu.
Union Board presents: The Revolution of Saul Williams, a lecture
April 18, 7 p.m., Alumni Hall, Indiana Memorial Union, Bloomington -- Hip-hop is a unique expression in the African-American experience, and few better articulate its history and culture as well as poet-preacher-actor-rapper-singer-musician Saul Williams. Williams held the lead role in SLAM, which won the Sundance Festival Grand Jury Prize and the Cannes Camera D'Or. He's performed with such artists as The Fugees and Erykah Badu as well as legendary poets Allen Ginsberg and Sonia Sanchez. His writing has been published in publications such as The New York Times and Esquire, as well as his own books of poetry. His lecture is the culmination of the Sixth Annual Hip-Hop Festival. For more information on the free event, contact Alfonso Lerma at dperform@indiana.edu.
The EPA: Achievements, Challenges and the Future
April 19, 1 p.m., Wells-Metz Theater, 275 N. Jordan Ave., Bloomington -- William Ruckelshaus, the first and fifth administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, will present the keynote speech on the EPA. A symposium follows, celebrating Ruckelhaus' 35 years with the EPA. Ruckelshaus is a native of Indianapolis and also served as the director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Deputy Attorney General of the United States Justice Department. He famously resigned that position in 1973 rather than obey an order from President Richard Nixon to fire the Watergate special prosecutor who was investigating official misconduct on the part of his president and his aids. For more information, contact the School of Public and Environmental Affairs at spea@indiana.edu or 812-856-5490.
State Health Commissioner Gives 2006 Marian Godeke Miller Lecture
April 19, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Student Recreational Sports Center Auditorium, Bloomington -- Indiana State Department of Health Commissioner Judith A. Monroe, M.D., will present the 2006 Marian Godeke Miller Lecture on the topic of "INShape Indiana: Current Efforts to Improve the Health of Hoosiers." Monroe will review the program started by Governor Mitch Daniels to help Hoosiers make healthy choices by linking them to valuable resources and offering a fun challenge to improve their health and well-being. Monroe will present research findings that led to the implementation of this program. The School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation coordinates this lecture series named for distinguished alumni, Marian Godeke Miller. For more information contact Dara Eckart at 812-855-7891 or deckart@indiana.edu.
Margins of Error: The Education Testing Industry in the No Child Left Behind Era
April 21, 1 p.m., Solarium, Indiana Memorial Union, Bloomington -- Thomas Toch, co-founder and co-director of the independent national education policy think tank, Education Sector, and one of the nation's leading education writers, will discuss his recent report, "Margins of Error: The Education Testing Industry in the No Child Left Behind Era," at the Education Policy Chat. Prior to co-founding the Education Sector in 2005, Toch served in numerous capacities as a journalist and education commentator. His positions included director and writer-in-residence of the National Center on Education and the Economy Policy Forums and guest scholar in education at the Brookings Institute. He served as the senior education correspondent at U.S. News and World Report and has been a guest commentator on education on several national television news programs and publications. For more information, contact Jason Zapf at jzapf@indiana.edu.
