Friday, December 15, 2006

(No) Advising over the Break

I will be out of the office until Tuesday, January 2. During this time, my e-mail access will be limited and I will not be able to assist you with registration for the spring term until January 2. University offices will be open next week so if you have an issue that needs to be resolved before January 2, you can visit the Dean's office or the Registrar in Thackeray Hall.

Enjoy your vacation and whatever religious/cultural holidays you might be celebrating in the coming days; and best wishes for the new year.

Undergraduate Research Symposium on Islam

The Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies
announces its 2007 Undergraduate Research Symposium
“ISLAM: HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES”
CALL FOR PAPERS
Present your research with other undergraduate students
from 25 member institutions in Ohio and Pennsylvania
on any topic related to Islamic studies in the arts,
sciences, or professional academic disciplines.
Keynote speaker, cash awards, breakfast, lunch.
A great way to build your academic portfolio by
expanding a paper developed for a course. Submit
your abstract between November 15 and January 30, turn
in your paper by March 12, and present your fi ndings to an
officiated panel of local experts on March 31 at the
CERIS Undergraduate Research Symposium at
Duquesne University. For more information go to WWW.CERISNET.ORG Baldwin-Wallace College • California University of Pennsylvania • Carlow University • Chatham College • Community College of Allegheny County •
Duquesne University • Islamic Center of Pittsburgh • Juniata College • La Roche College • Mercyhurst College • Pennsylvania Highlands Community
College • Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education • Pittsburgh Theological Seminary • Point Park University • Saint Francis University • Saint Vincent
College • Seton Hill University • University of Pittsburgh • University of Pittsburgh at Bradford • University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg • University of
Pittsburgh at Johnstown • Washington and Jefferson College • Waynesburg College • World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh • Youngstown State University
ISLAMIC STUDIES

Spring Break in Paris?

Did that get your attention?


Study Abroad Opportunity --Spring Break Abroad. Spend Spring Break (March 3-10, 2007) in Paris to study race relations and earn 1 credit. Applications available at Residence Life (203 Bruce Hall). For more information: Stacey Nicholson at srn10@pitt.edu

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Global Studies Student Research Symposium

2007 Global Studies Student Research Symposium:
Guidelines & Deadlines
The Global Studies Student Research Symposium is designed to provide recognition for excellent student scholarship in the field of Global Studies and a forum for students and faculty to discuss critical global issues. All students at the University of Pittsburgh, in any major and including regional campuses, are eligible to submit a research paper for consideration in the competition. Finalists are selected by a panel of judges drawn from the Global Studies Affiliated Faculty. Awards for Best Undergraduate Paper and Best Graduate Paper will be made at the annual Symposium in March 2007, where students present their papers and receive cash prizes. To compete, students must submit a research paper on an eligible topic by no later than January 31, 2007 following the guidelines set out below. Finalists should be available to present their paper at the Symposium (details TBA). The Symposium is open to the public and will feature an invited keynote speaker.
Eligible topics: research relating to one of the following global issues
Sustainable development
Global economy and global governance
Changing identities in a global world
Technology, communication and society
Conflict and conflict resolution
Global health
Specific Guidelines for undergraduate students:
The research paper must have been prepared for a course, seminar, independent study or internship at this University. Entries may be revised from their original form.
Length: minimum of 10 pages double spaced, maximum of 20 pages double spaced.
Specific Guidelines for Graduate students:
The research paper must have been prepared for a course, seminar, directed study, thesis, dissertation, or as a piece of independent research completed at this University. Entries may be revised from their original form.
Length: minimum of 15 pages double spaced, maximum of 30 pages double spaced.
General guidelines for both undergraduate and graduate students:
Limit one submission per year per student
Submissions must be received no later than January 31 to receive full consideration
Submit three printed copies to the Global Studies Program, 4100 WW Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
To facilitate a blind review, the author’s name should appear only on the cover sheet. The cover sheet must include the following information (you may copy/paste the following):
Application for Global Studies Student Research Symposium
1) Name:
2) Pitt student i.d. number:
3) School (e.g. ARTSC, CGS, Law, GSPIA, etc.):
4) Department or Division (e.g. history, sociology, etc.):
5) Degree objective (e.g., B.A.; MA; PhD):
6) Expected year of graduation:
7) Title of Research Paper:
8) Course for which this paper was written (number, title, instructor, term & year):
9) Current Address, Telephone and E-Mail:
10) Permanent Address, Telephone, E-Mail (if different from above):
11) Abstract (no longer than one paragraph):

Global Studies Program: http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global

Global Studies Student Research Symposium

2007 Global Studies Student Research Symposium:
Guidelines & Deadlines
The Global Studies Student Research Symposium is designed to provide recognition for excellent student scholarship in the field of Global Studies and a forum for students and faculty to discuss critical global issues. All students at the University of Pittsburgh, in any major and including regional campuses, are eligible to submit a research paper for consideration in the competition. Finalists are selected by a panel of judges drawn from the Global Studies Affiliated Faculty. Awards for Best Undergraduate Paper and Best Graduate Paper will be made at the annual Symposium in March 2007, where students present their papers and receive cash prizes. To compete, students must submit a research paper on an eligible topic by no later than January 31, 2007 following the guidelines set out below. Finalists should be available to present their paper at the Symposium (details TBA). The Symposium is open to the public and will feature an invited keynote speaker.
Eligible topics: research relating to one of the following global issues
Sustainable development
Global economy and global governance
Changing identities in a global world
Technology, communication and society
Conflict and conflict resolution
Global health
Specific Guidelines for undergraduate students:
The research paper must have been prepared for a course, seminar, independent study or internship at this University. Entries may be revised from their original form.
Length: minimum of 10 pages double spaced, maximum of 20 pages double spaced.
Specific Guidelines for Graduate students:
The research paper must have been prepared for a course, seminar, directed study, thesis, dissertation, or as a piece of independent research completed at this University. Entries may be revised from their original form.
Length: minimum of 15 pages double spaced, maximum of 30 pages double spaced.
General guidelines for both undergraduate and graduate students:
Limit one submission per year per student
Submissions must be received no later than January 31 to receive full consideration
Submit three printed copies to the Global Studies Program, 4100 WW Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260
To facilitate a blind review, the author’s name should appear only on the cover sheet. The cover sheet must include the following information (you may copy/paste the following):
Application for Global Studies Student Research Symposium
1) Name:
2) Pitt student i.d. number:
3) School (e.g. ARTSC, CGS, Law, GSPIA, etc.):
4) Department or Division (e.g. history, sociology, etc.):
5) Degree objective (e.g., B.A.; MA; PhD):
6) Expected year of graduation:
7) Title of Research Paper:
8) Course for which this paper was written (number, title, instructor, term & year):
9) Current Address, Telephone and E-Mail:
10) Permanent Address, Telephone, E-Mail (if different from above):
11) Abstract (no longer than one paragraph):

Global Studies Program: http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global

Tuesday, December 05, 2006

Congratulations to Anna Quider

It's now official: Anna Quider, one of our majors, has won a Marshall Scholarship to study at the University of Cambridge next year. Congratulations.

For details about Anna's accomplishment, see the University press release.

Global Studies Fellowship

For students enrolled in Global Studies (Certificate or BPhil-IAS degree program): a new opportunity for students to attain a Global Studies Tuition Remission Fellowship. The deadline for applications is January 16, 2007. For further information and an Application Form, students can consult the Global Studies website at:


http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global/opportunities.html

Monday, December 04, 2006

Reminder: Moshe Ma'oz today on Islam and the West

The Department of Religious Studies
and the
Program in Jewish Studies


present a public Lecture
by


Professor Moshe Ma'oz
Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Rooney Visiting Scholar at Robert Morris University (Fall 2006)


"Islam in the West: Conflict or Dialogue"





December 4, 2006
Mervis Hall Room 115
4:00 P.M.

Professor Moshe Ma'oz is the author of numerous works including Ottoman Reform in Syria and Palestine (1968), Syria under Hafez al-Assad (1975) and Syria and Israel: From War to Peacemaking (1995). He is also the editor of Studies on Palestine in the Ottoman Period (1975) and the co-editor of Jerusalem: Points of Friction (2000) and Middle Eastern Minorities and Diasporas (2002) among others.



This talk is cosponsored by the University Center for International Studies (UCIS), the Global Studies Program and the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS).

Friday, December 01, 2006

Leading Theoriest of Religious Studies at Pitt for Two Days only!

Many of you probably had a good idea of what "religion" meant when you came to Pitt and thus imagined that you knew what "Religious Studies" meant. As you have taken Religious Studies classes, perhaps, you have come to realize that both terms, "religion" and "Religious Studies," are quite complex and have multiple layers of meaning.

Next week, the Department will host one of the leading theorists in the field of Religious Studies for two events, a small seminar on Wednesday and a public lecture on Thursday. Religious Studies majors are welcome at both events.


THE DEPARTMENT OF RELIGIOUS STUDIES ANNOUNCES TWO TALKS BY
Professor Russell T. McCutcheon
Department of Religious Studies, University of Alabama

SEMINAR: “On the Limits of the Humanistic Study of Religion”
Wednesday, December 6
2:00 pm
4500 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
All welcome
Reading in advance: “’It’s a Lie. There’s No Truth in It! It’s a Sin!’: On the Limits of the Humanistic Study of Religion and the Cross of Saving Others from Themselves.” For a copy, email rocky@pitt.edu

LECTURE: “Religion’s Roots and Tangled Branches, or Fighting the War on Terror with Authentic Fakes”
Thursday, December 7
4:00 pm
4127 Sennott Hall
Reception to follow


A leading voice in the field of the theory of religion, Russell T. McCutcheon has published widely in the areas of the history of scholarship on myths and rituals, the history of the publicly-funded academic study of religion as practiced in the U.S. as well as the relations between the classification “religion” itself and the rise of the nation-state. Among is many published works are Religion and Domestication of Dissent, or How to Live in a Less than Perfect Nation (2005), The Discipline of Religion: Structure, Meaning and Rhetoric (2003), Manufacturing Religion: The Discourse on Sui Generis Religion and the Politics of Nostalgia (1997, 2003) and Critics Not Caretakers: Redescribing the Public Study of Religion (2001). Dr. McCutcheon is currently President of the Council of Societies for the Study of Religion (CSSR) and the Associate Director of the International Association for the History of Religions (IAHR).

Tuesday, November 28, 2006

Undergraduate Conference

This is just a reminder about the regional undergraduate conference in religion, philosophy, and culture on “The Future of Democracy.” The conference is scheduled for Saturday, March 31st at Lebanon Valley College. The keynote speaker will be Professor Catherine Keller from Drew University. She will be speaking on “The Daze of Democracy: Faith, Fear, and Freedom.” There will also be a full slate of student papers and panels scheduled throughout the day. Papers and panel proposals are due by January 1st for consideration.

You may find more information about the conference, including registration forms, at http://www.lvc.edu/colloquium/conference.aspx.
____________________________________

Jeffrey W. Robbins, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Religion & Philosophy

Director of the College Colloquium
Lebanon Valley College
Annville, PA 17003

Associate Editor

Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory

http://www.jcrt.org

tel: 717.867.6720
email: robbins@lvc.edu
http://personal-pages.lvc.edu/~robbins

INFORMATION NEEDED

If any of you have have been awarded any Arts and Sciences undergraduate honors, awards, or prizes in the last academic year (2005-2006) or so far this year (2006-2007), including Brackenridge/USS/Toretti summer research awards, please let me know in the next week (by December 8) so that your name can be forwarded to the Dean's office for participation in the Honors Convocation. Even if this award had nothing to do with Religious Studies, please let me know about it so we can keep a record of how accomplished you all are.

You can e-mail the information to ashear@pitt.edu.

Thank you.

Division of Student Affairs event November 29

Office of Cross-Cultural and Civic Leadership Presents:

IS GOD THE PERFECT LEADER: THE ROLE OF FAITH IN LEADERSHIP

Do you consider yourself an effective leader? Want to know the influence of faith on leadership? Hear from a panel of leaders of faith and join this leadership development and networking opportunity.



When: 8pm-10pm, Nov. 29, 2006

Where: Room 310, WPU

Pizza and Soda provided

Panelists:

Mr. Saleem Ghubril, Executive Director, the Pittsburgh Project

Mr. Amir Koubaa, President, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh

Mr. John Stahl-Wert, President/CEO, Pittsburgh Leadership Foundation

Ms. Rachel Steigerwalt, Program Coordinator, Interfaith Volunteer Caregiver

Mr. Aaron Weil, Executive Director, the Edward and Rose Berman Hillel Jewish University Center of Pittsburgh
***********************************************************************************************************************************
Thank you for your great help.

Huiping Xie (Ms.)
Office of Cross-Cultural and Civic Leadership
Division of Student Affairs
University of Pittsburgh

140 William Pitt Union
3959 Fifth Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15260

The Vision of the Office of Cross-Cultural and Civic Leadership: To cultivate globally aware, culturally competent, and socially responsible students who positively impact the campus, the community and the greater society.

Wednesday, November 22, 2006

Correction: Two Lectures on the Two Mondays After Thanksgiving

The Moshe Ma'oz lecture mentioned in the last posting is on MONDAY DECEMBER 4 not Monday November 27. Sorry for any confusion.

Tuesday, November 21, 2006

Two lectures on Monday after Thanksgiving

on Monday November 27:

#1:

at noon:
Lecture--Beyond the Analects: Unusual Faces of Confucius, a talk by Deborah Sommer, Gettysburg College
202 Frick Fine Arts Building
Sponsored by: Asian Studies Center

Was Confucius really a child-killer and devotee of Tibetan Bon? What was he doing in Vairocana's court? In Lin Biao's bedroom? Are his child-bestowing powers greater than Guanyin's? From the perspective of written texts, Confucius has often been understood as a paragon of wisdom and moral values. But looking at him from the perspective of the visual record, one can find that Confucius had many more faces than just that of "Sage." Deborah Sommer is Associate Professor and Chair of the Religion Department, Gettysburg College. This event is sponsored by the China Council, the Departments of History of Art and Architecture, History, East Asian Languages and Literatures, and Religious Studies, and the Asian Studies Center.

#2:

at 4 pm:
The Department of Religious Studies and the Program in Jewish Studies present:
Moshe Ma'oz
"Islam in the West: Conflict or Dialogue"
Mervis Hall Rm 115

Moshe Ma'oz is Professor of Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Rooney Visiting Scholar at Robert Morris University (Fall 2006). He is the author of Ottoman Reform in Syria and Palestine (1968), Syria under Hafez al-Assad (1975), and Syria and Israel: From War to Peacemaking (1995).
Cosponsored by University Center for International Studies, the Global Studies Program, and the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies

Sunday, November 19, 2006

"Speaking of Faith" workshop TOMORROW

On next Monday (Nov 20) three organizations (Office of Cross Cultural &
Civic Leadership, Student Government Board Diversity, and Intercultural
Dialogue Group) presents "Speaking of Faith" at 8 pm in Kurtzman Room,
WPU.

We will have representatives from different religions (Christianity,
Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, ...) and you can ask questions to them you
always wanted to.

Here is a short explanation about program:

The Cultural aspect of O3CL will deal with: "Speaking of Faith: Exploring
Common Values in Religious Diversity" on Monday, Nov. 20, 2006, in the
Kurtzman Rm. @ 8:00 pm

Come and join O3CL in a program that will feature some of the common
values among religious faiths as well as the features that make them
unique from each other. See how well you know how religion is impacting
our society, and how the values found in diverse religious faiths are
similar. Don't miss this workshop.

Light refreshments will be served.

Mahmut Demir
President
Intercultural Dialogue Group
__________________________________________________

Friday, November 17, 2006

Summer Opportunity in Israel

The Dorot Foundation is offering $5000 fellowships for project "promoting progressive social change in Israel" in the summer of 2007. Undergraduates at any U.S. college or university are eligible (of any religious or cultural background.)

If you are interested, I have information on this posted outside my office door (2603 CL).

Applications are due February 15, 2007.

Thursday, November 16, 2006

Interested in teaching?

From Mary Beth Favorite in the Advising Center:

IL 1701 is a very good course for students considering secondary (7-12) education. A number of my students have taken the course and have found that it helped them get a better sense of what is involved in being a teacher and whether or not that is
something they want to pursue. The course is a good opportunity to get a
taste of the classroom without the responsibility of student teaching;
it is also an opportunity to make good contacts.

Other courses which provide good experience for students interested in
education are: IL 1700 (for elementary education) and IL 1710 (Literacy
in Context).

Students taking any of these classes must have clearance to prove that
they do not have a criminal history. Background check forms (Criminal
Record Check and Child Abuse) forms are available at the websites below.
The criminal record check can be filled out online.

https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp

http://www.dpw.state.pa.us/General/FormsPub/003671038.htm

It takes about 6 weeks for the forms to be processed, so students should
submit them as soon as possible. The clearances are good for 1 year.

Wednesday, November 15, 2006

Friday Honors College lecture on Northern Ireland

"The Other Northern Ireland Peace Process":
Loyalist Political Thought from Long Kesh to Good Friday

Tony Novosel, Ph.D.
Department of History

Friday, November 17, 2006
3500 Cathedral of Learning
2 P.M.

Professor Tony Novosel is an historian with specializations ranging among
the history of Russia and the Soviet Union, modern European history, the
origins of mass violence in the 20th century, and the conflicts in Northern
Ireland, which is his subject today. Novosel's present research involves
interviewing current and former members of the Ulster Volunteer Force to
better understand the evolution of their political perspectives and how
they shifted from military to political conflict. Indeed, he just returned
from Belfast. In this lecture Novosel will share what he is learning about
the Loyalist Paramilitaries there. Do not miss these first hand insights
into processes of conflict resolution in that troubled region and the
techniques of historical analysis that help shed light on them.

Thursday, November 09, 2006

Workshop on applying for scholarships

Free Scholarship Workshop at the Arts & Sciences Advising Center!
- Hear from a student about her experience searching for scholarships
and eventually getting over $10,000 per year for college from private
scholarships.
- Learn how to navigate the best websites for national and local
scholarship searches.
- Get the facts on scholarship myths - You don't need perfect grades!
- Learn great tips on how to fill out and maximize different parts of
scholarship forms such as letters of recommendation and essay questions
- Hear just how easy it is for YOU to get financial aid for college
-Tuesday, Nov. 14, 6:00-7:00 pm
-Arts and Sciences Advising Center

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Servce-Learning Abroad TONIGHT

Sorry everyone. Just got this today:

From: Eric Hartman [mailto:emhartman@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 08, 2006 10:48 AM
International Service-Learning Course Information Session Tonight - Please Spread the Word!



Hello Everyone!



EXPLORE another part of the world

SERVE in a community-driven service project

UNDERSTAND more about yourself, others, and international service and development



Amizade is offering Summer International Service-Learning Courses for credit through West Virginia University. Courses take place in Tanzania, Bolivia, Germany / Poland and in other communities around the world. The six credits earned may be transferred back to Pitt. Join us for an information session tonight, Wednesday the 8th, at 9pm in David Lawrence 120.



Early application increases odds of being accepted and /or receiving financial assistance!



Please forward.



--
Eric Hartman
PhD Student
Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
University of Pittsburgh

Monday, November 06, 2006

Clark Chilson speaking at Pittsburgh Buddhist Center on Saturday

Saturday November 11

4:30 - 5.30 pm : “How do academics in America study Buddhism?”
A talk by Prof. Clark Chilson, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh
Abstract: "How do academics in America study Buddhism?" The study of Buddhism can be a transformative endeavor. For academics in Buddhist studies, however, the goal is not spiritual transformation but rather a deeper understanding of the words, thoughts, and actions of Buddhists. To give a glimpse into the world of academics who study Buddhism, I will first give a brief account of how I became involved in the study of Buddhism and then indicate different ways the life of the Buddha can be examined.

For directions and more information see: http://www.pittsburghbuddhistcenter.org/

Contemporary Religious History right here in Pittsburgh

From Rebecca Denova:

Two upcoming events in Pittsburgh should be of interest to our students. In
many of our classes, we deal so much with "history," that we sometimes need
to be reminded of contemporary issues in the interplay of religion and
culture.

On Thursday, November 9, at 7:00 pm, The Rev. Jozo Zovko will be at SS. John
& Paul parish in Franklin Park. Rev. Zovko was the pastor of the small
church where the visions of Mary first appeared to children in Medjugorje,
in the former Yugoslavia. For his defense of their story, the communist
authorities arrested him and kept him in jail for three years. As a
continuing site of pilgrimage, and because the visions continue to this day,
the Catholic Church has not officially ruled on whether or not they are
real. (You can find directions to the church on the internet.)

On Wednesday, November 15, at 9:00 am, the Rev. Janet Edwards, a
Presbyterian pastor (and a pastoral associate of the Community of
Reconciliation in Oakland) who sanctioned a marriage between two women, will
be put on "trial" by the Presbytery in The Priory, a small hotel located on
the North Side. She has sent out personal invitations, but has also
indicated that she wants "the whole world to come." This should be an
interesting event, and is of importance to the Presbyterian Church
nation-wide. (Again, you can find directions on the internet.)

Dr. Denova

Thursday, November 02, 2006

The Rap Canterbury Tales

The Program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies presents a FREE
performance that is open to all:


Baba Brinkman in "The Rap Canterbury Tales"
Wednesday, November 8th at 4:30

NEW LOCATION:
Alumni Hall, 7th floor auditorium

(This is the former Masonic Temple, directly across 5th avenue from the
Cathedral of Learning)


Baba Brinkman’s solo performance, “The Rap Canterbury Tales,” first
appeared at the Edinburgh Festival in 2004. It is a re-creation of
Chaucer’s fourteenth century poem, in which a group of pilgrims traveling
from London to Canterbury enter into a tale-telling contest. At Pitt,
Brinkman will perform The Miller’s Tale, the Pardoner’s Tale, and the Wife
of Bath’s Tale in hiphop style. He will also relate the history of hiphop
culture and freestyle battling to Chaucer’s storytelling competition and
his treatment of poetic form in The Canterbury Tales.

This event is generously co-sponsored by the School of Arts and Sciences,
the Department of English, the Program for Cultural Studies, and the
Poetry Club.

For more information please contact Jennifer Waldron (jwaldron@pitt.edu).

Islam and the West lecture

Professor Moshe Maoz
Monday, December 4, 2006
Mervis 115 4:00 PM
"Islam in the West: Conflict or Dialogue"

Burkas and Bubushkas

"Burkhas and Babushkas:
The Veiling of Women in Christianity and Islam"


One of the few elements of Islam that Westerners easily recognize, but rarely understand, is the "veiling" of Muslim women. At the same time, very few may be aware that the concept has roots in ancient Middle Eastern and Mediterranean culture, and was also an element in Christianity for millennia.

Pinar Emiralioglu (History) and Rebecca Denova (Religious Studies) will present a lecture on the ancient roots of this concept, as well as the way in which veiling continues as an essential aspect of Islam in various countries.

November 15. 2006
12 Noon
William Pitt Union

Pinar Emiralioglu is a Visiting Assistant Professor in the Department of History, and teaches courses on Islamic Civilization and the Ottoman Empire. Rebecca Denova is a Visiting Lecturer in the Department of Religious Studies, and teaches courses on Early Christianity and various aspects of the social context of religion.

This lecture is sponsored by the Departments of Religious Studies, History, and the Honors College.

Brown-bag it, and then enjoy the cookies.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer program

From Sahar Oz, program director at Hillel:

Monday, November 6: "Dietrich Bonhoeffer - The Courage and Conviction of a German Pastor during the Holocaust"

What would you do if your government pursued genocide as public policy? How far would your conscience take you? On the 100th anniversary of his birth, come learn about a German Lutheran pastor who opposed the Nazis by plotting to assassinate Hitler and attempting to save Jews.

Presentation by Pastor Eric Andrae, founding member of the Bonhoeffer Centennial Committee of America, followed by Q&A.
8pm in University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning G-8.

Co-sponsored by Hillel, Lutheran Student Fellowship, The Holocaust Center of the United Jewish Federation, The Augsburg Academy, First Trinity Lutheran Church, Dept. of Germanic Languages and Literatures, Jewish Studies Program, and Dept. of Religious Studies.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Kristallnacht Commemoration

Every year, the Department of Germanic Languages and Literatures and the Jewish Studies Program co-sponsor a commemoration of Kristallnacht (the infamous "Night of Broken Glass"). This year, the event is schedule for Monday, November 13, 2006 at 4:30 PM in Cathedral of Learning Room 363.

Heretical Clergy

UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH

THE PROGRAM IN JEWISH STUDIES

presents a lecture by



PROFESSOR
MATT GOLDISH
(Samuel M. and Esther Melton Professor of History
The Ohio State University)


HERETICAL CLERGY
IN THE EARLY ENLIGHTENMENT:
THE JEWISH CASE AND SOME CHRISTIAN PARALLELS



Wednesday November 15, 2006
4:30 pm
115 Mervis Hall
(Light refreshments will follow the lecture.)

This lecture is co-sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies and the Program in Medieval and Renaissance Studies.



Professor Goldish is a graduate of UCLA and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. He is the author of Judaism in the Theology of Sir Isaac Newton (1998), The Sabbatean Prophets (2004), and the editor of Spirit Possession in Judaism (2003).

St. Vincent Ferrer and the Chopped-up Baby

The Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program presents:


Professor Laura Smoller
University of Arkansas, Little Rock
Department of History


“St. Vincent Ferrer and the Chopped-up Baby: Creating the Image of a New
Saint in the Fifteenth Century”


4:00 pm, Friday, November 10th in CL 501


There will be a reception immediately following the lecture: please join us!


In 1453, a woman testifying about the miracles of Vincent Ferrer reported
that the potential saint's intercession had restored a baby who had been
cut to pieces by his meat-craving, pregnant mother. Even at that point,
the story had something of a life of its own. After Vincent's 1455
canonization, this miracle was frequently depicted in art and hagiography.
In this talk, Smoller explores how this single, bizarre miracle tale
became crucial to the emerging image of the new saint, addressing nagging
doubts about the holy preacher's career and loyalties.

Laura Smoller received her Ph.D. in History from Harvard University in
1991. At the University of Arkansas, Little Rock, Dr. Smoller teaches
courses on the history of disease, the history of apocalyptic thought, and
the history of magic and science. She is the author of History, Prophecy,
and the Stars: The Christian Astrology of Pierre d’Ailly (Princeton
University Press, 1994) as well as numerous articles on late medieval
astrology, eschatology, and miracles. Her work has been supported by the
National Endowment for the Humanities and the John Simon Guggenheim
Foundation.

This talk has been generously co-sponsored by the Department of History,
the Department of French and Italian, and the Department of Religious
Studies.

For more information, please contact Acting Director Jennifer Waldron at
jwaldron@pitt.edu.

Tell your friends about this blog

Amazingly, two months into the semester, I am still hearing from some Religious Studies majors who are wondering what happened to the e-mail announcements. Please mention this blog to at least 3 friends/colleagues in your Religious Studies classes today. Ask them to mention it to 3 friends.

Thank you.

More about Winter

Professor Denova writes the following to me, which you should all pay attention to, especially if you are new(ish) to Pitt:

If it snows, the University is ALWAYS open, unless there is a major blizzard
(rare). School and college closings are on all the local news channels and
the radio. If driving conditions look bad, nevertheless, the buses always
run; if it is so bad that the buses can't make it, that also will be on the
local news. Pitt is a residence campus and that is why it rarely closes.
However, there are many commuters as well. If you live in an area where
this can be a problem, you should be in contact with the Professor.

There are times when the Professor won't be able to make it in, and it is
the Professor's responsibility to contact the students for a particular
class cancellation. With the internet, this is now much easier than calling
everyone, so keep your email uncluttered and check it often during the
winter months.

There is a higher rate of cancellation during the winter for the evening
courses--as the sun sets, things begin to freeze. Again, keep in touch with
your Professor through the internet.

Rebecca Denova

Closed CGS classes

From the College of General Studies:

We are closing the following courses after granting permission to enroll to a number of students. The remaining seats will he reserved for CGS students. Seats in these classes will be available when the restrictions are lifted on 11/27/06.

Closed 10/31/06:
PSY 0182 (13212) Law and Social Psychology

Closed 10/30/06:
BIOSCI 0800 (19946) Biology for non-majors I
ENGCMP 0400 (13201) Written Professional Communication
HAA 0040 (13662) Introduction to Architecture

Closed 10/26/06:
ANTH 0768 #13659 Human Sexuality in Cross Cultural
NROSCI 0081 #13211 Drugs and Behavior
PSY 1230 #13678 Psychology of Death and Dying

John English
Director, Extended Education and Distance Learning
College of General Studies
University of Pittsburgh
412-624-7316 (voice)

Friday, October 27, 2006

How to survive winter in Pittsburgh

This might be the most practical thing I have announced thus far:

The Global Studies Program presents:

WINTER IN PITTSBURGH! November 1, 12:00 p.m. -- 1:30 p.m., Dining Room A, First Floor, WPU. Don't get frostbite this winter! If you're from a warm climate, new to Pittsburgh, and you haven't seen snow before, come to this program to learn about how cold affects your body, tips on dressing warmly, how to save money on your heating bill and ways to enjoy winter. The presentation will be made by Janine Fisher and George Kacenga, OIS. RSVP to (jsf10@pitt.edu)

Thursday, October 26, 2006

Censorship and Civic Order in Reformation Germany

The next Religious Studies brown-bag lunch colloquium will be Wednesday, November 8, 12 noon-1 pm in the Department seminar room (2628 CL).

The speaker will be Allyson Creasman, from Carnegie-Mellon, on the subject "Censorship and Civic Order in Reformation Germany."

Free coffee and cookies too.

Nationality Rooms Summer Scholarships

Applications are now available... the deadline for submissions is January 25, 2007.

For more details: www.ucis.pitt.edu/natrooms/

Money is available for summer study in Africa, Austria, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Poland, Scotland and for other countries.

A complete list of opportunities is posted on the bulletin board across from 2603 CL.

Europe: East and West Undergraduate Research Symposium 2007

The Symposium is April 13, 2007.
The deadline for submissions is January 29, 2007.

See www.ucis.pitt.edu/URSymposium
for more details.

Lecture on Religion in the Andes, Castile, and the ocean in between

The History Dept presents:

Kenneth Mills
University of Toronto

“Outside In: Diego de Ocaña’s Long Journey Home, 1599-1608”

November 2, 4 pm, 3703 Posvar (History Department Lounge)

Wednesday, October 25, 2006

Teaching English in Japan

JET (Japanese Exchange and Teaching Program) Informational Meeting



Date: Friday, November 3, 2006

Time: 3:30 to 5:00 pm

Place: 4130 WWPH (University of Pittsburgh campus)



Are you interested in gaining valuable teaching experience while at the same time experiencing life in a foreign country? Ever considered living and working in Japan? Promote cross cultural exchange and globalization by making a difference in the lives of Japanese children. Find out more about teaching English in Japan at this informational meeting.



Featured speakers will be: Annie Prucey, Director of Education, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh

Former Assistant Language Teacher, JET Program. David Sheldon, Former Assistant Language Teacher (2003-2005), JET Program, JD Candidate, University of Pittsburgh. Siobhan Ganster

Former Coordinator of International Relations, JET program, GSPIA student, University of Pittsburgh



Cosponsored by: the Consulate General of Japan, the Asian Studies Center, University Center for International Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, and the World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh.

For more information: Asian Studies Center at: (412) 648-7370 or

JET program at: www.mofa.go.jp/jet/

Friday, October 20, 2006

Correction

Professor Gross is offering "Women and Judaism" currently during the Fall 06 semester. In the spring, his third course is "Classical Judaism."

Thursday, October 19, 2006

Deadline for April graduation

If you wish to graduate in April, remember that the deadline to apply to graduate is Friday, November 17, 2006.

The application is free (if completed by then) and is available in the Undergraduate Dean's Office, 140 Thackeray Hall.

Meet the New Religious Studies Faculty

As you prepare for registration for the spring term or turn in papers up on the 26th floor, you may have noticed some new faces:

Clark Chilson has joined the university this year as an Assistant Professor. His PhD is from Lancaster in the UK and he lived for many years in Japan where he completed his BA and his MA. His areas of expertise are Japanese Buddhism and popular religion in Japan. He is also an expert on secret religious societies. This fall, he has been teaching Religion in Asia and Japanese Religious Traditions. In the spring, he will teach Religion and Culture in East Asia and a graduate course on the ethnographic study of religion.

You may recognize Andrew Gross from last year when he joined us on a one-year appointment, replacing David Brodsky. Dr. Gross is now our Perlow Lecturer in Classical Judaism. His PhD is from New York University, where he trained in Hebrew Bible, Second Commonwealth Judaism, and ancient Near Eastern literature and culture. His scholarly work has dealt with comparative ancient legal traditions, the history of the Aramaic language, and the Dead Sea Scrolls. In the spring, he will teach a new course on Myth in the Ancient Near East, Major Biblical Themes, and a course on Women in the Hebrew Bible (under the Women in Judaism rubric).

David Brumble is a familiar face on campus and many of you have taken Bible as Literature with him. Professor Brumble has recently joined the department as a secondary appointment, which is in addition to his primary appointment as Professor of English.

Ottoman Peripheries on Monday

MONDAY, OCTOBER 23

Lecture--Tracing the Sixteenth-Century Ottoman Peripheries: China, India, the Indian Ocean, and the New World
12:00 - 1:30 p.m.
4217 Posvar Hall
Audience: open to the public
Sponsored by: Center for Russian and East European Studies, Department of History, Asian Studies Center

Pinar Emiralioglu, Department of History
For more information, contact Vera Dorosh - 412-648-7407 crees@ucis.pitt.edu

Honors College Friday lectures

University Honors College
Friday Afternoon Lectures
3500 Cathedral of Learning
2 PM

Oct. 27 Hospital-Physician Conflict-It's All About Money
Nathan Hershey, J.D.
Professor of Health Law (Emeritus)
Graduate School of Public Health

Nov. 3 Evolution, Creationism, and Intelligent Design in the Courts
James Trefil, Ph.D.
Clarence J. Robinson Professor of Physics
George Mason University

Nov. 10 Service Programs of GAP, Inc. in South Africa
Dotti Hatcher, Senior Director
Social Responsibility
GAP, Inc.

Nov. 17 "The Other Northern Ireland Peace Process":
Loyalist Political Thought from Long Kesh to Good Friday
Tony Novosel, Ph.D.
Department of History

Dec. 1 Black History: The Other Side of History
Robert Mosley, LMSW
Assistant Clinical Professor
Wayne State University Medical School

Dec. 8 To be announced

Lectures on Religion and Relativism at Duquesne

Center for Interpretive and Qualitative Research (CIQR -- "seeker")*
(E-mail memo: Oct. 19, 2006)

Nov. 9 and 10: CIQR and the Department of Psychology co-sponsor a Presentation in the CIQR Invited Speaker Series, to which all interested faculty, graduate students, and other parties are invited:

Dr. Kenneth J. Gergen, Mustin Professor of Psychology, Swarthmore College.

"Religion, Relativism and the Moral Order" and "Toward Relational Being"

Some of Professor Gergen's recent books are: Social Construction in Context (Sage, 2001); The Saturated Self: Dilemmas of Identity in Everyday Life (Basic Books, 2nd ed. 2000); An Invitation to Social Construction (Sage, 1999); Realities and Relationships: Soundings in Social Construction (Harvard, 1997); and Toward Transformation in Social Knowledge (Sage, 2nd.ed. 1994).

Public Lecture: "Religion, Relativism and the Moral Order"

Thursday, Nov. 9, 2006
Fisher Hall 719
Duquesne University
7:00-9:00 P.M.

Symposium: "Toward Relational Being"

Friday, Nov. 10, 2006
109 Union Building
Student Union
Duquesne University
10:00-12:00 Morning

Parking is available in the Forbes Lot located on Forbes Avenue between Magee Street and Washington Place.

For inquiries concerning CIQR, please contact the Center Coordinator, Fred Evans, Dept. of Philosophy, evansf@duq.edu, 396-6507, or access the CIQR website, www.ciqr.duq.edu.

*The Center has been officially approved by the Dean of the College and Graduate School of Liberal Arts, The Graduate Council of the College, and the Council of Deans for the University. It is based in the College but open to members of all the schools of the University. It includes interpretive and qualitative research in both the humanities and the social and behavioral sciences (including the practice of the latter in Nursing, Education, Occupational Therapy and other professional schools).

Fred Evans
Department of Philosophy
Coordinator, Center for Interpretive
and Qualitative Research
Duquesne University
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
412-396-6507
412-396-5197 (fax)

CIQR webpage: http://www.ciqr.duq.edu/index.html
Personal webpage: http://www.home.duq.edu/~evansf/index.html

Wednesday, October 18, 2006

Research/Study/Internship Opportunities

this comes from UCIS:

Study and Career Opportunities



Research and Study in Germany through German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)

DAAD offers a wide range of scholarships, fellowships, and grants to undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. The European Studies Center/European Union Center of Excellence handles all nominations for DAAD Study Scholarships and Research Grants for the University of Pittsburgh. Study Scholarships provide students the opportunity to study at a German university for one academic year (October 1, 2007 to July 31, 2008). Graduating seniors and graduate students of all disciplines are encouraged to apply. Research Grants are available to graduate students, PhD candidates, post-doctoral researchers, and assistant professors in all academic disciplines for research at German universities or institutes. Short-term (1-6 months) grants are available for research between July 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007. Long-term (7-10 months) grants must occur during the German academic year. The deadline for all application materials is November 15. Candidates are encouraged to begin the process well before this date. For more information, please visit www.daad.org or contact ESC/EUCE Associate Director Timothy Thompson at tst@ucis.pitt.edu.



U.S. Department of State 2006 Internship Program

The State Department seeks students with a broad range of majors for their internship program. These internships, both domestic and overseas, are excellent preparation for future careers in the Civil Service, Foreign Service, and other political careers. Full- or part-time continuing college or university juniors, seniors, and graduate students are encouraged to apply. Applications for summer internships are due November 1, 2006. For more information and application, visit http://careers.state.gov and click on Student Programs.

Monday, October 16, 2006

Israeli Film "the Journey of Vaan Nguyen"

The Asian Studies Center, The Jewish Studies Program, The Film Studies
Program present

"The Journey of Vaan Nguyen"

October 31, 2006 [Tuesday]
G13 Cathedral of learning,
4:00 PM

Israeli filmmaker Duki Dror will introduce and screen his film "The
Journey of Vaan Nguyen". The film treats the experiences of a Vietnamese
family that found refuge in Israel after the fall Saigon and on their
efforts to return to Viet Nam.

What happened to the Vietnamese refugees, and the hundreds that followed
them, in the Jewish state?

One of the opening scenes of the Israeli film "The Journey of Vaan
Nguyen" features one of the original refugees, Hanmoi Nguyen, who has
been in Israel for 25 years. He works in a Tel Aviv restaurant, lives
modestly and with his wife is raising five Israeli-born, Hebrew-speaking
daughters. The oldest girl, Vaan, a writer, has served in the army and
feels Israeli - except for her looks. In the up-front style of her fellow
sabras, they keep asking her whether her eyes are slanted because she eats
so much rice and if she is related to a Chinese martial arts star. Vaan
joins her father in a return to Viet Nam in order to search out her own
roots. She is happy that people on the street look like her, but has
trouble negotiating the language and has no patience with the elaborate
circumlocutions of social intercourse. To the natives, Vaan herself has
become a foreigner, and she laments, "I am a tourist, I am an Israeli."

The agony of being suspended between two civilizations, without being fully
at home in either one, is sensitively, at times heartbreakingly, portrayed.
The film is in Hebrew and Vietnamese with English subtitles.

Friday, October 13, 2006

INTERESTED IN BECOMING A PEER ADVISOR?

Have you discovered what it takes to succeed in college? Do you find yourself helping other students select classes, choose a major or utilize campus resources? Would you like to work next summer as a peer advisor to incoming freshmen? If so, consider applying for the A&S Advising Center peer advisor internship for the Spring term (2074). This is a 2-credit internship. You will gain a broad range of knowledge of University programs and resources, learn more about the advising process and develop leadership and communication skills.

Time Commitment: Formal training is every Wednesday (during Spring term) from 3:00-5:00. In addition, 6 hrs/week will be spent visiting campus resources, working on specific projects and performing various tasks related to the Advising Center’s functions.

Academic Component: Interns will read articles, write journal entries and complete an approved final project, paper, or portfolio.

Summer Employment: Students who successfully complete the internship will be eligible to apply for employment as peer advisors. Peer advisors work with incoming freshmen and their families during the summer PittStart sessions. The peer advisor position includes 19 PittStarts (8 hour workdays) from May through August. Also, there is a mandatory two-day intensive training in May.

Requirements: Applicants must have a minimum 2.75 QPA, and be available to work during the summer PittStart sessions.

Application Process: Applications are available at the A&S Advising Center (201 Thackeray Hall) or on line at www.pitt.edu/~intern. Applications are accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis, so we urge you to apply as soon as possible. The deadline for applications is November 1, 2006.

For more information go to www.pitt.edu/~intern or call 412-624-6444.

Wednesday, October 11, 2006

Studio Arts Courses

I received this today.

Advisors,

Due to the increase in Studio Arts and Architectural Studies majors who
are required to take Studio Arts foundation-level courses (SA 0110,
0120, 0130 and 0140) as part of their curriculum, it has become
necessary to restrict some seats in those Studio Arts courses that some
of your students may opt to take to fulfill the General Education
Creative Expression requirement. When the 5 available seats in the
current schedule of classes have been filled, the course will be CLOSED.

PLEASE DO NOT send any students to the Studio Arts department or to the
Arts
and Sciences Advising Center for permission to get into those courses.

We will release the restricted seats that are not used by majors on
December 11th, so please tell your students to check the schedule of
classes on DECEMBER 11th for any remaining SA Foundation course seats
which they can then add at that time.

Our Studio Arts departmental policy is that we, as a department and
faculty, will not
give any permission slips to closed classes. If students have not been
able to get into the course during registration or when remaining seats
are released on December 11th, students who still want to pursue
entrance into the course should plan on attending class the first day.
It is up to each faculty member to add additional students at that point
with priority going first to SA majors, ARCH ST majors, SA minors, and
then any remaining students.

I appreciate your assistance.


Delanie Jenkins
Chair and Associate Professor
Department of Studio Arts
School of Arts and Sciences
University of Pittsburgh
118 Frick Fine Arts Building
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
412-648-2431 main office
412-648-2434 studio
412-624-3660 fax

Monday, October 09, 2006

"Scripture Performance"

ARAVIND ENRIQUE ADYANTHAYA
PROMETHEUS BOUND
A scripture performance
Wednesday November 1st 2006
7:30 pm
Henry Heynmann Theatre (in Stephen Foster Memorial)

Aravind Enrique Adyanthaya is the artistic director and founder of Casa de la Cruz de la Luna, a center for theater experimentation based in the historical district of San Germán, Puerto Rico. His most recent work with the company is Hagiographies, an ongoing exploration of notions of sainthood in popular iconography and daily life. In the U.S his work has been presented by Intermedia Arts, Red Eye Collaboration, the Guthrie Theater, Pregones, The Public Theater Reading Series and the Lincoln Center Director’s Lab.

Scripture performance is a form of theatrical poetics that explores the staging of the act of writing. (English will be the main language of this performance.)

Sponsored by the Department of Hispanic Languages and Literatures*

* We thank the Department of Theater Arts for providing the Henry Heynmann Theater space.

Friday, October 06, 2006

Reminder about Registration

See below for information on registration for the spring term.

You can sign up for appointments on the sheets posted outside my office (which is now 2603 CL; the office formerly occupied by Professor Penkower and next to Professor Edwards' office).

Spread the word to those who don't check the blog.

Two announcements from Global Studies

The Global Studies Student Research Symposium is designed to provide recognition for excellent student scholarship in the field of Global Studies and a forum for students and faculty to discuss critical global issues. All students at the University of Pittsburgh, in any major and including regional campuses, are eligible to submit a research paper for consideration in the competition. Finalists are selected by a panel of judges drawn from the Global Studies Affiliated Faculty. Awards for Best Undergraduate paper and Best Graduate Paper will be made at the annual Symposium in March 2007, where students present their papers and receive cash prizes. To compete, students must submit a research paper on an eligible topic by no later than January 31, 2007. Please see www.ucis.pitt.edu/global for complete information and guidelines. Finalists should be available to present their paper at the Symposium (details TBA). The Symposium is open to the public and will feature an invited keynote speaker.



US State Department student internship programs for 2007. Internships are available to all students with at least Junior status (at the time of appointment) who are American citizens and able to obtain a government security clearance. This is a paid (not for credit) internship program. Postings are available in the Washington DC area as well as US embassies and government offices worldwide. Foreign language competency is desirable but not required to participate and all majors can apply. Application deadlines Summer 2007: November 1, 2006; Fall 2007: March 1, 2007; Spring 2008: July 1, 2007. For more info, http:/careers.state.gov/student/apply/student_internships.html or contact Vanessa Sterling, Academic Internship Coordinator, at 412 624-5428 or sterling@as.pitt.edu

Kashmir Film and Lecture

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8

Film--Kashmir: Valley of Despair
10:00 PM
Sutherland Hall, ISLLC Lounge
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/isllc
Sponsored by: Asian Studies Center, International Studies Living Learning Community

A documentary on the valley of Kashmir, occupied by both India and Pakistan and the struggle of the Kashmiri people for an independent, autonomous state. If Kashmir gains sovereignty, willother ethnic minorities also demand independence? The documentary provides a history and a thorough analysis of the political, religious, and ethnic causes of the Kashmir conflict.
For more information, contact Elaine Linn - 412 648-2113 eel58@ucis.pitt.edu



TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10

Lecture-- The Conundrum that is the Kashmir Problem
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM
Sutherland Hall, ISLLC Lounge, University of Pittsburgh
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu
Audience: ISLLC Students
Sponsored by: International Studies Living Learning Community, Asian Studies Center, Central Administration

An informal talk to shed light on the disputed region of Kashmir, a point of conflict between Pakistan and India, the cause of thousands of deaths over the past 50 years. The presenter, Dr. Richard Cohen, Associate Director, Asian Studies Center, specializes in the cultural, religious and literary history of South Asia. Prior to joining Pitt, he worked at Cornell University and University of Pennsylvania, Senior Fulbright scholar (India).
For more information, contact Elaine Linn - 412 648-2113 eel58@ucis.pitt.edu

Thursday, October 05, 2006

Friday Honors College Lecture

ilm in the Age of Globalization

Randall Halle
Klaus W. Jonas Professor of German
and Film Studies

Friday, October 6, 2006
2 P.M.
3500 Cathedral of Learning

Randall Halle joined the faculty of the Department of Germanic Languages

and Literatures this Fall as the Klaus W. Jonas Professor of German and Film Studies. He had served on the faculty of the University of
Rochester since 1996. Professor Halle's research and teaching encompasses German film studies, German social thought, gender studies and globalization.
His recent projects include a book-length study of film in the age of
digital reproduction and a second study that explores problematic moments in the

development of European social philosophy through the debates around the

European constitution, the question of human rights and the status of
new migrants. Do not miss this occasion to welcome a distinguished teacher
and scholar to our community and explore with him some of the significant trends in the culture of film today.


---------------------------------------------------
Edward L. McCord, Ph.D., J.D.
Director of Programming
University Honors College
3600 Cathedral of Learning
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-624-6886
FAX: 412-624-6885

Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Asia over Lunch schedule

Posvar 4103, Thursdays at noon; lunch provided; bring a drink.

two of the sessions are of particular interest for Religious Studies:

October 12: Sarah Krier, PhD Candidate, Anthropology
"The Jamu Industry, Islam, and Women in Indonesia"

October 26: Linda Penkower, Associate Professor, Religious Studies
"Shared Sacrability: The Debate over Stone and Vegetal Buddhas"

SPRING 2007 REGISTRATION

Registration is almost here!

1) Sign-up sheets for pre-registration advising appointments and registration appointments are now next to my office door (2603 CL--note the change).

2) If you are registering with me (i.e. Religious Studies is your primary major), you should sign up for a pre-registration meeting AND for a registration appointment. If no registration time is convenient for you, or if you want to sign up for courses at 8 am Monday morning when registration begins, we can fill out an enrollment form for you at your pre-registration advising meeting and you can take it directly to the Registrar's office in Thackeray during registration. It is your responsibility to meet with advisors in other departments and secure their signed permissions to enter advanced courses or courses that tend to close out before you come to me to register. I cannot give you advice on other majors and I cannot override closed course messages or prerequisite messages on Peoplesoft to put you in courses from other departments.

3) If you are registering with another department (i.e. Religious Studies is not your primary major), you should meet with me during a pre-registration advising meeting to discuss your progress in the Religious Studies major. If we have met recently, this may not be necessary.

4) The free newspaper with course descriptions is no more: go to www.as.pitt.edu and click on Undergraduate Studies and then on Course Descriptions. You can use this to search for courses by department AND by general education requirement. Descriptions for Spring 2007 should be up on October 13. This contains times and days and the CRN (5 digit number needed for registration) for each course. However, you must also check everything in the Peoplesoft course schedule (via my.pitt.edu) because that contains the most up-to-date information on course availability and most accurate information about days-times. (Peoplesoft is the scripture; the Course Descriptions page is commentary.) Also, when using the Course Descriptions page, you should note whether a recitation is required and check for recitations in the Peoplesoft course schedule.

5) Thackeray Hall is preparing hard copies of the course descriptions and the timetables but they are charging ($13.00 and $17.00 respectively) for them. If you want one, go to Thackeray Hall and place an order by October 12. But I recommend using the free on-line versions anyway as they will be more accurate and will be updated regularly as changes are made.

6) PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT SIGN UP FOR A SENIOR APPOINTMENT UNLESS YOU WILL HAVE MORE THAN 84 CREDITS BY THE END OF THIS SEMESTER. Check with me if you are not sure about this.

Gandhi Week

Sorry that I'm late in getting this up.

Gandhi's Birthday
A Week Long Celebration of the Mahatma's Teachings
"My Life is My Message"

Sunday October 1, 2006: 2-5pm
Fasting and Healing: The Logic of Gandhi's Political and Social Activism
An inaugural event featuring a talk by Dr. Joe Alter, prayers and
activities. University of Pittsburgh, WPU-Ballroom
Snacks will be served.
Sponsored by Association for India's Development, GANDHI (Gandhian
Alliance for NonViolence, Democracy, and Humanitarian Initiatives) in
cooperation with Asian Studies Center ? UCIS ? University of Pittsburgh

Monday October 2, 2006: 6:30pm
A Look At Gandhi's Life
Prayer and Bhajan followed by a Documentary movie-
"A Force More Powerful"
Breed Hall (Margaret Morrison 103)
Sponsored by Association for India's Development (Pittsburgh Chapter)

Tuesday October 3, 2006: 4:30-6pm
The Teachings of Gandhi: Student Essay Contest Awards
Ceremony followed by discussion and reception
Connan Room, University Center
Sponsored by Mayur

Tuesday October 3, 2006: 6:30-8pm
Unity through Celebration of Culture
Cultural performance featuring classical Indian dance and music
Refreshments will be provided.
Rangos 1, University Center
Sponsored by SPICMACAY and SASA

Saturday October 7, 2006: 2pm
March for Sustainability
The 4 mile march will start from Morewood and Ellsworth Ave and proceed to
Flagstaff Hill, Schenley Park Sponsored by Association for India's
Development (Pittsburgh Chapter) and First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

All events are FREE ADMISSION





Brought to you by your ISA BOARD
Purvy, Raj, Vanita, Randeep, and Vivek

Women's Studies Internships Info

INTERNSHIPS IN WOMEN’S STUDIES
WHY HOW WHERE


 Have you wondered how the knowledge you are gaining in classes relates to the larger world?

 Do you care about people and social issues and want to make a difference?

 Do you want to gain skills and contacts that will help you find a job during or after college that is meaningful and important to the social issues you care about?

The Women’s Studies Program at the University of Pittsburgh provides opportunities for undergraduates to gain valuable
hands-on experience and earn college credit through internships.

Learn About:

 Teaching Internships
 Research Internships
 Women’s Studies Administrative Internships
 Internships with Non-Profits


TUESDAY, OCTOBER 10, 4:00 – 5:30
2201 Wesley W. Posvar Hall



REFRESHMENTS WILL BE SERVED

Friday, September 29, 2006

Call for Papers: Islamic Studies

The Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies
announces its 2007 Undergraduate Research Symposium
“ISLAM: HISTORIC AND CONTEMPORARY PERSPECTIVES” CALL FOR PAPERS Present your research with other undergraduate students
from 25 member institutions in Ohio and Pennsylvania
on any topic related to Islamic studies in the arts,
sciences, or professional academic disciplines.
Keynote speaker, cash awards, breakfast, lunch.
A great way to build your academic portfolio by
expanding a paper developed for a course. Submit
your abstract between November 15 and January 30, turn
in your paper by March 12, and present your fi ndings to an
offi ciated panel of local experts on March 31 at the
CERIS Undergraduate Research Symposium at
Duquesne University. For more information go to WWW.CERISNET.ORG Baldwin-Wallace College • California University of Pennsylvania • Carlow University • Chatham College • Community College of Allegheny County •
Duquesne University • Islamic Center of Pittsburgh • Juniata College • La Roche College • Mercyhurst College • Pennsylvania Highlands Community
College • Pittsburgh Council on Higher Education • Pittsburgh Theological Seminary • Point Park University • Saint Francis University • Saint Vincent
College • Seton Hill University • University of Pittsburgh • University of Pittsburgh at Bradford • University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg • University of
Pittsburgh at Johnstown • Washington and Jefferson College • Waynesburg College • World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh • Youngstown State University
ISLAMIC STUDIES

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Teaching Award Nominations

2007 Tina and David Bellet Arts and Sciences Teaching Excellence Award

Dear Colleagues:

The School of Arts and Sciences is committed to providing our undergraduate students with an excellent educational experience that prepares them for future learning, life and work. Undergraduate teaching is a vital aspect of that commitment.

Each year since 1998, Arts and Sciences has recognized our faculty's extraordinary contributions to undergraduate education with the Tina and David Bellet Arts and Sciences Teaching Excellence Award. Bellet Award winners receive a one-time stipend of $3,000 and their departments receive a one-time $5,000 grant in their honor. Once again, I invite you to submit your nominees for this prestigious honor.

To be considered for the Bellet Award, individuals should meet the following criteria:

Ø Must be an Arts and Sciences faculty member with a regular full-time appointment who teaches undergraduates students.

Ø Must have taught for three years on the Oakland campus.

Ø Must receive three or more nominations.


This year, to help facilitate the submission and review process, we will accept nominations from October 1 until October 31. Students and faculty should submit nomination letters to me at 140 Thackeray Hall. Individuals receiving three or more nominations will be notified in early November and invited to submit a dossier for further consideration by the Bellet Award Committee. Awardees will be announced in late February.

By challenging, encouraging, and inspiring our undergraduate students in the classroom, we enable them to reach their full potential in the world. Please help to celebrate the outstanding achievements in undergraduate teaching by submitting your nomination letter during the month of October. For more information, contact Carol Lynch at lynch@as.pitt.edu.

Sincerely,

Regina Schulte-Ladbeck


Dr. Regina Schulte-Ladbeck

Associate Dean for Undergraduate Studies

School of Arts & Sciences

University of Pittsburgh

140 Thackeray Hall

Pittsburgh, PA 15260

Phone: 412-624-6480

Fax: 412-624-8265

Wednesday, September 27, 2006

Honors College lecture on Mongolia Friday

Dear friends:

Copied below and attached as a flyer is information about this Friday's Honors College Lecture on the nation of Mongolia by three Pitt undergraduates. I hope you can attend this fascinating talk regarding the Mongolia summer studies program offered through the Honors College. Please distribute this to your bulletin boards and/or email lists. Thanks very much.

Ed McCord


THREE PERSPECTIVES ON MONGOLIA

Christopher Berger CAS ’06
Michael Edeke ENG ’07
Marion Sikora CAS ’07

Friday, September 29, 2006
2 P.M.
3500 Cathedral of Learning

The Honors College Mongolia field studies program combines travel, course work, intensive language study, and the opportunity to conduct independent research and/or internships. Students not only spend extensive time in Mongolia but also visit Russia, China and other neighboring countries. By traveling through northern Asia, students are introduced to the reality of Mongolia’s landlocked position between China and Russia. In today’s lecture, three students with ambitions as varied as medicine, engineering and geology will share their experiences in this remarkable program and how their new viewpoints on Mongolia have changed their lives.


---------------------------------------------------
Edward L. McCord, Ph.D., J.D.
Director of Programming
University Honors College
3600 Cathedral of Learning
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA 15260
Phone: 412-624-6886
FAX: 412-624-6885

Aamir Mufti lecture October 5

boundary 2, an international journal of literature and culture



presents




Aamir Mufti

Professor of Comparative Literature, University of California,

Los Angeles



"The Jewish Question and the Crisis of Postcolonial Culture"






4:00 p.m., Thursday, October 5, 2006

501 Cathedral of Learning



Aamir Mufti received a Ph.D. from the Department of English and Comparative Literature at Columbia University where he studied with Edward W. Said. He holds an M.A. and M.Phil. in Anthropology from Columbia. He has also studied Anthropology at the London School of Economics. He is the editor of a recent collection for boundary 2, Critical Secularism. He has taught at the University of Michigan where for some time he held the Steelcase Research Professorship.



He edited and introduced Dangerous Liaisons: Gender, Nation, and Postcolonial Perspectives, (with Anne McClintock and Ella Shohat, 1997). He has published widely on blasphemy and literature, the post-literate public sphere, and the Urdu-language short story. He has written on minority cultures in Europe and elsewhere, on exile and displacement, human rights, and on refugees and the right to asylum. His publications analyze modernism and fascism, language conflicts, and the history of anthropology. His new book, Enlightenment in the Colony: The Jewish Question and the Crisis of Postcolonial Culture, is from Princeton University Press.

Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Global Studies Student Research Symposium

2007 Global Studies Student Research Symposium:

Guidelines & Deadlines

The Global Studies Student Research Symposium is designed to provide recognition for excellent student scholarship in the field of Global Studies and a forum for students and faculty to discuss critical global issues. All students at the University of Pittsburgh, in any major and including regional campuses, are eligible to submit a research paper for consideration in the competition. Finalists are selected by a panel of judges drawn from the Global Studies Affiliated Faculty. Awards for Best Undergraduate Paper and Best Graduate Paper will be made at the annual Symposium in March 2007, where students present their papers and receive cash prizes. To compete, students must submit a research paper on an eligible topic by no later than January 31, 2007 following the guidelines set out below. Finalists should be available to present their paper at the Symposium (details TBA). The Symposium is open to the public and will feature an invited keynote speaker.

Eligible topics: research relating to one of the following global issues

Sustainable development

Global economy and global governance

Changing identities in a global world

Technology, communication and society

Conflict and conflict resolution

Global health

Specific Guidelines for undergraduate students:

The research paper must have been prepared for a course, seminar, independent study or internship at this University. Entries may be revised from their original form.

Length: minimum of 10 pages double spaced, maximum of 20 pages double spaced.

Specific Guidelines for Graduate students:

The research paper must have been prepared for a course, seminar, directed study, thesis, dissertation, or as a piece of independent research completed at this University. Entries may be revised from their original form.

Length: minimum of 15 pages double spaced, maximum of 30 pages double spaced.

General guidelines for both undergraduate and graduate students:

Limit one submission per year per student

Submissions must be received no later than January 31 to receive full consideration

Submit three printed copies to the Global Studies Program, 4100 WW Posvar Hall, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260

To facilitate a blind review, the author’s name should appear only on the cover sheet. The cover sheet must include the following information (you may copy/paste the following):

Application for Global Studies Student Research Symposium

1) Name:

2) Pitt student i.d. number:

3) School (e.g. ARTSC, CGS, Law, GSPIA, etc.):

4) Department or Division (e.g. history, sociology, etc.):

5) Degree objective (e.g., B.A.; MA; PhD):

6) Expected year of graduation:

7) Title of Research Paper:

8) Course for which this paper was written (number, title, instructor, term & year):

9) Current Address, Telephone and E-Mail:

10) Permanent Address, Telephone, E-Mail (if different from above):

11) Abstract (no longer than one paragraph):







Global Studies Program

http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/global







*********************

Lisa Alfredson, PhD

Associate Director of Global Studies (UCIS)

Research Assistant Professor (GSPIA)

University of Pittsburgh

LSA@PITT.EDU

Sunday, September 24, 2006

Office Hours

My office hours tomorrow, Monday, September 25, 1-2:30 pm will be in 2610 or in the department library, 2604A.

I will not be holding walk-in hours on Monday, October 2. As always, appointments are available.

Walk-in hours will resume on Monday, October 9 in 2603 CL. (1-2:30 pm.)

Office Moves

Professor Penkower is now in Room 2609 CL.
(That's the first door when you enter the hall with the mailboxes.)

Early this week, I will move to Room 2603 (Professor Penkower's former office).

Also this week: Professor Chilson is slated to move to 2610 (my soon-to-be former office); Professor Denova will move to 2612; and the TA office will move to 2616 (Professor Clothey's former office that Professor Chilson is currently in.)

So pretty soon, the line-up will be:

2603 Shear
2609 Penkower
2610 Chilson
2612 Denova
2616 Teaching Assistants

(Professors Edwards, Gross, Kane, and Orbach will remain in the same offices.)

Senior Yearbook Photos

CLASS OF 2007
SENIOR PORTRAIT DATES

FIRST PORTRAIT SESSION: The week of October 16th
TO SCHEDULE: Log on to www.ouryear.com school code 403

or call

1-800-OUR-YEAR (687-9327)
LOCATION: William Pitt Union Room 609


MAKE-UP PORTRAIT SESSION: The week of October 30th
TO SCHEDULE: Log on to www.ouryear.com school code 403 or call
1-800-OUR-YEAR (687-9327)
LOCATION: William Pitt Union Room 609


FINAL PORTRAIT SESSION: The week of December 4th
TO SCHEDULE: Log on to www.ouryear.com school code 403 or call
1-800-OUR-YEAR (687-9327)
LOCATION: William Pitt Union Room 609

The Studio will notify all students via postal mail with the procedures to schedule their own appointments via the Internet, or by calling our toll free 800 number.

ATTIRE: Men: Pose: Suit Cap and Gown: Black
Women: Pose: Blouse Hood: Yellow/White



** Anyone who has a portrait taken will appear in the yearbook, even if they choose
not to buy a portrait package. **

Thursday, September 21, 2006

International Week

For information about the many cultural events during International Week, see www.ucis.pitt.edu/internationalweek or the back of today's Pitt News.

Wednesday, September 20, 2006

Islam Awareness Week



Islam Awareness Week
September 18th-22nd


Lecture Series

"America's Unknown Faith: Oppressive or Progressive Towards Women?"
Hadia Mubarak
Thursday @ 5:30pm
719 Fisher Hall, Duquesne University
And again
Friday @ 5:00pm
120 David Lawrence Hall, University of Pittsburgh

"Prophet Muhammad (pbuh): Peace or Jihad?"
Dr. Hamed Ghazali
Friday @ 5:00pm
120 David Lawrence Hall, University of Pittsburgh

For more details and speaker bios go to:
www.andrew.cmu.edu/~msa/IAW

Islam 101

Take part in a discussion-based class on the basic principles of
Islam. Introductory material will be provided in the first half of
the class followed by a discussion section. Theeclass sizes are
limited so register for a session soon! Check website for more
details on how you can sign up for one of the sessions.

To sign up for a session at Carngie Mellon University, please send
an email to salahuddin@cmu.edu .

Awareness Tent
Find out more about Islam by speaking to students at the Awareness
Tent and Information Tables. While you're there, play the Islamic
Knowledge Game for a chance to win an iPod! Have questions about
Islam? Feel free to ask. We are open to everybody!

* The Cut @ Carnegie Mellon University Mon, Wed, Thurs, Fri
* Cathedral Lawn @ University of Pittsburgh Tues, Wed, Thurs
* Union 3rd Floor @ Duquesne University Mon, Wed, Fri
* Monday 8:30pm University of Pittsburgh
* Tuesday 8:00pm Carnegie Mellon University
* Wednesday 8:30pm University of Pittsburgh
* Thursday 9:00pm Carnegie Mellon University

Open House, Islamic Center of Pittsburgh, September 21, 2006 4:30 -
7:30 PM

*_ISLAMIC CENTER OF PITTSBURGH COMMEMORATES
_**_INTERNATIONAL PEACE DAY _*
**
Please join us in an evening of open dialogue at our Open House
at the Islamic Center of Pittsburgh on September 21, 2006 from
4:30PM – 8:30PM at
4100 Bigelow Blvd.
_Visit different Conversation Stations _
Islam's Basic Belief's
The Holy Quran
The Role of Women in Islam
Islam's teachings on Human Rights & War
Muslim Contributions to Arts & Sciences
Islam's relations with other Faiths
Free Admission
People of all faiths welcome neighbors
View our Congregational Prayers for Peace
Listen to recitations of the Quran and the call to prayer
Sample foods from different parts of the world
Come when you can and stay as long as you can
For more information please contact us at
412-682-5555 x4 or outreach@icp-pgh.org




www.cerisnet.org



Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Reminder: David Brumble talk Wednesday

Don't forget the first department colloquium of the year:

David Brumble will speak on "Gambaga: A Witch Sanctuary in the North of Ghana."
Wednesday, September 20, 2628 CL at 12 noon. Bring your lunch. Coffee and cookies provided.

Thursday, September 14, 2006

Javits Fellowship

If you are applying this year to start a MA-PhD program in the humanities or social sciences next year, read this:



The Department of Education has issued a notice inviting applications for the Jacob K. Javits (graduate) Fellowship Program, copied below. This year the invitational priorities include area studies, less commonly taught languages, and homeland security. I also have copied below the list of invitational priorities noted in the Federal Register announcement. Deadline for applications is October 6, 2006. For full details, see the Federal Register announcement at http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2006-3/082506b.html

Regards,
Miriam Kazanjian
Coalition for International Education
--------------------------------------
Notices Inviting Applications (September 12, 2006)
RECENT "NOTICES INVITING APPLICATIONS" (grant opportunities)
from the U.S. Department of Education (ED) include those
related to:
* Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program -- CFDA# 84.170A
Information about ED funding opportunities, including
discretionary grant application packages, are at:
http://www.ed.gov/fund/landing.jhtml
Below is information from the notice inviting applications.
For more complete information, please see the notice itself;
however, please note that while we *try* to ensure that the
version on the web and the Federal Register notice are the
same, the Federal Register notice is the one to consult for
complete and authoritative information.
*******************************************************************
Jacob K. Javits Fellowship Program (Federal Register: August 25,
2006 [CFDA# 84.170A])
*******************************************************************
Purpose of Program: The purpose of the JKJ Fellowship Program is to
award fellowships to eligible students of superior ability,
selected on the basis of demonstrated achievement, financial need,
and exceptional promise, to undertake graduate study in selected
fields in the arts, humanities, and social sciences leading to a
doctoral degree or to a master's degree in those fields in which
the master's degree is the terminal highest degree awarded in the
selected field of study at accredited institutions of higher
education. The selected fields in the arts are: Creative writing,
music performance, music theory, music composition, music
literature, studio arts (including photography), television, film,
cinematography, theater arts, playwriting, screenwriting, acting,
and dance. The selected fields in the humanities are: American
history, art history (including architectural history), archeology,
area studies, classics, comparative literature, English language
and literature, folklore, folk life, foreign languages and
literature, foreign languages that are less commonly taught as
follows: Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Indic family
(including Hindi, Urdu, Sinhala, Bengali, Nepali, Punjabi, Marathi,
Gujarati, Oriya, Assamese); Iranian family (including Dari, Farsi,
Tajiki, Kurdish, Pashto, Balochi); and Turkic family (including
Turkish, Azerbaijani/Azeri, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Uzbek,
Uyghur), linguistics, non-American history, philosophy, religion
(excluding study of religious vocation), speech, rhetoric, and
debate. The selected fields in the social sciences are:
Anthropology, communications and media, criminology, economics,
ethnic and cultural studies, geography, political science,
psychology (excluding clinical psychology), public policy and
public administration, and sociology (excluding the master's and
doctoral degrees in social work).
Applications Available: August 25, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: October 6, 2006.
Deadline for Transmittal of the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA): January 31, 2007.
Eligible Applicants: Individuals who at the time of
application: (1) Have not completed their first full year of study
for a doctoral degree or a master's degree in those fields in which
the master's degree is the terminal highest degree awarded in the
selected field of study, or will be entering a doctoral degree
program or a master's degree program in those fields in which the
master's degree is the terminal highest degree awarded in the
selected field of study in academic year 2007-2008; (2) are
eligible to receive grant, loan, or work assistance pursuant to
section 484 of the Higher Education Act of 1965, 20 U.S.C. 1091, as
amended (HEA); and (3) intend to pursue a doctoral or master's
degree in fields selected by the Jacob K. Javits (JKJ) Fellowship
Board at accredited U.S. institutions of higher education. An
individual must be a citizen or national of the United States, a
permanent resident of the United States, in the United States for
other than a temporary purpose and intending to become a permanent
resident, or a citizen of any one of the Freely Associated States.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $42,652.
Estimated Number of Awards: 46.
Additional Information: Applicable regulations, priorities, and
other information are available in the Federal Register notice.
Additional information is available online at:
http://www.ed.gov/legislation/FedRegister/announcements/2006-3/082506b.html


-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Also from the Federal Register Announcement on the Javits Fellowships:


Priorities: For FY 2007 these priorities are invitational
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an application
that meets these invitational priorities a competitive or absolute
preference over other applications.
These priorities are:

Invitational Priority 1

Within the eligible fields under Humanities, the Secretary is
particularly interested in receiving applications from students
studying foreign languages that are less commonly taught as follows:
Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Russian, Indic family (including
Hindi, Urdu, Sinhala, Bengali, Nepali, Punjabi, Marathi, Gujarati,
Oriya, Assamese); Iranian family (including Dari, Farsi, Tajiki,
Kurdish, Pashto, Balochi); and Turkic family (including Turkish,
Azerbaijani/Azeri, Kazakh, Kyrgyz, Turkmen, Uzbek, Uyghur).

Invitational Priority 2

Within the eligible fields under Humanities, the Secretary is
particularly interested in receiving applications from students
studying non-American history, especially the modern history of the
Middle East, Asia, India, and Latin America.

Invitational Priority 3

Within the eligible fields under Social Sciences, the Secretary is
particularly interested in receiving applications from students
studying criminology especially as it relates to issues surrounding
homeland security.

Program Authority: 20 U.S.C. 1134-1134d.
Applicable Regulations: (a) The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 74, 75 (except as
provided in 34 CFR 650.3(b)), 77, 82, 84, 85, 86, 97, 98 and 99. (b)
The regulations for this program in 34 CFR part 650.

Tuesday, September 12, 2006

Undergraduate Conference

via e-mail:

Lebanon Valley College is pleased to host an undergraduate conference on religion, philosophy and culture this spring on March 31, 2007. The conference will be devoted to the topic of “The Future of Democracy,” and is scheduled as a part of our yearlong colloquium on “Democracy and its Discontents.” The keynote speaker for the conference will be Professor Catherine Keller from Drew University. She will be speaking on “The Daze of Democracy: Faith, Fear and Freedom.”


There will also be opportunity for undergraduate students to present their own work either in the form of complete papers or as a part of panel discussions.

More information about the conference, including a call for papers and panels, registration forms and fees, schedule, and directions, can be found at the conference homepage at www.lvc.edu/democracy. I invite all of you and your students to attend and participate in this exciting opportunity for our region.

____________________________________

Jeffrey W. Robbins, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Religion & Philosophy

Director of the College Colloquium
Lebanon Valley College
Annville, PA 17003

Associate Editor

Journal for Cultural and Religious Theory

Tomorrow: Security Studies Opportunities

Wednesday, September 13, 2006 - 2:00 p.m.; Room 1500 WWPH
Informational session for students interested in research opportunities
at the Ridgway Center for International Security Studies or the Ford
Institute for Human Security

Redding Up

Over the next few weeks, faculty in the department will be moving in and out of offices on the 26th floor as some of the offices are painted and some get new carpet. In a couple of months, things will settle down but some of your instructors will be in new offices.

During the first phase, Rebecca Denova has moved out of 2609 and will be holding court in 2604A which is the departmental library/conference room (that you enter through the main office in 2604.)

Monday, September 11, 2006

Medieval and Renaissance Studies lectures

At least a couple of these have significant "religion" content:

Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program, Fall 2006 Schedule ***

Wednesday, September 20th
Todd Reeser (University of Pittsburgh, French and Italian)
"The Hermeneutics of Platonic Sexuality in the Renaissance"
4:30 in FFA 204

Friday, October 6th
Ovid Night
Come read the poet of love and transformation!
7:00 ? 11:00 p.m.
Babcock Room, 40th floor of the Cathedral of Learning

Friday, October 13th
Madeline Caviness (Tufts University, History of Art)
"The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly"
2:00 in FFA 202

Thursday, October 19th
Department of French and Italian Open House (co-sponsored by MRST)
5 ? 7 p.m.
William Pitt Union, Kurtzman Room

Friday, November 10th
Laura Smoller (University of Arkansas, History)
"St. Vincent Ferrer and the Chopped-Up Baby:
Creating the Image of a New Saint in the Fifteenth Century"
4:00 in CL 501

Wednesday, November 15th (event co-sponsored with Religious Studies)
Matt Goldish (Ohio State, History)
"The Problem of Heretical Clergy in the Early Enlightenment:
The Jewish Case and Some Christian Parallels"
4:30 pm (place TBA)

We also have a fantastic lineup for the spring. Tentative dates:
Friday, February 9th: Will West (Northwestern, English)
Friday, February 23rd: Vance Smith (Princeton, English)
Thursday, March 29th: Bart Ehrman (Duke)
Friday, March 30th: Sarah Beckwith (Duke, English)

Please join us! If you have questions or would like more information,
please contact:
Jennifer Waldron,
Acting Director, Medieval and Renaissance Studies Program
University of Pittsburgh
Cathedral of Learning 526
Pittsburgh, PA 15260-0001
Phone: (412) 624-3246
Fax: (412) 624-6639
Email: jwaldron@pitt.edu

The State of Cultural Studies (today)

Religious Studies as a field in the academy is often linked to the field known as "cultural studies" (since as many of you have realized in your classes it's often difficult to distinguish between "religion" and "culture"). If this interests you and you are free this afternoon, you might want to check out this panel discussion at Carnegie-Mellon (no guarantees that they'll address religion but you never know):


The State of Cultural Studies
Monday, September 11th
4:30-6:00 PM
Jeff Williams, Professor, CMU
Victor Cohen, recent PhD, CMU
Kathy Newman, Professor, CMU
Salita Siebert, PhD candidate, CMU

Swank room (255 B Baker Hall),

Friday, September 08, 2006

Women's Studies Brown Bag: Neo-Pentecostals in Mexico

Women's Studies Program Brown Bag Lecture

Wednesday September 13, 12 noon, 2201 Posvar

Rebecca Englert, Ph.D. Candidate, Dept. of Anthropology

"Gender and National Identities among Non-Indigienous Neo-Pentecostals in the Highlands of Chiapas, Mexico.

A flyer with more description of Englert's research can be found on the bulletin board in 2604 CL.

RELIGIOUS STUDIES COLLOQUIUM

The first Religious Studies Colloquium will be Wednesday, September 20, 12 noon-1 pm in 2628 CL.

David Brumble, professor of English with a secondary appointment in Religious Studies, will speak on "Gambaga: A Witch Sanctuary in the North of Ghana."

For those of you not familiar with the colloquium series: we meet about once a month; all students and faculty are invited. The speaker talks for about 30-40 minutes about current research which leaves 20-30 minutes for questions and discussions. Sometimes those who don't have obligations at 1 pm linger for another few minutes in discussion.
If you have a class or someplace to be at 1, it's okay to leave at 12:50. People do start to leave then.
Lastly, cookies and coffee are served and everyone is invited to bring his or her lunch as well.

Friday, September 01, 2006

Writing Center

For information about the Writing Center, including hours and locations, see www.english.pitt.edu/writingcenter or the flyer on the bulletin board next to my office.
 

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