Click on the poster to enlarge.
Monday, March 30, 2009
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Hail and Farewell to Judy Macey
Judy Macey, our Department Administrator, will retire on March 31 after a long career with the University of Pittsburgh. Please stop by the office in the next few days to wish her well.
Undergraduate Advisor Office Hours
For various reasons, I need to cancel my walk-in office hours on Wednesday April 1 and Wednesday April 8.
Please e-mail for an appointment if you were planning to come then.
Please e-mail for an appointment if you were planning to come then.
Summer Program: Jewish Uruguay
HILLEL URUGUAY
SPANISH PROGRAM 2009
HILLEL URUGUAY IS OFFERING A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CHANCE FOR STUDENTS TO COME—AS A GROUP OR INDIVIDUALLY—TO…
Learn Spanish in the most welcoming country and Jewish community of South America!
Meet Jewish students and young professionals from Uruguay, your Hillel, and other countries
Immerse in a new culture and Jewish community
Get academic credits
Participate in a Tzedek-intensive curriculum
Work in an internship
Optional travel excursions
And have fun!
THE MONTH-LONG PROGRAM INCLUDES
AUDELE Spanish classes and all required materials
Four star accommodations
One kosher meal a day
Transportation to and from the airport
Participation in Hillel Uruguay activities
Trips to:
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Historic Quarter of the city of Colonia del Sacramento, declared a Cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Date
Monday, June 8, 2009 through Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Price
$2,300 (U.S. dollars) per person, airfare not included.
Offered to
Groups and individuals.
How can you take advantage of this opportunity?
If you are a Hillel professional, offer your students this amazing chance to come individually or organize a group from your Hillel to come down! If you are an individual student or professional between the ages of 17 and 30, just decide to come down!
Limited spots are available
SPANISH PROGRAM 2009
HILLEL URUGUAY IS OFFERING A ONCE-IN-A-LIFETIME CHANCE FOR STUDENTS TO COME—AS A GROUP OR INDIVIDUALLY—TO…
Learn Spanish in the most welcoming country and Jewish community of South America!
Meet Jewish students and young professionals from Uruguay, your Hillel, and other countries
Immerse in a new culture and Jewish community
Get academic credits
Participate in a Tzedek-intensive curriculum
Work in an internship
Optional travel excursions
And have fun!
THE MONTH-LONG PROGRAM INCLUDES
AUDELE Spanish classes and all required materials
Four star accommodations
One kosher meal a day
Transportation to and from the airport
Participation in Hillel Uruguay activities
Trips to:
Buenos Aires, Argentina
Historic Quarter of the city of Colonia del Sacramento, declared a Cultural World Heritage Site by UNESCO
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Date
Monday, June 8, 2009 through Tuesday, July 7, 2009.
Price
$2,300 (U.S. dollars) per person, airfare not included.
Offered to
Groups and individuals.
How can you take advantage of this opportunity?
If you are a Hillel professional, offer your students this amazing chance to come individually or organize a group from your Hillel to come down! If you are an individual student or professional between the ages of 17 and 30, just decide to come down!
Limited spots are available
Friday April 17: Pizza and Research Talks for/from Majors
Come celebrate the end of the semester with
FREE PIZZA
and three short talks by the spring-term Religious Studies 1903 students on their research projects: Kara Birchard, Timothy Jackson, Candice Roberson. All majors are invited to eat, meet other Religious Studies undergraduates, and get a preview of the kind of research you will do as a senior in Religious Studies 1903.
Friday April 17, 2009
12 noon-1 pm
2628 Cathedral of Learning
Questions and rsvp: ashear@pitt.edu
FREE PIZZA
and three short talks by the spring-term Religious Studies 1903 students on their research projects: Kara Birchard, Timothy Jackson, Candice Roberson. All majors are invited to eat, meet other Religious Studies undergraduates, and get a preview of the kind of research you will do as a senior in Religious Studies 1903.
Friday April 17, 2009
12 noon-1 pm
2628 Cathedral of Learning
Questions and rsvp: ashear@pitt.edu
April 8: Department Colloquium
The Department of Religious Studies
Brown Bag Lunch Colloquium Series
University of Pittsburgh
presents
Paul J. Nelson
Associate Professor of International Development, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
University of Pittsburgh
“Religion and Civil Society Actors in International Development:
A Report on the Early Stages of a Project on Religion, Political Voice, and Accountability”
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
12:00 noon- 1 pm
2628 Cathedral of Learning
Coffee and cookies provided
Paul Nelson's research interests include non-governmental organizations; transparency in international organizations; religion and civil society; and human rights and development. Coauthor of New Rights Advocacy: Changing Strategies of Development and Human Rights NGOs [with Ellen Dorsey] (Georgetown University Press, 2008), Dr. Nelson is currently working on a "Religious Institutions and Voices in International Development," funded by the Henry Luce Foundation (2008-2011).
Brown Bag Lunch Colloquium Series
University of Pittsburgh
presents
Paul J. Nelson
Associate Professor of International Development, Graduate School of Public and International Affairs
University of Pittsburgh
“Religion and Civil Society Actors in International Development:
A Report on the Early Stages of a Project on Religion, Political Voice, and Accountability”
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
12:00 noon- 1 pm
2628 Cathedral of Learning
Coffee and cookies provided
Paul Nelson's research interests include non-governmental organizations; transparency in international organizations; religion and civil society; and human rights and development. Coauthor of New Rights Advocacy: Changing Strategies of Development and Human Rights NGOs [with Ellen Dorsey] (Georgetown University Press, 2008), Dr. Nelson is currently working on a "Religious Institutions and Voices in International Development," funded by the Henry Luce Foundation (2008-2011).
Religious Studies 1903 AY 2009-2010
Given the increase in majors in the department, we are currently contemplating offering a section of the capstone course (Religious Studies 1903) in the spring term next year (in addition to the usual fall term course). If you have not already spoken to me about this and you would be interested in taking the capstone (Religious Studies 1903, Directed Research) next spring, please e-mail me (ashear@pitt.edu) as soon as possible. We need to have a count of how many students we might expect for the spring term in order to plan faculty and course assignments.
Youth Minister job in Cranberry, PA
Hope Lutheran Church (Cranberry Township, PA) is seeking a student to help with our youth ministry program beginning in the fall for a period of one year, with the possibility of continuing beyond. We offer a small stipend for the students services/ministry. Much, if not all, of the work takes place on Sundays.
Sincerely,
Rev. Richard J. Leseganich
Hope Lutheran Church (ELCA)
8070 Rowan Road
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
724-776-3141 Ext. 203
www.hopelutherancranberry.org
Sincerely,
Rev. Richard J. Leseganich
Hope Lutheran Church (ELCA)
8070 Rowan Road
Cranberry Township, PA 16066
724-776-3141 Ext. 203
www.hopelutherancranberry.org
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Job Shadowing Program at Career Services
Get a Competitive Edge to Prepare for Your Job of the Future
Learn about a field and gain contacts too.
An Invitation to participate in Job Shadowing with a Pitt Alum
Student Application Procedure and Timeline
Job shadowing is a one day observation experience where you go to the workplace of an alum and follow them through their day at an agreed upon date during spring break. The application process will be electronic through the Career Development web site, www.careers.pitt.edu. You will review the alumni by fields and select up to 3 in rank order that match your interest.
You should submit a resume and a (cover letter) stating the numbers of the placements
for which you would like to be considered (up to 3 in rank order) and a statement of why you are interested to the email link on the site. Transportation to the shadow site is the responsibility of the student.
The procedure will follow the timeline below. In order to participate, you will be required to attend a preparation session. When selected you will be notified by email. Alumni are asked to email you if you have been selected for the experience to arrange details. If you do not hear from an alum, contact the Career Development Office at imentor@pitt.edu.
The alumni will then telephone you to discuss what you hope to learn and to finalize the details. Give this some thought because they will be seeking your guidance on what you want to learn.
When the program is over we will ask you to complete an evaluation of the program, and of course, ask you to send a thank you note to the alum sponsor along with a copy to Career Development either by email imentor@pitt.edu or to Career Development, University of Pittsburgh, 224 WPU, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Timeline
March 24 – Opportunities are posted on the Career Development web site for students to review.
April 3 – Application submission deadline for students
April 10 - Deadline for matching (You will be notified if matched or not.)
April 10, April 13, or April 14, 12:00 pm Attend one Mandatory Preparation session
April 18 – Deadline for alumni to contact students to arrange the dates of the experience. (We are recommending between May 5 and May 16 if convenient for each of you.)
PANTHER’S SHADOW APPLICATION PROCEDURES
1. Visit the Career Development website at www.careers.pitt.edu and click on “Panthers Shadow for students” between March 24 and April 3.
2. Click “List of opportunities”
3. Review the list of opportunities and then prepare to submit your application.
4. Click the email address link and type your 2 to 3 paragraph statement of interest in the email or attach one that you have done on MSWord. Indicate the specific number of the placement(s) [up to 3] Attach your resume to your email and submit the application to the link on the site.
5. Once the applications have been reviewed you will be notified if you were matched and with whom.
Learn about a field and gain contacts too.
An Invitation to participate in Job Shadowing with a Pitt Alum
Student Application Procedure and Timeline
Job shadowing is a one day observation experience where you go to the workplace of an alum and follow them through their day at an agreed upon date during spring break. The application process will be electronic through the Career Development web site, www.careers.pitt.edu. You will review the alumni by fields and select up to 3 in rank order that match your interest.
You should submit a resume and a (cover letter) stating the numbers of the placements
for which you would like to be considered (up to 3 in rank order) and a statement of why you are interested to the email link on the site. Transportation to the shadow site is the responsibility of the student.
The procedure will follow the timeline below. In order to participate, you will be required to attend a preparation session. When selected you will be notified by email. Alumni are asked to email you if you have been selected for the experience to arrange details. If you do not hear from an alum, contact the Career Development Office at imentor@pitt.edu.
The alumni will then telephone you to discuss what you hope to learn and to finalize the details. Give this some thought because they will be seeking your guidance on what you want to learn.
When the program is over we will ask you to complete an evaluation of the program, and of course, ask you to send a thank you note to the alum sponsor along with a copy to Career Development either by email imentor@pitt.edu or to Career Development, University of Pittsburgh, 224 WPU, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.
Timeline
March 24 – Opportunities are posted on the Career Development web site for students to review.
April 3 – Application submission deadline for students
April 10 - Deadline for matching (You will be notified if matched or not.)
April 10, April 13, or April 14, 12:00 pm Attend one Mandatory Preparation session
April 18 – Deadline for alumni to contact students to arrange the dates of the experience. (We are recommending between May 5 and May 16 if convenient for each of you.)
PANTHER’S SHADOW APPLICATION PROCEDURES
1. Visit the Career Development website at www.careers.pitt.edu and click on “Panthers Shadow for students” between March 24 and April 3.
2. Click “List of opportunities”
3. Review the list of opportunities and then prepare to submit your application.
4. Click the email address link and type your 2 to 3 paragraph statement of interest in the email or attach one that you have done on MSWord. Indicate the specific number of the placement(s) [up to 3] Attach your resume to your email and submit the application to the link on the site.
5. Once the applications have been reviewed you will be notified if you were matched and with whom.
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Friday, March 20, 2009
March 30: Lecture "Justice and Taxation in Late Daoist China"
The University of Pittsburgh ASC, the China Council, the History Department and the Department of Religious Studies, and the Modern Languages Department of Carnegie-Mellon University, present
Dr. Vincent Goossaert
"Justice and taxation in late Daoist China"
This presentation will introduce the network of large urban temples run by elite Daoists in late Qing times (19th century) and the way they tried to maintain state-like functions notably administrating justice (though the gods) and collecting taxes (for the gods). It will also sketch the transformations of this 'second level of government' since the early twentieth century.
Monday, March 30
4:00-5:30 PM
4130 WWPH
Dr. Vincent Goossaert
"Justice and taxation in late Daoist China"
This presentation will introduce the network of large urban temples run by elite Daoists in late Qing times (19th century) and the way they tried to maintain state-like functions notably administrating justice (though the gods) and collecting taxes (for the gods). It will also sketch the transformations of this 'second level of government' since the early twentieth century.
Monday, March 30
4:00-5:30 PM
4130 WWPH
RELIGIONS OF THE WEST
In the fall, Tuesday/Thursday 9:30-10:45 IS AN HONORS COLLEGE SECTION. In order to register you must secure permission from the Honors College, 36th floor of the Cathedral of Learning.
Religions of the West will also be offered in the spring in a non-Honors College section.
It is also being offered in the summer session.
Religions of the West will also be offered in the spring in a non-Honors College section.
It is also being offered in the summer session.
Undergraduate Research Fair: Deadline March 27
The University Honors College is holding its annual Undergraduate Research Fair on Wednesday, April 8th from 11:30-2:00 p.m. in the Ballroom of the William Pitt Union. For more information and the application form, please go to < http://www.honorscollege.pitt.edu/opportunities/undergrad-fair.html>.
The application deadline has been extended to March 27, 2009.
The application deadline has been extended to March 27, 2009.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
March 27: Lecture: Richard Bulliet: "Clash of Civilizations or Islamo-Christian Civilization?"
Lecture--Clash of Civilizations or Islamo-Christian Civilization?
4 p.m.
104 College Hall, Duquesne University
http://www.cerisnet.org
Announced by: Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies, Global Studies Program
Keynote presentation for the CERIS Undergraduate Research Symposium. RICHARD W. BULLIET is Professor of Middle Eastern History at Columbia University where he also directed the Middle East Institute of the School of International and Public Affairs for twelve years. Born in Rockford, Illinois, in 1940, he came to Columbia in 1976 after undergraduate and graduate work at Harvard and eight years as a faculty member at Harvard and Berkeley. He is a specialist on Iran, the social history of the Islamic Middle East, and the 20th century resurgence of Islam. His most recent book before The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization (2004), a brief interpretation of the current crisis, was Islam: The View from the Edge, published in 1994. His earlier books include The Patricians of Nishapur (1972), The Camel and the Wheel (1975), Conversion to Islam in the Medieval Period (1979), The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History (co-author, 1997), and The Columbia History of the Twentiet!
h Century (editor, 1998). In 2005 he published a history of human-animal relations with the title Hunters, Herders, and Hamburgers, and his latest book, Cotton, Climate, and Camels in Early Islamic Iran: A Moment in World History, is scheduled to appear later this year. He has also published four novels set in the Middle East.
For more information, contact ceris@pobox.com
4 p.m.
104 College Hall, Duquesne University
http://www.cerisnet.org
Announced by: Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies, Global Studies Program
Keynote presentation for the CERIS Undergraduate Research Symposium. RICHARD W. BULLIET is Professor of Middle Eastern History at Columbia University where he also directed the Middle East Institute of the School of International and Public Affairs for twelve years. Born in Rockford, Illinois, in 1940, he came to Columbia in 1976 after undergraduate and graduate work at Harvard and eight years as a faculty member at Harvard and Berkeley. He is a specialist on Iran, the social history of the Islamic Middle East, and the 20th century resurgence of Islam. His most recent book before The Case for Islamo-Christian Civilization (2004), a brief interpretation of the current crisis, was Islam: The View from the Edge, published in 1994. His earlier books include The Patricians of Nishapur (1972), The Camel and the Wheel (1975), Conversion to Islam in the Medieval Period (1979), The Earth and Its Peoples: A Global History (co-author, 1997), and The Columbia History of the Twentiet!
h Century (editor, 1998). In 2005 he published a history of human-animal relations with the title Hunters, Herders, and Hamburgers, and his latest book, Cotton, Climate, and Camels in Early Islamic Iran: A Moment in World History, is scheduled to appear later this year. He has also published four novels set in the Middle East.
For more information, contact ceris@pobox.com
March 26: Lecture: Clark Chilson "How to Hide a Religion"
THURSDAY, MARCH 26
Lecture--Asia Over Lunch Lecture Series: "How to Hide a Religion: Dissimulation as a Transformative Process in the History of a Modern Secretive Shin Buddhist Associaton"
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
4130 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/asc
Audience: Open to the public
Cost: Free
Sponsored by: Asian Studies Center
A lecture by Clark Chilson, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh For more information, contact Jennifer Murawski - 412-383-3062 jennm@pitt.edu
Lecture--Asia Over Lunch Lecture Series: "How to Hide a Religion: Dissimulation as a Transformative Process in the History of a Modern Secretive Shin Buddhist Associaton"
12:00 p.m. - 1:00 p.m.
4130 Wesley W. Posvar Hall
http://www.ucis.pitt.edu/asc
Audience: Open to the public
Cost: Free
Sponsored by: Asian Studies Center
A lecture by Clark Chilson, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh For more information, contact Jennifer Murawski - 412-383-3062 jennm@pitt.edu
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
Seat Reserves in Courses
The Advising Center has sent a list of classes with reserved seats for incoming. freshmen.
I've posted this outside my office door.
I've posted this outside my office door.
Fulbright Grants: ATTENTION JUNIORS THINKING ABOUT STUDY ABROAD AFTER GRADUATION
Hosted by University of Pittsburgh Honors College &
Carnegie Mellon University Fellowships and Scholarships Office
Find out about the
Fulbright
U.S. Student Program
http://www.fulbrightonline.org/
Wednesday, March 25th
TWO INFO SESSIONS
1:00 PM, Univ. of Pittsburgh campus,
Frick Fine Arts, Rm 125
5:00 PM, Carnegie Mellon Univ. campus, Margaret Morrison, Rm 103
(same presentation at each session)
o Funding for one year abroad in over 155 countries to study or research, or English Teaching Assistantships in 37 different countries
o Eligibility: seniors, graduate students, and alumni
o U.S. citizenship required
o Presented by Vijay Renganathan, Program Manager, U.S. Student Programs, Institute of International Education
All interested students (and faculty) welcome!
(No RSVP required)
Contact Judy Zang jaz36@pitt.edu, or Julia Spencer julias@cmu.edu for more info.
Carnegie Mellon University Fellowships and Scholarships Office
Find out about the
Fulbright
U.S. Student Program
http://www.fulbrightonline.org/
Wednesday, March 25th
TWO INFO SESSIONS
1:00 PM, Univ. of Pittsburgh campus,
Frick Fine Arts, Rm 125
5:00 PM, Carnegie Mellon Univ. campus, Margaret Morrison, Rm 103
(same presentation at each session)
o Funding for one year abroad in over 155 countries to study or research, or English Teaching Assistantships in 37 different countries
o Eligibility: seniors, graduate students, and alumni
o U.S. citizenship required
o Presented by Vijay Renganathan, Program Manager, U.S. Student Programs, Institute of International Education
All interested students (and faculty) welcome!
(No RSVP required)
Contact Judy Zang jaz36@pitt.edu, or Julia Spencer julias@cmu.edu for more info.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Summer Internships: Jewish Women's Archive
The Jewish Women's Archive is looking for you, if:
• You have a keen interest in history and the stories of American Jewish women.
• You want to learn from a dedicated and creative staff what makes a dynamic non-profit tick.
• You like working with new technologies to build interactive, online tools.
Internship Opportunities
1. Each summer intern will work within a specific department:
o Outreach Intern will help broaden the reach of the Jewish Women's Archive by working with the Film, Education, and Development departments to: market JWA's documentary on Jewish comedians, Making Trouble; identify new audiences for educational materials and programming; and expand JWA's community and network of supporters.
o Archives/Records Management Intern will work with JWA's Digital Archivist on improving the management of our 21st century online archive.
o Web Intern will work with JWA's technology team on projects to increase our website's efficiency and enhance recognition by search engines. Knowledge of XHTML, CSS, and at least one programming language (JavaScript, PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, Java) required.
2. All interns will also have the opportunity to work on organization-wide projects such as blogging and creating podcasts.
You'll need:
• Competence with Word, Excel, etc. and willingness to learn new computer skills and software applications
• Online and library research skills
• Strong writing ability
• Ability to communicate via email and telephone
• Willingness to do wide range of tasks
• Curiosity, flexibility, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor.
Things you should know:
Internships at the Jewish Women's Archive are unpaid. (Interns may be able to receive funding or course credit for their work at JWA through their colleges and universities.) Summer interns work in our office for a minimum of 24 hours/week for at least eight weeks between June 1 and August 15. JWA is located near Coolidge Corner in Brookline, easily accessible on public transportation. Internships are open to all, regardless of religion, race, or gender.
Deadline: Applications must be received by Friday, April 12th. (Candidates applying for financial support from another source should let us know the date that a response is required.)
How to Apply:
Submit a cover letter, resumé, names and contact information for two references, and a writing (five pages or less) or, for the web internship, a coding sample to: internships@jwa.org. If you do not have access to email, you may send your package to:
Internships/Jewish Women's Archive
138 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02472
• You have a keen interest in history and the stories of American Jewish women.
• You want to learn from a dedicated and creative staff what makes a dynamic non-profit tick.
• You like working with new technologies to build interactive, online tools.
Internship Opportunities
1. Each summer intern will work within a specific department:
o Outreach Intern will help broaden the reach of the Jewish Women's Archive by working with the Film, Education, and Development departments to: market JWA's documentary on Jewish comedians, Making Trouble; identify new audiences for educational materials and programming; and expand JWA's community and network of supporters.
o Archives/Records Management Intern will work with JWA's Digital Archivist on improving the management of our 21st century online archive.
o Web Intern will work with JWA's technology team on projects to increase our website's efficiency and enhance recognition by search engines. Knowledge of XHTML, CSS, and at least one programming language (JavaScript, PHP, Perl, Python, Ruby, Java) required.
2. All interns will also have the opportunity to work on organization-wide projects such as blogging and creating podcasts.
You'll need:
• Competence with Word, Excel, etc. and willingness to learn new computer skills and software applications
• Online and library research skills
• Strong writing ability
• Ability to communicate via email and telephone
• Willingness to do wide range of tasks
• Curiosity, flexibility, enthusiasm, and a sense of humor.
Things you should know:
Internships at the Jewish Women's Archive are unpaid. (Interns may be able to receive funding or course credit for their work at JWA through their colleges and universities.) Summer interns work in our office for a minimum of 24 hours/week for at least eight weeks between June 1 and August 15. JWA is located near Coolidge Corner in Brookline, easily accessible on public transportation. Internships are open to all, regardless of religion, race, or gender.
Deadline: Applications must be received by Friday, April 12th. (Candidates applying for financial support from another source should let us know the date that a response is required.)
How to Apply:
Submit a cover letter, resumé, names and contact information for two references, and a writing (five pages or less) or, for the web internship, a coding sample to: internships@jwa.org. If you do not have access to email, you may send your package to:
Internships/Jewish Women's Archive
138 Harvard St.
Brookline, MA 02472
March 17: Lecture: The Veil in Islamic Societies
The Veil in Islamic Societies: An Historical and Social Overview
8:00 pm
Sutherland Hall Lounge
Audience: Open to all Pitt Students
Cost: Free
Sponsored by: Global Studies Program, International Studies Living Learning Community
Shane Minkin, PhD candidate in the joint History and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies program at New York University, will discuss how the veiling of Muslim women has become a political issue of late. The French government banned the veil (along with other conspicuously religious accessories) from all public schools in 2004, sparking a series of protests. As recently as December 2008, a judge in a Georgia court held a Muslim woman in contempt for refusing to remove her veil. What, then, is the meaning of the veil? How did the tradition evolve? What are its links to the colonial Muslim world, and what might it mean to veil? This talk will provide an overview of veiling from pre-Islamic times through today. We will discuss the role of the veil in colonialism and explore the different types of veils throughout the Muslim world. Finally, we will link the discourse surrounding the veil to broader discourses surrounding questions of women and gender and the colonial and post-!
colonial worlds.
For more information, contact Veronica Dristas - 412-624-2918 dristas@pitt.edu
8:00 pm
Sutherland Hall Lounge
Audience: Open to all Pitt Students
Cost: Free
Sponsored by: Global Studies Program, International Studies Living Learning Community
Shane Minkin, PhD candidate in the joint History and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies program at New York University, will discuss how the veiling of Muslim women has become a political issue of late. The French government banned the veil (along with other conspicuously religious accessories) from all public schools in 2004, sparking a series of protests. As recently as December 2008, a judge in a Georgia court held a Muslim woman in contempt for refusing to remove her veil. What, then, is the meaning of the veil? How did the tradition evolve? What are its links to the colonial Muslim world, and what might it mean to veil? This talk will provide an overview of veiling from pre-Islamic times through today. We will discuss the role of the veil in colonialism and explore the different types of veils throughout the Muslim world. Finally, we will link the discourse surrounding the veil to broader discourses surrounding questions of women and gender and the colonial and post-!
colonial worlds.
For more information, contact Veronica Dristas - 412-624-2918 dristas@pitt.edu
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Upcoming Lectures on Religion and Society in Southeastern Europe
Wednesday, March 18, 8:00pm, 5401 Posvar
“Religious Education in Public Schools in the Balkans”
Zilka Spahic-Siljak, Visiting Professor of Religious Studies, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Co-sponsored with Pi Sigma Alpha
------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, April 1, 12:00 – 1:30pm, 4217 Posvar
“Golgotha and Resurrection: Destiny Myths, Victimization, and Nationalism in Early Serbian Cinematography”
Slobodan Naumovic, Visiting Professor of Anthropology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
------------------------------------------------------
Monday, April 6, 12:00 – 1:30pm, 4217 Posvar
“Nature Cannot Handle Empty Space: The Competition over the Identities of Religious Sites among Turkish Muslims in Bulgaria"
Hande Sozer, Department of Anthropology
------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, April 16, 3:00 – 4:30pm, 1401 CL
“Texts and Rites for the Pre-baptismal Period: the Mother, Child, Midwife, and the Priest”
Margaret Dimitrova, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Sponsored by the Center for Russian and East European Studies, part of UCIS.
“Religious Education in Public Schools in the Balkans”
Zilka Spahic-Siljak, Visiting Professor of Religious Studies, University of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
Co-sponsored with Pi Sigma Alpha
------------------------------------------------------
Wednesday, April 1, 12:00 – 1:30pm, 4217 Posvar
“Golgotha and Resurrection: Destiny Myths, Victimization, and Nationalism in Early Serbian Cinematography”
Slobodan Naumovic, Visiting Professor of Anthropology, University of Belgrade, Serbia
------------------------------------------------------
Monday, April 6, 12:00 – 1:30pm, 4217 Posvar
“Nature Cannot Handle Empty Space: The Competition over the Identities of Religious Sites among Turkish Muslims in Bulgaria"
Hande Sozer, Department of Anthropology
------------------------------------------------------
Thursday, April 16, 3:00 – 4:30pm, 1401 CL
“Texts and Rites for the Pre-baptismal Period: the Mother, Child, Midwife, and the Priest”
Margaret Dimitrova, Sofia University, Bulgaria
Sponsored by the Center for Russian and East European Studies, part of UCIS.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
March 27: Conference: "The Reception History of the Bible"
"The Reception History of the Bible: A Symposium"
March 27, 2009
9:30am - 4:00pm
Duquesne Union
Duquesne University
600 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
Join us for a series of great paper presentations, including keynote
addresses by Dale C. Allison, Jr. (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) and
Brian E. Daley, S.J. (University of Notre Dame).
Please see the attached flyer and visit www.duq.edu/receptionhistory for
more information.
March 27, 2009
9:30am - 4:00pm
Duquesne Union
Duquesne University
600 Forbes Ave.
Pittsburgh, PA 15282
Join us for a series of great paper presentations, including keynote
addresses by Dale C. Allison, Jr. (Pittsburgh Theological Seminary) and
Brian E. Daley, S.J. (University of Notre Dame).
Please see the attached flyer and visit www.duq.edu/receptionhistory for
more information.
March 16: Grad Expo
Come hear your teaching assitants give lectures:
GradExpo: March 16th, William Pitt Union
At the 9:30AM Sessions:
Session 1b (in Ballroom B): Peter de Vries. "The Apocalyptic Genre
Considered by the Light of Ricoeur's Hermeneutics"
Session 1d (In Dining Room A): Alexandra Seitz. "Arriving at the Proper
Moral Choice: Pittsburgh Catholics for Obama and the Question of Abortion"
Session 1f (In the Lower Lounge): Andrew Cole. " Baklava, Books, and
Boundaries: Religious Identity and Education for Eastern Orthodox Children
in America"
At the 11:15AM Sessions:
Session 2d (In Dining Room A): Emily Bailey. "Shoshin-Beginner's Mind: My
Month in an American Zen Monastery"
The schedule for the whole day's events is posted on the Grad Student
Organization website at:
http://www.pitt.edu/~gradexpo/schedule.html
GradExpo: March 16th, William Pitt Union
At the 9:30AM Sessions:
Session 1b (in Ballroom B): Peter de Vries. "The Apocalyptic Genre
Considered by the Light of Ricoeur's Hermeneutics"
Session 1d (In Dining Room A): Alexandra Seitz. "Arriving at the Proper
Moral Choice: Pittsburgh Catholics for Obama and the Question of Abortion"
Session 1f (In the Lower Lounge): Andrew Cole. " Baklava, Books, and
Boundaries: Religious Identity and Education for Eastern Orthodox Children
in America"
At the 11:15AM Sessions:
Session 2d (In Dining Room A): Emily Bailey. "Shoshin-Beginner's Mind: My
Month in an American Zen Monastery"
The schedule for the whole day's events is posted on the Grad Student
Organization website at:
http://www.pitt.edu/~gradexpo/schedule.html
March 21: Diversity Conference
The University of Pittsburgh’s Office of Cross Cultural and Leadership Development invites you to participate in “Archie Bunker’s Neighborhood: The REMIX” Saturday, March 21, 2009.
This conference will be unique as you will revisit the exclusivity of the late 20th century to then explore and redefine the dynamics of American society in the 21st century. The world, and your leadership within it, is changing. So we invite you to come and reshape it.
The registration fee has been waived for all University of Pittsburgh -Oakland students. So, please take advantage of the great opportunity.
The deadline to register is March 18, 2009.
For questions or more information, please contact Jacquett Wade at 412-648-9523 or by e-mail at jaw136@pitt.edu.
This conference will be unique as you will revisit the exclusivity of the late 20th century to then explore and redefine the dynamics of American society in the 21st century. The world, and your leadership within it, is changing. So we invite you to come and reshape it.
The registration fee has been waived for all University of Pittsburgh -Oakland students. So, please take advantage of the great opportunity.
The deadline to register is March 18, 2009.
For questions or more information, please contact Jacquett Wade at 412-648-9523 or by e-mail at jaw136@pitt.edu.
SENIORS: Take the SAILS survey on-line. Thank you.
What is Information Literacy?
The School of Arts and Sciences and the University Library System are seeking your
participation in a research study on information literacy to assess the skills of graduating
students at the University of Pittsburgh. Information literacy is the ability to identify what
information is needed, and to critically evaluate, locate, and use the particular information.
Results from this test will help us to design more effective course curriculum and library
instruction for Arts and Sciences students.
What is SAILS?
The Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (SAILS) is an online assessment
of information literacy skills. The test is being administered to Arts and Sciences seniors now
through April 17.
How to take SAILS
Students should log into the University portal at http://my.pitt.edu. To access the SAILS site,
have your browser configured to accept cookies. Click on the SAILS Survey -- Seniors
button. A short welcome message will appear. Click Continue to begin the SAILS test, which
takes approximately 35 minutes. Students must answer every question for the assessment to
count. If you do not have enough time to finish the test, you can log in later to complete it.
All responses are anonymous. At the end of the test, you will see a “Thank You” page. Print
this page and return it to your advisor to acknowledge your completion of the test. If
the "Thank You” page does not appear, you can log back in to the portal and click the survey
button to print the “Thank You” page.
Results from this test will be available in May 2009. For more information, consult the
ULS Information Literacy site at http://www.library.pitt.edu/services/classes/infoliteracy/
or contact:
Marian Hampton, Coordinator of Library Instruction
hamptonm@pitt.edu
412-648-7770
Pat Duck, Coordinator of Regional University Library System Libraries
pmd1@pitt.edu
724-836-9689
Information Literacy Assessment
The School of Arts and Sciences and the University Library System are seeking your
participation in a research study on information literacy to assess the skills of graduating
students at the University of Pittsburgh. Information literacy is the ability to identify what
information is needed, and to critically evaluate, locate, and use the particular information.
Results from this test will help us to design more effective course curriculum and library
instruction for Arts and Sciences students.
What is SAILS?
The Standardized Assessment of Information Literacy Skills (SAILS) is an online assessment
of information literacy skills. The test is being administered to Arts and Sciences seniors now
through April 17.
How to take SAILS
Students should log into the University portal at http://my.pitt.edu. To access the SAILS site,
have your browser configured to accept cookies. Click on the SAILS Survey -- Seniors
button. A short welcome message will appear. Click Continue to begin the SAILS test, which
takes approximately 35 minutes. Students must answer every question for the assessment to
count. If you do not have enough time to finish the test, you can log in later to complete it.
All responses are anonymous. At the end of the test, you will see a “Thank You” page. Print
this page and return it to your advisor to acknowledge your completion of the test. If
the "Thank You” page does not appear, you can log back in to the portal and click the survey
button to print the “Thank You” page.
Results from this test will be available in May 2009. For more information, consult the
ULS Information Literacy site at http://www.library.pitt.edu/services/classes/infoliteracy/
or contact:
Marian Hampton, Coordinator of Library Instruction
hamptonm@pitt.edu
412-648-7770
Pat Duck, Coordinator of Regional University Library System Libraries
pmd1@pitt.edu
724-836-9689
Information Literacy Assessment
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
March 14: Colloquium on Secularism
boundary 2, an international journal of literature and culture
presents b2 editors
• Joseph Buttigieg of Notre Dame University
• Stathis Gourgouris of Columbia University
• Ronald Judy of the University of Pittsburgh
• Aamir Mufti of UCLA
• Bruce Robbins of Columbia University
who with several Pittsburgh Colleagues will hold
A Colloquium on
Secularism
10 AM to Noon, Saturday, March 14, 2009
501 Cathedral of Learning
In 2007, boundary 2 issued a call for papers that produce a historical humanist critique of religions, especially faith-based or monotheistic religions. This call for papers rested on the assumption that a critical journal is by definition a secular project and neither legitimates religions nor aligns itself with them or their apparent secular derivatives. boundary 2 will provide a forum to discuss this "new critique of religion" that not only takes into account the foundations of ‘modernity’ but takes as its own starting point the changed place of religion in our world(s). We sought and published essays that describe, analyze, and historicize the implications of the ways in which religions work in the world today. Topics included the contrast between faith and reason; the manipulation of religion by secular power; the relations between religion and populism; the political actions that have made religions prominent again; and so on. These essays clarified the work religions do in their social orders and how critical intellectuals should best understand that work and best evaluate the worlds that they intend to produce.
[For information about this event contact Meg Havran (havran@pitt.edu).]
presents b2 editors
• Joseph Buttigieg of Notre Dame University
• Stathis Gourgouris of Columbia University
• Ronald Judy of the University of Pittsburgh
• Aamir Mufti of UCLA
• Bruce Robbins of Columbia University
who with several Pittsburgh Colleagues will hold
A Colloquium on
Secularism
10 AM to Noon, Saturday, March 14, 2009
501 Cathedral of Learning
In 2007, boundary 2 issued a call for papers that produce a historical humanist critique of religions, especially faith-based or monotheistic religions. This call for papers rested on the assumption that a critical journal is by definition a secular project and neither legitimates religions nor aligns itself with them or their apparent secular derivatives. boundary 2 will provide a forum to discuss this "new critique of religion" that not only takes into account the foundations of ‘modernity’ but takes as its own starting point the changed place of religion in our world(s). We sought and published essays that describe, analyze, and historicize the implications of the ways in which religions work in the world today. Topics included the contrast between faith and reason; the manipulation of religion by secular power; the relations between religion and populism; the political actions that have made religions prominent again; and so on. These essays clarified the work religions do in their social orders and how critical intellectuals should best understand that work and best evaluate the worlds that they intend to produce.
[For information about this event contact Meg Havran (havran@pitt.edu).]
March 16: Deadline for the CERIS 2009 Undergraduate Research Symposium
From CERIS:
A reminder the deadline for student papers is March 16, 2009 for the CERIS 2009 Undergraduate Research Symposium, Islam in the World: Politics, People, Places. Please encourage your students to participate.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear University of Pittsburgh Faculty,
I am writing on behalf of the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS), of which Pitt is a member, inviting your participation in an exciting opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge in an arena often not available to undergraduates. On March 28, 2009, CERIS will sponsor an Undergraduate Research Symposium at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh entitled “Islam in the World: People, Politics, Places.” Students from 28 member institutions are invited to submit research papers and then present their work to a panel of judges. Cash prizes totaling $500 will be distributed to the top three papers in each category: Politics & Policy, and Religion and Culture. A third category for artistic or personal presentations will also be held, but these submissions are not eligible for prizes.
On the preceding evening (March 27), a keynote address will be given at Duquesne by Dr. Richard Bulliet, Professor of History at Columbia University and former director of the Middle East Institute there. Dr. Bulliet will also speak directly to the students at a breakfast on Saturday morning before the Symposium begins.
With the 2009 theme of Islam in the World: Politics, People, Places, students may submit papers with topics such as: Dubai and the Credit Crunch; Hamas: Freedom Fighters or Terrorists; Fashion Fusion: Turkish Art and German Design; Rap, Rock and the Muslim Faithful in Indonesia; Muslims in American Democratic Discourse. Students should keep in mind that Islamic Studies encompasses many languages, literatures, and disciplines. It extends from the seventh century to the present, and includes broad geographical areas of the world. Islamic Studies can include but is not limited to history, religion, law, politics, sociology, science, art and culture, language and literature. Students from all majors are eligible to participate in the symposium. Research papers need not be written just for this symposium, but can be the result of work for current or previous classroom requirements. Papers should be 8 – 12 double-spaced pages; students should seek the advice of a faculty member to ensure the quality of their research and paper. Students will also be required to make a 10 – 15 minute presentation of their papers. We encourage you to support your students by attending the symposium on March 28, 2009, and ask that you consider serving as a symposium panel juror for participants from other campuses.
Information about the 2009 CERIS Undergraduate Research Symposium (including important deadlines, submission details, guidelines for writing, and judging criteria) are available at www.cerisnet.org. Please note that final paper submissions are due by March 16th.
With best wishes,
Doug Penhallegon Elaine Linn
CERIS Representative CERIS Outreach Coordinator
& Symposium Co-Chair & Symposium Co-Chair
Duquesne University University of Pittsburgh
penhall321@duq.edu eel58@pitt.edu
412) 759-4543 412) 648-2113
A reminder the deadline for student papers is March 16, 2009 for the CERIS 2009 Undergraduate Research Symposium, Islam in the World: Politics, People, Places. Please encourage your students to participate.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dear University of Pittsburgh Faculty,
I am writing on behalf of the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies (CERIS), of which Pitt is a member, inviting your participation in an exciting opportunity for students to demonstrate their knowledge in an arena often not available to undergraduates. On March 28, 2009, CERIS will sponsor an Undergraduate Research Symposium at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh entitled “Islam in the World: People, Politics, Places.” Students from 28 member institutions are invited to submit research papers and then present their work to a panel of judges. Cash prizes totaling $500 will be distributed to the top three papers in each category: Politics & Policy, and Religion and Culture. A third category for artistic or personal presentations will also be held, but these submissions are not eligible for prizes.
On the preceding evening (March 27), a keynote address will be given at Duquesne by Dr. Richard Bulliet, Professor of History at Columbia University and former director of the Middle East Institute there. Dr. Bulliet will also speak directly to the students at a breakfast on Saturday morning before the Symposium begins.
With the 2009 theme of Islam in the World: Politics, People, Places, students may submit papers with topics such as: Dubai and the Credit Crunch; Hamas: Freedom Fighters or Terrorists; Fashion Fusion: Turkish Art and German Design; Rap, Rock and the Muslim Faithful in Indonesia; Muslims in American Democratic Discourse. Students should keep in mind that Islamic Studies encompasses many languages, literatures, and disciplines. It extends from the seventh century to the present, and includes broad geographical areas of the world. Islamic Studies can include but is not limited to history, religion, law, politics, sociology, science, art and culture, language and literature. Students from all majors are eligible to participate in the symposium. Research papers need not be written just for this symposium, but can be the result of work for current or previous classroom requirements. Papers should be 8 – 12 double-spaced pages; students should seek the advice of a faculty member to ensure the quality of their research and paper. Students will also be required to make a 10 – 15 minute presentation of their papers. We encourage you to support your students by attending the symposium on March 28, 2009, and ask that you consider serving as a symposium panel juror for participants from other campuses.
Information about the 2009 CERIS Undergraduate Research Symposium (including important deadlines, submission details, guidelines for writing, and judging criteria) are available at www.cerisnet.org. Please note that final paper submissions are due by March 16th.
With best wishes,
Doug Penhallegon Elaine Linn
CERIS Representative CERIS Outreach Coordinator
& Symposium Co-Chair & Symposium Co-Chair
Duquesne University University of Pittsburgh
penhall321@duq.edu eel58@pitt.edu
412) 759-4543 412) 648-2113
March 19: Lecture: Alicia Ostriker
Professor Alicia Ostriker
"Re-Deeming Scripture: Contemporary American Midrash"
Thursday, March 19, 2009
4:00 PM
Cathedral of Learning 144
Alicia Ostriker is a prize-winning poet and critic and the author of Feminist Revision and the Bible (1992), The Nakedness of the Fathers:
Biblical Visions and Revisions (1994) as well as For the Love of God: The Bible as an Open Book (2007). Her poetry has appeared in the New Yorker, The Nation and the Paris Review. Professor Ostriker is Professor Emerita of English at Rutgers University teaches in the MFA Program at Drew University.
"Re-Deeming Scripture: Contemporary American Midrash"
Thursday, March 19, 2009
4:00 PM
Cathedral of Learning 144
Alicia Ostriker is a prize-winning poet and critic and the author of Feminist Revision and the Bible (1992), The Nakedness of the Fathers:
Biblical Visions and Revisions (1994) as well as For the Love of God: The Bible as an Open Book (2007). Her poetry has appeared in the New Yorker, The Nation and the Paris Review. Professor Ostriker is Professor Emerita of English at Rutgers University teaches in the MFA Program at Drew University.
March 18: Department Colloquium
The Department of Religious Studies
Brown Bag Lunch Colloquium Series
University of Pittsburgh
presents
Rebecca Denova
Visiting Lecturer, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh
“And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.”
(“Woodstock,” Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young)
“It took Jesus a thousand years to die. Images of his corpse did not appear in churches until the tenth century.”
With this opening gambit, Rita Brock and Rebecca Parker have presented an in-depth analysis of the art and literature of ancient Christianity in “Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire.” Simply put, they claim that their evidence demonstrates that the central tenent of ancient Christianity for a thousand years, that of manifesting God’s “kingdom” on earth (Eden), was replaced by a much later theology that stressed warrior emperors and empire, largely influenced by the art and religious narratives of violence and suffering of northern Europe.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
12:00 PM
144 Cathedral of Learning
Rebecca Denova specializes in early Christianity and is the author of ‘The Things Accomplished Among Us’: Prophetic Tradition in the Structural Pattern of Luke-Acts (Sheffield, 1997) and “A Historical and Literary Understanding of the Passion Narratives in the Gospels” (in Passionate Dialogues: Critical Perspectives on Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, which she co-edited with Daniel Burton, Mise, 2005). She is currently working on the historicity of alleged Jewish “persecution” against Christians in the first century. Prior to teaching at Pitt, Dr. Denova was associate professor of religious studies at Bethany College.
Brown Bag Lunch Colloquium Series
University of Pittsburgh
presents
Rebecca Denova
Visiting Lecturer, Department of Religious Studies, University of Pittsburgh
“And we got to get ourselves back to the garden.”
(“Woodstock,” Crosby, Stills, Nash, and Young)
“It took Jesus a thousand years to die. Images of his corpse did not appear in churches until the tenth century.”
With this opening gambit, Rita Brock and Rebecca Parker have presented an in-depth analysis of the art and literature of ancient Christianity in “Saving Paradise: How Christianity Traded Love of This World for Crucifixion and Empire.” Simply put, they claim that their evidence demonstrates that the central tenent of ancient Christianity for a thousand years, that of manifesting God’s “kingdom” on earth (Eden), was replaced by a much later theology that stressed warrior emperors and empire, largely influenced by the art and religious narratives of violence and suffering of northern Europe.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
12:00 PM
144 Cathedral of Learning
Rebecca Denova specializes in early Christianity and is the author of ‘The Things Accomplished Among Us’: Prophetic Tradition in the Structural Pattern of Luke-Acts (Sheffield, 1997) and “A Historical and Literary Understanding of the Passion Narratives in the Gospels” (in Passionate Dialogues: Critical Perspectives on Mel Gibson’s The Passion of the Christ, which she co-edited with Daniel Burton, Mise, 2005). She is currently working on the historicity of alleged Jewish “persecution” against Christians in the first century. Prior to teaching at Pitt, Dr. Denova was associate professor of religious studies at Bethany College.
March 7 in Philadelphia: Medieval Music
If you will be in Philadelphia over break and find yourself in the mood for some medieval music Saturday afternoon, this is the event for you!
Please join the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia for an exhibit opening:
Cantate Domino: Medieval Music Manuscripts in the Free Library of Philadelphia, 900-1500
March 2 – June 26, 2009
Special Saturday hours and musical performance of medieval music by Quidditas:
Saturday, March 7, 2009, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm (performance at 2:30: duration one hour)
Location:
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Third Floor
215.686.5416
or e-mail erefrbd@freelibrary.org
The Rare Book Department is open 9 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday
Tours of the General Collections are at 11 am daily.
This exhibition features liturgical medieval music manuscripts collected by John Frederick Lewis (1860-1932). Leaves and codices were chosen for their visual appeal as well as for their musical attributes. All of the music displayed is chant: a single line of melody. The Free Library’s collection is representative of notation from the 900s to the 1500s.
Please join the Rare Book Department of the Free Library of Philadelphia for an exhibit opening:
Cantate Domino: Medieval Music Manuscripts in the Free Library of Philadelphia, 900-1500
March 2 – June 26, 2009
Special Saturday hours and musical performance of medieval music by Quidditas:
Saturday, March 7, 2009, 1:00 pm-5:00 pm (performance at 2:30: duration one hour)
Location:
Free Library of Philadelphia
1901 Vine Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Third Floor
215.686.5416
or e-mail erefrbd@freelibrary.org
The Rare Book Department is open 9 am – 5 pm Monday through Friday
Tours of the General Collections are at 11 am daily.
This exhibition features liturgical medieval music manuscripts collected by John Frederick Lewis (1860-1932). Leaves and codices were chosen for their visual appeal as well as for their musical attributes. All of the music displayed is chant: a single line of melody. The Free Library’s collection is representative of notation from the 900s to the 1500s.
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