What You Have Missed
Pericles Forum: Education's
Purpose with Dr. Dionne Jackson
What is the purpose of education?
Why do we provide free, public K-12 education? What should the link between
higher education and employment be? What priorities should we emphasize in the
curriculum? How do we effectively educate students so that they are prepared to
become productive citizens? Join the conversation, led by Dr. Dionne Jackson,
Assistant Professor of Education.
Pericles Forum: Poverty in the U.S.
In preparation for VAC’s Spring Awareness Week, this forum will engage with poverty in Central Arkansas, linking poverty to recent debates about healthcare, unemployment, the minimum wage and other redistributive government policies. What is poverty? How do we, as a community, address/define this issue? Is poverty something we accept as an economic and material inequality? How do we handle competing definitions and perceptions of poverty? How should we combat assumptions about these issues? The conversation was led by VAC’s Emily Smith, ’14, Jenna Gottschalk, ’14, Michael Brouri, from the State of Arkansas Division of Community Service and Non-Profit Support, and Daniel Grear, ‘15 who had an internship with the Shepard Higher Education Consortium on Poverty.
Arkansas Surgeon General Visit
Project
Pericles will be hosting Hendrix alumnus Dr. Joe
Thompson on Thursday April 3 for a talk
in Mills A at 5:00 p.m. As a speaker for the Hendrix Alumni Doing
Democracy series, he will speak about the important role of health
policy and the medical field in making our state (and world) a better
place with his talk “Arkansas's Pioneering Innovations in Health System
Transformation.”. There will be a light reception to follow.
Dr. Joe
Thompson, Hendrix class of ’84, is the Surgeon General for the State of Arkansas
as well as the Director of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, a
Professor at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, and a general
pediatrician. He has led vanguard efforts in planning and implementing health
care financing reform, tobacco- and obesity-related health promotion and disease
prevention programs. Dr. Thompson has worked with Governor Mike Beebe,
Arkansas’s legislative leadership and the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services to develop a creative alternative to Medicaid expansion under the
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In addition, Dr. Thompson is guiding
Arkansas’s innovative initiatives to improve health system access, quality and
cost including a systematic, multi-payer overhaul of Arkansas’s health care
payment system.
Beating Hearts: Stories of Domestic Violence
Beating
Hearts: Stories of Domestic Violence is a photographic project inspired
by true stories of domestic violence documented by Kate Sartor Hilburn
and Terrie
Queen Autrey of Louisiana. Both women have been active in domestic
violence prevention and education in their communities. Sartor Hilburn,
an artist/photographer, and Autrey, a writer and activist, teamed up to
create a body of work that retells in visual
and verbal terms the actual stories and experiences of women they have
known and talked with through their work in domestic abuse prevention.
This exhibit will be on display in the Trieschmann Gallery from March
12-31. The artist talk is March 12 at 6 p.m.
in Reves Recital Hall, followed by the Opening Reception & Improv
from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Trieschmann Gallery.
Pericles Forum: Tensions in Ukraine with Dr. Daniel Whelan
After bloody protests forced a transition in Ukraine’s government, Russian troops have spread across the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea where Russia has an important naval base. What is the appropriate NATO, UN and/or U.S. response to the Russian invasion? Is it an invasion? Why is the Ukraine important for understanding the relationship between the E.U. and Russia? What can we learn about government repression and violent resistance from the Ukrainian protestors?
Pericles Forum: Who Should Win an Oscar for Civic Engagement? With Dr. Kristi McKim
Motion
Pictures can bring issues to light, develop empathy in an audience and
spark passions for engaging with a community around an issue. The 2014
Oscar contenders
examined AIDS, slavery, piracy, space exploration, mass murder, abusive
families and more. Which film has the greatest potential to encourage
people to make change? Some of the films have been critiqued for
insensitive portrayals of minorities or not doing
enough to highlight social ills. What were the problems with this
year's nominees? What is the role of film in civic engagement?
Periclean Exemplars
We heard
from fellow students who used Pericles funding to make a difference and
learned about this year’s funding opportunities.
The
Hendrix Pericles Student Fund offers funding on a
rolling basis for projects that address community issues and that are
not quite Odyssey-worthy or that arise after the Odyssey deadline has
passed. College Communications Director and Project
Pericles Advisory Committee Member Rob O’Connor moderated the
panel. We heard from Blake Tierney, who attended the annual Mental
Health America conference and advocated Arkansas congressmen for mental
health legislation on Capitol Hill, Jasmine Welch-Beardsley,
who attended the Autism Society Conference and who is raising awareness
of autism spectrum disorders and other disabilities on and off campus,
and Sowmya Sivakumar, who interned at the Florence Crittenton Children’s
Shelter, which helped her focus her career
path.
VAC: React to Film and Project Pericles Forum with Dr. Anne Goldberg
Volunteer Action Committee worked in conjunction with Project Pericles for
their screening of “Who Is Dayani Cristal?” on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m.
in Worsham. This
film shows how one life becomes testimony to the tragic results of the
U.S. war on immigration. As the real-life drama unfolds, we see this
John Doe, denied an identity at his point of death, become a living and
breathing human being with an important life
story.
HADD Panel on Local Food, Sustainability and Hunger
Project
Pericles’ Hendrix Alumni Doing Democracy (HADD) hosted an event for
current students and young alumni with the topic of “Local Food,
Sustainability
and Hunger.” The event was held in the Darragh Center
at the downtown Little Rock library. HADD generally has events on campus
with alumni speakers but wanted an event that really brought Hendrix
students into contact with a wider array of
alumni. The panel includes Jack Sundell ’00 of the Root Café who was on the panel and provided dessert, Karl Heinbockel ’12 with Little
Rock Urban Farming, Emily English ’02, Program Administrator for the
Delta Garden Study, Arkansas Grow Healthy Study
and Arkansas GardenCorps, Elizabeth Baker ’08 of The Arkansas Hunger
Relief Alliance and Shawn Goicoechea from HR and The Locals with the
Conway perspective. There were a number of alumni and
students interested in these issues in the audience.
Pericles Forum: What Can We Do About World Poverty? With Dr. Megan Leonard and Dr. Tom Stanley
Introducing
their Julia Mobley Odyssey Professorship program, Dr. Megan Leonard,
Assistant Professor of Economics, and Dr. Tom Stanley, Professor of
Economics,
asked you to join the conversation about ways to alleviate global poverty. Their professorship will offer students
opportunities and funding to study which policies and interventions
reduce poverty, promote health or accelerate economic
development. What are the best ways to focus and deliver aid? Should we
invest in education? Contraception? Microfinance? Hunger?
Immunizations? Bed-nets to protect against malaria? Once we decide on an
avenue, how do we set up the program? Then, how do we
evaluate the program?
Pericles Forum: Olympic Politics with Dr. Kiril Kolev and Dr. Lisa Leitz
As
the 2014 Winter Olympic Games continue in Sochi, many people are
focused on the variety of messages unrelated to sports put forth by
Russia, other countries,
athletes and commentators. What is the role of political expression in
the Olympics? Do the games promote nationalism or international
cooperation? How have people used the Olympics to focus attention on
human rights or other political issues of the host country?
Why do many see the games as a bad economic investment? What do the
events so far in Sochi tell about Russian politics under Putin? What
circumstances have led to Olympic boycotts? Do they work?
Pericles Forum: Obama's Foreign Policy with Al Eastham and Dr. Daniel Whelan
In
his State of the Union Speech, President Obama spent about 15 minutes
discussing foreign policy, primarily pointing to the importance of
diplomacy in dealing with Iran and heralding the end of combat
operations in Iraq and Afghanistan while using drones and Special
Forces to go after “extremists” in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. We took the forum hour to discuss Obama’s foreign policy. How do we judge Obama’s performance and goals on
foreign policy? What challenges should the U.S. address around the
globe?
Pericles Forum: Writer as Witness with Hope Coulter
Last semester students explored and then created works where
the writer (or narrator) observed and recounted events of social change,
conflict, and sometimes personal trauma. On Thursday January 30, Hope Coulter
Director of the Hendrix-Murphy Programs in Literature & Language, and
students from this class led us in a discussion of how creative writing
can stimulate discourse on social issues. Does a writer need inside knowledge
of a place or situation in order to wear the mantle of “witness”? How does the
act of witnessing change or implicate the self? What makes someone a “witness”
as opposed to a documentarian?
Project Pericles Forum: Hunger and Homelessness in America with Rev. Wayne Clark
In recognizing National Hunger and Homelessness
Awareness Week, we held a conversation meant to raise awareness about these
issues and to encourage reflection on the best ways
to help. This week’s forum was led by Hendrix Chaplain Wayne Clark
and students who have helped with the innovative hunger and community
work at Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco. Don’t
soup kitchens perpetuate the homeless population?
Why don’t we just send money to the agencies rather than spending it on
sending people to work in these organizations? Why/can’t a homeless
person get a job and find a home? Does government and charitable support
enable adults' laziness and teach dependence
to children?
Project Pericles Forum: "How to Make Money Selling Drugs" with Dr. Carmen Hardin
This
week’s Project Pericles revolved around the themes raised in VAC’s
REACT to FILM screening of “How to Make Money Selling Drugs.” We joined Dr.
Carmen Hardin as she helped lead this week’s
discussion in response to the film. How lucrative is the drug industry
and what does that look like in the US? What positive and negative
effects does this massive enterprise have on American society? Who are
the integral players working in the business? How
do they become involved and why do they do so? How does this drug trade
shape/distort perceptions of the American Dream? Join the conversation
as we explore this widening world of drugs and its effects.
Pericles Forum- After the Storm: Processing Hurricane Katrina in American Culture with Dr. Glenn Jellenik
Project
Pericles partnered with the French Club for a forum examining
post-Katrina New Orleans for National French Week. Building off his
forthcoming co-authored book, Dr. Glenn Jellenik, Adjunct
Professor of English, leads a discussion of the role of this 2005
hurricane in American consciousness. How do we remember this storm? What
cracks in American society did the storm reveal? Has New Orleans
recovered? Why has this storm produced so much more artistic
responses than academic?
Forum: Pink-washing in Breast Cancer Awareness with Dr. Stella Capek
October
marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Project Pericles examined the
efficacy and problems with the popular pink campaign. Are corporations
and products that go pink really providing
much support for breast cancer research or treatments or is it
unregulated marketing? Many pink industry products are potential causes
of cancer. How do we move beyond awareness to focus on comprehensive
treatment and prevention?
HADD: Colonel Ann Wright: The Role of Dissent in National Security, Law, & Conscience
Project
Pericles sponsored a talk and opportunities to meet award-winning
former diplomat and peace activist Col. (Ret.) Ann Wright. After 29
years in the active and reserve Army, Col. Wright
joined the Foreign Service and served as U.S. Deputy Ambassador in
Sierra Leone, Micronesia, Afghanistan and Mongolia. On the eve of the
U.S. invasion of Iraq, she resigned in objection. Since then, she has
been writing and speaking out for peace. Conversation over an informal lunch Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. in
Campbell North. Her lecture, The Role of Dissent in National Security,
Law, & Conscience, is at 6:30 p.m. in Mills C and is followed by a
reception
HADD: Pericles Odyssey Medal Winner Coffee: Science Blogging & Democracy
A free continental
breakfast was open to all students, faculty, and staff with Odyssey Medal winner
Derek Lowe as part of the Hendrix Alumni Doing Democracy series from 8-9 am on Friday, Oct. 25 in the Burrow. Dr. Lowe (’83) talked briefly about his blog that covers drug discovery, chemistry, and
other scientific news and is now the oldest continuously-running science blog
on the internet, garnering about 20,000 page views a day.
Jack Donnelly Lecture: "Human Dignity: Evolution of the Concept in the
West"
Hendrix welcomed renowned human rights scholar Jack Donnelly
(Josef Korbel School of International Studies, University of Denver) for a
lecture on "Human Dignity: Evolution of the Concept in the West." The
lecture took place at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24 in Mills A. Jack's visit was
sponsored by the Charles Prentiss Hough Odyssey Professorship, Project
Pericles, and The Engaged Citizen.
Forum: Focusing on Disability or Ability?
There are often myths and stereotypes that surround people with disabilities
that lead to misunderstandings and discrimination. Recognizing National
Disability Employment Awareness Month, Project Pericles had a Forum with
Hendrix (2010) and UALR
William H.
Bowen Law
School (2013) alum Lucas
Harder, Esquire. What are some of the stereotypes that exist about those with
disabilities? Do people with disabilities still face discrimination in our in
the U.S.?
Have our attempts to remove the stereotypes and end discrimination succeeded?
How can Hendrix or other employers create a disability-friendly work culture?
Founder's Day Odyssey Medal Convocation
Three outstanding Hendrix alumni were awarded the Hendrix Odyssey Medal
at Founders Day 2013 on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 11:10 a.m. in Staples
Auditorium. The Odyssey Medal is awarded by the Hendrix College Board of
Trustees to alumni whose personal and professional achievements exemplify the
values of engaged liberal arts and sciences education. The 2013-14 honorees
include: Liz Langston ’84 (Odyssey Medal for Artistic Creativity), Charles
H. “Chuck” Chalfant ’81 (Odyssey Medal for Professional and Leadership
Development), and Derek Lowe ’83 (Odyssey Medal for Research).
Short biographies of each recipient can be found here.
Screening of Breaking Through
In this ground-breaking documentary in which openly LGBT
elected officials describe their journey from fear and stereotypes to personal
and professional triumph. As they tell their stories, they show that it is
possible to live open and fulfilled lives despite messages to the
contrary. In addition, producer Cindy Abel and filmmaker Michael
Bruno held a discussion for those interested in the
documentary creation process over dinner. More information on the film can be found here.
Forum:
Is Hendrix Supportive of LGBTQ Students? with Dr. Toni Jaudon and Mitchel Griffin '15
In conjunction
with UNITY, Project Pericles explored the campus environment around lesbian,
gay, bisexual, transgender and queer issues at Hendrix during National Coming
Out Week. Many students come to Hendrix because it has a reputation for being an
open and accepting campus, and yet Hendrix scores fairly low on the
LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index. What are the current attitudes and behaviors
toward LGBTQ students? Does/should the campus foster respect for individuals of
all sexual orientations? What are the campus policies and structures that
support sexual and gender minorities?
Forum: Debt Ceilings, Budget Showdowns, and Government Shutdowns with Dr. Ralph Scott
Differences
between House and Senate budgets threaten to force the government to
shut down services and be unable to pay bills. President Obama
threatens a veto if the budgets delay or strip aspects of the
Affordable Care Act (aka Obamacare). What happens if a government
shutdown occurs? Who is to blame in this drama? What are the economic
problems underlying this issue?
Forum: Voluntourism or Engagement Abroad with Dr. Sarah Lee and Emily Smith '14
Our
service commitments often come in short bursts and many of us travel
abroad to volunteer. This week’s Pericles Forum examines the differences
between service engagement and “voluntourism” in coordination with the
REACT to Film showing of Blood Brothers later Thursday evening (viewing
not required). How effective are short term volunteer or service
engagements? How do we redefine/transcend these
norms? How do we truly engage with communities while abroad? What are
effects of the perception that America’s leadership and charity fixes
the world’s problems?
Forum: Same-Sex Marriage Decisions across U.S. Government with Dr. Jay Barth
For
Constitution Day, Project Pericles examined the June Supreme Court
decisions that struck down parts of a federal law that denied government
benefits to married same-sex couples, but avoided the debate over
whether there is a fundamental right to marriage for same-sex couples.
Was this an activist court legislating from the bench or an appropriate
application of Constitutional protections of minorities?
Where will (and should) future decisions about same-sex marriage come
from? A timeline and map of where states stand on same-sex marriage can be found here. Media articles on the Supreme Court decision discussed at the forum can be found here and here.
Forum:
Breaking Bad and the American Dream with Dr. Chris Marvin and Dr. Glenn Jellenik
Breaking Bad,
which examines a terminally ill chemistry teacher
turned drug kingpin, portrays the failure of the “American Dream” for
many. This week’s Pericles Forum discussed issues of economics,
morality, drugs, balancing work and family life, and justice. What is
the “American Dream”? Why do some have such trouble
obtaining that dream?
Forum: U.S. Involvement in Syria with Dr. Whelan
A large and diverse crowd of curious people raised question after question about the variety of implications any decision or indecision could have at home and abroad. Get up to speed on the issues in Syria: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/08/29/9-questions-about-syria-you-were-too-embarrassed-to-ask/. Know your position on the issue and want to take the next step in civic engagement, then find what position your representatives hold (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/where-lawmakers-stand-on-syria/) and contact them ASAP.
Forum: 50 Years After King's "I Have a Dream" Speech with Dr. Alice Hines
The first Project Pericles forum of the semester in honor of the 50th Anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech and the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. Have we achieved that dream? How do the economic prospects affect these dreams? What new dreams are needed? Follow this link to coverage of the Forum in the Log Cabin Democrat: http://thecabin.net/news/local/2013-08-29/hendrixs-hines-refects-mlks-dream#.UiCZCWRVBs4
"I Have a Dream" 50th Anniversary and the Hendrix Wall of Acceptance
For the 50th Anniversary of the "I Have a Dream" speech, footage of the speech was played on the monitors in the SLTC during lunch. This occurred in conjunction with the commemoration of the Wall of Acceptance. See the Wall and hear comments from Dean of Student, Jim Wiltgen, in the following video: http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid1628355751001?bckey=AQ~~,AAAAAGL7LpU~,QBJZcKlTy4ZEpdzeRk0Dckd_G-ec5p0o&bclid=1091890235001&bctid=2634981699001