January and Spring 2012

  

 

Values, Ideas, and the Arts (VIA)

Values, Ideas, and the Arts enhances the core general education program through cultural exposure and intellectual enrichment. Academic credit is earned through attendance.

Values, Ideas, and Arts brings to the campus speakers, musical and dramatic performers, and gifted persons from within the College community.

Students are required to arrive on time and remain for the entire program to receive VIA credit.

 

Application for VIA Credit

VIA Graduation Requirement



For a complete list of campus events, see the campus calendar

Friday, January 13
7 p.m.
upper College Union

Dr. Christopher Whitt, Eyes on Economic Justice, the Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Whitt founded the Africana Studies Program at Augustana College, where he teaches "Race, Wealth and Inequality in American Politics." This lecture focuses on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s push for economic justice, what King saw as the next frontier in the Civil Rights Movement. Dr. Whitt's research focuses on the continuing widening of the racial wealth and political gap in the United States.
Tuesday, February 14
3:30 p.m.
Cordier Auditorium

President Jo Young Switzer, You Will Shape Your Future

For this annual welcome to the spring semester, President Switzer talks candidly about expenses, spending habits, money and other decisions. Expect some surprising facts, some suggestions and fun conversation.
Tuesday, February 14
7 p.m.
Cordier Auditorium		 Gershon Baskin, A Breakthrough in Middle East Peace
Baskin, an American-born Israeli, will talk about his major role as the underground negotiator for the October 2011 release of Gilad Shalit, the Israeli soldier held more than five years by Palestinians in Gaza. Baskin is at the center of renewed talks between Israelis and Palestinians. Eleven members of the MC faculty on a Plowshares trip to Bethlehem in 2006 visited with Baskin – just one day before Shalit was taken prisoner. News release. Sponsored by Peace Studies Institute and VIA.
Monday, February 20
4 p.m.
upper College Union		 Bryant K. Smith, Black History: Before and Beyond the Dream
The author of Black Not Blind, a social commentary on race relations in the United States, presents a multi-media walk through the history of Black people. He’ll talk about people, places and events in Black history before Dr. King’s “I Have A Dream” speech as well as accomplishments that continue. More about Bryant K. Smith. Sponsored by the Office of Multicultural Affairs and the Black Student Union.
Tuesday, February 21
3:30 p.m.
Cordier Auditorium		 tappindiana, Sharing an American Pastime
Extraordinary middle and high school students from Grant County, Ind., use rhythmic dance steps rooted in West African culture to tell the story of how tap became one of the most popular dance forms in America. In the words of alumni dancer Billy Bob Bobson: “Being able to express yourself with your feet is really cool!"

Literary Film Society

Friday, February 24
6:30 p.m.
Flory Auditorium

Science Center

 Film and Discussion: Fight Club
This 1999 American drama is based on Chuck Palahniuk’s novel, directed by David Fincher and starring Edward Norton, Brad Pitt and Helena Bonham Carter. “Everyman” (Norton), discontent with his white-collar job, forms a global “fight club” with a soap maker (Pitt) to vent male aggression. Movie is 139 minutes. VIA credit = movie + post-movie discussion. Note: Room capacity is 155; late arrivals may be turned away without VIA credit for lack of room.

Tuesday, March 6
3:30 p.m.

upper College Union

 Ruth Chananie-Hill, Muscle, Sweat & Tears: Gender Dynamics in Sports
Chananie-Hill, a former MC visiting professor, is a scholar of the often uneasy relationship between gender and sports, most recently in women’s roller derby. Her talk will cover Title IX through the feminine apologia, where female athletes who are tough on the field become ultra feminine via media images off the field. She is an associate professor of sociology, anthropology and criminology for the University of Northern Iowa. Sponsored by Gender Studies, Office of Academic Affairs and VIA.

Literary Film Society

Friday, March 9
6:30 p.m.
Flory Auditorium

Science Center

 Film and Discussion: Easy A
Inspired by the novel The Scarlet Letter, this 2010 comedy starring Emma Stone is about a clean-cut high school student who lies about a date to improve her social standing. As the rumor mill grows, she counteracts the harassment by embracing (and profiting from) her new image as the school tramp. Movie is 92 minutes. VIA credit = movie + post-movie discussion. Note: Room capacity is 155; late arrivals may be turned away without VIA credit for lack of room.

Tuesday, March 13
7 p.m.

upper College Union

 The Good Soldier, documentary
This Emmy-winning 2009 video chronicles the experiences of soldiers from World War II, Vietnam and contemporary wars in the Middle East. A conversation follows the 80-minute video; VIA credit requires attendance at both the video and conversation. Sponsored by Kenapocomoco Coalition. More about The Good Soldier.

Pre-Peace Week

Wednesday, April 4

7 p.m.

Cordier Auditorium

 How to Start A Revolution, documentary
This film profiles the ideas and impact of Gene Sharp, Nobel Prize-nominated intellectual architect of non-violent, people-powered revolutions worldwide. A conversation follows the video; VIA credit requires attendance at the video and conversation. Sponsored by Education for Conflict Resolution. Manchester College celebrates Sharp as its 2012 Innovator of the Year in a related VIA event on April 10. More about How to Start A Revolution.

Wednesday, April 4

4 p.m.

Cordier Auditorium

 

 Jillian Kinzie: Making the Most of College: How Engaged are Today’s Students in Educationally Purposeful Activities?
For the spring 2012 Jeanette and Harry Henney ’35 Lecture, the associate director of the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Institute will discuss how colleges use data and assessment results to design effective curriculums and student engagement opportunities. News Release.

Peace Week

Tuesday, April 10

3:30 p.m.

Cordier Auditorium

 Gene Sharp, Manchester College 2012 Innovator of the Year
Gene Sharp, who founded the Albert Einstein Institution, is Manchester’s 2012 Innovator of the Year. This program celebrating entrepreneurship includes a video award presentation and interview with the 2011 Nobel Prize nominee whose books on non-violence are published in more than 30 languages, including From Dictatorship to Democracy, a 198-step guide to toppling dictators. Sponsored by the Mark E. Johnston Entrepreneurship Program. More about Gene Sharp.

Peace Week

Tuesday, April 10
7 p.m.
Cordier Auditorium

 Goshen College Women’s World Music Choir, Connecting Cultures through Music
For this Peace Week convocation, the 60-member Women’s World Music Choir performs global, religious and ethnic music that bridges differences and connects cultures, generations and faiths. Sponsored by Campus Ministry.

Literary Film Society

Friday, April 13
6:30 p.m.
Flory Auditorium

Science Center

 Film and Discussion: V for Vendetta
This 2005 sci-fi thriller adapted from the comic book stars Natalie Portman as a London working-class girl who fears that her hero, a charismatic freedom-fighter who uses terrorist tactics, has become the very menace he fights. Movie is 132 minutes. VIA credit = movie + post-movie discussion. Note: Room capacity is 155; late arrivals may be turned away without VIA credit for lack of room.

Tuesday, April 17
3:30 p.m.
upper College Union

Two opportunities!

Tuesday, April 17

7 p.m.

upper College Union

 Managing student debt: Manchester helps beta test a national program
Learn real-world skills for managing and shedding debt with a free program called SALT from American Student Assistance. Manchester College is helping to test drive this powerful program that helps students make “on-the-money” decisions for managing loans, life after graduation and even finding jobs. MC students may sign up after the convo, and use it long after graduation. Sponsored by Student Financial Services. VIA credit for one program only.

Literary Film Society

Friday, April 27
6:30 p.m.
Flory Auditorium

Science Center

 Film and Discussion: Let the Right One In
Bullied 12-year-old Oscar finds love and revenge when he befriends a girl who turns out to be a vampire. This 2008 movie that takes place in a Stockholm suburb in the early 1980s is based on a novel of the same title. Movie is 115 minutes. VIA credit = movie + post-movie discussion. Note: Room capacity is 155; late arrivals may be turned away without VIA credit for lack of room.

Wednesday, May 2

7 p.m.

Cordier Auditorium

 KONY 2012, documentary by Invisible Children
Representatives of the non-profit Invisible Children will present their newly released documentary about the abduction of children into the Joseph Kony’s Lords’ Resistance Army in Uganda. The short video has spread virally, raising international cry for Kony’s arrest and mobilizing thousands of American students to raise funds to rebuild war-torn schools and provide scholarships for African youth. VIA credit = movie + post-movie discussion. More about Invisible Children.
Tuesday, May 8
3:30 p.m.
Cordier Auditorium		 The Otho Winger Experience, Faculty-Staff Band
Every other spring, this concert rocks Cordier with a rowdy celebration of the community and talent of Manchester’s faculty and staff. It’s their love song to Manchester. Arrive early and move to the center for the best seats in what will be a packed Auditorium.