Spring 2020 Events Listing Released

After a successful fall slate of enlightening events, the 10th Biennial College of Arts & Sciences Symposium Against Indifference releases its Spring 2020 listing of events which is available online and in hard copy.

The spring events include:

• a lecture on low-cost improvements to measuring air pollutants in Columbus, Ohio;
• a panel discussion about corporate social responsibility;
• a living history performance of Carrie Chapman Catt's woman's suffrage story; and 
• a 4-part series on the Victims of Communism including: 
• a personal story from a North Korean defector, 
• lessons learned on the downfall of the Venezuelan democracy from a Venezuelan dissident 
• a film screening of The Lives of Others which follows an East German surveillance, and 
• a lecture on Havel's Rhetoric of Truth through Communist Czechoslovakia

Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing and protecting women’s right to vote, along with the ratification and appeal of the 18th Amendment prohibiting liquor — the 2019.2020 theme of “Liberty & Responsibility” seeks to understand and find productive responses to the constant and unavoidable tension between liberty and responsibility.

Documentary and Panel Discussion About Stolen Children, 11/6

The film "Dawnland," Emmy Award-winner for outstanding research, will be shown on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Ashland University's Hawkins-Conard Student Center Auditorium as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility."

Co-sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence and the Native American Awareness Committee of the United Methodist Church, the free, public event will also include a panel discussion immediately following the film's screening with Kimberlee Medicine Horn Jackson of the Yankton Sioux Tribe; Nancy Udolph, Ashland University Associate Professor of Social Work; and Daniel Hawk, Ashland Theological Seminary Professor of Old Testament.

For most of the 20th century, government agents forced Native American children from their homes and placed them with white families to save them from being Indian. As recently as the 1970s, one in four Native children nationwide were living in non-Native foster care, adoptive homes, or boarding schools. Many children experienced devastating emotional and physical harm by adults who mistreated them and tried to erase their cultural identity.

Now, for the first time, they are being asked to share their stories. In Maine, the first official “truth and reconciliation commission” in the United States began a historic investigation. "Dawnland" goes behind-the-scenes as this historic body grapples with difficult truths, reconciliation, racial healing, tribal autonomy, and child welfare system reform.

Crosscut, the Pacific Northwest’s independent, news site, declares "Dawnland," “A powerfully illuminating film — a history lesson that you’re ashamed to have never learned but whose truths you’ll likely never forget.”

The Ashland event is pleased to welcome Kimberlee Medicine Horn Jackson to the panel discussion immediately following the film's viewing. She was adopted off of the Yankton reservation under false pretenses, spent nearly four decades separated from her first family, and was raised with a white Christian family. In addition to teaching English Composition at Kent State and Ashland University, Jackson also teaches an Indigenous Writing and Research class with The North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies: A Learning Community, and is Co-editor of the Journal of NAIITS: An Indigenous Learning Community.

Joining Jackson for the panel discussion, are two Ashland professors who have worked with the Native American populations. Dr. Hawk has been active in peace and justice programs locally and regionally and chairs the East Ohio Conference Native American Awareness Committee (UMC). Nancy Udolph has presented at state, national and international conferences on a variety of topics including cultural competence, working with indigenous populations and the social construction of difference.

For more information about "Dawnland," visit the links below:

• Movie Trailer
• A Teacher's Guide
• Website

Sangre mía / Blood of Mine editors to share message of peace

On Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center Auditorium, the editors of the anthology Sangre mía / Blood of Mine will share a message of peace in their presentation and reading from their bilingual collection of 53 poets whose verses denounce violence committed against women along the U.S. – Mexico border region of Ciudad Juárez – El Paso, Texas.

The event is presented as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility." Co-sponsored by the Department of Foreign Language, the event is free and open to the public.

The title of Dr. Juan Armando Rojas Joo and Dr. Jennifer Rathbun's anthology Sangre mía / Blood of Mine Poetry of Border Violence, Gender and Identity in Ciudad Juárez pays homage to writer, social activist and media blogger Susana Chavéz, who was best known for coining the phrase “Ni una muerta más” used in the social campaigns against femicide in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico.

In January of 2011, Chavez fell victim to the very violence she denounced when she was brutally murdered. Her mother laid her to rest with a copy of “Blood of mine”, the only poem Chavez published while alive, whose title she later changed in her blog spot to “Blood of ours”. 

Rojas, Professor of Modern Foreign Languages at Ohio Wesleyan University, is a  transborder poet, narrator and essayist from Ciudad Juárez, México. In addition to co-editing two anthologies with Rathbun, he has published Sanctuaries Desert Sea / Santuarios desierto mar (2015, 2004), Light / Luz (2013), Vertebral River / Río vertebral (2009, 2002), Ceremonial of Wind / Ceremonial de viento (2006), and Lluvia de lunas (1999). Rojas has participated in many national and international conferences and poetry festivals and his scholarly and literary work has also been published in reviews and anthologies of several countries. Currently his main professional and personal interests are Academic Leadership, Mexican and Border Studies and Poetry. He received his doctorate from the University of Arizona.

Rathbun, Professor of Spanish at Ashland University, also received her doctorate from the University of Arizona . She has translated and published complete poetic works by Mexican authors Alberto Blanco, Minerva Margarita Villarreal, Juan Armando Rojas Joo and Ivan Vergara. In 2018, Artepoética Press published her translation of La llama inclinada/The Inclined Flame by Colombian author Carlos Satizábal. Her poetry, translations and articles on contemporary Latin American literature appear in numerous international reviews and journals. 

Speaker Presents His Findings on Causes & Consquences of Inequality

Randolph Roth, Professor of History and Sociology at The Ohio State University, will speak about "Inequality and the Quality of Life: A Global View" on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Trustees Room of the Myers Convocation Center. The event is presented as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility." Co-sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence, the event is free and open to the public.

Roth will present his findings on the causes and consequences of inequality, globally and within societies, with special attention to the question of why inequality had risen so rapidly since 1980 in the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia, but not in the rest of the affluent world. The answer bears heavily on the question of liberty versus responsibility.

Photo Courtesy of Columbus Monthly Magazine

Professor Roth’s research has been supported by the National Science Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Harry Frank Guggenheim Foundation, the American Council of Learned Societies, and other organizations. He is a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and has served as a member of the National Academy of Sciences Roundtable of Crime Trends (2013-2016), and of the Editorial Board of the American Historical Review (2014-2017). He specializes in the history of the United States from colonial times to the present, with an emphasis on social and cultural history, the history of crime and violence, environmental history, the history of religion, the history of democracies, global history, quantitative methods, and social theory.

Fact or Fake News: A Panel Discussion of World Events in Relation to An Enemy of the People

On Monday, Oct. 14 at 7 p.m. on the set of Ashland University Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's An Enemy of the People in Hugo Young Theatre, AU faculty representing the disciplines of journalism, history, business and chemistry will join the show's director to relate recent headlines and world events to the timelessness of the play. The panel discussion is free and open to the public and is presented as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility."

An Enemy of the People was originally written in 1882 by Henrik Ibsen, then adapted in 1950 by Arthur Miller, and produced by AU Theatre in 1980 and now 2019. Every version of the script and show present audiences with “moral conundrums” of the specified time period.

For this panel discussion, AU faculty will address and discuss questions such as:

• What responsibility does a scientist have to a community with tainted water?
• Does an employee have the freedom to let the public know about a potentially dangerous situation caused by an employer? 
• What responsibility does a journalist have to report the facts? 
• Are politicians free to decide that jobs and a strong economy are more important than freedom of speech? 

The panelists will include:

• Margaret Cogar, Professional Instructor of Journalism and Digital Media
• Dr. John Moser, Professor of History
• Dr. Rebecca Schmeller, Assistant Professor of Management
• Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

Those planning to attend the panel discussion are encouraged to see AU Theatre's production of An Enemy of the People which will be performed the previous weekend on Friday, Oct. 11 and Saturday, Oct. 12 at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. The production will continue the following weekend on Oct. 18 and 19 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through the Ashland University Box Office at 419.289.5125 or online at Ashland.edu/Tickets.

Film Screening of National Geographic's Documentary on Battling Climate Change, 10/1

The National Geographic Documentary Film Paris to Pittsburgh will be shown on Tuesday, Oct. 1 at 7 p.m. in Ashland University's Hawkins-Conard Student Center Auditorium as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility."

Co-sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence, the free, public event will also include a panel discussion immediately following the film's screening with Craig Hovey, Director of the Ashland Center for Nonviolence; Patricia Saunders, Associate Professor of Biology; and William Vaughan, Professor of Philosophy.

Premiering last December in the U.S. and airing globally in 172 countries and 43 languages, Paris to Pittsburgh brings to life the impassioned efforts of individuals who are battling the most severe threats of climate change in their own backyards. Set against the national debate over the United States’ energy future — and the Trump administration’s explosive decision to exit the Paris Climate Agreement — the film captures what’s at stake for communities around the country and the inspiring ways Americans are responding. To view the trailer, visit ParistoPittsburgh.com.

Spotlighting the cities, states, businesses and citizens taking action, Paris to Pittsburgh explores the very real social and economic impacts of climate change-fueled disasters, from America’s heartland to the nation’s coastlines. The film features voices from local leaders as well as everyday Americans presenting the stories behind climate-related recovery and resiliency, as well as tireless innovative efforts to reduce carbon emissions, including boomtowns formerly reliant on coal such as Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh, led by Mayor Bill Peduto, is now a city committed to energy efficiency and is one of the many examples of bold economic and climate leadership in the film. Other locations featured in the film include Puerto Rico, California, Iowa, Florida and New Jersey.

“Paris to Pittsburgh reveals the inspiring steps communities across the country are taking to confront the severe health and economic threats posed by climate change,” said Geoff Daniels, the head of unscripted programming for National Geographic. “From innovative ways to improve our food supply chain through Fleet Farming, parking lots shaded by solar paneled roofs to passionate college students making an impact in sustainable energy jobs, this documentary provides a hopeful roadmap for the future.”

Mocktail Mix-Off Winners Announced

Congratulations to the Mocktail Mix-Off winners!

• Best Overall & Best Taste: Black Student Alliance (BSA) with a Raspberry Mojito
• Best Mocktail Name: Ashland University Fraternity & Sorority Life with "Gamer Fuel"
• Best Presentation: Campus Activity Board (CAB) with "Pink Flamingo"
• Honorable Mentions: Tech Crew, Panhellenic Council, Leadership

Thank you to John Moser & Louis Mancha for their insightful presentations during the Ashland University CAS Symposium Against Indifference's DEMON RUM: A Spirited Discussion of Alcohol event.

Also, thanks to student groups for their spirited response: AU Young Democrats, Ashland University College Republicans, Ashland University Young Americans For Liberty, Ashland University Fraternity & Sorority Life.

Symposium Kicks-Off with "A Spirited Discussion of Alcohol"

The biennial Symposium Against Indifference begins the 2019-2020 theme of “Liberty and Responsibility” with a multi-faceted event titled "Demon Rum: A Spirited Discussion of Alcohol." 

Scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 18 in the Alumni Room of the Myers Convocation Center, the free, public event (which is organized in partnership with the Student Life and Fraternity and Sorority Life offices) will reflect on the ratification and appeal of the 18th Amendment prohibiting liquor in the United States as well as exploring lessons this episode holds for us today. Ashland University history and philosophy faculty members and student organizations will address the constant and unavoidable tension between liberty and responsibility on this legislation.

The evening will begin at 6 p.m. with a Mocktail Mix-Off. Several student organizations will compete to create healthy, fun, non-alcoholic drink alternatives. Guest judges for the Mix-Off include AU Campus Wellness Director Deborah Sullivan, Ashland City Mayor Matt Miller and AU Student Senate President Sabrina Maristella. The winners of the Mix-Off will be announced at the conclusion of the event. Everyone attending the event is encouraged to visit each organization's table to sample their creation prior to the "Spirited Discussion" which begins at 7 p.m.

At 7 p.m., Dr. John Moser, Professor of History, and Dr. Louis Mancha, Associate Professor of Philosophy, will take the podium to begin the Spirited Discussion of Alcohol. Their portion of the program will address the United States' boldest act of social engineering in the nation’s history—the prohibition of the manufacture, sale, or transport of all “intoxicating liquors.” For thirteen years, the country was officially “dry.” Why did the country embrace Prohibition? What were its effects, and why was it ultimately repealed? What lessons does this episode hold for us today? How is alcohol treated on campus? How does it affect the local economy?

Immediately following Dr. Moser and Mancha's presentation, student representatives from various campus organizations including the College Democrats, College Republicans, Young Americans for Liberty, and Fraternity & Sorority Life will offer their response which will be followed by a question and answer session with the audience.

Fall Event Schedule Released

The 10th Biennial College of Arts & Sciences Symposium Against Indifference will kickoff its events on Sept. 18. Be sure to note all of the events on your calendar by viewing the Fall event schedule which is available online and in hard copy.

The fall events include a "spirited discussion" complete with mocktails, two film screenings, a live theatre production and follow-up panel discussion, poetry readings, and presentations on inequality and violence against women.

Inspired by the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing and protecting women’s right to vote, along with the ratification and appeal of the 18th Amendment prohibiting liquor — the 2019.2020 theme of “Liberty & Responsibility” seeks to understand and find productive responses to the constant and unavoidable tension between liberty and responsibility.