Office of Events and Summer Programs

The Chapel
Encore Faculty Lecture
Denis Corish, Professor of Philosophy, Bowdoin College

"Crying in the Wilderness"

Professor Corish, who has been as Bowdoin since 1973, has published in both the philosophical and literary fields in journals such as Phronesis, Isis, The Review of Metaphysics, The New Yorker, The Kenyon Review, and, most recently, The Sewanee Review. He is interested in the nature of science, poetry, the educated human mind, and the role of college education.

Each Encore Lecture will feature a faculty member nominated by members of the senior class

The Chapel
Ellen Baxter '75, Accomplished not-for-profit entrepreneur, New York City

"Homelessness in New York City: The Courts, the Politics and Pragmatic Solutions"

Baxter's "Single Room Occupancy" shelters for the homeless, which serve as a choice alternative to traditional shelters, have been praised for their low cost and humane standards of living. She was the first Bowdoin woman to receive a Watson Fellowship, in 1975, and was one of the first seven recipients of Bowdoin's Common Good Award during the College's bicentennial year.

Listen to Ellen Baxter's talk in mp3 format.

The Chapel
Harvey C. Mansfield, Kenan Professor of Government, Harvard University

"Is Manliness a Virtue?"

Mansfield is a mentor to conservative intellectuals in America. He earned both his undergraduate degree ('53) and his Ph.D. ('61) at Harvard University. He insists, "Conservatism is always reactive; it doesn't initiate, it responds to those who want to destroy."

The Chapel
His Royal Highness Prince Soulivong Savang, Heir to the throne of Laos

"Laos Needs Democracy to Solve its Economic Crisis"

In September 1981, Prince Soulivong Savang escaped from the Lao communist government to rejoin the rest of the Royal Lao White Parasol Family's members in France, where they currently live in exile. He has been traveling in the U.S. and Canada to promote unity, solidarity among Laotians, and preservation of Laotian cultures, language, arts, and music. His goal is to secure the national reconciliation of Laos and restore democracy for the Lao people.

The Chapel
Concert
Vincent Craig, Pianist, accompanist, musical director, and professor of piano

Craig is a renowned musician who has been praised for his "style, great technical assurance and panache." His performances include recitals in New York City at the Lincoln Center Library, Federal Hall, in Philadelphia at the Settlement Music School, and in Washington D.C. at the State Department. In addition to performing solo, he is an accompanist, musical director, and professor of piano for various schools, choirs, and churches. His repertoire represents over 300 years of piano literature, with a special emphasis on works by African-American composers.

Listen to Vincent Craig's performance in mp3 format.

The Chapel
Inaugural Karofsky Faculty Encore Lecture
Louisa Slowiaczek, Professor of Psychology, Bowdoin College

"The Personal Virtue and Communal Value of Individuality"

As a Cognitive Scientist, Professor Slowiaczek studies human language processing, with special emphasis on spoken word recognition. She currently teaches Introductory Psychology, a lab in Cognition, and a seminar course on Language and Communication.

The Karofsky Family Fund was established by Paul I. '66, his son David M. '93, and his brother Peter '62 in memory of their father -- and David's grandfather, Sydney B. Karofsky. The Fund, which has underwritten the Sydney B. Karofsky Prize for Junior Faculty, recently added the Common Hour Karofsky Lectures. Each semester the Karofsky Encore Lecture will feature a Bowdoin faculty member chosen by members of the senior class honoring him or her as a teacher and role model.

Listen to Prof. Slowiaczek's lecture in mp3 format.

Kresge Auditorium, V.A.C.
Performance
Stuck in the Middle
A play written and directed by Jeffrey Gilberg '00, and sponsored by the Department of Theater and Dance, about life at Bowdoin. Gilberg uses comedy to address the problem of striking a balance between work and play in college. Featuring a cast of students to be determined

Morrell Lounge, Smith Union
Toby Lenk '83, President, CEO, and Uncle of the Board of eToys

In late 1996, Lenk had a vision: it was time to make buying toys fun again. He ventured bravely forth to start eToys in November of that same year, and his company is currently the third most successful Internet retailer. Lenk is a summa cum laude graduate of Bowdoin and received a Masters in business administration with distinction from the Harvard Business School.

Morrell Lounge, Smith Union
Tamara Nikuradse '84, writer and businesswoman

Nikuradse received her master's degree from Harvard Business School and has worked for a variety of companies including Johnson and Johnson, Revlon, and currently Gillette. Nikuradse is reestablishing the parameters of success to accommodate personal pursuits, spiritual development, and downtime. She has written several books including My Mother Had a Dream: African American Women Share Their Mothers' Words of Wisdom in 1996, and African American Wedding Readings in 1998. She has also co-authored seven books with her husband, Scott Matthews '84.

Listen to Tamara Nikuradse's talk in mp3 format.

The Chapel
Adrienne Asch

Henry R. Luce Professor in Biology, Ethics and the Politics of Human Reproduction at Wellesley College, is nationally renowned for her work as a reproductive bioethicist. She has written and edited several books concerning ethical issues in genetics reproductive technology, abortion, and disability. Asch received her Ph. D. in social psychology at Columbia University. She is a member of the Hillary Rodham Clinton Health Care Task Force, Bioethics Working Group. Her Presentation is titled "How Many Parents Can One Child Have? Claims and Responsibilities in Collaborative Reproduction"

Listen to Adrienne Asch's presentation in mp3 format.

The Chapel
Campus Crosstalk

Henry Laurence and Nancy Jennings debate whether or not Bowdoin should switch to a grading system that includes + and - grades. Sponsored by the E9 student governance group and scheduled for at least one Common Hour per semester, the Campus Crosstalk series intends to generate public discussion on an issue that has primarily been debated within committees and governance groups at Bowdoin. Laurence, assistant professor of government and Asian studies, and Jennings, assistant professor of education, will be joined by two students yet to be determined.

The Chapel
Performance

First Friday Lunchbreak Music Concert, featuring solo and small group performances of jazz and classical selections. sponsored by the Department of Music.

With the exception of this Common Hour performance, the First Friday Lunchbreak Music Concerts are held in Gibson Hall, Room 101, on the first Friday of every month during the spring at 12:30. They provide both faculty and students with an opportunity to perform in an informal setting.

In front of Memorial Hall and the new Wish Theater
Performance

Celebration Pieces

Join the Department of Theater and Dance for the official opening of the renovated Memorial Hall, Pickard Theater, and the new Wish Theater. Opening festivities will feature a theatrical blend of dance, masks, music, and pageantry, created and performed by Bowdoin faculty and students.