Tag: schemel forum

May 10, 2010

10:47 am

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Friends, News, Schemel Forum

local events, schemel forum, scranton, university of scranton, videos, youtube

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yqz4XBlxzZ8]

Miklos Marschall of Transparency International speaks to the Schemel Forum about corruption on March 31, 2010

One of the things we’re most proud of here at the Weinberg Memorial Library is the Schemel Forum, a year-long collection of courses and lectures that brings together internationally recognized speakers, University of Scranton scholars, and the Scranton community for rousing discussions of important issues.

We know, though, that as much as you might want to attend each and every Schemel event, sometimes life gets in the way and you just can’t make it to a program that interests you. That’s why we’re so thrilled that the University of Scranton’s YouTube channel now has a Schemel Forum playlist, where you can catch up on most of the Schemel luncheon talks you might have missed – like David Myers’ talk on “Israel/Palestine, a Tale of Two Truths,” or Parag Khanna’s lecture on “Global Politics and Economics: A 21st Century View.”

Keep an eye out for new videos as they’re posted – and watch out for an announcement of the Schemel Forum’s fall schedule!

Book and Plant Sale 2010!

April 23, 2010

10:47 am

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Events, Friends, News

book sale, Friends of the Weinberg Library, library, local events, nepa, schemel forum, scranton, university of scranton

The 2010 Weinberg Memorial Library Book & Plant Sale starts today at 4pm with a special preview sale for Friends of the Library and Schemel Forum members. The sale opens to the public tomorrow, April 24, from 9am – 9pm and Sunday, April 25 from 12pm – 4pm.

Jay Parini speaks on his “found novel”, The Last Station

April 9, 2010

2:01 pm

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Author, jay parini, local events, schemel forum, the last station, tolstoy

Scranton native Jay Parini spoke at today’s Schemel Forum luncheon about his 1990 novel, The Last Station, which was recently transformed into an Oscar-nominated film by the same name.

The novel describes the last year of Leo Tolstoy‘s life and focuses on the battle between Tolstoy’s wife Sophia and his disciple Chertkov for Tolstoy’s soul. Parini wrote the novel after reading several diaries written by people who lived in Tolstoy’s house during the tumultuous year. In today’s talk, Parini described his work as a “found novel,” a narrative shaped from the layered viewpoints of those diaries.

Parini has authored 21 books and is currently working on a new novel on the life of Herman Melville. When it’s done, we hope he’ll find his way back home to Scranton for another visit with the Schemel Forum!

P.S. The Last Station has been shown in cities all over the world – but not in Scranton. Tolstoy fans will have to drive to Tunkhannock’s Deitrich Theater, where the film will be shown on three different days (4/14, 4/18, and 4/22) during this month’s Spring Film Festival.

Update: A video of Parini’s talk is now available on the University’s YouTube channel!

Oscar-Scranton-Schemel Connection: Jay Parini’s The Last Station

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March 1, 2010

3:13 pm

academy awards, jay parini, local events, nepa, schemel forum, scranton, the last station

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bTh-vQho7UU]

Now that the Olympics are over, it’s time to start preparing for the next big event – the Academy Awards are this Sunday! And this year, there’s a Scranton connection.

West Scranton native Jay Parini is the author of The Last Station, a novel about the last year of Tolstoy’s life – and the film adaptation of the novel has received two Oscar nominations. Helen Mirren (who plays Sofya Tolstoy) and Christopher Plummer (Leo Tolstoy) are up for Best Supporting Actor and Best Actress, respectively. The Last Station was also nominated for five awards (including Best Feature) at Friday’s Film Independent Spirit Awards. For more details about the film and Parini’s work, see this article from the February 5 Scranton Times-Tribune.

This Spring, Mr. Parini will be making a special appearance on campus to discuss his book and the film at one of our Schemel Forum “Insights” luncheons. The luncheon will be held Friday, April 9 from 12pm-1:30pm in Room 509 Brennan Hall. Registration fees are $20 per person or $30 per couple for the luncheon – and Schemel Forum members get in free. To register, please contact Kym Fetsko at fetskok2 (at) scranton (dot) edu.

Schemel Forum Spring 2010

January 19, 2010

11:04 am

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Alex Thier, concerts, jill dougherty, local events, medieval manuscripts, nepa, parag khanna, schemel forum, shakespeare, university of scranton

The Weinberg Memorial Library's collection of medieval manuscripts will be featured in a Schemel Forum evening course, taught by Special Collections Librarian Michael Knies

The Spring 2010 Schemel Forum schedule is officially out!

If you’re into Arthurian Legend, Shakespeare, or medieval books, this semester’s evening courses are for you. University of Scranton faculty members Rebecca Beal, Richard J. Klonoski, Michael Friedman, and the Library’s own Michael Knies will be engaging community members in discussions of books, films, and philosophy relevant to each of their respective topics.

For a look at modern global politics, take a look at this semester’s luncheon seminar series. Author Parag Khanna returns to the University this year on February 17 to discuss “Global Politics and Economics: A 21st Century View.” We’re also looking forward to February 26, when Alex Thier from the United States Institute of Peace will speak on “Enigma and Dilemma: Our Fraught Relationship with Afghanistan and Pakistan,” and March 5, when CNN correspondent Jill Dougherty will speak on “Who Runs Russia? Deciphering Moscow’s Centers of Power.”

Finally, be sure to clear your calendar for the Schemel Forum’s spring concerts. On April 18, contemporary Zimbabwe pianist Jeanette Miklem will perform “A Schumann Recital,” while on June 28, “Tango Power Returns!” will showcase the music of tango masters Carlos Gardel and Astor Piazzolla.

For more information or to register for any Schemel Forum Events, contact Kym Fetsko at fetskok2 (at) scranton (dot) edu or 570-941-7816.

Thomas Childers Book Signing

November 9, 2009

10:44 am

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book signing, local events, nepa, Northeastern Pennsylvania, schemel forum, scranton, thomas childers, WWII

This Thursday, November 12, the Schemel Forum is hosting a lecture and book signing by University of Pennsylvania professor Thomas Childers, author of Soldier from the War Returning: The Greatest Generation’s Troubled Homecoming from World War II.

The lecture will be held at 7:15pm on campus in Brennan Hall, Room 228, but you can also join Dr. Childers at a cocktail reception from 6-7pm at Catlin House (232 Monroe Avenue, Scranton) prior to the lecture. Both the cocktail reception and lecture are free of charge. For more information, contact Schemel Forum director Sondra Myers at myerss2 (at) scranton (dot) edu.

P.S. The Weinberg Memorial Library doesn’t have a copy of Soldiers from the War Returning quite yet, but you can borrow it from another library using Interlibrary Loan. We do have some of Dr. Childers’ other books available in our own stacks, including The Formation of the Nazi Constituency, 1919-1933 and The Nazi Voter: The Social Foundations of Fascism in Germany, 1919-1933.

Interdependence Day 2009

September 8, 2009

10:18 am

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books, interdependence, local events, schemel forum, scranton, sondra myers

The city of Scranton is celebrating Interdependence Day this year on Thursday, September 10. Launched in Philadelphia in 2003, Interdependence Day was created in reaction to the events of September 11, 2001 and is meant to be a time to reflect on how all peoples of the world are connected.

Several interdependence events will be held throughout the city and Northeastern Pennsylvania this week. On Thursday, Kevin Klose, dean of the Philip Merrill College of Journalism at the University of Maryland, will give the keynote address entitled “We the iPhone People: A Revolutionary Interdependence” at 5:30pm at the William J. Nealon Federal Building. While this event is by invitation only, University of Scranton community members are welcome to attend “All You Have to Do is Listen,” a talk by NPR commentator Rob Kapilow, planned for Wednesday, September 16 at 7:30pm in the Houlihan McLean Center.

Many thanks to Sondra Myers, co-founder of Interdependence Day, Senior Fellow for International, Civic and Cultural Projects at the University of Scranton, and director of the Weinberg Memorial Library’s Schemel Forum, for coordinating this year’s Interdependence Day events.

P.S. Interested in learning more about interdependence? Browse the Weinberg Memorial Library’s catalog and check out one of our books.

Update: The University’s Associate Provost for civic engagement and University mission, Dr. Steven Jones, wrote a column on interdependence for the 9/11/2009 Scranton Times Tribune.

Register today for University for a Day

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August 28, 2009

4:01 pm

local events, schemel forum, university of scranton

The Second Annual University for a Day
Saturday, September 12, 2009
8:45 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

Start the new season thinking! We invite you to join us for a day of listening to, reflecting on and talking about some ideas and people that have changed our world. Take part in this feast for the mind at The Schemel Forum’s second annual University for the Day.

Full Schedule:

8:45am – 9:30am Registration

9:30am – 10:45am Toni Morrison’s A Mercy: A Paradigm and a Cautionary Tale of Interdependence in a New World (presented by Stephen Whittaker, Professor of English and Theater)

11:00am – 12:15pm Rosalind Franklin: Another Twist in the DNA Double Helix (presented by Janice Voltzow, Professor of Biology)

12:30pm – 1:30pm Buffet Luncheon

1:45pm – 3:00pm The Best Way to Rob a Bank is to Run it: White Collar Crime and the Global Financial Crisis (presented by David Friedrichs, Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice)

3:15pm – 4:30pm Globalization: For Better and Worse (presented by Goodwin Cooke, Professor of International Studies at Syracuse University)

4:30pm – 5:15pm Reception

All this plus morning coffee, lunch and a closing wine reception in very good company for a very low price! Free to current Schemel Forum Members. $25.00 Schemel Forum Non-Members. Reservations are required, so please register by contacting Kym Balthazar Fetsko, Schemel Forum Events Coordinator, at 570-941-7816 or fetskok2 (at) scranton (dot) edu. Also be sure to check out the full Schemel Forum fall schedule!

University for a Day is made possible through the generous support of the Neighborhood Development Trust Fund and the Scranton Area Foundation.

Schemel Forum – Fall 2009

July 24, 2009

9:18 am

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harvey sicherman, lackawanna county, local events, nepa, schemel forum

The Weinberg Memorial Library’s Schemel Forum has just released its Fall 2009 schedule, and as usual, there are several great opportunities for University and local community members to learn, think, share, and discuss. This year, offerings include three evening courses, five luncheon seminars, and the second annual University for a Day.

One of the Forum’s highlights will be a lunch seminar on “U.S. Foreign Policy: Ten Months into the Obama Era,” presented by Scranton alum Harvey Sicherman of the Foreign Policy Research Institute. (Side note: we couldn’t resist looking Dr. Sicherman up in the 1966 Windhover. Not only was he a Dean’s List and Honors student, he also worked on the Aquinas and the Royals’ Historical Society’s semi-annual publication of Retrospect.)

We’re also looking forward to Atty. Morey Myers’ evening course on “Church & State or Church v. State?,” since his series last fall on the American Presidency was so engaging.

For more information or to register for Schemel Forum events, contact Kym Fetsko at 570-941-7816 or fetskok2 [at] scranton [dot] edu.

Schemel Forum Event: Democracy’s Challenge

June 4, 2009

3:41 pm

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