The Valpo Core

The Psychology Department and Christ College are very pleased to announce an upcoming lecture by internationally known social psychologist and one of the most famous researchers in the psychology of religion, Dr. Richard L. Gorsuch. Dr. Gorsuch is a senior faculty member at Fuller Theological Seminary in the Graduate School of Psychology. His lecture, titled “Science and the Humanities: Can either address truth?,” will be held in the CCLIR room 205 on November 6th from 5:00 pm until 6:00 pm.

There will also be a “conversation hour” to be held prior to his lecture, from 3:00-4:00 pm in the Squire Room of the Union.

Lecture Description: “Science and the Humanities: Can either address truth?”

With postmodernism, there are two questions regarding truth. First, without a foundation and being skeptical, can even science claim to be finding truth? Or are there just the stories that scientists weave? Second, if there is truth, is science the only road to truth? Or can the humanities look for truth also? And what of theology? In this lecture, a new look is taken at this question - which suggests new answers and a new basis for both our understanding of both the sciences and the humanities and how they can relate to each other.

Flyer for “Science and the Humanities: Can Either Address Truth?”

Biographical information on Dr. Richard L. Gorsuch

The Conversations Project

Valparaiso University and the Project on Civic Reflection are pleased to present a panel discussion and community conversation:

Honoring Our Veterans:
Theory and Practice

 The event will be held in the Christopher Center Community Room from 7 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, November 7, 2007.

The program will explore the experiences of veterans returning from the various fronts in the war on terror. Panelists will address the problems faced by returning veterans, including coping with physical and mental injuries and reintegrating into civilian society. Audience members are encouraged to share their own experiences relating to returning veterants, to raise questions relating to the challenges of supporting our currently deployed forces, their families & veterans who have returned home.

These issues and others will be addressed by a panel including Earl McDowell, a veteran of the Vietnam conflict and member of the Portage Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), Captain Nathan Harlan of the United States Army and Jill Carley, Director of Programs for the Illinois & Indiana Veterans Administration Clinic. The presentations will be brief and are intended to provide perspectives that will spark audience discussion.

The main purpose of the Conversations Project is to promote mutual education, understanding and political reconciliation through dialog. The intention is to forge connections between Valparaiso University the wider Valparaiso community, and throughout Northwest Indiana.

All Conversations Project Events are free and open to the public. The conversation will continue following the event during a reception at which food and drink will be provided.

with VU student and faculty organists, open to the public

Wednesday, November 14th, 2007 from 8:00 - 9:00 pm, in the Chapel of the Resurrection

In honor of the 400th anniversary year of Paul Gerhardt’s birth, the VU community is invited to hear some biographical background on this hymn author and sing some of the glorious texts that he wrote. This commemorative event is a wonderful way to honor this man’s accomplishments. Gerhardt lived through many adversities, including the 30 years war in Germany, the loss of 4 of his 5 children and his wife to death, and being sickly in health for most of his life. Yet, he still wrote beautiful poems and texts for hymns today that reflect an astonishing amount of comfort and hope to be found in trusting God throughout all trials in life. His story is inspiring - this information will help you to really appreciate these (and other) hymns  and, perhaps more importantly, will change your perspective on your own life’s difficulties and trials. So please come!

Refreshments will be served following the event.

Vince Wixon, the latest “installment” in our Wordfest series
is rolling into town. Check out his poem, linked below!

When: Tuesday, Oct. 30 at 7 pm
Where: Brauer Museum
What: Poetry Reading, headlined once again by the dueling saxophones

Refreshments? Of course!

Vince Wixon grew up on a grain and dairy farm in southwestern Minnesota, graduated from Luther College in 1966, and received an advanced degree from Washington State University. Wixon has not only published his own work in many magazines, journals, and anthologies, but has also worked in several venues on William Stafford’s work. With Michael Markee, he has made two videos–What the River Says and The Life of the Poem; with Paul Merchant, he has edited two of Stafford’s books on writing–Crossing Unmarked Snow and The Answers Are Inside the Mountains. He has also worked on Stafford’s selected poems, The Way It Is and Every War Has Two Losers.

Of Wixon’s own work, Paulann Petersen says, “With simple diction, fine imagery and a voice as satisfying as a drink of pure well-water, Wixon creates poems of striking economy and force.”

A long time public school teacher, Wixon is now retired and lives with his wife Patty live in Ashland, Oregon.

(culled from: http://www.laneliteraryguild.org/wa_200611.pdf, now unavailable)

“Tornado Weather” by Vince Wixon

Valparaiso University’s 6th Annual Peace & Social Justice Symposium

Friday, November 9, 2007
Pre-Symposium ‘Peace March & Rally’
Starts in Residence Halls at 7 p.m., proceeds through campus and ends in Union for food and peace concert. Join the march. Come and sign the ‘pledge of nonviolence’ banner.

Saturday, November 10, 2007
VU’s 6th Annual Peace & Social Justice Symposium
8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Union & Mueller Hall
8 a.m. : Continental Breakfast & Registration check-in
9 a.m. : Keynote Speaker - Gerard F. Powers (from University of Notre Dame)

KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Gerard F. Powers, JD, M.A. Theology
Director of Joan B. Kroc International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame.
TOPIC: “The Role of Religion in Peace-Making”

10 a.m. : Workshop Session I
11 a.m. : Workshop Session II
Noon: Lunch and Performer
1:30 p.m.: Panel Discussion: Threads of Reconciliation: Linking Home, School, Community & Faith
3 p.m. : Closing Speaker — Chris Rice (Duke University’s Center for Reconciliation)
3:45 p.m.: Student Activist Forum: From Talk To Action

Symposium is free. Lunch is free but reservation for the catered luncheon is required (food limited to 200). Lunch catered by Mezza Restaurant (Lebanese-style cuisine)

WORKSHOPS (14 insightful and exciting offerings. Come and be enlightened!):

*The Darfur Conflict: A Personal Perspective from a Law Student from Sudan
*Gerard F. Powers: Post-Lecture Dialogue
*Playing Peace: Learning The Rules of Reconciliation
*The Impact of Globalization on World Peace
*A Silent Cry: The Plight of Women and Children In Cambodia
*Home and Homelands: Search for Peace In the Holy Land
*Violence, Racism, and the Impact of White Supremacy on Communities of Color
*The Problem With The Crusader Mascot: Reconciling Image With Identity
*The Promise of World Peace
*The United States, Guantanamo Bay, and the World
*Brothers Uplifting Brothers: Community Grassroots Response to HIV/Aids
*Immigration: Step Into The Experience
*International Service Learning Experience: Nicaragua
*Tranquility Zone

Peace & Social Justice Symposium Poster

Sponsored by Sigma Pi

Monday, November 5, 8:00 pm, in NSC 234 Auditorium

Starting at 8:00 pm, there will be a speaker from Anheuser-Busch who will give a presentation on alcohol awareness. Next, there will be a ten-minute activity in which audience members participate in a reenactment of Sam Spady’s final night before she died of alcohol poisoning. Finally there will be a 25-minute video produced by the Sam Spady Foundation focusing on Sam Spady’s death and the negative role alcohol plays on college students nationwide. A preview of the DVD can be found here:

http://www.samspadyfoundation.org/dvd_preview.html

Flyer for Sam Spady Story

V.U. Students for Life (VUSFL) is sponsoring speaker Hadley Arkes,
renowned bioethicist, on Saturday, November 3 from 12 noon to 3 pm
in the CCLIR Community Room.

Free to all attendees. Free pizza luncheon at 12 noon. Presentation
at 1:00 pm. Professor Arkes’ speech is entitled, “At the threshold
of a breakthrough, with a president not knowing how to cross it?”

Sponsored by S.M.A.R.T. Scholars

November 1st, 2007, 7:30 p.m., Community Room in the CCLIR

This presentation will consist of a general outline of the agency Plant Protection Quarantine. They address exotic diseases, pests and organisms that have been introduced into our country that threaten our natural and economic resources. This includes both animal and plant resources. Examples include: Emerald Ash Borer, West Nile Virus, Mad Cow Disease, Citrus Canker, Cotton Bool Weevil, Corn Karnal Bunt, etc. They conduct survey, control, regulatory and eradication programs to achieve their goals. The presentation will include a power point lasting about 20 minutes covering the basics of USDA/APHIS/Plant Protection Quarantine employment requirements and opportunities. The agency has specific goals to diversify the workforce and they welcome the opportunity to speak to VU students in this regard.

The presenters include PPQ (Plant Protection Quarantine) Technician John Dabler and PPQ officer Mr. Rick McKay.

Alexandra Levit, author of They Don’t Teach Corporate in College, is known as one of the premiere career spokeswomen of her generation.  On Thursday, November 8, 2007, she will be addressing the Valparaiso University campus and community in regards to workplace issues facing young employees.  She will be offering tactics that students can use to enhance their employability now and in the future.

The event will take place at VU’s College of Business in Urschel Hall, Room 202 at 6:30 pm.  Copies of Alexandra Levit’s book, They Don’t Teach Corporate in College will be sold for $10 each (cash/checks only, please).  Levit will also be available to sign books following her presentation.

This event is co-sponsored by Valparaiso University’s College of Business Administration and Delta Sigma Pi, the professional co-ed business fraternity on campus.

VU students, faculty/staff, and community members are welcome to attend.  Admission is free.

Official News Release for Levit event

Flyer for Alexandra Levit event

Two Core-approved events sponsored by InterVarsity Christian Fellowship:

“Who are You?”
Speaker: Dick Ryan
Tuesday October 30th
7:30 pm in CCLIR Community Room
Public speaker Dick Ryan will be speaking about identity, how we as college students tend to base our identity in things that are not sustainable, and what we can do to change it. Admission is free.

“me”

Thursday, November 1st
9:00-10:00 pm in Neils 234
Life, college…Reality. An original drama written by Amanda Stenzel and Brittni Emery, it is a commentary on the VU college experience and how it impacts the basis in which we ground our identity. Admission is free. Free refreshments will be served.