November 25, 2008
Guest speakers, campus events enhance Bryant life
Cultural and educational programs take education beyond the classroom.
Economic Crisis | China | Student Arts and Speaker Series
As part of Bryant’s mission to be a student-centered learning community, regular programs and events feature experts, noteworthy guests, and the opportunity to interact with fellow students.
Throughout the fall semester, Bryant has been a leading resource in helping to interpret the current financial crisis.
In August, David Walker, the former U.S. comptroller general, was the keynote speaker at an economic summit sponsored by Bryant’s John H. Chafee Center for International Business. (To learn more, visit Bryant's Online Newsroom - Walker Visit, or read the Providence Journal's coverage of the event.)
(L-R) David Walker, the former U.S. comptroller general, Associate Professor of Finance Cary Collins, and Professor of Finance Peter Nigro.
In October, Bryant finance professors and former U.S. Department of Treasury executives Peter Nigro and Cary Collins led a discussion “Financial Markets in Crisis: What It Means for You,” which focused on the state of the markets and the recently passed financial rescue plan. (To learn more, visit Bryant's Online Newsroom - Economic Symposium or read the Providence Journal's coverage of the event.)
Later that month, Peter Goldberg, associate professor of economics at the University of New Hampshire, presented “The Global Economic and Financial Crisis: A Perfect Storm?”
Beyond the discussions on the economy, Bryant has hosted experts from far-ranging areas.
Danny Smith, the Rhode Island-raised executive producer and writer of the hit Fox television series “Family Guy,” spoke about his journey to Hollywood.
Robert Finch, a nature writer, discussed his book, “The Iambics of Newfoundland,” which includes observations from a decade of exploring the people, geography, and wildlife of the island of Newfoundland.
(L-R) Nature writer Robert Finch, fil director Alan Dater, and award-winning Discovery Channel executive Paul Gasek.
Bryant’s Documentary Film Series began with Paul Gasek, the Emmy-award winning executive producer and senior science editor for The Discovery Channel.
The series continued with film directors Lisa Merton and Alan Dater, who discussed their award-inning film Taking Root, the dramatic story of Kenyan Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai. The series concluded with a Veterans’ Day film screening and panel discussion titled, “The Things They Carry: American Vets Confront the Effects of War.”
One of the “experts” to visit campus walked on all fours and had a fur coat that could withstand temperatures as low as 50 degrees below zero. “Atka,”a six-year-old gray wolf, returned to campus for the second year in a row as part of an educational program by the New York-based Wolf Conservation Center. (To learn more, read a feature story on last year's visit.)
“Atka,”a six-year-old gray wolf
Through Bryant’s U.S.-China Institute and the Confucius Institute, the University sponsors the China Seminar Series, monthly programs to help students and the community learn more about the culture, customs, and traditions of China.
In September, Bryant celebrated the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival, which featured a musician from the Silk Road Project and Dongni Wan ’10, an exchange student from China University of Geosciences, who performed a traditional Chinese dance.
(L-R) Dongni Wan ’10, an exchange student from China University of Geosciences, who performed a traditional Chinese dance and Yang Wie, a musician from the Silk Road Project, perform as part of the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.
A series of lectures in October began with Chuanren Ke, a professor and director of the Confucius Institute and the Center for Asian and Pacific Studies at the University of Iowa. He presented “Introduction to Chinese Characters for American Learners.”
Zhijun Zhao, a professor at the Institute of Archaeology of the Chinese Academy of Social Science examined “The Origin of Agriculture and Impact on Chinese Civilization.”
Yunsheng Huang, a professor at the University of Virginia, looked at “The History of Western Influence on Chinese Architecture.”
(L-R) Yunsheng Huang, Zhijun Zhao, and Rose Lee Askin ’76.
Earlier this month, Rose Lee Askin ’76, a senior vice president at Citizens Financial Group and the bank’s liaison to The Bank of China, delved into “Banking in China.”
The final seminar of the semester will explore the “Current Status of HIV in China.” The talk on Thursday, December 11, at 5 p.m. will be given by Joseph Tucker, a doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Beyond the Far East, Bryant students are exposed to a variety of cultures.
The Intercultural Center, Multicultural Student Union (MSU), and the International Student Organization (ISO) regularly organize programs to teach students about traditions from around the world.
Students help celebrate Latino Heritage Month at Bryant
The MSU commemorated Latino Heritage Month from September 15 to October 15 with events featuring authentic Latino foods, a Samba dance night, and a Latino Carnaval.
The annual International Education Week included films, discussion, an international music festival and presentations by students who studied abroad.
The annual i2i cultural celebration featured more than 175 students who produced scenes about countries from around the world.
Author Sunil Bhatia presented “American Karma: Race, Culture, and Identity in the Indian Diaspora.” Riham Bahil, adjunct professor of history and social sciences, gave her findings on “Muslim Images, Western Realities: The Status of Women in Islam.” (Read feature stories about i2i and International Education Week.)
The new Student Arts and Speaker Series (SASS) welcomes guests that bring a greater awareness to the arts. The inaugural program featured filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, the creator of “Super Size Me.” (To learn more, visit Bryant's Student Arts and Speaker Series.)
The second event of the semester featured Capitol Steps, a group of former congressional staffers who started a political satire comedy troupe. Earlier this month, Bob and Don Manley, and Paul Gureny, spoke about their experiences starting bobdonpaul – a photography, design, and Web site development company.
(L-R) Filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, the Capitol Steps, and Bob Marley of the design firm bobdonpaul.
The final SASS event of the semester will feature Frank Warren, the founder of PostSecret on Thursday, December 4, at 7 pm in the Main Gym.
PostSecret, a program started by Warren in 2004, is a forum where people can anonymously disclose their secrets and have them posted onto a global blog site. (To learn more, visit PostSecret.)
As part of the event, Bryant will hold its own PostSecret. Students are invited to drop their anonymous secrets in PostSecret boxes that are posted in Health Services, Residence Life, the Women's Center, the Post Office, the Intercultural Center, the main desk at the Chase Wellness and Athletic Center, the Krupp Library, or the Bryant Center Info Desks. All submitted secrets will be shared anonymously at the Bryant Secret Gallery from 6-7pm. The talk will begin at 7pm
Campus Events
Campus events allow students and the community to enjoy artistic performances or a variety of lectures.
The Society of Human Resource Management and the International Business Association hosted Larry Brouder ’88, vice president of sales for the Eastern Region of NEI Global Relocation, to talk about managing international careers.
As part of the Women’s Studies Speaker Series, professor and author Delia D. Aguilar gave a lecture titled “Revisiting Feminism.”
(L-R) Larry Brouder ’88, author Delia D. Aguilar, and poet Ravi Shankar
“The Covenant with Black America: Digital Divide” explored technology and how it impacts the black community.
Professor and poet Ravi Shankar looked at “Language in a New Century: Contemporary Poetry from Asia, the Middle East and Beyond.”
Spanish classical guitarist Francesc de Paula Soler returned to Bryant for a recital and Quartetto Gelato kicked off this year’s President’s Cultural Series.
Quartetto Gelato performs at Bryant
11/25/08
