Texas A&M University-Texarkana has announced its Program for Learning and Community Engagement (PLACE) fall 2016 schedule of events.
PLACE is a faculty-led program designed to create a community of learners comprising A&M-Texarkana students, faculty, staff and the community at large.
“Faculty members annually choose a common theme around which to organize a lecture series and other activities that provide focal points for learning and discussion,” said Dr. Michael Perri, associate professor of History and chair of PLACE.
PLACE’s goal is to expose Texas A&M University-Texarkana’s community of learners to a diversity of ideas from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds. This year’s theme is “Race and Ethnicity.”
“Race and ethnicity have long been a source of division among humans. PLACE seeks to foster an understanding of race and ethnicity that reflects an appreciation of our differences while emphasizing the many commonalities that should unify us,” said Perri.
A&M-Texarkana’s selection of this year’s common reader, Dr. Daniel Fairbanks’ “Everyone Is African: How Science Explodes the Myth of Race,” reflects PLACE’s emphasis on understanding and unity.
Dr. Fairbanks will be one of an impressive lineup of speakers addressing issues of race and ethnicity—a lineup that includes many A&M-Texarkana faculty members and guest lecturers such as Dr. James Presley, Dr. Leo Chavez of the University of California at Irvine and Juan Williams of Fox News.
“As a learning institution, we believe it’s important to provide opportunities to engage our campus and community in issues important to us locally, regionally, nationally and globally,” said Dr. Luz Mary Rincon, associate professor of Spanish and Bilingual/ESL Education.
With this in mind, the PLACE Committee has planned the following schedule of events:
September
· Thursday, Sept. 1, 5:30-6:45 p.m. – Dr. Angela Sikorski – SuperLecture, “Scientific racism: How (pseudo)science has been (mis)used to perpetuate discrimination” – University Center 210
· Thursday, Sept. 15, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Dramatic Workshop featuring Alejandro Garza – Eagle Hall, University Center
· Thursday, Sept. 15, 7-9 p.m. – “Coconut,” featuring Alejandro Garza, Eagle Hall, University Center
· Wednesday, Sept. 21, 9-10:30 a.m. – Dr. Michael Perri – SuperLecture, “Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois: A Study in Contrasts” – University Center 210
· Thursday, Sept. 22, 7-9 p.m. – Terry Taylor, Robert Jones, Jasmine Crockett, Lieutenant Thedford White and Officer Latriesha Shanks – Symposium, “Sharing Some Thoughts on African-American Men and the Legal System” – Eagle Hall, University Center
October
· Monday, Oct. 3, 6-10 p.m. – Dr. Drew Morton – Screening and Discussion, “Color Adjustment” – University Center210
· Thursday, Oct. 6, 2-3:30 p.m. – Dr. James Presley – “Superfund Drama in Texarkana: The Battle of Carver Terrace” – University Center 210
· Tuesday, Oct. 18, 12-2:30 p.m. – Dr. Kim Murray – SuperLecture, “Cultural Appreciation or Cultural Appropriation? A Conversation about Halloween Costumes” – Eagle Lounge, University Center
· Wednesday, Oct. 26, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. – Dr. Corrine Hinton – SuperLecture, “‘God decreed it so’: The Rhetoric of Destiny in 1963” – University Center 210
· Thursday, Oct. 27, 7-8:30 p.m. – Dr. Daniel Fairbanks – “Everyone Is African: How Science Explodes the Myth of Race” – Eagle Hall, University Center
November
· Tuesday, Nov. 1, 2:30-3:45 p.m. – Dr. Doug Julien SuperLecture, “Digitally Mapping Race in Texarkana” – University Center 210
· Tuesday, Nov. 1, 6-10 p.m. – Screening and Discussion with Dr. Drew Morton – “Do the Right Thing” – University Center 210
· Tuesday, Nov. 8, 1:30-3 p.m. – Dr. Kevin Ells – SuperLecture, “Verifying Sources in Science Reporting or How NOT to Broadcast about Race” – University Center 210
· Thursday, Nov. 17, 7-9 p.m. – Dr. Leo Chavez – “The Latino Threat: Constructing Immigrants, Citizens, and the Nation” – Eagle Hall, University Center
The spring 2017 schedule will be announced later in the semester.
