Celebrating A Decade of Jewish Studies: Education, Engagement, and Excellence at Elon

Wednesday, March 1

Lindner Hall Patio, reception at 5:00 p.m.

This year, Elon’s Jewish Studies Program celebrates its 10th anniversary. Established in Fall 2012, the Jewish Studies program at Elon provides students with the opportunity to explore aspects of Jewish civilization from a range of disciplinary perspectives and brings together students and faculty who share a common passion for a deeper understanding of Jewish history, culture and thought.

The celebration will include remarks from Dr. Connie Ledoux Book, President of Elon University, Dr. Gabie Smith, Dean of Elon College, the College of Arts and Sciences, as well as the program’s Founding Director Dr. Geoffrey Claussen, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, Lori and Eric Sklut Scholar in Jewish Studies and Chair of the Department of Religious Studies, the present program coordinator Dr. Andrea A. Sinn, Stella S. and John C. O’Briant Developing Professor and Associate Professor of History, and current students.

Dan Roche, Reading and Writing the Body

Wednesday, March 1

McBride Gathering Space, Numen Lumen Pavilion, Reading at 5 p.m.; Workshop at 5:45 p.m.

After reading from his new manuscript, “Blue Painted Eye,” a journalistic memoir about prosthetic eyes, Dan Roche will lead writing exercises open to anyone interested in exploring issues related to bodily “imperfections.” The author of the memoir “Great Expectations: A Father’s Diary and Love’s Labors,” as well as essays in a wide range of literary journals, Roche has been a Fellow in Nonfiction Literature with the New York Foundation for the Arts. He teaches at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, NY. Sponsored by Elon College, the College of Arts & Sciences, Office of Disability Resources, Department of English and American Studies

Dara Kurtz, “Level Up Your Life”

Wednesday, March 1

Lakeside Meeting Rooms, 7 p.m.

What if you could feel happier, more joyful and get more of what you want from your life. Join Dara Kurtz, P’25, as she addresses the struggles modern day busy students face and how you can rise to the challenge while protecting your peace.

After being diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of forty-two, Dara left her twenty-year career as a financial advisor to focus on writing and speaking. Today her personal blog, Crazy Perfect Life (https://crazyperfectlife.com) reaches more than 200,000 followers. Dara is the author of “I am My Mother’s Daughter: Wisdom on Life, Loss, and Love”, “Crush Cancer”, and just signed a contract for the Level Up Your Life book. Dara’s been a guest on more than 60 podcasts/TV/Radio and is an international speaker. Her goal is to use her life experiences to help people strengthen their relationships and create more happiness and joy in their everyday lives. Sponsored by HealthEU, the Office of Student Life, Campus Recreation & Wellness, Jewish Life, Truitt Center for Religious & Spiritual Life and Zeta Tau Alpha

Nadine Strossen, “Why Should We Resist HATE with Free Speech, Not Censorship”

Thursday, March 2

Whitley Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

Liberal Arts Forum Lecture

A leading expert and professor in constitutional law and human rights and former President of the American Civil Liberties Union, Nadine Strossen speaks on free speech, intellectual freedom and civil discourse. She is a senior fellow with the Foundation for Individual Rights (FIRE) and host of “Free to Speak,” a three-part PBS series to air in Fall 2023. The National Law Journal named Strossen one of America’s “100 Most Influential Lawyers,” and several other publications have named her one of the country’s most influential women. Her many honorary degrees and awards include the American Bar Association’s prestigious Margaret Brent Women Lawyers of Achievement Award (2017).

Department of Performing Arts presents “Spring Dance Concert”

Friday-Sunday, March 3-5

McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts

Mar. 3-4, 7:30 p.m.; Mar. 4-5, 2 p.m. 

Casey Avaunt, artistic director

The Spring Dance Concert features original dance works created by Elon faculty choreographers and guest choreographer Ming-Lung Yang. Admission: $15 or Elon ID. Tickets will be available beginning February 10 at www.elon.edu/boxoffice.

Purim

Monday, March 6

McBride Gathering Space, Numen Lumen Pavilion, 6 p.m.

Celebrate the holiday of Purim by participating in multilingual readings from the biblical Book of Esther. This event will celebrate diversity within the Jewish community and the Elon campus community and highlight reflections on minority experience through the lens of this Jewish holiday. Purim marks the survival and resilience of the Jewish community during a time of oppression and threat of massacre during the Persian period. All are welcome. Sponsored by Jewish Life and The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

Indira Turney, “Understanding Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Brain Aging”

Monday, March 6

McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts, 7 p.m.

Voices of Discovery Science Speaker Series

Indira Turney is a postdoctoral fellow at the Taub Institute for Research on Alzheimer’s Disease and the Aging Brain in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University Medical Center. The goal of her current research is to understand how racism becomes embedded in the body and brain, and as a result, affects health. She hopes to improve the detection and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias and develop prevention programs to target malleable environmental, socio-cultural and biological mechanisms of change in at-risk populations. She is passionate about demystifying and diversifying STEM and building spaces for scholars from historically excluded backgrounds to thrive, which is why she co-founded the Women of Color Writing Accountability Group.

Musical Storytellers: A Piano Recital

Wednesday, March 8

Whitley Auditorium, 7:30 p.m.

For centuries, the shorter piano work known as the “character piece” has allowed composers the freedom to write in their most authentic and distinct musical voice. Dr. Leonidas Lagrimas, Assistant Professor of Piano and Piano Pedagogy at Western Carolina University, presents a piano recital program exploring the narrative possibilities of the character piece. The program features solo piano works by Scarlatti, Bach, Dianne Goolkasian Rahbee, Debussy and more. Sponsored by the Department of Music

Tectonic Plates: Alamance County’s Science Café with Erica Bower and Rachael Brooks, “Why Pi?”

Tuesday, March 14

Burlington Beer Works, 103 E. Front Street., Burlington, NC. 7 p.m.

Each month on second Tuesdays, a different scientist will present an hour-long talk on an engaging topic. In March, Alamance Burlington School System faculty Erica Bower and Rachael Brooks are the special guests. Events are held on the 2nd floor of BBW and there is no entrance fee. Learn cutting edge science in a relaxed, informal atmosphere without all the technical jargon. For more information, contact Dave Gammon, dgammon@elon.edu.

Amos Kennedy, visiting artist

Monday, March 20

Gallery 406, Arts West, artist talk and opening reception, 5:30 p.m.

Amos Kennedy is one of the most important letterpress printers practicing today. He is an American printer, book artist and papermaker best known for social and political commentary, particularly in printed posters. One critic noted that Kennedy was “…unafraid of asking uncomfortable questions about race and artistic pretension.” Exhibition continues through April 28.

Minari (South Korea/USA)

Tuesday, March 21

Global Commons 103 (Media Room), 7 p.m. 

A Korean American family moves to an Arkansas farm in search of its own American dream. Amidst the challenges of this new life in the strange and rugged Ozarks, they discover the undeniable resilience of family and what really makes a home.

Holi Celebration

Friday, March 24

Speaker’s Corner near Moseley Center, 4 p.m.

A Hindu spring festival of color and sharing love, Holi marks the end of winter and the beginning of spring. The Elon community gathers at Speaker’s Corner to throw colored powder on one another to celebrate the earth returning to color and life and good triumphing over evil. If you plan to throw color, please wear old clothing that can get dirtied by paint. There will also be crafts, food and other ways to celebrate the holiday. All are welcome. Sponsored by The Truitt Center for Religious and Spiritual Life

Elon Music Theatre’s Grand Night

Saturday, March 25

Roberts Studio Theatre, Scott Studios at Arts West

6:30 and 8:30 p.m. (same show)

Courtney Liu, Supervising Director-Choreographer

Chris Rayis, Music Supervisor

The students of Elon Music Theatre showcase the best of the program with group production numbers, original choreography, new arrangements, and personal tributes to the Elon Music Theatre community. Admission: $15 or Elon ID. Reservations will be offered beginning Friday, March 17 at www.elonperformingarts.com. 

Sanjay Gupta, “Keep Sharp: Build a Better Brain at Any Age”

Tuesday, March 28

Alumni Gym, Koury Athletic Center, 7 p.m.

The Baird Lecture

CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent, Emmy award-winning journalist, author and practicing neurosurgeon, Sanjay Gupta is a go-to authority for major developments in medicine, personal health and health care. He plays an integral role in reporting on health and medical news for all of CNN’s shows domestically and internationally and is passionate about inspiring everyone to lead healthier, more active lives. Inspired by Dr. Gupta’s recent bestselling book, this presentation enlightens audiences on how to keep their brains young, healthy and sharp with a science-driven approach to protecting your mind from decline. Admission: $15 or Elon ID. Tickets will be available beginning March 7 at www.elon.edu/boxoffice.

“Cual es tu Paz?”: Story-healing Towards Intergenerational Peace & Empowerment

Wednesday, March 29

Elon Community Church (271 N. Williamson Ave), 5:30 – 8 p.m.

Conflict and its collective resolution applies to each of our families and all of our communities, especially in these times of pandemics and polarized politics. Each of us carries trauma from our own lives and that of generations before us. This workshop is a collaborative opportunity to explore creative and interactive methods of rage and reconciliation, resentment, and resilience. Dinner included. REGISTER HERE

“If Not Us Then Who?” Healing Intergenerational Trauma Through Sociodrama Storytelling

Thursday, March 30

McBride Gathering Space, Numen Lumen Pavilion, 4:30 p.m.

Annual Geography Lecture by Camilo Romero, a human rights practitioner and co-founder of ReGeneración, an international peace building initiative working in Colombia, the US, Europe, and the Middle East.

Department of Performing Arts presents “Clue”

Friday – Sunday, March 31-April 2

McCrary Theatre, Center for the Arts

Mar. 31 at 7:30 p.m. Apr. 1 at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Apr. 2 at 2 p.m.

Based on the Screenplay by Jonathan Lynn • Written by Sandy Rustin • Additional material by Hunter Foster and Eric Price • Based on the Paramount Pictures Motion Picture • Based on the Hasbro board game CLUE • Original music by Michael Holland • Directed by Fredrick J. Rubeck

It’s a dark and stormy night, and you’ve been invited to a very unusual dinner party. Each of the guests has an alias, the butler offers a variety of weapons, and the host is, well…dead. So, whodunnit? Join the iconic oddballs known as Scarlet, Plum, White, Green, Peacock and Mustard as they race to find the murderer in Boddy Manor before the body count stacks up. Based on the cult classic film and the popular board game, Clue is a madcap comedy that will keep you guessing until the final twist. Admission: $15 or Elon ID. Tickets will be available beginning March 10 at www.elon.edu/boxoffice.