Cultural Programs

Re-imagining a nearly 2,500-year-old play, the Department of Performing Arts' production of Ajax by Sophocles explores the great warrior’s PTSD-like struggles on the battlefield of a contemporary and familiar war-torn landscape. The show runs through Sunday afternoon in McCrary Theatre.

Ever wonder what the devil’s eye view is on religion, politics, evil, Disney? Jeffrey C. Pugh, the Maude Sharpe Powell Professor of Religious Studies, on Thursday night will read from his latest book - Devil's Ink: Blog from the Basement Office - to address these and other concerns that perplex and mystify humans in the present age as part of the Elon University Distinguished Scholar Award Lecture.

Elon University will devote its annual spring Convocation for Honors on April 7, 2011, to an in-depth examination of five great problems facing humanity. Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, will moderate a panel discussion titled "We can be better: Courageous voices confront our greatest challenges." Distinguished panelists will explore tough choices that must be made to respond to threats to our democracy, economies, public education, the environment and civil stability around the world.

General admission tickets to Elon University's Convocation for Honors on Thursday, April 7, are available at Elon's box office. Brian Williams, anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News, will moderate a discussion titled "We can be better: Courageous voices confront our greatest challenges." Read this note for important ticket information.

J.C. Watts, former Republican congressman from Oklahoma and a commentator and strategist, will hold a question-and-answer session at 11 a.m. today in Whitley Auditorium. Watts is visiting campus as the seventh Isabella Cannon Distinguished Visiting Professor of Leadership. He delivered a public lecture last night in McCrary Theatre.

NPR correspondent Rob Gifford, author of Elon University's 2010-11 Common Reading selection China Road: A Journey into the Future of a Rising Power, will speak Tuesday night for the Common Reading Lecture. The book describes Gifford's 3,000-mile journey across Route 312 from Shanghai to China's western border with Kazakhstan.

Annie Leonard, the activist behind the short film “The Story of Stuff,” comes to Elon University for an April 22 evening lecture on the costs associated with the nation’s consumer-driven culture. Leonard’s appearance in McKinnon Hall, which is free and open to the public, coincides with Earth Day 2010.

A report that clarifies the mission of the Multicultural Center, to build on its strengths and reflect an expanded role for diversity education activities, is now available online for students, faculty, staff and other members of the Elon University community to read.