January 8, 2002
Lake Michigan College to Present Cultural Lecture
Series
BENTON TOWNSHIP, MI - Lake Michigan College will
present its second annual Martin Luther King Cultural Lecture
Series January 22 through January 25 on the Napier Avenue Campus
in Benton Harbor. This free series is open to the public and
features five presentations, given by LMC faculty and area experts,
focused on cultural issues that are a part of today's local
and national headlines as well as everyday trends and issues.
What is Islam? - Tuesday, January 22, 12:20
p.m. - 1:20 p.m., Blue Lecture Hall
Along with Judaism and Christianity, Islam is one of the three
great Abrahamic faiths and with more than a billion adherents,
it is one of the fastest growing faiths in the world. This presentation
will examine what the beliefs and practices of Islam are that
set Moslems apart from Christians and Jews and some of the common
misunderstandings of Islam.
The presenter, Dr. Oystein Sakala LaBianca, is
professor of anthropology at Andrews University. He attended
Andrews University and Middle East College, Lebanon, for his
undergraduate education in the fields of behavioral sciences
and religion. He received his doctor of philosophy degree in
anthropology from Brandeis University.
History of the Pokagan Tribe - Wednesday, January
23, 10:10 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Blue Lecture Hall
In the early 1600s, French Jesuits ran across a group of Native
Americans along the shores of Lake Michigan who called themselves
"Potawatomi Keepers of the Fire." Under attack by
the Iroquois, the Potawatomi migrated to the Dorr Peninsula
in Northern Wisconsin to escape and returned to the St. Joseph
River Valley around 1640. This group of Potawatomi has become
known as the Catholic Potawatomi, St. Joseph River Valley Potawatomi,
and presently the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians. The Pokagon
Band of Potawatomi Indians has lived in the St. Joseph River
Valley for hundreds of years. Many of their Elders say thousands
of years; yet what do we really know about their history? Jim
Topash, a member of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians,
will examine the history of the tribe and the issues confronting
them today.
Intercultural Communications - Wednesday, January
23, 12:20 p.m. - 1:20 p.m., Blue Lecture Hall
This workshop provides an introspective look at how communication
styles and expectations vary among different cultures and how
understanding the differences in behaviors can build productive
and positive communication.
The presenter, Dr. Margaret Hale-Smith is the
dean of Arts & Sciences at LMC. She holds a B.A., M.A.,
and Ph.D. from Michigan State University and presents on topics
ranging from conflict resolution and cross-cultural communications
to the unique dynamics of adult learners.
Freedom through Song: African-American Influence
on Classical Art Song - Thursday, January 24, 12:20 p.m. - 1:30
p.m., Mendel Center Hanson Theatre
This musical presentation will examine the influence
of African-American music on classical Western European and
American music. Vocalist Alfrelynn Roberts and pianist Dr. Elfie
Schults-Berndt will perform various examples and discuss their
significance.
Dr. Elfie Schults-Berndt is director of Music
at LMC where she also teaches piano and music theory. She completed
undergraduate and graduate studies in Piano Performance at the
State University of New York at Buffalo and earned a Ph.D. in
Piano Performance, Music Theory from Michigan State University.
Alfrelynn Roberts is a lyric soprano from Kalamazoo. A featured
soloist with the Kalamazoo Bach Festival Chorus and the Kalamazoo
Singers, Roberts has also performed with the Kalamazoo Symphony
Orchestra and the Lyric Opera of Chicago and at the 1997 United
States Presidential Inauguration. She holds a master's degree
in vocal music performance from Northwestern University and
a bachelor's degree in vocal music performance from Hampton
University.
Racial Gerrymandering - Friday, January 25,
10:10 a.m. - 11:00 a.m., Blue Lecture Hall
The law, politics, and controversy surrounding the issue of
whether race specific criteria should be utilized when creating
congressional and state legislative districts will be examined.
Questions to be discussed will include to what extent minority
districts should be created to ensure more minority representation
in state and national government.
The presenter, Dr. John Wallenfang, is a Political
Science instructor and department chair of Humanities, Fine
Arts, and Social Sciences. He holds a B.S. from the University
of Wisconsin, and a M.A. and Ph.D. from Purdue University. He
has also done post-doctoral work at Notre Dame Law School.
For more information on the series contact Lee
Gill, LMC's director of Professional Development, at (269) 927-8163.
