New York Times bestselling author, activist and journalist Barbara Ehrenreich (205 K PDF) will be the keynote speaker for its 16th annual Symposium on Undergraduate Scholarship at 7 pm Tuesday, April 17, in Mees Hall.
In her keynote address, Ehrenreich will discuss issues she raised in Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America, a book in which she chronicles her experience living as one of millions of Americans who work for poverty-level wages. In Florida, Maine and Minnesota, Ehrenreich worked as a waitress, hotel maid, house cleaner, nursing-home aide, and Wal-Mart salesperson while investigating the call for welfare reform and discovering the tenacity, generosity and survival savvy of low-wage America.
Earlier in the day — at 3:30 pm — Ehrenreich will meet directly with students in the Honors House to discuss her latest book, Bright-sided: How Positive Thinking is Undermining America, in which she takes a critical look at the power of positive thinking and reveals the downside of America’s unfailing optimism — dismissing consideration of negative outcomes.
The evening lecture is free and open to the public, while the afternoon talk is exclusive to the Capital community. Those interested in participating in the discussion of should contact Dr. Stephanie Gray Wilson or Dr. Dina Lentsner. Courtesy of the Symposium Planning Committee, a limited number of copies of Bright-sided are available for free to those who plan to participate in the afternoon book discussion. They can be picked up in the Office of the Dean, located in Troutman Hall. Contact Liz Cook for more information.
On Wednesday, April 18, Capital will hold its daylong celebration of undergraduate scholarship beginning with Honors Convocation, a ceremony recognizing select students for their scholarship and leadership, and recognizing faculty and staff members for excellence in teaching, advising, scholarship and service to the University.
The Symposium on Undergraduate Scholarship is a showcase of the intellectual achievements of Capital students during which they discuss their work in a formal setting through oral and poster presentations. Poster presentations will take place from 11:30 am to 1 pm in The Capital Center Field House. Posters will be displayed until 2:30 pm. Symposium oral presentations will be given in Battelle Hall and the Learning Center from 1 to 3:30 pm.