All events in K-111, unless other wise indicated.

Please note times carefully:
All Monday events are at 4:00 p.m.
All Tuesday and Thursday events are at 12:15 p.m.
Wednesday film screenings are at 6:30 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 9—“Coincidences, Chaos, and All that Math Jazz," a talk by Edward B. Burger, Prof. of Mathematics at Williams College, winner of many
excellence in teaching awards and a former stand-up comedian, will reveal the practical life lessons mathematical thinking can offer all of us long after we forget how to "solve for x". No formulas will be uttered--if the sight of an equation makes you ill, this event is for you! Math fans and phobes are encouraged to attend.

Thursday, Sept. 11—“How the Millennial Generation Views Government.” Patrick Bressette, Associate Director, the Demos Project for the Public Sector, believes America is at its best when we work together, when we each strive to be engaged citizens, when we see beyond our self interests to the needs of our communities.

Tuesday, Sept. 16—“The Man Who Thought Outside the Box.” Terry Lynch, using his years of theatrical and improvisational training at Second City Training Center and I.O., formally known as Improv Olympic, will create unique, interactive presentations that are both informative, and a bring a thoroughly researched historical portrayal of Ben Franklin to commemorate the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Wednesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m.—Diversity Film Series: Babel. This multi award winning drama starring Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett and Gael Garcia Bernal, is a truly diverse film, following the lives of otherwise unrelated people on 3 continents as they become inextricably linked.

Thursday, Sept. 18—Darfur, the Real Story. Roberta Gately is a nurse and aid worker who has made trips to most of today's 3rd world war zones, Darfur among them. Working for the International Rescue Committee, and reporting for the BBC, as well as the Journal of Emergency Nursing, she will bring to vivid life, the devastating impact of war and conflict on the world's most desperate populations.

Monday, Sept. 22 at 4 p.m.—“Will Your Community College Go the Way of the DoDo Bird?” Harmony Blakeway, Public Policy Institute of Boston, discusses a ballot question this November about eliminating the state income tax.

Tuesday, Sept. 23—Happy Birthday Trane! Legendary jazz saxophonist John Coltrane blew a mean sax, and today, Galen Abdur Razzaq will blow a mean flute to honor the late jazz great.

Thursday, Sept. 25—Among Iranians. Priscilla Fairbanks explains what happens when ordinary Americans pay a visit to ordinary Iranians whom they have never met. She recently returned from a trip to Iran with the Fellowship of Reconciliation, and will talk about her interactions with everyday people of all ages and walks of life: casual bazaar shoppers, high school and college students, children and parents on the street or in public parks, clerics in mosques.

Tuesday, Sept. 30—Charles Shields, biographer of Harper Lee, will talk about the American classic,“To Kill a Mockingbird”, this year’s Big Read selection in Pittsfield.

Thursday, Oct. 2—Persian Classical Guitar. Born in Iran and now head of the University of Memphis guitar program, Lily Afshar is a world renowned classical guitarist. The Washington Post described her onstage performances as “remarkable, impeccable.” She has a reputation for expanding the contemporary classical guitar repertoire as well as developing innovative techniques: on her latest recording (“Hemispheres”, 2006), she introduced quarter tones by adding fretlets to her guitar.

Tuesday, Oct. 7—Jim Spinnato’s Comedy Stage Hypnosis Show: an extraordinary performance of comedy, hypnosis, and audience participation. Be prepared to think, participate and experience the impossible! One hour prior to showtime, anyone interested in putting down the smokes can take part in a free, 30 minute stop smoking session in the SBA lounge at 11am. Comedy Show at 12:15pm in K-111. Information: Ext. 1660.

Thursday, Oct. 9—Breaking the Cycle of Domestic Violence. Learn about the myths and realities of domestic violence. The Elizabeth Freeman Center and the Berkshire Violence Prevention Center will address how this issue affects everyone and what we each can do to help prevent violence against women.

Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 6:30 p.m.—Diversity Film Series: Running with Scissors. This film is based on Augusten Burrough’s memoir about growing up gay in a family for which the term “dysfunctional” is a serious understatement! The film’s all-star cast includes Annette Bening, Gwyneth Paltrow, Alec Baldwin and Joseph Fiennes.

Monday, Oct. 20 at 4 p.m.—Siri Smedvig, violinist extraordinaire (concertmaster of Tanglewood’s Young Artist Orchestra for 5 years), painter, and poet, makes music, painting and poetry speak to each other in a multimedia experience of art.

Tuesday, Oct. 21— Where do all our taxes go in Massachusetts? Noah Berger, Exec. Dir., Mass. Budget and Policy Center in Boston, analyzes the Massachusetts State budget.

Wednesday, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.—Encountering the “Other.” The Diversity Committee and The Berkshire Writers Room present a reading of published and original work on the theme, "Encountering the ‘Other’". Refreshments will be served. The event is free and open to the public.

Thursday, Oct. 23—LGBT Forum with Catie Curtis. The New Yorker magazine calls her a “folk-pop goddess”. Her songs have been featured on the television shows Dawson’s Creek, Alias, Chicago Hope and Felicity. She is will be releasing her 9th studio album, “Sweet Life,” this fall.

Monday, Oct. 27, at 4 p.m.—State Representative Dan Bosley will talk about what gambling casinos will and will not do for Massachusetts.

Tuesday, Oct. 28—Stuart Comstock-Gay, National Voting Rights Project director at Demos, Boston, will speak on fraud and voter identity legislation.

Monday, Nov. 3 at 4 p.m. A New Paradigm for Health Care, a talk by Dr. Mark Pettus, Medical Director, Kripalu Institute for Integrated Healing, noted expert in holistic medicine, and author of the “The Savvy Patient.”

Tuesday, Nov. 4—Election Day: be sure to vote!
Program of political comedy and satire from the internet.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, at 6:30 p.m.—Diversity Film Series: Amores Perros. Directed by Alejandro Gonzalez, this is a story of strangers brought together by twists of fate in Mexico City. Please be forewarned: though the credits make clear that no animals were actually harmed, the film is packed with scenes of violence toward both animals and humans. This film was nominated for the Oscar for the Best Foreign Language Film.

Thursday, Nov. 5—“Code Pink.” Mable Leon speaks on the efforts of “Code Pink” to prevent a U.S. invasion of Iran.

Monday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m—Local Brand Anime. Kate Matson, Boston filmmaker, creates a theater of visual improvisation on Super 8 film by animating various media and choreographing found objects. Mark Harvey, director of the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra in Boston, improvises on the trumpet.

Thursday, Nov. 13—Los Ciegos del Barrio: these five Latino American musicians from New York City do not see as well as most of us… but they hear better than all of us. From the fiery salsa and merengue to the more romantic bachata, the band handles all the traditional rhythms and modern dance styles with an energetic ease. If you want to be in the Buena Vista Social Club… without the cost of a plane ticket… or the hassle of U.S. Immigrations… join us. Baile! Location: SBA Lounge

Monday, Nov. 17, at 4 p.m.—“Miguel de Cervantes, Don Quixote, and Islam: an early example of the co-existence of Muslims and Christians.” Professor Layla Rouhi
Chair of Romance Languages Department, Williams College.

Tuesday, Nov. 18—Joseph FireCrow. Born in Montana and raised in the Northern Cheyenne Reservation until he was nine years old, Joseph FireCrow has become a master of the Native American flute. He has earned a GRAMMY nomination and won several Native American Music Awards. Ken Burns chose some of FireCrow’s music to be included on the soundtrack for his documentary on Lewis and Clark.

Wednesday, Nov. 19—Pre-Registration Day
10-11:30am. At the Boundary, Life Blossoms. A video and panel discussion about issues related to end of life and acute and long term care by guest speakers from HospiceCare in the Berkshires and Berkshire Medical Center.

1:30 p.m. Joseph Wronka, Professor of Social Work, Springfield College, and principal investigator for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights Project of the Heller Institute of Brandies University, will speak on “Integrating Human Rights into Social Services.”

Thursday, Nov. 20—“Time To Act.” Steve Preyman, Associate Professor of Science and Technology at Rennselear Polytechnic Institute, co-founded and directed the Institute’s Ecological Economics, Values & Policy Program, and author of “Why Political Movements Matter,” spent 2007 as Executive Director of Citizens’ Environmental Coalition. He will speak about the progress so far in addressing climate change.

Monday, Nov. 24, at 4 p.m.—Sandra Thomas, Executive Director, Images Cinema in North Adams, talks about the economics of independent theaters and how the “indie” film movement today affects Hollywood.

Tuesday, Dec. 2—Practical Environmentalism. Anthony Sarkis, Adjunct Professor at MCLA, will describe tips for an environmentalism that can be practiced by everyone.

Wednesday, Dec. 3 at 6:30 p.m.—Diversity Film Series: The Namesake. Based on the novel by Jhumpa Lahiri, this film starring Kal Penn, tells the story of two generations of immigrants; the parents who have grown up in India, and their children who are struggling to bridge the cultural gap between their parents’ values and traditions and those of their new home, the United States.

Thursday, Dec. 4—Alzheimer’s: the intersection of culture and disease. Alzheimer’s disease affects up to 5 million people in the United States. As a culturally diverse country, we have different ways of conceptualizing and taking care of people in need. This forum will take a look at how different cultures approach care giving within their community.

Tuesday, Dec. 9—Java: Life and Religion in Pictures. Dudley Levenson, proprietor of Inspired Planet, Lenox.

Thursday, Dec. 11—Holiday Concert in the Bolland Theater—chorus and dance performance by BCC students.

Go early, go often. Keep going.

Revised:7/28/08, /std