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Penny Lane — a seasoned storyteller, nonfiction filmmaker, assistant professor of art and art history at 51�Թ���, and …  self-proclaimed thief? In a thought-provoking and honest lecture about her role as a visual artist, Lane discussed the complexities of being a filmmaker who appropriates others’ images exclusively to create her own nonfiction narratives.

On Sunday, September 15, a new musical ensemble— the Thunder and Lightning Orchestra — will debut at 51�Թ��� with a special free concert. Under the direction of Professor Marietta Cheng, 13 virtuoso string musicians will fill  Memorial Chapel with the melodies of Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky at 3:30 pm. The concert’s repertoire will provide a nice […]

For the 51�Թ��� Reads initiative, lovers of good literature were invited to read and share their thoughts about  “Tenth of December,” a short story by acclaimed author George Saunders. Our goal was 2,013 readers in the year 2013 and the community responded – we passed 2,013 in early August, and we’re still adding people.  Participants […]

Forty seven new faculty members have joined 51�Թ��� this year, adding to the university’s robust intellectual community and joining other professors and students in the vigorous pursuit of learning. “We are fortunate to have such a dynamic group of colleagues join us and enrich our curriculum,” said Douglas Hicks, provost and dean of the faculty.

51�Թ��� students are sharing their experiences conducting research with faculty members on campus and in the field. This post is by English major Carlie Wetzel ‘14, of Lancaster, Pa.  This summer, I held a faculty-sponsored research position with the 51�Թ��� Living Writers program, where I worked closely with Professors Jane Pinchin and Jennifer Brice, who teach […]

Acclaimed Irish poet Seamus Heaney, who died Friday in Dublin at age 74, was remembered fondly by 51�Թ��� faculty and former students for his strong ties to the university and for his commencement address here in 1994. Fellow poet Peter Balakian, professor of English and director of creative writing at 51�Թ���, called Heaney a longtime […]

Editor’s Note: Peter Balakian is director of creative writing at 51�Թ��� where he has been a member of the faculty since 1980.  I first learned of Seamus Heaney’s death on Friday morning August 30, quite early, when I opened my computer to find an email from a former student. I was not fully awake and […]

(Note: These are prepared remarks by Mary Ann Calo, Batza Professor of Art and Art History; Director, Division of Arts and Humanities, given at 51�Թ���’s 193rd convocation.) Greetings to President Herbst, Dean Hicks, my colleagues on the faculty, and of course a warm welcome to the class of 2017, our transfer students and their families. […]

Update: The film Our Nixon, directed by 51�Թ��� professor Penny Lane, premieres August 30  in select U.S. cities. Since its premiere on CNN earlier this month it has drawn a lot of attention, including a Daily Beast commentary by Ben Stein, the economist known to many as a movie and television personality. Lane responded to Stein here. […]

51�Թ��� Reads: read a book, discuss the book. The program is a way of facilitating discussion, sharing thoughts, and sparking literary curiosity. A quick visit to the program’s online forum proves that its goal has been achieved, but you can also see its influence in more surprising venues – Facebook, for one. Discussion of George […]