All around our community, faculty, lecturers, students, and administrative support staff are breathing a sigh of relief because there are only a few days left of the semester. But there are still plenty of events for you to check out before the semester ends. Here are a dozen events you shouldn’t miss.
WHAT: Lecture: “Uncivil Speech: Ferguson, Anti-Black Violence, and the Sound of a Scream”
WHEN: May 1st at 4 p.m.
WHERE: The Red Herring Vegetarian Restaurant, 1209 W Oregon St, Urbana, Illinois 61801
ABOUT: This is a lecture by Joshua Takano Chambers-Letson (Communication, Northwestern), who is appearing off campus in support of the international boycott of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and is volunteering his time and paying his own expenses in support of the struggle for academic freedom and for justice for Steven Salaita.
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WHAT: Lecture: “Jane Addiction: Lost in Austen, Austen Fandom, and the Profane”
WHEN: May 1st at 5 p.m.
WHERE: English Building 160
ABOUT: This lecture is by Robert A. Rushing (Comparative and World Literature).
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WHAT: Argentinean Film Series: “Elefante Blanco/White Elephant”
WHEN: May 1st at 6 p.m.
WHERE: Lucy Ellis Lounge, 707 South Mathews Ave, Urbana
ABOUT: This screening is sponsored by Comunidad Argentina en Urbana-Champaign, La Casa Cultural Latina, Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies.
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WHAT: British Modernities Group Conference: “Bad Books”
WHEN: May 2nd, all day (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
WHERE: Independent Media Center, 202 S. Broadway, Urbana
ABOUT: This year’s conference theme is “‘Bad Books’: Mass Genres, Material Cultures, and Aesthetic Valuation.” The conference will showcase research from a variety of disciplines, including English, comparative literature, library and information science, education, and media studies. Conference presentations will explore the question of what makes a cultural object “bad.” Papers will address “badness” in all of its permutations, including (but not limited to) the aesthetically “bad,” the politically “bad,” the educationally “bad,” and “bad” material practices.
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WHAT: The 5th Dimension Quintet
WHEN: May 2 at 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: McKinley Presbyterian Church, 809 S Fifth, Champaign
ABOUT: This concert will feature rocking chamber music by the 5th Dimension Quintet.
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WHAT: Car Show/Auto Career Showcase
WHEN: Starts May 2 at 12 p.m.
WHERE: Applied Technology Center (ATC), Parkland College
ABOUT: Three days of events related to cars and auto careers kick off on May 2 with a Motorsports Car Show. Food and music will also be available.
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WHAT: Gamelan Concert
WHEN: May 3rd at 1 p.m.
WHERE: Music Building MB Auditorium
ABOUT: Don’t miss this chance to hear a spectacular gamelan performance by the UI gamelan orchestra.
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WHAT: Film: “British Knowledge Empire”
WHEN: May 6th at 6 p.m.
WHERE: 223 Gregory Hall
ABOUT: This event is sponsored by the Department of History.
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WHAT: Z Lecture: How Does Gender Inequality Persist in the Modern World?
WHEN: May 7th at 2 p.m.
WHERE: 1065 Lincoln Hall
ABOUT: This is a lecture by Cecilia Ridgeway, the Lucie Stern Professor in the Social Sciences Stanford University and Former President of the the American Sociological Association.
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WHAT: Krannert Uncorked
WHEN: May 7th at 5 p.m.
WHERE: Krannert Center, Stage 5
ABOUT: This final Krannert Uncorked of the spring semester features music and wine tasting with beverages from Art Mart.
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WHAT: Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition Opening Exhibition
WHEN: May 9th from 5-7 p.m.
WHERE: Krannert Art Museum
ABOUT: The annual exhibition of works by graduates from the School of Art + Design’s Bachelor of Fine Arts programs represents the full range of contemporary art and design practices. Exhibiting artists have worked rigorously to develop individual visions and to solve complex problems with cross-disciplinary teams. As you will see in the works on display, they have learned trusted methods and forms, but have also challenged conventions. Emerging technologies and ideas can be seen across painting and typography, product design and sculpture. This exhibition is but a sample of their efforts and achievements to represent, reflect and reimagine the world around us.
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WHAT: Graphic Design Student Juried Exhibition
WHEN: Starts May 11th at 10 a.m.
WHERE: Parkland Art Gallery
ABOUT: The juried exhibit highlights work completed by students in the current academic year, beginning with summer 2014. Jury members include Graphic Design faculty and local industry professionals who generously volunteer their time. This year’s judges are Kurt Bielema, creative director at Single Stereo, and Matt Cho, owner and founder of [co][lab], an experimental collaboration and coworking space in Urbana.
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We live near a major university and a community college. There are smart people that come here every week to talk to the general public about interesting topics. Here’s a sampling of the talks and events you can find in the not-so-ivy-covered buildings near you. These events are free and will fill your brain with yummy knowledge (and sometimes will fill your stomach with free eats).