4/4/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Emiliano Lerda, member, UN'I in Peace, (319) 268-4171
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
Award-winning photojournalist to speak at UNI
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Steve Lehman, photojournalist and author of "The Tibetans: A Struggle to Survive," will speak at the University of Northern Iowa at 7 p.m. Wednesday, April 10, in rooms 244 and 245 of the Schindler Education Center.
Lehman's photographs, taken during the 1987 pro-independence demonstrations in Tibet, chronicled human rights abuses, political demonstrations, religious persecution and environmental degradation. In 1997, his reporting and photos made the cover of "Newsweek."
The public may attend at no charge.
The event is sponsored by UN'I in Peace, the International Student Association, the Asian-American Student Union, the Hispanic-Latino Student Union, the Black Student Union, the Muslim Student Association, the Minority Graduate Student Association, and the UNI chapter of Amnesty International. It is paid for by the UNI Speakers Committee.
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4/4/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Mary Stichter, UNI instructor in teaching and conference publicity chair, (319) 273-2428
Denise Tallakson, UNI instructor in teaching and conference chair, (319) 273-2540
Vicki Grimes, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
UNI to host Beginning Reading Conference 2002 Friday, April 12
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The Beginning Reading Conference 2002 will be at the Schindler Education Center on the University of Northern Iowa's campus Friday, April 12, from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. This conference is one of the largest at UNI and will host nearly 600 people.
The keynote speaker for the conference is Denise Fleming, award-winning artist and children's author and illustrator. Fleming, who both writes and illustrates her books, is a Caldecott Honor Book Award winner for "In the Small, Small Pond." Her most recent books are "Pumpkin Eye" and "The Everything Book."
The conference is available for general continuing education units (CEU) and one UNI credit. To obtain CEUs, participants should check with their district office. Cost for the conference is $55 and includes all the conference sessions, lunch, refreshments and exhibits.
For more information on the conference, call Mary Stichter at (319) 273-2428. For registration information, call Linda Love at UNI Continuing Education\Non-Credit Programs, (319) 273-6855.
Information is also available at the conference Web site, www.pls.uni.edu/read.
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4/4/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Betty DeBerg, head, UNI Department of Philosophy and Religion, (319) 273-6221
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
UNI events highlight religious issues
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- The University of Northern Iowa's Department of Religion and Philosophy will offer a series of events during April, all about religion. The series is part of the university's "Arts in April" celebration.
On Wednesday, April 10, Betty DeBerg, head of the department, will present a public lecture, "Religion on Campus," at 7:30 p.m. in the Curris Business Building, Room 109. DeBerg recently co-authored a book by the same name.
At 7 p.m. Thursday, April 25, Joy James, professor of Afro-American Studies at Brown University, will discuss "Race, Gender and Incarceration" in Sabin Hall, Room 102. Her appearance is sponsored by the Meryl Norton Hearst chair in the College of Humanities and Fine Arts, the Department of Philosophy and Religion, and the Center for Multicultural Education.
"Nothing But a Burka? Muslim Women and U.S. Media," a panel discussion, will begin at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 24 in Seerley Hall Room 115. Panelists are Shafiqa Fakir, graduate student in English language and literature; Salma Akbar, student in English language and literature; Susan Hill, associate professor of religion; and Martha J. Reineke, also professor of religion, all at UNI.
The month ends with a public lecture, "The Mysteries of the Dead Sea Scrolls," at 7:30 p.m. Monday, April 29, in CBB Room 109. Kenneth Atkinson, UNI assistant professor of religion, is the speaker.
All events are free and open to the public.
For a complete listing of Arts in April events, visit the Web site, www.uni.edu.
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4/4/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Betty DeBerg, head, UNI Department of Philosophy and Religion, (319) 273-6221
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing & Public Relations, (319) 273-2761
UNI professor says spirituality, not religion, is important to college students
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa -- Betty DeBerg, head of the University of Northern Iowa's Department of Philosophy and Religion, recently teamed with two other professors to author an innovative book, "Religion on Campus." In the book, DeBerg and her co-authors note that religion has become more optional and multifaceted.
"We found conflict among faculty and students on a variety of issues, of course,
and we concluded that what has really changed on these campuses in the last
decades or so isn't so much secularization as it is increased religious pluralism,"
said DeBerg. "We found a consistent preference for spirituality rather than
religion, and a relatively weak denominational identity among those who were
reared in families that attended Christian churches."
DeBerg said other trends are visible as well. For instance, although the
authors found that students were active in volunteer service projects, there
was little sense of any religious communal identity. The authors also noted
the popularity of nondenominational campus ministries, and student interest
in contemporary forms of worship.
"I was surprised by how fluid denominational identity was among even those students who were leaders in various denominational campus ministries," said DeBerg. "One student came to the university a Roman Catholic, got hired as a peer minister in the ecumenical mainline Protestant campus ministry, then as a peer ministry by the Methodist Wesley foundation. During this time, she left Catholicism for the Disciples of Christ, and decided during her senior year to go to seminary and seek ordination as a disciple."
DeBerg co-authored the book with Conrad Cherry, professor emeritus, Indiana University; and Amanda Potterfield, professor of Religious Studies, University of Wyoming. "Religion on Campus" is published by the University of North Carolina Press. The book is available via Amazon.com.
DeBerg will discuss "Religion on Campus" during a public lecture April 10, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 109 of the Curris Business Public. There is no charge to attend.
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4/4/02
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
Christopher Denison, assistant director of Wellness and Recreation Services (319) 273-7263
Jim Langel, associate director of Wellness and Recreation Services (319) 273-7160
Gwenne Culpepper, University Marketing and Public Relations (319) 273-2761
UNI students win national award
CEDAR FALLS, Iowa - - Two University of Northern Iowa students have been awarded the William N. Wasson Student Leadership and Academic Award from the National Intramural-Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA). This award recognizes exceptional student employees that work at a campus recreation department.
Amy Bringle, a leisure services major from Waukee; and Cassady Peterson, a biology/Spanish minor from Schaller are the recipients.
Bringle and Peterson were chosen from more than 100 applicants nationally; 24 awards were made. The presentation of awards will be at the NIRSA national conference in San Antonio on April 10.
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