Past Events: 2006-2007

• University Honors Convocations - March 25, 2007
• Honors Co-Sponsored Lectures - Winter 2007 Term
• Trip to Detroit Science Center to see "Our Body: The Universe Within" - February 24, 2007
• Arts & Scraps Group Service Project - January 20, 2007
• Greening of Detroit Group Service Project - October 21, 2006
• A lecture by Dr. Juan Cole, Professor of History, University of Michigan, "Successes and Failures in the War on Terrorism" - October 19, 2006
• Annual Honors Induction Ceremony & Dinner - October 1, 2006

University Honors Convocations - Various Locations on Campus - Sunday, March 25, 2007

On March 25, 2007, the University recognized the achievements of various students across the university. Students from the College of Engineering & Science made up the majority of those graduating from the University Honors Program this year. Above (left to right) Brian Jones, Phuong Nguyen and Adrienne Baran show off their Honors cords. Other CES honorees who will be wearing golden cords at graduation but who are not pictured are Mimi Tran Nguyen, Jessica Heidt and 2007 Valedictorian Riham Mazen Alwan.

Honors Co-Sponsored Lectures - Winter 2007 Term

The Honors Program has long been a co-sponsor of many worthy events that help enhance the intellectual life of the University. This winter has been no exception, as attested to by this list of distinguished speakers.

On January 24, Dr. John Paul Russo (above), Professor of English and Director of Graduate Studies at the University of Miami (FL), gave a talk based upon his award-winning book, The Future Without a Past: The Humanities in a Technological Society (University of Missouri Press, 2005), offering many provocative ideas about how technology is remaking the way we think and act, inside the university and in the larger world. This lecture was also sponsored by the Department of History, the Phil Alpha Theta Honor Society, and SENSOG.

James Harney (above) fields a question after his February 6 slide presentation and talk on the human cost of economic globalization. Harney, a photojournalist, storyteller and founder of the nonprofit organization Posibilidad, has traveled throughout Latin America. He was able to offer his UDM audience much first-hand insight in regard to the national debate on the fate of some 12 million undocumented people--from the other side of the border. Harney's presentation was sponsored in conjunction with the Carney Latin American Solidarity Archive.

On March 16, Dr. Mitch Kachun (above), associate professor of History at Western Michigan University, came to UDM to discuss his rediscovery and republication of The Curse of Caste, or The Slave Bride (1865) by Julia Collins, the first imaginative novel published by an African American woman. Kachun's research raises a number of questions about race and identity at the point that slavery was ending in the United States, and has received extended coverage in the New York Times. His talk was also sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts and Education, the Departments of English and History, the African American Studies Program, and the Black Abolitionist Archives.

Detroit Science Center - Our Body: The Universe Within - February 24, 2007

On Saturday, February 24 a group of Honors students piled into a van and headed to the Detroit Science Center to see "Our Body: The Universe Within," an innovative exhibit that exposes the inner workings of human anatomy by presenting (get this!) actual human specimens, anatomical displays, reproductions of historic anatomical artwork and much more. Though the exhibit helped members to better understand their own bodies it didn't help their appetites, as afterwards everyone joined Molly Redigan in ordering vegetarian pies at Greektown's famous Pizza Papalis.

Arts & Scraps - January 20, 2007

Arts & Scraps recycles 22 tons of industrial scraps and serves over 200,000 children annually by providing them with safe and inexpensive creative material to actively involve them in learning, increase their confidence and encourage independent thinking. On Saturday, January 20th, a number of UDM honors students volunteered to assemble art kits for this non-profit organization, after which they repaired to their usual haunt, Buddy's Pizza, for some great pie and chicken soup.

George Gershwin's  Porgy and Bess - Detroit Opera Theater - October 27, 2006

Originally conceived by Gershwin as an "American folk opera," Porgy and Bess was first performed in the fall of 1935, but was not widely accepted in the United States as a legitimate opera until the late 1970s and '80s. It is now considered a part of the standard operatic repertoire, and is regularly performed internationally. On October 27 a group of Honors students had the opportunity to see this American classic at the Detroit Opera House.

Greening of Detroit - October 21, 2006

On a cold, damp and blustery Saturday morning, a dozen members of the Honors Program arrived on Detroit's east side to help beautify a stretch of Vernor Highway just north of Elmwood Cemetery. Above from left to right, Molly Redigan, John Chirco and Kori Loewe pose proudly with their young sapling (which they named Rupert).

This project involved over 100 volunteers, and was part of Greening of Detroit's larger efforts to improve the quality of life in Detroit by guiding and inspiring the reforestation of the city's neighborhoods, boulevards, and parks through tree planting projects and educational programs.

Since the group was already in the neighborhood, it stopped to take a look at the world-renowned Heidelberg Project, a testament to Detroit artist Tyree Guyten's long efforts to reclaim a blighted neigborhood through community and open-air art projects.

"Successes and Failures in the War on Terrorism" - A lecture by Dr. Juan Cole; Professor of History, University of Michigan - Thursday, October 19, 2006.

Juan Cole takes a question after his talk before a large audience at UDM on October 19. An expert on the modern Middle East and South Asian history, Dr. Cole has written extensively about modern Islamic movements in Egypt, the Persian Gulf and South Asia, and he has given numerous media and press interviews on the war on terrorism and the war in Iraq. His current research focuses on Shiite Islam in Iraq and Iran, and the "jihadi" or "sacred-war" strain of Muslim radicalism, including al-Qaeda and the Taliban among other groups. His most recent book is Sacred Space and Holy War (2002). This lecture was sponsored by the Honors Program as part of 9/11: Five Years and Beyond, a series of commemorative and contemplative events on the past, present and future taking place at UDM over the fall term.

Annual Honors Induction Ceremony & Dinner - Pasquale's Restaurant, Royal Oak, MI - Sunday, October 1, 2006

This fall the Honors Program accepted a record 60 freshmen. On October 1, 2006, twenty-two of these freshmen attended the annual Honors Induction Ceremony and Dinner, along with fifty other guests. After a blessing offered by Sister Brigid Johnson, RSM, everyone tucked into their savory sausage, roast chicken and mostaciolli. Before dessert Professor of Political Science and "Final Lecturer" Victoria Mantzopolous spoke to those assembled about the importance of mentorship in her life, and the duty of helping others. Afterwards, incoming Student Deans John Chirco, Jennifer Janusch and Cassie Moran presented the Honors Challenge Triad, and the new inductees came forward to receive their Honors pins (above), along with Honorary inductees Sister Brigid and Dr. Mantzopolous. Dessert and coffee were then served, during which the Student Deans presented their plans for the upcoming year, and encouraged the new members to get involved.