Vigil for Synagogue Shooting, Nov. 1

Ashland University will hold a vigil on Thursday, Nov. 1, at 7 p.m. in the lower level of the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel to honor the victims of the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting from this past Saturday. A gunman took the lives of eleven people at the Pittsburgh synagogue, also wounding several others.

"It's very important to gather like this and stand against hatred and bigotry," said Dr. Craig Hovey, executive director of the Ashland Center for Nonviolence. "We need to demonstrate that peace and unity will characterize us, not violence and division."

18th-Century Literature Class Reads Through Cato

Dr. Hilary Donatini’s Eighteenth-Century English Literature course gathered at the Eagles’ Landing on campus, on Friday, October 12, to transport themselves back to 1713, when Joseph Addison’s Cato was first performed. Students in attendance brought Addison’s language to life, as they each took on roles in a read-through of the entire play. This is only one example of the many creative approaches to understanding literature found in AU’s English Department. Read more at: englishatashland.blogspot.com

Ancient Igneous Boulder Finds New Home at AU

Ashland University has become the new home for a large igneous boulder which originated on the Precambrian Shield in Canada and was formed deep underground over a billion years ago, probably at the base of an ancient volcanic mountain range. Displayed on the east side of the Arthur and Maxine Sheets Rybolt Greenhouse on the AU campus, the boulder and its findings will be recognized at a ceremony on Oct. 31 at 1 p.m.

“The plaque draws attention to this boulder that was unearthed near Nankin in Ashland County in the summer of 2017 by the Kinder Morgan Co. during construction of the Utopia East Pipeline,” said Dr. Nigel Brush, professor of Geology at AU. “It was found on the property of the John Keener family by a neighbor, Robert Brownson, who recognized its significance and reported it to the State Historic Preservation Office in Columbus.”

Read more about the amazing life of this ancient boulder at ashlandscience.blogspot.com

Very Grimm Halloween, 11/2

AU Art Club & Eagles for Pride present A Very Grimm Halloween on Friday, Nov. 2, 8-9:30 p.m. in Redwood Hall. The event will include costume contest, prizes, food, drink and a live DJ.

English Majors Experience 24-Hour Theatre

Several English major participated in AU Theatre's 24-Hour Theatre Project, which involved the writing, production, and performance of an original script within a 24-hour period. Schuyler Kunkel reflected on her experience saying:

The most rewarding thing about this project by far was seeing our idea go from simply a concept to a full production, and it was really amazing being able to be a part of the project in so many different ways. Despite the fact that, by the time I got home, I hadn’t slept in over 40 hours, I was so glad to have been able to contribute throughout the entire process. The production surpassed all my expectations, and I am beyond thankful to have been able to be a part of such an extraordinary opportunity.

Read more at: englishatashland.blogspot.com

Little Women, the musical, opens 18.19 Season

Ashland University Department of Theatre opens the 2018-2019 season of "Treasured Classics Renewed" with Louisa May Alcott’s American classic Little Women which has been transformed into a musical through the creative team of Jason Howland, Mindi Dickstein and Allan Knee. Directed by Robert Sean Parker, Assistant Professor of Theatre, with music direction by Deborah Logan, the Ashland production will be performed in Hugo Young Theatre on:

• Nov. 2, 3, 9 and 10 at 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, Nov. 4 at 2 p.m.
• School Matinee performance: Friday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. 
• Opening Night Reception with the cast and crew: Nov. 2 immediately following the show

More information at:  autheatredepartment.blogspot.com

English Honor Society Elects New Leaders

Sigma Tau Delta recently elected sophomore Creative Writing and English major Rachel Barkley to serve as Co-President alongside junior English and Creative Writing major Sara Ludwig. Some of the activities they have planned include:

• monthly open mic nights
• a writing workshop for local Girl Scouts 
• a booth on October 22nd celebrating National Writing Day
• expansion of the English Department’s social media presence 
• renovation of the Bixler study lounge
• outing to AU Theatre's performance of Baskerville

Lecture About Lead Poisoning to Children, Oct. 24

A public lecture titled “Lead Poisoning: An Invisible Threat to Our Children,” will be held Wednesday, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. in the UH Samaritan Community Room at 663 E. Main St. in Ashland. The lecture will feature Dr. Ted Lidsky and Dr. Ralph Spezio -- two nationally recognized experts on the problems associated with lead poisoning and how it can be prevented.

Lead poisoning remains an issue in both Ashland and Richland Counties due to the presence of lead paint in older housing.  The use of lead in paint for consumer use was banned in 1978, but lead paint remains in many older homes, often underneath layers of newer paint.

More at: news.ashland.edu

Lipsky, Reed & Hoca in Concert, Oct. 22

Maestro Arie Lipsky (cello and flute), Dr. Thomas Reed (clarinet) and Claudia Hoca (piano) combine and showcase their talents for a chamber ensemble concert on Monday, October 22 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital. The concert is free and open to the public and will feature pieces by Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, Brahms, Schoenfield and Boulanger.

More at: ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

Faculty Spotlight: Dr. Hilary Donatini

I love to witness the process by which students move from confusion to comprehension and even enjoyment--the essence of intellectual growth. I teach many older works, and it’s often a struggle to understand what is happening on the page, let alone build an interpretation. Seeing students put effort into this process is infinitely satisfying, and it never gets old for me. Working together on challenging texts allows us to explore the beauties of language and the deep questions of our existence through literature. We are often reaching across centuries to encounter worlds that are both familiar and strange, and it’s a delightful way to spend our time. Read the full interview at: englishatashland.blogspot.com

Communication Studies Presents at OCA Conference

Communication Studies professors Shawn Orr, Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Wendy Hall and Jessica Coleman presented a panel titled Corrections Education in the 21st Century at the Ohio Communication Association's annual conference. Randall-Griffiths also presented with students Erin Staley and Samantha Stutzman on a panel titled Using Narrative Analysis to Explore the Influence of Health Humanities which featured papers by Staley and Stutzman, along with Camille Pollutro who was unable to attend.

Jazz at the Nest, Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Led by Dr. Scott Garlock, Professor of Music, the award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO) will present a free public concert on Tuesday, October 16 in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center’s Eagles Nest at 7:30 p.m.

Audience members are welcome to grab a snack, enjoy a beverage and relax to the live music in the venue's relaxed, club-like atmosphere. More at: ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

Rathbun Presents Poetry Reading, Oct. 15

Dr. Jennifer Rathbun, professor of foreign languages, will hold a talk and reading from her newly released poetry translation on Monday, Oct. 15, at 4 p.m. in the Schar College of Education’s Ronk Lecture Hall. The reading is free and open to the public.

Artepoética Press in New York has just released Dr. Rathbun’s ninth full-length poetry translation of La llama Inclinada/The Inclined Flame by Colombian author Carlos Satizábal. Satizábal will join Dr. Rathbun and participate in the reading. More at:  news.ashland.edu

Fall Choral Concert, Sunday at 4 pm

The Ashland University Choir, Women's Chorus and the Ashland Area Chorus present a fall choral concert with an eclectic program ranging from a sea chantey, to a Serbian gypsy dance, folk and art songs as well as sacred compositions. The concert will be held on Sunday, Oct. 14, at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel and is free and open to the public. More at ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

Final "Naturalist on Duty" Event on 10/13

The final event in this year’s “Naturalist on Duty” series at Ashland University’s Environmental Studies Center located at the AU Black Fork Wetlands, 2636 Ashland Road, will take place on Saturday, Oct. 13. This month’s event will focus on “Insects and Microscopic Life.”

“This time of year, even on cool days, there are grasshoppers, crickets and katydids in the prairie habitat near our wetlands classroom," Dr. Patricia Saunders said. "Much like birds and frogs, many species of insects have unique songs that can be used to identify which species are around. Drops of water from the wetland will have tiny animals with their own special ways of moving and eating.”

Art Faculty Exhibit Opens 10/11

The Coburn Gallery opens its annual faculty exhibition on Thursday, Oct. 11 at 4:30 p.m. with an opening reception. The exhibit highlights the two and three dimensional works of the current faculty as professional artists exhibiting in their prospective areas including Keith Dull, Priscilla Roggenkamp, Dan McDonald, Cynthia Petry and Michael Bird. The exhibit runs through Nov. 17 and is free and open to the public. More at coburngallery.blogspot.com

Lecture to Discuss eWriter Development

Dr. Asad Khan, chief technical officer of Kent Displays, will present a talk on the development of materials for eWriters, electronic alternatives to paper as well as other computer display technologies. Titled “eWriters: Flexible Displays & Electronics – Beyond the Hype and onto Commercialization,” The lecture is scheduled for Thursday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 p.m. in the Ronk Lecture Hall in the Schar College of Educaiton. The event is free and open to the public.

This is the second annual presentation of the “Lab to Marketplace seminars” sponsored by the Science Scholars Program in the College of Arts and Sciences and the Morgan Center for Entrepreneurial Studies in the Dauch College of Business and Economics. Read more at news.ashland.edu/article/ashland-university-host-talk-materials-ewriters

Tournées Film Festival Returns

Thanks to a grant from the French-American Cultural Exchange, the Department of Foreign Languages will host the Tournées Festival this October. The Festival will feature five recent French films and one classic film. Each film screening will include a brief introduction and a post-film discussion led by Dr. Richard Gray, associate professor of French and Chair of the Department, who secured the grant and organized the festival.

The Festival, which is free and open to the public, will take place on October 10, 16, 17, 23, 24 and 30 at 7 p.m. in the Ronk Lecture Hall in the Schar College of Education. The Festival is presented in collaboration with Ashland University’s College of Arts and Sciences. More details at news.ashland.edu.

Roggenkamp & Art Ed Alumna's Work Selected

Priscilla Roggenkamp, Associate Professor of Art, has had three works selected for the Art Educators As Artist exhibition. The exhibition will be held at the Ohio Arts Council's Riffe Gallery in Columbus from Nov. 1 - Jan. 5. Of the 46 artist who have been chosen, one is an AU art education alumna, Erica Kenny, who is currently teaching at Eastern High School.

AU & AHS Bands Perform Together This Weekend

The AU Marching Eagles and the Ashland High School Arrows Marching Bands join forces this weekend to present two halftime shows. Directors Joseph Lewis, Jr. (AU), and Martin Kral (AHS) will lead 200 students to perform at the halftime shows for AHS' Friday night football game versus Mansfield Senior High School and again at AU’s Saturday evening football game against Saginaw Valley State University. Both games begin at 7 p.m. Read more at: ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

2018-2019 Season Brings the Classics to Life

Ashland University Theatre announces its 2018-2019 season themed "Treasured Classics Renewed" as it brings three literary classics to life. Audiences will journey back to the Victorian era filled with drama, mystery, romance, comedy, adventure and farce as AU Theatre revisits the classics through the eyes of today’s ground-breaking playwrights and composers including:

• Louisa May Alcott’s American classic of the March sisters in a musical written by the creative team of Howland, Dickstein and Knee
• Anton Chekhov’s Russian drama masterpiece brought "to life as if it were taking place today. And 110 years ago" through Sarah Ruhl’s translation
• Sir Arthur Conan Doyles’ most famous Sherlock Holmes mystery transitioned to a fast-paced, madcap comedy by Tony-winning playwright Ken Ludwig.

Full details at: autheatredepartment.blogspot.com

Toxicology Majors Intern at Lubrizol Corporation

AU Toxicology majors have spent their summer as paid interns at specialty chemicals producer Lubrizol in Northeast Ohio. The Product Safety and Compliance department where they worked is managed by AU alumna, Karen Jordan '00. Abigail Culver wrote a report about her internship saying:

This internship showed me the non-laboratory side of Toxicology as well as gave me real-life applications of topics that I have learned about in classes. I learned so much during my time there and had the opportunity to meet so many new people. I am so grateful for my experience and would recommend this internship to anyone interested in Toxicology.

Read more at:  ashlandscience.blogspot.com

Kiefer Is West Coast Editor for the Paris Review

The Paris Review recently announced that Dr. Christian Kiefer, Director of Ashland University's MFA Program in Creative Writing, will be taking on the newly created role of West Coast Editor. Emily Nemens, Editor of The Paris Review, writes that

Christian’s inveterate energy, good taste, and large network have already proven valuable to my first issue, and we should all be thankful that he connected us with Lawrence Ferlinghetti, whose Art of Poetry interview is now underway.