The PME Graduate Cording

Pi Mu Epsilon held a dinner in Eagles Landing on Thursday, December 5. The 2020 PME graduates -- Kelly Fullin, Cassidy Johannsen and Janeen Grese -- received their cord.

English Senior Spotlight: Sarah Toki

I'm an English major with minor in Psychology.

I have so many great memories involving the English department but some of best involve my classes with Dr. Sharleen Mondal and now-Professor Emeritus Joe Mackall, reading and analyzing different texts such as The Rape of The Locke, Americanah, Half of a Yellow Sun, and Native Son, and the final paper I turned in for The Poem with professor Jay Robinson.

After graduation I plan on taking a semester off just where I will continue to drink ridiculous amounts of coffee, work through my every growing reading list before coming back for the Bachelor's Plus program to obtain my teaching license

Congratulations, Psychology Graduates!

Seven Ashland University Psychology majors took part in the commencement ceremony on Dec. 14. Pictured below are Dr. Bonfiglio, Yuanyuan Jiang, Liz Takacs, Kaylei Ruffing, Paige Leitz, Jessica Wilson, and Dr. Metzger (Ariana Graves and Sabrina Dickens not pictured). Congratulations!!!

English Senior Spotlight: Sarah Norris

I am an English and Creative Writing double major.

My favorite memories from being part of the English department include every class I had with former professor, Joe Mackall, analyzing various texts ranging from John Milton's Paradise Lost to Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley's Frankenstein, to Toni Morrison's Beloved, and crafting a paper over the connotations of setting in the novel, Pride and Prejudice, comparing it with two of its film adaptations.

After graduation I plan to continue to drink copious amounts of coffee as I write novels, to find a publishing or editing job local to Ashland, and maybe someday travel to Italy!

JDM December 2019 Graduates

Not long ago, two transfer students joined the Journalism and Digital Media department. On Saturday December 14, these transfers became Ashland University graduates. Digital Media Journalism major Steve Shrenkel and Digital Media Production major Alan Naymick were excellent contributors to JDM media and solid students. Good luck to them as they pursue careers in the profession.

English Senior Spotlight: Steph Sorrell

I’m a creative writing major and English minor.

My favorite memories at Ashland within the English department are turning my first ever assignment into my capstone, taking a leap of faith by volunteering to play John Winthrop in a reacting to the past lesson, and forcing my peers to play a town of Salem game during my presentation on the Crucible.

After graduating I’m looking for jobs locally but the goal is to work at a university and eventually work towards my masters!

AU Participates in Mathematical Competition

The 80th William Lowell Putnam Mathematical Competition was held on Saturday, December 7, 2019. The following Ashland University students participated in the competition: Daria Kochis, Kelly Luck, Samuel Meredith and Dakota Hamilton. These students worked on six problems from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. and then six more questions from 3 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Spanish in Law Practice

by Clarke Owens, Attorney

Recently, the court staff in Holmes County noted on my attorney profile that I speak some Spanish, and they asked me to accept an appointment to represent a Central American client who spoke no English.

At our first hearing, I was introduced to the certified court reporter. The CCR is a person fluent in a foreign language, trained and board-certified to translate in a court of law. Since his skills were greater than mine, he offered to translate for me and my client. I was greatly impressed with the interpreter's ability to put all my questions, instructions, and legal terms into language that the client understood. The CCR seldom interrupted me, and allowed me to express myself at great length, taking down key words as I spoke, which enabled him to remember everything I had said.

Knowledge of Spanish is becoming more and more valuable in the legal profession, even here in Ohio where the Spanish-speaking population is not as visible as in California, Florida, or Texas. Whereas, for many years, immigration attorneys were only available in the big cities, like Cleveland and Akron, today we have an attorney in Wooster who tells me immigration law is 25% of her practice.

Spanish speaking ability is the wave of the future for people whose jobs require them to communicate with a large number of people. It's also gratifying to be able to use this skill to help others, aside from using it in travels, or in reading. My foreign languages are French and Spanish, and I derive great satisfaction from studying them, and from using these skills in my legal practice.

English Senior Spotlight: Audrey Ashbrook

Audrey Ashbrook is a double-major in English and Creative Writing with a minor in History. “One of my favorite memories with the English Department was taking ENG 372: Nietzche and the Problem of Values with Dr. Weaver and reading Lord Jim and Crime and Punishment. His classes are always so much fun and really make me think about the text, characters, themes and issues on a deeper level. After graduation, I’m going to try and find a job in the field of writing, editing or publishing while also writing creatively on the side!”

Psychological Science Accelerator Featured on NPR.org

An article was published today on NPR.org about the Psychological Science Accelerator which was founded by Ashland University's Christopher Chartier. The article focuses on the first study that has gone through the accelerator which " included just shy of 11,500 participants from 41 countries. Each participant rated 120 photos of racially and ethnically diverse faces on one of 13 traits such as trustworthiness, aggressiveness, meanness, intelligence and attractiveness." Read the complete article at www.npr.org

3rd Annual 24-Hour Theater Project: Just Clowning Around

Written by Noah C Gore on December 1st, 2019

On November 8th thru 9th Ashland University students gathered for the 3rd annual 24-Hour Theater project. From writers to actors, costume designers to makeup artists, anybody can participate in this event no matter what department you come from. In fact, while the majority of those involved were, in fact, CFA students, the 24-Hour Theater Project hosted students from English & Creative Writing, Ashbrook, JDM, Computer Science, and more.

Miranda Bielawski, Ivey Buffenmyer, Eric Breeden, and I were all involved with writing the libretto for the play. Ivey acted as lead editor and will proudly stand by the fact that this year’s performance was based on an odd occurrence the morning prior at 2:00am; as she phrases it, she woke up in a cold sweat and thought to herself, “Existential Clown College.” For whatever reason this happened, it must have been fate, for this was the obvious choice for this production.

This year’s performance was announced prior that we would be attempting to write a musical, as well. Though many were skeptical and even a bit hesitant, we pressed onward. Starting at 7:30pm Friday and ending around 4:30am the following morning, we (including scriptwriters and music coordinators) had successfully written and scored* the script, lyrics**, songs, and stage directions for our production. It was decided then that we would call in all the actors that had auditioned, and by 5:30am, the first table read was underway.

The play follows Josh (a.k.a. John, a.k.a. Jason, etc.) as he stumbles into the biggest mix-up in his life; what he thought was an acceptance letter from Brown University turned out to be a one-way ticket to Clown University. However, this clown college is not like other clown colleges. Those that find themselves here aren’t sure why and don’t look for answers. Every waking moment is an existential crisis for these clowns, and they couldn’t be happier!

In the end, “Existential Clown College” was a huge success. In total, there were three full-length musical numbers fully choreographed and scored**. The crowd couldn’t stop laughing and the actors were very into their characters. If you’d like to see the production, the Ashland University Theater page on Facebook live-streamed the majority of the 24-Hour Project, including the entire live performance.

*All music was written and recorded by Ethan Tingler.

**All lyrics were written by the 24-Hour Theater Project scriptwriters.

Open Mic Night: Tuesday 12/10 at 7 in Eagles Landing

The English Department's students are hosting an open mic night on Dec. 10 at 7 p.m. in Eagles Landing. Come hear students read their original work and/or come read your work. There will be snacks. Come and decompress from the tense finals week!

Toxicology student presents research on Pesticide Analysis

Cillian Donahue, a senior Toxicology and Biology major (with a concentration in Forensic Biology) from Strongsville, had the opportunity to present her research on “Using Passive Sampling as a Method for Pesticide Analysis” at the recent National Collegiate Honors Council Conference in New Orleans. Cillian has been investigating a new method using silicone tubing to absorb pesticides from sediment for her Honors Capstone project. She is supervised by Dr. Jeff Weidenhamer (Chemistry) and Dr. Andrew Trimble (Toxicology). Read more at ashlandscience.blogspot.com

Festival of Lights, Sunday at 7 p.m.

Ashland University will officially begin its observance of the holiday season with the 29th annual Festival of Lights on Dec. 8 in Ashland University’s Jack and Deb Miller Chapel, located at the intersection of King Road and College Avenue.

The 7 p.m. candlelight service, which is free and open to the public, symbolizes Christ coming into the world. The story is communicated in verse and song. It will include Scripture readings by Rob and Kim Pool, traditional carols, and seasonal choral music by the Ashland University Choir and Women’s Chorus, and the Ashland Area Chorus. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m.

Winter Band Concert Showcases a World Premiere & Xylophone Soloist

The Department of Music presents its annual Winter Festival Band Concert on Saturday, Dec. 7 at 7:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre. Under the direction of Joseph Lewis, Jr., the concert will feature the Ashland University Symphonic Band and the Ashland Area Community Concert Band (AACCB). The concert will offer a program of classic compositions for concert band along with some holiday favorites. The concert is free and open to the public.

More info at:
ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

Randall-Griffiths Presents with Kelsey Nicolay

Dr. Deleasa Randall-Griffiths, Professor and Director of the Online Communication Studies Program in the Department of Communication Studies, presented a session with alumna Kelsey Nicolay titled Communication is the Key to Breaking Down Barriers for the American Council of the Blind Regional Conference, Columbus, OH. Read more at: ashlandcomstudies.blogspot.com

TubaChristmas Returns to Ashland on Dec. 7

The local holiday favorite TubaChristmas returns to Ashland University's Hugo Young Theatre on Saturday, December 7 at Noon. The concert is free and open to the public and invites area tuba, euphonium and baritone players to perform. Musician registration will begin at 10 a.m. followed by a rehearsal at 10:20 a.m. More information at ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

Science Alumni Gather for Fall Social

Science alumni gathered last Friday at Ashland's local brew pub Uniontown with 16 alumni, their guests and a handful of faculty.  This was our third AU Science alumni social with the next planned for the spring.

If you are a science alumni you should be receiving email invitations to these events.  If you are not, please contact us to update your email address by emailing us at ashland-science@ashland.edu.

Holiday Jazz Concert, Dec. 5

The Ashland University Department of Music will present an Ashland University Jazz Concert on Thursday, Dec. 5 at 7:30 pm in Hugo Young Theatre. The concert is free and open to the public and will feature performances by three different ensembles. 

The evening will begin with pre-concert music from the Lost and Profound jazz combo followed by selections from the 4th annual AUJO Alumni Big Band and concluding with jazz standards and holiday favorites from the Ashland University Jazz Orchestra (AUJO).

Award-Winning Poet and Ashland Alum Logan Fry Visits Campus

On November 15th, Logan Fry came and visited his stomping grounds of Ashland University where he received his bachelor’s in English and Creative Writing. During his visit, he attended Dr. Deborah Fleming’s Poetry Workshop class, where he answered questions posed by the students. There was a lot to learn from him, such as information about his personal life, the road to publication, and how he found his niche. Fry also made it a point to note that poetry was not always his first choice; he originally wanted to write fiction, but that all changed when a visiting professor told him he spoke like a poet. This awakening helped push him to where he is now.

Read more about Fry's visit from Noah C. Gore at englishatashland.blogspot.com

Clarinets, Flutes, Brass & Strings Perform, 12/4

On Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m., several student ensembles will perform in a joint recital including a clarinet trio and the Flute Loops Jazz Combo under the direction of Dr. Thomas Reed, a brass ensemble directed by Joseph Lewis Jr. and a string ensemble directed by Jane Reed. The concert is free and open to the public.

Hullman and Pollutro Present at National Conference

Dr. Gwen Hullman and Camille Pollutro (Criminal Justice and Health & Risk Communication major) presented "Strategic Messaging Elements of the Tips from Former Smokers Centers for Disease Control Video Campaign" at the National Communication Association's 105th Annual Conference in Baltimore, MD last week. The conference focused on Communication for Survival, which "encourages Communication scholars and practitioners alike to think about the vital role communication plays in survival."

To learn more about the National Communication Association, visit their website.

Fall Honors Recital Tonight at 7:30 p.m.

The best of Fall 2019 will take the stage at tonight's Honors Recital in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall in the Center for the Arts. The concert is free and open to the public.

Performers will include:

VOCALISTS: Sami Eron, Lila Hyatt, Maya Rickard, Alayna Ross, Katie Snell, Rebecca Young

INSTRUMENTALISTS: Kailyn Buyok (violin), Ariane Hill (flute), Jed McFadden (piano/violin)

Melan White Responds to Maggie Smith's Reading

As a junior, a Creative Writing and Mathematics double major, and a student athlete, it can be hard to find time to attend events on campus like this one. I was grateful to be able to attend, I felt both honored and inspired to listen to Maggie Smith read her work. Towards the end of the reading when Smith was reading her poem “Let’s Not Begin,” I had this moment of deja vu. I focused in on Smith’s words and realized that I had heard her work before. I was a member of a writing community in my hometown and we would open our writing time with Smith’s poems. It was such a great moment to be able to put a face to the words that had moved me so many times before. Full story at: englishatashland.blogspot.com

2019 Math and Computer Science Newsletter

The 2019 Math and Computer Science Newsletter is now available online. To see past newsletters click here and scroll to the bottom of the page.

Sundberg's new publications

Dr. Kelly Sundberg, Asst. Prof. of English has several new publications this month including:

• Her interview with The Healthy, which is part of the Reader's Digest family, about her book Goodbye, Sweet Girl
• Her column in The Stylist, UK's leading women's magazine

Kiana Ziegler Opens Art Exhibition on Nov. 21

Showcasing the work of graduating senior Kiana Ziegler, the 2019 Senior Art + Design Exhibition will open on Thursday, Nov. 21 with an opening reception from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Coburn Art Gallery. The exhibition will run from Nov. 21 to Dec. 14 and includes painting, printmaking, photography and digital art.

Kiana will graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Art, with a painting concentration, and a Bachelor of Art in Commercial Art, with a graphic design concentration. Upon graduation, Ziegler plans to either attend Ohio University to receive a Masters in painting, or to continue working toward her goals of owning a house and travelling to Japan. Read more at ashlanduniversityart.blogspot.com

Benefit Pop-Up Art Sale, Nov. 21

Just in time for the holidays, the Coburn Gallery and the AU Art Club will host a one day Benefit Pop-Up Art Sale in the Hugo Young Theatre lobby on Thursday, Nov. 21 from Noon-6:30 p.m. 100% of the proceeds will benefit the family of Becky Hale, 2018 AU Art Education graduate that passed away suddenly in October. Becky had a passion for teaching young artists and did so through the Coburn's Art Saturdays program, Summer Art Camp and most recently through the Salvation Army Kroc Center.

Patrons can browse the artful hand crafted items created by Ashland University Art + Design students, alumni, faculty, and community members.

“We are honored to host a unique and temporary pop-up experience for art lovers in our own backyard while raising funds in memory of Becky Hale” said Cynthia Petry, director of the Coburn Gallery.

Credit cards, checks and cash will be accepted. For more information about the shop, or to donate artwork or make a monetary contribution contact the Coburn Gallery 419.289.5652 or coburngallery@ashland.edu.

Spring 2020 Symposium Event Scheduled Released

After a successful fall slate of enlightening events, the 10th Biennial College of Arts & Sciences Symposium Against Indifference releases its Spring 2020 listing of events which is available online and in hard copy. All events are free and open to the public.

The spring events include: 

• a lecture on low-cost improvements to measuring air pollutants in Columbus, Ohio;
• a panel discussion about corporate social responsibility;
• a living history performance of Carrie Chapman Catt's woman's suffrage story; and 
• a 4-part series on the Victims of Communism including: 
• a personal story from a North Korean defector, 
• lessons learned on the downfall of the Venezuelan democracy from a Venezuelan dissident 
• a film screening of The Lives of Others which follows an East German surveillance, and 
• a lecture on Havel's Rhetoric of Truth through Communist Czechoslovakia

Didion interns at WEWS News 5

Last summer Digital Media Journalism major Samantha Didion had a taste of the professional media world as she interned with WEWS News 5 in Cleveland, Ohio. Samantha noted that the rapid pace of news gathering and live production affirmed her passion for this craft. She hopes to start as a multimedia journalist shortly after her May 2020 graduation.

2019 ICPC Regional Programming Contest

Dr. Deborah Wilson accompanied nine students who participated in the 2019 ICPC East Central North America Regional Programming Contest held at Youngstown State University. The teams were:

• Ashland Automatons: Renee Lucas, Brennen Nalley, Huijie (Daisy) Zhang 
• Ashland CPUs: Mohammed Bawazeer, Kelly Fullin, Brennan Kunkle 
• Ashland C0d3r$: Camryn Bickerstaff, Jonathan Meredith, Josiah Moore 

The contest had eleven problems to solve. The Ashland C0d3r$ solved one problem placing them in 78^th place. Congratulations to the AU teams. For some of these students this is their last contest as they are either graduating December 2019 or May 2020. Thank you for your participation. We will miss those graduating and hope to see the others participate again.

AU alumnus, poet Logan Fry offers public reading Nov. 15

Poet and 2010 Ashland University alumnus Logan Fry will read selections from his book, Harpo Before the Opus (winner of the 2018 Omnidawn 1st/ 2nd Book Prize, selected by Srikanth Reddy, author of Voyager), on Friday, Nov. 15 at 4 p.m. in the Schar College of Education’s Ronk Lecture Hall. The reading is free and open to the public. Read more at: news.ashland.edu

Veterans for Peace Members Speak at AU on 11/13

Veterans for Peace members Mary Reynolds Powell and Ian Y. Yee will present “Erasing the Battle Lines: Finding a Path to Peace” on Wednesday, Nov. 13, at 7 p.m. in the Trustees Room of the John C. Myers Convocation Center at Ashland University. This event is sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence.

The program, which is free and open to the public, will include a selection of letters from those who have been impacted by American wars: friend and foe, civilian and military. Following this, Powell and Yee will share their personal journeys from their military experiences to Veterans for Peace. A question-and-answer period will follow. More at: news.ashland.edu

English Alumni Update: Garrison Stima

Since graduating from AU in 2018, Garrison Stima (Creative Writing major) has been busy with many things including writing his new book The Lost Voices. Readers can find sample chapters of the book and keep up with Garrison at: https://medium.com/@havenlayne7

Reflecting on his time as a student at Ashland University, Garrison notes:

"AU did a wonderful job of engaging me in different forms of literature and media, which showed me how each work could be used as a lens or platform to enhance the others and sometimes understand them. It helped me realize that any form of writing can say something that someone needs to hear. Writing can always give the world something new and I love AU for showing me that."

Read more at: englishatashland.blogspot.com

24-Hour Theatre Project Returns Nov. 9

Ashland University Department of Theatre and Alpha Psi Omega (APO) theatre honor society is producing another 24-Hour Theatre Project this fall. The performance of an original script written and produced within 24-hours will be held on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m. in Ashland University's Studio Theatre.

A limited number of tickets are available for this free performance which is open to the public. Patrons can secure their seat by calling the Ashland University Box Office at 419.289.5125. Read more at autheatredepartment.blogspot.com

PANdemonium4 Flute Quartet Performs 11/8

Ashland University Department of Music presents a guest artist recital featuring the Ohio-based flute quartet, PANdemonium4, on Friday, Nov. 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. The concert program will feature contemporary pieces by composers from Ohio, across the U.S. as well as France including an arrangement of the top rock anthem from the American heavy metal band Metallica. The concert is free and open to the public.

Dr. Kimberlee Goodman, Lindsey Goodman, Lisa Jelle and Alison Brown Sincoff formed PANdemonium4 in 2016. For their concert in Ashland, they will be joined by percussionist Liz Procopio and bassist Jeremey Poparad who are also teaching-performer professionals while teaching in their discipline at Ashland University. They will assist PANdemonium on Mark Flugge's Jazz Fantasy for Flute Quartet with optional bass and percussion in three movements (Ahmad, The Letter, Samba Fantasy).

Other pieces in the program include Daniel Dorff's Musetta Steps Out which is based on "Musetta's Waltz" from Puccini's La Bohème, Eugene Bozza's Jour d'été à la montagne, Cynthia Folio's Four 'Scapes (Cityscape, Seascape, Landscape, Escape), Linda Kernohan's My Compass Still to Guide Me, and Nicole Chamberlin's arrangement of Metallica's Enter Sandman. Read More at ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

AU Psychology Has Key Role in Largest Psych Study

Within the 24 hours, facial perception research involving 11,481 participants from 130 institutions spread across 48 countries and involving 24 different languages has been made public.

It is one of the largest studies in the history of psychology. And it all started at Ashland University.

It marks the completion of the first study undertaken by the Psychological Science Accelerator, the brainchild of AU associate professor of psychology Christopher R. Chartier. The worldwide network of laboratories involving more than 700 psychological scientists was launched in 2017 by a single blog post from Chartier, who reasoned a global collaboration could do for psychology what CERN – the European Organization for Nuclear Research – has done for particle physics.

Quite simply, Chartier said, “the PSA allows us to conduct really, really big tests of human psychology. This first study focused on social judgments we make just from looking at someone’s face.” Participants were asked to look at an array of 120 faces, then rate them on 13 different traits, such as intelligence, attractiveness, and trustworthiness. READ MORE at: news.ashland.edu

Documentary & Panel Discussion About Stolen Children, 11/6

The film "Dawnland," Emmy Award-winner for outstanding research, will be shown on Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7 p.m. in Ashland University's Hawkins-Conard Student Center Auditorium as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility."

Co-sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence and the Native American Awareness Committee of the United Methodist Church, the free, public event will also include a panel discussion immediately following the film's screening with Kimberlee Medicine Horn Jackson of the Yankton Sioux Tribe; Nancy Udolph, Ashland University Associate Professor of Social Work; and Daniel Hawk, Ashland Theological Seminary Professor of Old Testament.

For most of the 20th century, government agents forced Native American children from their homes and placed them with white families to save them from being Indian. As recently as the 1970s, one in four Native children nationwide were living in non-Native foster care, adoptive homes, or boarding schools. Many children experienced devastating emotional and physical harm by adults who mistreated them and tried to erase their cultural identity.

 "Dawnland" goes behind-the-scenes as this historic body grapples with difficult truths, reconciliation, racial healing, tribal autonomy, and child welfare system reform. Read more at cas-symposium.blogspot.com

Senior Recital: Samantha Eron, Soprano, 11/3

Music and political science major Samantha Eron (Brighton, Michigan) will perform her senior vocal recital on Sunday, Nov. 3 at 1 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. She will be accompanied by pianist Deborah Logan and fellow soprano Rebecca Young. Her program will include classical pieces by Debussy, Mozart along with operetta and musical theatre compositions by Menotti, Leonard Bernstein, Cole Porter and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

The concert is free and open to the public.

Sounds of the Stadium Concert, 11/2

The Ashland University Department of Music presents the Sounds of the Stadium concert featuring the Ashland University Eagle Marching Band under the direction of Joseph Lewis, Jr., Director of Bands, on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 7:00 p.m. in Kates Gymnasium. The concert is free and open to the public.

The 2019 Eagle Marching Band will perform selections from their halftime shows including music from Imagine Dragons, The Millenial Show, Toto, The Halloween Show, and others along with other Ashland University traditional favorites. The color guard and feature twirlers will also perform at this concert which will be inside Kates Gymnasium away from inclement weather.

Alumna Kate Siefert Returns to AU Classroom

2017 AU Digital Media Journalism and Production graduate Kate Siefert returned to her alma mater in late October to both speak and teach. Kate, a television news anchor who will be moving from WTOV 9 in Steubenville, Ohio to a daytime anchor position at WWMT in Kalamazoo, Michigan, was a guest speaker in the JDM 331 Media Management course. Her speech was centered on Managing Your Career. She also reviewed AUTV 20 News Break and Sports Break programs with AUTV 20 Executive Sports Producer Samantha Didion and anchors Lydia Bice and Steve Shrenkel.

Mondal Is Contributor in Fiction at Bread Loaf Writers’ Conference

Dr. Sharleen Mondal recently shared about her experience as a contributor in fiction at this year’s Bread Loaf Writers' Conference in Ripton, VT, from August 14-24. The annual conference is the oldest writers’ conference in the United States. Its faculty over the past 94 years have included Robert Frost, Toni Morrison, George R.R. Martin, and Anne Sexton. The conference hosts writers from across the country in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry workshops over a period of ten days.

Some of the most meaningful moments for me--apart from having my manuscript workshopped--included attending the amazing poet Jericho Brown’s reading and most especially hearing him read his poem “Bullet Points.” I loved gathering in the Little Theatre with my fellow Bread Loafers and watching The Pieces I Am, the documentary about Toni Morrison that Bread Loaf leadership got special permission to screen for us. I enjoyed hiking with fellow Bread Loafers up to Robert Frost’s cabin (he was a regular there for many years) and hiking the nearby Robert Frost interpretive trail which includes Frost’s poetry throughout the trail. Other memorable moments happened when I was out by myself; I went out birding nearly every morning, usually in the meadow across from the Bread Loaf Inn, and saw my first Indigo Bunting--and one morning I even saw a baby bear! though thankfully it scampered away as soon as it saw me and was on the other side of some trees that separated us.

 Read more about her experience at  englishatashland.blogspot.com

Auditions for Mamma Mia & The Odd Couple, 10/28

All Ashland University students are invited to audition for its Spring 2019 shows on Monday, Oct. 28 at 6:30 p.m. in Hugo Young Theatre and the Studio Theatre, respectively, as follows:

MAMMA MIA!

• Prepare 16-32 bars of a song in the style of the show, an accompanist will be provided
• Roles available for 6 women & 6 men & chorus
• Dance Audition & Call-backs: Oct. 29 & 30, 6:30 p.m., Hugo Young Theatre
• Performances: Feb. 14-22, Hugo Young Theatre

THE ODD COUPLE (Female Version) 

• Prepare a 1-2 minute comedic monologue
• Roles available for 6 women & 2 men
• Call-backs: Thursday, Oct. 31, Studio Theatre
• Performances: Apr. 1-5, Studio Theatre

Sign-up times and more information is available on the call-boards outside of the theatre scene shop.

Fall Choral Concert, Sunday, Oct. 27

The Ashland University Choir, Women's Chorus and the Ashland Area Chorus present a fall choral concert with an eclectic program centered around the theme of hope, happiness and security including Handel's "Sing unto God," Duruflé’s Requiem along with P. Williams' "Happy" and much more. The concert will be held on Sunday, October 27 at 4 p.m. in the Jack and Deb Miller Chapel and is free and open to the public. More information at ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

Poet Maggie Smith to give reading iat AU, 10/23

Award-winning poet and Columbus native Maggie Smith will present a free public reading of her works on Wednesday, Oct. 23, at 4 p.m. in the Schar College of Education’s Ronk Lecture Hall.

Smith is the author of three books of poetry:

• Good Bones (Tupelo Press, 2017)
• The Well Speaks of Its Own Poison (2015) 
• Lamp of the Body (Red Hen Press, 2005) 

as well as three prize-winning chapbooks. Her works have appeared in Best American Poetry, the New York Times, Tin House, The Paris Review, Ploughshares and Virginia Quarterly Review.

In 2016, Smith’s “Good Bones” poem was called “the official poem of 2016” by Public Radio International, was translated into nearly a dozen languages and was read by Meryl Streep at Lincoln Center.

A recipient of a creative writing fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, Smith has been honored by the Ohio Arts Council and the Academy of American Poets and is the recipient of a Pushcart Prize. A freelance writer and editor and editor at large for the Kenyon Review, she is a member of the core Master of Fine Arts faculty at Spalding University’s School of Creative and Professional Writing.

Coburn Gallery hosts “COMPASSION: The Art of Healing” exhibition

The national juried exhibition, "COMPASSION: The Art of Healing" will have its opening reception Tuesday, Oct. 22, at The Coburn Gallery from 4:30 - 7 p.m.

The theme of the exhibition, which will be on display at the gallery from Oct. 11 through Nov. 13, focuses on the humanitarian nature of the healing process as seen through the arts. Health care professionals and caregivers have played an integral part in the healing process throughout history and this exhibition hopes to highlight these contributions, as well as the process of patient restoration and wellness.

The exhibition's opening will coincide with the Ashland University College of Nursing and Health Sciences, in cooperation with the Rho Nu-at-Large, Fall Scholarly Meeting in the Hugo Young Theatre. More information at: news.ashland.edu

Sangre mía / Blood of Mine editors to share message of peace

On Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in the Hawkins-Conard Student Center Auditorium, Dr. Juan Armando Rojas Joo and Dr. Jennifer Rathbun, the editors of the anthology Sangre mía / Blood of Mine, will share a message of peace in their presentation and reading from their bilingual collection of 53 poets whose verses denounce violence committed against women along the U.S. – Mexico border region of Ciudad Juárez – El Paso, Texas. The event is presented as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility." Co-sponsored by the Department of Foreign Language, the event is free and open to the public.Read more at cas-symposium.blogspot.com

AU Hosts 13th International Arthur Miller Conference

Ashland University welcomes the 13th International Arthur Miller Conference to our campus this weekend to discuss the relevance of Arthur Miller in 2019.

The conference will include discussion of the relevance of Miller’s life and works from his roots, sources and early plays through the politics in his plays and his work as adapter. Miller’s works will be compared with other playwrights both past and present.

The keynote address will be delivered by distinguished Arthur Miller scholar Susan C. W. Abbotson of Rhode Island College. She is the author of A Critical Companion to Arthur Miller and Student Companion to Arthur Miller and numerous articles on Miller.

The conference will include staged readings of scenes from Miller’s plays and the Ashland University Department of Theatre will present their production of Miller’s An Enemy of the People.

Speaker Presents His Findings on Causes & Consquences of Inequality

Randolph Roth, Professor of History and Sociology at The Ohio State University, will speak about "Inequality and the Quality of Life: A Global View" on Wednesday, Oct. 16 at 7 p.m. in the Trustees Room of the Myers Convocation Center. The event is presented as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility." Co-sponsored by the Ashland Center for Nonviolence, the event is free and open to the public.

Roth will present his findings on the causes and consequences of inequality, globally and within societies, with special attention to the question of why inequality had risen so rapidly since 1980 in the United States, Great Britain, Canada and Australia, but not in the rest of the affluent world. The answer bears heavily on the question of liberty versus responsibility. Read more at cas-symposium.blogspot.com

Jazz at the Nest, 10/15

Led by Dr. Scott Garlock, Professor of Music, the award-winning Ashland University Jazz Orchestra will present a free public concert Tuesday, Oct.15, at 7:30 p.m. in the Eagles Nest at the Hawkins-Conard Student Center, 1010 King Road. 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. Read more at: ashlanduniversitymusic.blogspot.com

Relating Today's Conundrums to "An Enemy of the People"

On Monday, Oct. 14, at 7 p.m. on the set of Ashland University Theatre's production of Arthur Miller's An Enemy of the People in Hugo Young Theatre, AU faculty representing the disciplines of journalism, history, business and chemistry will join the show's director to relate recent headlines and world events to the timelessness of the play. The panel discussion is free and open to the public and is presented as part of the College of Arts & Sciences' biennial Symposium Against Indifference which is focusing on "Liberty and Responsibility."

The panelists will include:

• Margaret Cogar, Professional Instructor of Journalism and Digital Media
• Dr. John Moser, Professor of History
• Dr. Rebecca Schmeller, Assistant Professor of Management
• Dr. Jeffrey Weidenhamer, Trustees' Distinguished Professor of Chemistry

Read more at: news.ashland.edu

Junior Recital: Kendra Garver, mezzo-soprano, Oct. 10

Junior music education major Kendra Garver, mezzo-soprano, will present her student recital on Thursday, Oct. 10 at 7:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth Pastor Recital Hall. A graduate of Triway High School, Kendra studies voice with Kimberly States and will be accompanied by Deb Logan (piano). Her program will include classical pieces by Mozart, Strauss, and Martini, along with musical theatre compositions by Gilbert and Sullivan and Andrew Lloyd Webber, as well as a Mexican folk song. The concert is free and open to the public.