Spiritual Life

Religion, Faith and Queer Identity: Interfaith Panel Discussion — 2/7

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RELIGION, FAITH, AND QUEER IDENTITY:

Interfaith Panel Discussion

February 7, 2015

12 PM – 2:15 PM

Daniel Family Common

(updated location)

Panelists include students, alumni, and religious leaders from the community. Free lunch provided.

Hosted by the Queer Resource Center, Office of Religious and Spiritual Life, and Presbyterian Promise

Please RSVP by emailing abardos@wesleyan.edu

Mindfulness Class (non-credit)–Starting Feb. 16

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BPN: Being Present Now.  Mindfulness and Wesleyan

A 6-week course on Mondays, 6:00-8:00 pm, beginning on 1/26/15

During this non-credit course, students will be introduced to various techniques of mindfulness practice and spiritual awareness, including sitting meditation and yoga. These modalities are designed to aid in stress and anxiety reduction, and when practiced diligently, may also offer opportunities for greater self-awareness and personal development. The goal is to give students a spiritual toolbox that is portable, replicable, and sustainable. Students will gain an understanding of the roles these practices can play in leading a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.

The class will be taught by: Amy Tate, PHD Scott Kessel, Wesleyan ’87 MALS ’92 David Leipziger Teva, Director – Office of Religious and Spiritual Life

There is a limited amount of space in the class. For more information and to apply:

http://mindful.blogs.wesleyan.edu/class/ or  contact David Lepiziger Teva (dleipziger@wesleyan.edu).

 

Lecture: “Prisons, Religion, and the Cultural Logic of Mass Incarceration” — Mon., 11/24

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On behalf of the Religion Department, I would like to invite you to a public lecture by Dr. Joshua Dubler ’97, Assistant Professor of Religion at the University of Rochester, this coming Monday, Nov. 24, at 4:15 pm, in 001 PAC.

The lecture is entitled: “Prisons, Religion, and the Cultural Logic of Mass Incarceration.”

Here is a brief description of the lecture: Drawing on his recent book, Down in the Chapel: Religious Life in an American Prison (Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2013), Dubler explores the role played by religious ideas and practices in nurturing the American prison boom. Special attention will be given to prisoners’ religion–how it is practiced, how it is regulated, and how it is popularly imagined.

The lecture is being co-sponsored by the African American Studies Program, the Allbritton Center for the Study of Public Life, the American Studies Department, the Anthropology Department, the College of Letters, the Government Department, and the University Chaplains.

Ron Cameron, Professor of Religion

Hip Hop Festival — Sat., Sept. 20

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Wesleyan University’s Center for the Arts presents

Planet Hip Hop Festival with Maimouna Youssef a.k.a. Mumu Fresh, Meryem Saci, and Poetic Pilgrimage

Curated by Nomadic Wax

What: Afternoon workshops and evening performances by international Muslim women in hip hop, including London’s spoken-word duo Poetic Pilgrimage, the U.S. debut of Montreal-based Algerian singer-songwriter and rapper Meryem Saci as a solo artist, and the New England debut of Washington, D.C.-based and Grammy Award-nominated singer-songwriter, poet, and emcee Maimouna Youssef a.k.a. Mumu Fresh as a solo artist. Using hip hop as a platform to explore issues of social importance—faith, peace, unity, social justice—educate individuals, and inspire change, the evening concert will also feature the Nomadic Wax Collective, a live backing band that will include bass, drums, keys, guitar, and a DJ. This event is part of Muslim Women’s Voices at Wesleyan.

When: Saturday, September 20, 2014

Where:

  • Three workshops (between 11am and 5pm): World Music Hall, located at 40 Wyllys Avenue on the Wesleyan University campus in Middletown, Connecticut.
  • Concert(9pm): Fayerweather Beckham Hall, located at 55 Wyllys Avenue on the Wesleyan University campus in Middletown, Connecticut.

About: As a teenager, singer-songwriter and rapper Meryem Saci moved with her family from her native war-torn Algeria to Canada. She joined the multi-cultural Montreal hip hop group Nomadic Massive in 2005, opening for Mos Def, Wyclef Jean, Public Enemy, and Busta Rhymes, and appearing with the group at Trinity College’s International Hip Hop Festival in 2010. This performance at Wesleyan will be Ms. Saci’s United States debut as a solo artist. Meryem Saci’s workshop, “Music Is Medicine: Hip Hop Therapy for the Bifurcated Soul,” will take place at 11am. In the workshop, Ms. Saci will explore her experiences as a refugee, an artist, and a Muslim woman. She will unpack the therapeutic and spiritual benefits that music can provide, pulling examples and lessons from her own history and life story.

Singer-songwriter, poet, and emcee Maimouna Youssef a.k.a. Mumu Fresh was featured on the track “Don’t Feel Right” on the album “Game Theory” (2006) by The Roots, which was nominated for a Grammy Award for “Best Rap Album.” She also appeared with the group in Dave Chappelle’s hip hop documentary “Block Party” (2005). Ms. Youssef ‘s first full-length solo album “The Blooming” (2011) was included The Washington Post’s list of best D.C. music of that year, saying “This R&B/soul/hip-hop dynamo delivers a vibrant collection of songs…every track is an impressive showcase of the up-and-coming performer.” Her single “I Got A Man,” produced by DJ Jazzy Jeff, has been featured on VH1 and BET. Ms. Youssef has toured as a supporting vocalist for The Roots as well as Lalah Hathaway, Zap Mama, and Common, and has performed with Angelique Kidjo, Femi Kuti, Nas, Jill Scott, Erykah Badu, Mos Def, and Talib Kweli, among others. This performance at Wesleyan will be Ms. Youssef’s New England debut as a solo artist. Maimouna Youssef’s workshop, “Freestyling through the History of American Music – Improvisation 101,” will take place at 1:45pm. The workshop will take participants on a vocal journey chronologically through various genres of American music using the pillars of Islam from a female perspective. Participants will learn to use improvisation techniques to share their personal experiences while having loads of musical fun.

Born in Bristol, England to Jamaican migrant parents, Muneera Rashida and Sukina Abdul Noor formed the spoken word duo Poetic Pilgrimage in 2002, and converted to Islam in 2005. Fusing the spiritual mysticism of Alice Coltrane with the sounds of Gil Scott-Heron and A Tribe Called Quest, their music is a portrait of resistance, challenging a hostile environment with unparalleled lyricism and thought-provoking content. Poetic Pilgrimage opened for Talib Kweli’s 2008 tour of Norway. In 2009, the duo were featured at the South by Southwest Festival supporting Mr. Lif, and were the first British group to perform at Trinity College’s International Hip Hop Festival, sharing the bill with Blitz the Ambassador. Poetic Pilgrimage’s workshop, “The Art of Rhyme: Exploring Islam and Hip Hop through Verse Writing,” will take place at 3:30pm. In this workshop, the group will explore the topic of Islam and hip hop using poetry and verse writing, supported by a live DJ. After a short lecture, participants will have an opportunity to write a four-bar verse on a topic relating to the subject of Islam and hip hop. Poetic Pilgrimage will coach participants through the writing and performing process, and participants will have the opportunity to present their verses at the Planet Hip Hop Festival Concert at 9pm.

Nomadic Wax is a U.S.-based social enterprise that produces music, film, and educational events aimed at creating cross-cultural exchange and increasing awareness of global issues. Nomadic Wax links diverse communities and encourages social and cultural dialogues through art. Founded in 2001 as a fair trade record label and production company of African hip hop and urban music, Nomadic Wax has grown into an internationally recognized brand firmly rooted at the intersection of urban media and social change.

Admission:

  • Three workshops (Meryem Saci – 11am; Maimouna Youssef – 1:45pm; Poetic Pilgrimage – 3:30pm): $12 per workshop, or $30 for all three workshops. Workshops are free for Wesleyan students. Lunch provided for participants.
  • Concert (9pm): $18 general public; $15 senior citizens, Wesleyan faculty/staff/alumni, non-Wesleyan students; $6 Wesleyan students.

Special Offers: Purchase a Passport to Muslim Women’s Voices at Wesleyan by Saturday, September 20, 2014 and see the evening concert for only $12.50! Click here for more details about this special offer: http://www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/events/passportevents2014-2015.html

Ticketing Information: To purchase tickets online, please visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/boxoffice. Tickets may be purchased at the door beginning one hour prior to the performances, subject to availability. The Center for the Arts accepts cash, checks written to “Wesleyan University,” and all major credit cards. No refunds, cancellations, or exchanges.

For More Information: For more information and to watch preview videos of all the artists, please visit http://www.wesleyan.edu/cfa/mwv.

 

Spring ReOrientation for 2017: Workshops & Events Jan. 27-Feb. 9 — Win an iPad!!

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Spring Re-Orientation for First Year Students

Community Standards and Responsibilities

January 27th | 12:00PM | Usdan 108

Wesleyan has a long history of peer adjudication through the honor board and the Student Judicial Board. Members of these boards will share the role they play in upholding the community standards at Wesleyan. You will also hear from representatives in the dean of students office who will discuss the roles they have on campus and provide some advice about what you can do to be successful at Wesleyan. Facilitated by Dean of Students, Rick Culliton and Associate Dean of Students, Scott Backer.

Lunch will be provided.

Office of Religious and Spiritual Life (ORSL) Open House

January 27th | 3:30PM | Office of Religious & Spiritual Life, 169 High St.

Come meet Wesleyan’s Chaplains, and ORSL staff and students who help coordinate spiritual and religious life on campus. Learn more at www.wesleyan.edu/orsl

Snacks will be served.

General Study Abroad Information Session

January 28th | 4:15 PM | Usdan 110

Join Director of International Studies, Carolyn Sorkin, and recent study-abroad participants to talk about the nuts and bolts of spending a semester or year studying in another country. Topics to be covered include program selection, the application process, credit transfer, cultural adjustment, financial aid, and much more. Come with questions!

Managing Your Dining Plan

January 29th | 4:15PM | Usdan 108

Haven’t quite figured out the meal plan system yet? Thinking about changing your meal plan? Worried about a special dietary need that you may have? Come to this Q&A session where campus and dining program administrators will be on hand to answer any questions you have. Facilitated by Bon Appétit Resident District Manager, Michael Strumpf, and Director of Usdan University Center, Michelle Myers-Brown.

Getting the Most Out of the Career Center

January 30th | 12:00 PM | Usdan 110

Come in and learn about how the Career Center can help you with finding your passion and locating an internship.  This quick introduction to the Wesleyan Career Center will help you to utilize our services and access the extensive internship and online job database. We’ll also show you how you can set up your online profile to personalize your experience.  This session is designed for both first-year students and transfer, exchange, and visiting students. Facilitated by Associate Director for Career Development and Campus Outreach, Persephone Hall.

Lunch will be provided.

Study Abroad and Students of Color

January 30th | 4:15 PM | Usdan 110

Join Director of International Studies, Carolyn Sorkin, and recent study-abroad participants to talk about the nuts and bolts of spending a semester or year studying in another country. Topics to be covered include program selection, the application process, credit transfer, cultural adjustment, financial aid, and much more. Special attention will be given to concerns common to students of color. Come with questions!

Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Diversity Training

Visit the MLK Day website for additional details and events: http://www.wesleyan.edu/mlk/

Training Session Block I
January 31st | 10AM
Training Session Block II
January 31st | 1PM

Keynote Address

January 31st | 3:15PM | Memorial Chapel
Address by Anti-Racist Activist Tim Wise. Note, this is a ticketed event. Tickets can be picked up at the University Box Office, Usdan University Center. Students Tickets available Thursday, January 23. Reception and book signing to follow in the Zelnick Pavillion. Books will be available for purchase during the signing.

You, Booze, and the Board

February 3rd |12:00 PM | Usdan 110

This session will offer answers to students’ most frequently asked questions about addressing severe intoxication: What does alcohol poisoning look like? How do I know whether a friend needs medical assistance or not? What will PSafe do if I call them? If my friends go to the hospital, what happens next? Do they get in trouble? Are their parents called? What sanctions could they get? Conversation facilitated by Associate Dean of Students, Scott Backer.

Lunch will be provided.

Getting Good Advice, Giving Good Information, and Other Essential Nuggets of Wisdom

February 4th | 12:15 PM | Usdan 108

Returning to college for your second semester is a very different experience from heading off to college for the first time.  You bring with you all of the things that you learned in the fall – your accomplishments, as well as the challenges you may have experienced.  You have a wealth of “college knowledge.” The start of the spring semester is another new beginning and a time for you to reflect on your experiences in the fall and develop a plan for academic success.

What worked well for you and what did not?  What strategies did you use in the fall that proved to be successful?  What resources did you seek out?  Did you have balance in your semester and follow the Rule of 7? At this workshop, we will talk about the organizational and study strategies that worked best, hear from peers about strategies and resources they found helpful, and set goals for the spring. Conversation facilitated by Dean for Academic Advancement and Dean for the Class of 2017, Louise Brown, Associate Dean of Student Academic Resources, Laura Patey, and the Peer Advisors.

Lunch will be provided.

Financing Study Abroad

February 5th | 4:15 PM | Usdan 110

Join Assistant Director of International Studies, Gail Winter, and Assistant Director of Financial Aid, Jacqueline Outlaw, for a discussion of the financial aspects of study abroad. Topics to be discussed will include financial aid, scholarships, and budgeting, as well as general information regarding study abroad. Come with questions!

Wellness at Wesleyan

February 6th | 12:00 PM | Usdan 110

The transition to college is stressful, both physically and mentally. Learn about what resources are available for your well-being during this unique transition as well as during the rest of your time at Wesleyan. Learn about the extensive resources Wesleyan offers to make sure you stay physically and mentally healthy during your time at Wes, as well as ways you can get involved. Facilitated by Director of Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), Jennifer D’Andrea.

Lunch will be provided.

Desire and Relationship:  What’s Love Got To Do With It?

February 8th | 12:00-3:00PM | Albritton 311

Participate in this no faith/multi-faith/interfaith conversation about Love and its many understandings and facets. All are welcome.

 Catered Japanese lunch will be provided.

Bystander Intervention Training

February 9th | 10:00 AM-2:00PM | Usdan 110

WE Speak, WE Stand aims to create a community that is actively engaged in the prevention of sexual assault, relationship violence and advocates for the responsible use of alcohol. The goal of the program is to empower bystanders to intervene in high risk situations involving alcohol use, sexual assault and relationship violence. Empowered bystanders make the campus community safer by standing up and speaking out when they witness situations that could potentially harm the health and safety of others. Intervening with peers can be challenging for a number of reasons and training will provide you with the skills to move from inaction to action and intervene safely and effectively.

The first training features two distinct and separate tracks: sexual assault prevention and alcohol use intervention.  For more information email Tanya Purdy at tpurdy@wesleyan.edu. Facilitated by Director of Health Education, Tanya Purdy and Sexual Violence Resource Coordinator and Therapist, Alysha Warren.

Lunch will be provided.

THANKS FOR PARTICIPATING!

Sponsored by  the Office of New Student Orientation

wesleyan.edu/orientation

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Attend 7 programs and record your attendance.

Turn in your completed passport to the Office of New Student Orientation

(Usdan, Rooms 122, 124 & 126)

to be entered in a drawing for an iPad

by February 12, 2014!

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For more information about these and other programs,

check out the New Student Orientation Website,

or visit www.wesleyan.edu/orientation.

Take advantage of all the great things going on at Wesleyan!

Mindfulness@Wesleyan–Apply now for workshop series

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thumbnailCA3NHQXVMINDFULNESS CLASS@ WESLEYAN

Based on the positive student feedback last year, the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life is going to continue this initiative.

This “Wesleyanized” MBSR (Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction) class  is a 6 week class that focuses on various techniques of mindfulness practice and spiritual awareness. The goal is to give students a spiritual toolbox that is portable, replicable, and sustainable. Students will gain an understanding of the roles these practices can play in leading a happier, healthier and more fulfilling life.

The first class will start on 1/27 and continue for 5 Mondays from 6-8pm. You can find more info and apply at:  http://www.wesleyan.edu/orsl/jewish/PMW.html