September 11, 2006

This Week

Monday, September 11

4:00 p.m., Basement Lounge Founders

Teaching Writing as a Process (a workshop for all LS faculty but all other faculty are welcome)

7:00 p.m., Wallenberg Hall

"Islam in America and the World After 9/11" Panel Discussion

Augustana students and faculty will join the community in a series of programs this fall entitled "Commemorating 9/11: Programs for Understanding the Islamic and Pre-Islamic Middle East." In commemorating the fifth anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the series will delve into the foundations and early history of Islam and the Pre-Islamic East. The series will open with Monday's panel discussion. Panelists include:

Dr. Jim Winship, professor of political science
Dr. Rachel Magdalene, assistant professor of religion
Ms. Nicole Anderson, Augustana Fellow of history
Three members of Augustana's Muslim Student Association
- Rihana Al-Ghalayini, a native of Saudi Arabia and graduate of Bettendorf High School
- Haroon Hussain, a native of Moline who is of Pakistani descent
- Mohamad (Zak) Rajput, a native of Aledo who is also of Pakistani descent

Tuesday, September 12

11:30 a.m., Ascension Chapel

Reflections – Prayers for Those Who Hurt: In Remembrance of those who Died on 9/11/01 and for Those who Continue to Suffer in the aftermath of war, tsunami, hurricane, and other Disasters Around the World.

This brief service of readings, prayers, songs, and silence will express our solidarity with the families of those who died on September 11, 2001 and with thousands who are at risk today in the Middle East and throughout the world.

Wednesday, September 13

8:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., dean’s office

Walk–in hours

Thursday, September 14

10:30 a.m, Olin Auditorium

Convocation – Dr. Michael Conzen, “ The First Railroad to Leap the Mississippi: Its Geographical Significance Then and Now .”

In an age of air travel and automobiles, it is hard to think back and imagine what the railroad did 150 years ago to revolutionize personal mobility in a country as vast as the United States. The arrival of the steam railroad on the banks of the Mississippi River marked the modernization of the established part of the country. West of the river, the railroad would emerge at the forefront of new settlement and surge across the plains and mountains to tie the nation together from coast to coast. Bridging the river for train travel was a symbolic moment in that historic transformation, as well as an engineering triumph. The Rock Island Railroad was the first to reach the Mississippi, and the city of Rock Island was its choice for a crossing. Why did it occur here first and not somewhere else, and what were its immediate consequences, for local economic growth, regional accessibility, and for the expansion of the nation? How did it affect the character of the Quad Cities, and what if it had never happened at all? This presentation offers a broad view of the sesquicentennial of a major technological event in American history with lasting local significance for the river, the towns around the crossing, and their people. Dr. Conzen is Professor of Geography at the University of Chicago and editor of The Making of the American Landscape – one of the two most used historical geography textbooks used today in higher education.

Friday, September 15

4:00 p.m., Library, 2nd Floor South

Conversations on Scholarship – The Artful Library Preview

Faculty members Megan Quinn, Randall Hall, and John Deason will show their work and talk about their experience as artists in The Artful Library, a year – long project in which ten artists created art inspired by works of art in the library collection. Megan, Randall, and John selected quite different pieces for inspiration, from Native American pottery to a watercolor of an English cathedral. Join Megan, Randall, and John for this special preview of The Artful Library. On October 13, at 7:00 p.m., all ten artists will unveil their Artful Library creations in the Library.

8:00 p.m., Wallenberg Hall

Faculty Recital – Randall Hall, saxophones and Jonathan Kirk, electronics and low brass

A program of free improvisations, the performers will spontaneously create music for acoustic instruments and cutting edge electronics.

Saturday, September 16