UNews - Janet Youngdahl

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Singers to premiere two works

caroline.zentner — Wed, 22 Mar 2023 17:19:22 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Singers, under the direction of Dr. Janet Youngdahl and assistant conductor, Jaimee Jarvie (BMus ’13), present a spectacular evening of choral works, including the premiere of two important pieces.

How Can I Keep from Singing takes place Saturday, March 25 at 7:30 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570).

The Singers will premiere OKI, a choral work by Winnipeg-based composer Andrew Balfour with Blackfoot translation by Elder Francis First Charger. They will also premiere Sweet Hour of Serenity by Lavinia Kell Parker with text by Holocaust survivor, Yiddish novelist and honorary degree recipient, Dr. Chava Rosenfarb (LLD ’06). Parker says Rosenfarb’s text exudes music and it was a gift to work with the literary piece.

Dr. Chava Rosenfarb (LLD '06)

“On first reading of Rosenfarb’s poem A Prayer, I was breathless with the beauty of these words. A Prayer conveys a sense of inner peace amidst a time of terror,” Parker says. “My choral work, Sweet Hour of Serenity, takes its title from the first line of this poem. With the exquisite interpretation by Dr. Youngdahl, soprano soloist Jaimee Jarvie and the ULethbridge Singers, audience members will be able to experience this serenity for themselves.”

The composition was originally going to premiere in March 2020, but was postponed until 2021, when The Singers were able to make a recording of the work.

“It is very exciting that this work will now finally receive its live premiere three years later! I hope that the presentation of this choral work is another tribute to her remarkable life and legacy,” Parker adds.

OKI by Balfour is a song originally done in Cree. YoungdahI received permission from Balfour to get his popular choral piece, Ambe, translated into Blackfoot.

“At ULethbridge, we received help from Drs. Monique Giroux and Inge Genee, and then Elder Francis First Charger to get the piece translated,” Youngdahl says. “First Charger has come in and worked with the choir on their pronunciation several times, to their great delight. It is a real honour to get to sing this work in Blackfoot.”

The U of L Singers is a talented ensemble of emerging vocalists. Since their establishment in 1982, the U of L Singers has graced stages throughout the community and across Canada, performing a wide variety of styles and has premiered several works by notable Canadian composers.

Tickets for this event are available at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office and online at ulethbridge.ca/tickets. Tickets are $20 adult, $15 alumni and senior, $12 students and children.

Background
Chava Rosenfarb (1923–2011) was a Holocaust survivor and Jewish Canadian author of Yiddish poetry and novels. Identified as a major contributor to post-Second World War Yiddish literature, Rosenfarb was a survivor of the Lodz ghetto, Auschwitz and Bergen Belsen. The city council of Lodz, Poland has decreed 2023 to be the Year of Chava Rosenfarb in celebration of her centenary.

In 2006, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ bestowed on Rosenfarb her first degree, a doctor of laws honoris causa, making her the first Yiddish writer to be honoured in this way by a Canadian post-secondary. Rosenfarb’s daughter is ULethbridge English professor emerita Dr. Goldie Morgentaler, an expert on 19th-century British and American literature and award-winning translator of many of Rosenfarb’s works. In 2019, Morgentaler was awarded a Canadian Jewish Literary Prize for a collection of essays by Rosenfarb, titled Confessions of a Yiddish Writer.

Lavinia Kell Parker is an award-winning composer with performances and premieres all over Canada. Parker’s use of improvisation with traditional compositional elements has garnered her the New Genre Award from the International Alliance of Women in Music, and top prizes in choral composition including from the Association of Canadian Choral Communities, the New York Treble Singers, Vancouver Bach Choir and the Ruth Watson Henderson Choral Composition Competition.

Her choral works have been performed by elite choirs internationally and over the airwaves with CBC Radio Canada and PBS television. An educator of 20 years, she has focused on bringing the joy of music to children and is the founder of Coulee Composers, a composition club for children in southern Alberta. Parker is an Associate Composer of the Canadian Music Centre and an instructor at the ULethbridge Conservatory of Music.

Collaboration of sight and sound brings together fine arts faculty from different disciplines

trevor.kenney — Tue, 18 Apr 2017 17:18:40 +0000

��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Art faculty member Annie Martin found a renewed passion for history and music through a fortuitous collaboration with Dr. Janet Youngdahl of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Department of Music. The result of years of research and creative collaboration came together in adoration, open at the Southern Alberta Art Gallery (SAAG) until April 23.

Inspired by the Carnegie Library space at SAAG, Martin was developing a proposal for an installation exhibition when a chance conversation at a convocation tea brought together Martin and Youngdahl who realized their areas of research weren’t so different. Martin, whose creative practice has a focus on sound and installation work, was already envisioning a sound installation in the Carnegie Library when she ran into Youngdahl.

“Living in Lethbridge I’ve had the luxury of years to think about what was meaningful to me about that space,” says Martin. “I was inspired by the idea of the library, as a site of archive, and text, and reading. But I couldn’t find a vector in. I’d been working with sound for a number of years so I felt strongly that it needed to be a sound installation.”

Martin’s early ideas included an empty space painted with sound.

“I explored the idea of sound as colour, almost like a textile, woven strands of colour. I hoped to make this ethereal sound installation with tones. It had to be musical tones because they have a strong sense of colour.”

Starting as a very abstract idea, Martin knew intuitively that the sounds needed to be vocal in order to create an inhabitation of the space.

“Voice, even if it’s a recording suggests the presence of a subject, a being, a person,” continues Martin.

It was in searching for the right vocal tones that Martin and Youngdahl’s worlds collided. Martin mentioned her proposal, and Youngdahl, who studied the work of Saint Hildegard of Bingen and her compositions of sacred music, began enthusiastically asking questions. Martin had already explored the idea of vocal chants and deliberately randomized sounds as part of the SAAG exhibition so the ideas quickly meshed. Youngdahl went from being a passive participant by providing her voice, to an active partner in contributing to the overall project.

Martin and Youngdahl pared down the work of Hildegard of Bingen to one chant, “Ode to Divine Wisdom.” Youngdahl recorded the chant in the Faculty of Fine Arts’ Studio One recording facility in September 2016 as well as recording the most important notes and tones from the chant to create extended, single held notes for Martin to work with in her deconstructive compositional practice.

Distributed over four channels, the recordings provide the presence of four ‘voices’ coming from four corners of the room.

“Sound feels like it is coming from all over the space,” explains Martin. “The movement of tones and voices over the space create patterns in a non-musical way, asking questions about the relationship of tone and repetition. Voices going back and forth, a kind of call and response between the four channels.”

Although originally envisioned in an empty space, Martin soon realized the space wasn’t going to be empty – people will be there. She thought of painting high gloss colour panels that allow the viewer to see their own reflection.

“Like looking into a pool of water. You see yourself, not in a clear way, but enough to be aware of your own presence in the space.”

Eventually images were asking to be present as well.

“There has to be a visual presence which pairs with Hildegard’s message of imagery – but still abstract. Not in a representational or illustrative way.”

Martin wanted visitors to have something visual to reflect on while they listened to the sound installation. She created a series of 12 painted panels that reference diverse traditions of sacred art and link back to Hildegard’s life and music.

While the exhibition is open, the hour long recording repeats in a loop. In March 2017, the recordings were turned off for a special performance by Youngdahl and her vocal ensemble “Sweet Breath” at a lecture recital, “Singing in the Sacred Space.”

“A point that Janet and I really connected on was that vocalization can be a form of prayer in itself,” continues Martin. “I was interested in the idea of ‘opening.’ The idea that there is something kind of radical about opening, whether that’s opening the heart, opening your mouth, opening oneself, that is an invitation to experience something that is outside of the ordinary sense of functional purpose. This is where the spiritual experience resides. In this desire to open.”

Art and music connect people – through artistic collaborations such as this, and by connecting the artist or performer to the audience.

“I said to Janet that I am in such awe of this practice you have, and she said, ‘There’s no separation between the singer and the person who’s listening. By listening, you are participating in the singing.’ If one is singing, all are singing. There’s an interconnectedness of people through music.”

Martin speaks highly of her time working with Youngdahl, and the new inspiration it brought her.

“I’m hoping really sincerely that we can find a way to collaborate some more in the future. I feel like I’m just getting started.”

Don’t miss your chance to take in adoration at SAAG, open until Sunday April 23.

Truth and reconciliation initiatives underway

caroline.zentner — Wed, 25 May 2016 16:58:09 +0000

Over the past year, the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge community has had unique opportunities to learn about Aboriginal ways of being and begin the process of reconciliation. In addition to two discussion forums, one with Dr. Leroy Little Bear (BASc (BA) ’72, DASc ’04) and one with Commissioner Chief Wilton Little Child, Dr. Martha Many Grey Horses, director of the U of L’s Iikaisskini First Nations, Métis and Inuit Centre has led many initiatives across campus.

Last October, Many Grey Horses organized a workshop for the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ community and local agencies on old Blackfoot words with Elder Beverly Hungry Wolf.

“Even though some of us are fluent speakers we are still severed from opportunities to hear these old Blackfoot words. The words are still used but mostly in ceremonial contexts and there’s knowledge connected to the words,” says Many Grey Horses. “The Blackfoot language is gentle; I always say it’s a language of the heart.”

Another workshop focused on First Nations traditional hand games. Working with Mary Ellen Little Mustache, and the oldest Piikani Elder, Alphonse Little Mustache, as co-facilitators, a Fine Arts class learned about popular team games that were known throughout North America. In another workshop, Elders John and Keith Chief Moon explained the origin of some of the old powwow songs and shared stories about the drum and nature.

“Our songs are closely linked to nature and it was revitalizing for students to feel connected to their heritage,” she says. “In all of these workshops, the students were learning a lot about their heritage and it was good for them to get that connection back.”

At Many Grey Horses’ recommendation, Keith Chief Moon also worked with Dr. Janet Youngdahl, a U of L music professor and conductor of the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Singers, on a performance that featured choir music and Blackfoot drumming and singing at Southminster United Church.

“Another special initiative was the honour call ceremony,” she says. “That was held during the Meeting of the Minds conference. I worked with the Dean of Graduate Studies and the Graduate Students’ Association and with the Elder Peter Weasel Moccasin. The honour call was to recognize the work of four FNMI master’s alumni.”

Dr. Martha Many Grey Horses

“It’s the first time this particular honour call has been held on campus,” says Lucía Stavig, conference co-ordinator with the Graduate Student Association. “You could feel it. It was so haunting at the same time it was so powerful. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house.”

Many Grey Horses also organized a session on Blackfoot traditional child-rearing practices with Georgette Fox and Sophie Tailfeathers, two members of the Buffalo Women’s Society. Students in Dr. Janay Nugent’s (BA ’95) Women and Gender Studies class heard about Blackfoot teachings given by the four-legged, the winged ones, the water creatures and the Earth. They also spoke about the residential school experience.

“My students were just hanging on every word. They didn’t want to miss anything,” says Nugent. “You can read about residential schools but to have someone who lived that experience made it more real. Until you can see the expressions on their faces and their body language and hear the emotions in their voices, you don’t really understand how powerful and important traditions are.”

Nugent added the talk also brought home the idea that the entire community has a role to play in truth and reconciliation and understanding the effects of residential schools.

Two additional projects were conducted to show respect for the Métis. Many Grey Horses, along with Rod Mcleod, Métis elder, U of L employee Tara Froehlich (who demonstrated Métis beadwork) and City of Lethbridge inclusion co-ordinator Roy Pogorzelski (who performed a traditional jig), conducted a workshop to commemorate Louis Riel and the role he played in the history of Western Canada. A second workshop gave international students on campus the chance to learn about the Métis people.

In conjunction with the Lethbridge Public Library, Many Grey Horses is also working on developing an FNMI Children’s Literacy program as a pilot project. Partners in the project include the YWCA, Lethbridge School District No. 51, Lethbridge College, elders from the Kainai and Piikani First Nations, Faculty of Education professors Dawn Burleigh and Dr. Robin Bright, along with champions from the Lethbridge Police Service and Opokaa’sin Early Intervention Society. She hopes the project can be in place sometime this fall. Another project under development with the Galt Museum will focus on Blackfoot grandmothers telling stories.

Many Grey Horses also gave a talk about the impact of residential school and internalized oppression at a Women Scholars Group Speaker Series session.

“As I’m speaking, my grandson is born. So, on the one hand I was talking about a deep, heavy subject but on the other hand, there was this joy about new life. What a moment,” she says.

Expect anything but a Little Solemn Mass

trevor.kenney — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 21:08:19 +0000

Petite Messe Solonnelle translates as Little Solemn Mass.

"However, it's not little and it's not solemn!," says Dr. Janet Youngdahl, Faculty Artists and Friends Series
co-coordinator.
"Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle is actually huge and bombastic. Written in 1863, this was Rossini's last major composition and it contains a lot of wit and humour not found in the usual style of religious music of the time."

Audiences can hear for themselves as an ensemble of music faculty, students and alumni come together to perform Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall, Oct. 15 at 8 p.m.

Written for 12 voices and piano, Youngdahl says the ensemble is performing the piece in the setting for which it was intended.

"The Petite Messe Solennelle is a curious cross between opera and sacred music. It was not written to be performed in the church. The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall is the perfect venue for this piece."

In addition to Youngdahl (soprano), Dr. Blaine Hendsbee (tenor) and Dr. Sandra Stringer (mezzo-soprano), both from the U of L's music department are also performing. Joining them are Professor Emeritus Dr. George Evelyn (bass-baritone), alumni Kade Hogg (tenor) and Audrina Steciw (soprano), as well as a selection of talented senior students. Audiences will also be introduced to the newest music faculty member, pianist, Dr. Carolyn Herrington.

Co-coordinator Nick Sullivan emphasizes that this is a rare opportunity for audiences to see this work performed live. He adds that audiences of the Faculty Artists and Friends Series can look forward to an entire season of unique and extraordinary music.

"Our programs are built on pieces not often heard. Rossini Petite Messe Solonnelle is one of those rare live performances you can't miss. From the New Orford String Quartet on Dec. 3, to Blaine Hendsbee on Jan. 14 and Piano PIANISSIMO on Mar. 17, the series presents a lineup of unique repertoire, performed by our talented faculty and exceptional guest artists," says Sullivan.

For tickets to Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle, visit the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Box Office, Monday through Friday, 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., or call 403-329-2616. Individual tickets are $15 regular, $10 seniors/students.

Reaching out to Japan

trevor.kenney — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 19:10:32 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge campus community is reaching out to those affected by the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.

Music to Heal the Heart and Soul, on Saturday, Apr. 30 at 7:30 p.m. in Southminster United Church, is an evening of music, dance and poetry readings dedicated to the survivors and victims of the Japanese tragedy.

The program includes performances by the U of L Singers, a 32-voice mixed choir conducted by Dr. Janet Youngdahl; modern dancers led by Claire Lint; pianist Dr. Deanna Oye; and saxophonists Dr. David Renter and Andrew Ichikawa.

The U of L Singers present Music to Heal the Heart and Soul, Apr. 30.

The diverse musical program brings the southern Alberta community together to reflect on the gravity of the disaster and challenges Japan faces in the coming years.

"The sudden and severe impact of such a disaster moves us all," says Youngdahl. "The community needs an opportunity to gather, share their thoughts and prayers, and join together with the power of music and dance."

The concert is sponsored by the Nikkei Cultural Society of Lethbridge and Area, Southminster United Church, Buddhist Temple of Southern Alberta. The West Lethbridge Lions Club is also sponsoring a post-concert reception.

Admission is free and The Salvation Army will be on hand to accept donations for Japan relief from those who wish to make a contribution.

For a look at the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Opening a dialogue of respect

trevor.kenney — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 17:31:04 +0000

The ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Lethbridge Faculty Association's Gender and Diversity Caucus is looking to initiate a conversation about diversity and respect – and it wants everyone's voice to be heard.

The inaugural event, a week titled, Show Respect, Get Respect at Your U, will be held at the U of L from Mar. 7-11 as the caucus looks to get the campus thinking about how we interact with one another, in classrooms, meeting rooms and as we walk down the hallways.

"One of the things we've seen in the last 10 years is incredible growth here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Dr. Hester Jiskoot, Chair of the Gender and Diversity Caucus. "It's also grown in terms of diversity, and we thought this was a positive way to talk about that diversity. We want the conversation to focus not on tolerating one another but rather on respecting each other."

The U of L campus is fertile ground for academic debate, and such debates often result in academic discovery. However, when the debate is held in an atmosphere of disrespect, nobody benefits.

"Universities are places for academic freedom, but with that freedom comes a responsibility of making choices and accepting diversity of opinion," says Jiskoot. "You don't necessarily have to agree with someone exactly, but you still have to respect the other person's opinion, traditions, culture and lifestyle, just as much as you would your own."

She explains that although there have been cases of discrimination/disrespect on campus, they are not interested in highlighting these specific instances, but rather want to address a "general feeling" among faculty members about issues of disrespect in U of L classrooms and meeting rooms. To stem such behaviour, Jiskoot says we need only look at our own Strategic Plan for guidance.

"We want people to see this more as an opportunity to enrich their own lives through diversity. Our Strategic Plan speaks to promoting and enhancing diversity and to presenting students with a welcoming environment," she says. "Everybody should feel welcome and respected for being in the classroom, both students and professors."

Dr. Carly Adams is also on the caucus, and she has seen students intimidated in the classroom, something that undermines their educational experience and what she is trying to accomplish as a professor.

"It's constantly a challenge, especially in senior level classes, to make sure there's an atmosphere where everyone's voice is respected," says Adams.

While respect in the classroom is not a new concept, the initiative of establishing a week that celebrates respect and diversity through a series of events is unique. The caucus does not know what to expect from the week, but more than anything hopes it can open up a dialogue. The group would also like to make it a recurring event that will grow in future years and include activities and events organized by undergraduate and graduate student organizations and clubs.

"We're really trying to raise awareness about all of these issues," says Adams. "We want students talking to students about how classrooms could be more diverse and more respectful places, and at the same time we want colleagues talking to one another about these issues as well."

The Centre for the Advancement of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CAETL) is on board with a Friday, Mar. 11 Talking About Teaching session that will address the topic of respectful teaching and respectful learning. Other events include the Monday, Mar. 7 Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group film screening and a Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar workshop.

"We're hoping that by the end of the week, people are willing and open to talk about making this a much more diverse and respectable place to be, whether it's inside or outside the classroom," says Adams.

As Jiskoot adds, it all starts with initiating the conversation.

"I think the main goal is mutual respect, understanding and gaining an awareness," she says. "Even if people don't actually go to any of the activities, at least if they start talking about it, that's a beginning."

GET THE FACTS

• The CAETL Talking About Teaching seminar features panelists Dr. Suzanne Lenon (Women's Studies), Andrea Glover (Library/FNTP), Dr. Bruce MacKay (Liberal Education) and Dr. Sameer Deshpande (Management). The session is Friday, Mar. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. in AH100.

• The LPIRG film screening of, The Experimental Eskimo, is Monday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m., Galileo's Lounge (in the Student Union Building).

• The Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar is titled, Diversity, Inclusivity, Civility, and runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in L1168.

• Gender and Diversity Caucus members include: Dr. Pamela Adams (Education), Dr. Carly Adams (Kinesiology and Physical Education), Ardis Anderson (Philosophy), Dr. Yale Belanger (Native American Studies), Don Gill (Art), Andrea Glover (Library), Dr. Hester Jiskoot (Geography), Dr. Rob Sutherland (Neuroscience), Dr. Janet Youngdahl (Music).

This story first appeared in the Legend. For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Celebrating the beauty of baroque

trevor.kenney — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:22:48 +0000

An exquisite evening of music that promises to warm the soul wraps up the Faculty Artists and Friends season, Mar. 17 at 8 p.m. in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall. La Virtuosissima Cantatrice: Songs by Italian Baroque Women, features special guest ensemble Cecilia's Circle, highlighting the beauty of baroque chamber music by prolific women composers.

Comprised of four exceptional musicians, Dr. Vivian Montgomery (harpsichord), Dr. Julie Andrijeski (baroque violin), Ann Marie Morgan (viola da gamba) and U of L music faculty
Dr. Janet Youngdahl, Cecilia's Circle has performed its music throughout the United States and Canada. Since its inception in 1991, the group has been committed to bringing new life to the long-buried brilliance of many women composers.

Cecilia's Circle came together when the members were doing graduate studies, and has continued for the past 20 years. All four musicians continue to teach, and have busy independent performance careers.

Montgomery, who holds numerous awards from international early keyboard competitions, and received a Solo Recitalist Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, teaches harpsichord and historical performance practice at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music. Andrijeski serves on the historical performance faculties of both the Peabody Conservatory and Case Western Reserve ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, while Morgan is on the Early Music Faculties of the Peabody Conservatory of Music and the Interlochen Center for the Arts. A member of the U of L music faculty, Youngdahl is the director of the U of L Singers.

The Mar. 17 concert highlights the outstanding talents of two Italian women composers, Barbara Strozzi and Isabella Leonarda.

"They were both prolific, expert composers; Strozzi existed in the secular world as an unmarried woman with children, and Leonarda, a respected nun and leader of her own convent," says Youngdahl. "Listeners will be surprised by the passion and virtuosity of the works by these composers. Although they developed in very different realms, they both managed to bring significant ardor and drama to their works."

During their week-long residency at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ, Cecilia's Circle will also perform as part of the Music at Noon concert series, Tuesday, Mar. 15 at 12:15 pm in the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall, present a lecture in a music history class and work with music students.

Reserve tickets to La Virtuosissima Cantatrice at the U of L Box Office or by calling 403-329-2616. Tickets are priced at $15 for regular admission and $10 for students and seniors.

For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Events - February/March

trevor.kenney — Fri, 25 Feb 2011 16:06:06 +0000

Pronghorns Athletics

Feb. 18-19 | Canada West Men's Hockey | Saskatchewan vs. Horns
7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena

Feb. 18-19 | Canada West Basketball | Winnipeg vs. Horns
Women's games, 6 p.m.; Men's games 8 p.m. nightly
1st Choice Savings Centre gym

Lectures

Feb. 15 | Chemistry & Biochemistry Guest Speaker: Dr. Paul Sidhu
Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy of Solid Metal Acetylacetonates | 12:15 p.m., C640

Feb. 15 | Political Science Public Lecture: Collin May | Lawyers, the Judiciary and the Empire of Law
3 p.m., AH117

Feb. 16 | Art Now: Geoffrey James
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Feb. 16 | New Media Seminar: Pilar Alessandra | The First Draft, three-hour seminar for aspiring screenwriters | 6 p.m., PE264

Feb. 17 | Prentice Brownbag Series: Dr. Trevor Harrison | Guaranteed Annual Income: The Return of an Old Idea | 1:30 p.m., Prentice Institute Boardroom, L1102

Feb. 17 | Prairie Universities Physics Seminar Series: Dr. Can-Ming Hu
Spin Dynamics in Spintronic and Magnetic Materials
1:40 p.m., C640

Feb. 28 | Art Now: Spring Hurlbut
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Feb. 28 | Architecture & Design Now: Elizabeth Songer
6 p.m., C610

Mar. 2 | Art Now: Dean Drever
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Mar. 4 | Art Now: Jackson 2Bears
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Mar. 7 | Art Now: Reece Terris
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Mar. 7 | Architecture & Design Now: Reece Terris | 6 p.m., C610

Mar. 9 | Art Now: Billy McCarroll
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Mar. 11 | Art Now: Emily Falvey
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Mar. 14 | Art Now: Vince Varga
Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Mar. 14 | Architecture & Design Now: Vince Varga | 6 p.m., C610

Mar. 14 | Discovery Lecture Series: Jeffrey Simpson | Improving Canada's Poor Climate Change Record | 7 p.m., PE250

Mar. 15 | Brain Awareness Week: Dr. Bruce McNaughton | How memory works and why it sometimes doesn't
7 p.m., Yates Memorial Centre

Performances

Mar. 3-5 | TheatreXtra – Title of Show | A musical comedy that chronicles its own creation from inception to opening night
8 p.m. nightly, 2 p.m. matinee on Mar. 5, David Spinks Theatre

Mar. 5 | Awake My Soul and Sing: A Choral Celebration | Concert featuring Vox Musica, U of L Singers and LCI Chamber Choir | 7:30 p.m., Southminster United Church

Mar. 8 | Music at Noon: Jamie Eckert (percussion) | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Mar. 15 | Music at Noon: Cecilia's Circle | Featuring Janet Youngdahl (soprano), Vivian Montgomery (harpsichord), Julie Andrijeski (baroque violin) and Ann Marie Morgan (viola da gamba) | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Miscellaneous

Feb. 15-17 | Pink Shirt Campaign
Boys and Girls Club of Lethbridge Pink Shirt Day T-Shirt-Sale
Students' Union Building

Feb. 15-19 | In Progress
MFA Exhibition featuring Mandy Espezel, Mark Porcina and Collin Zipp
Noon to 4 p.m. daily, The Penny Building (324-5th St. S.)

Feb. 16 | U are the Plan Luncheon
All campus luncheon celebrating our efforts in relation to the 2009-2013 Strategic Plan | Noon, UHall Atrium

Mar. 1, 8, 15 | Student Speaker Challenge | What is Global Justice and How Can it be Achieved?
Semifinal sessions, Mar. 1 & 8
4:30 p.m., SU300A
Final session, Mar. 15
7 p.m., AH100

Opening a dialogue of respect

trevor.kenney — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 22:34:37 +0000

The inaugural event, a week titled, Show Respect, Get Respect at Your U, will be held at the U of L from Mar. 7-11 as the caucus looks to get the campus thinking about how we interact with one another, in classrooms, meeting rooms and as we walk down the hallways.

"One of the things we've seen in the last 10 years is incredible growth here at the ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ," says Dr. Hester Jiskoot, Chair of the Gender and Diversity Caucus. "It's also grown in terms of diversity, and we thought this was a positive way to talk about that diversity. We want the conversation to focus not on tolerating one another but rather on respecting each other."

The U of L campus is fertile ground for academic debate, and such debates often result in academic discovery. However, when the debate is held in an atmosphere of disrespect, nobody benefits.

She explains that although there have been cases of discrimination/disrespect on campus, they are not interested in highlighting these specific instances, but rather want to address a "general feeling" among faculty members about issues of disrespect in U of L classrooms and meeting rooms. To stem such behaviour, Jiskoot says we need only look at our own Strategic Plan for guidance.

"We want people to see this more as an opportunity to enrich their own lives through diversity. Our Strategic Plan speaks to promoting and enhancing diversity and to presenting students with a welcoming environment," she says. "Everybody should feel welcome and respected for being in the classroom, both students and professors."

Dr. Carly Adams is also on the caucus, and she has seen students intimidated in the classroom, something that undermines their educational experience and what she is trying to accomplish as a professor.

"It's constantly a challenge, especially in senior level classes, to make sure there's an atmosphere where everyone's voice is respected," says Adams.

While respect in the classroom is not a new concept, the initiative of establishing a week that celebrates respect and diversity through a series of events is unique. The caucus does not know what to expect from the week, but more than anything hopes it can open up a dialogue. The group would also like to make it a recurring event that will grow in future years and include activities and events organized by undergraduate and graduate student organizations and clubs.

"We're really trying to raise awareness about all of these issues," says Adams. "We want students talking to students about how classrooms could be more diverse and more respectful places, and at the same time we want colleagues talking to one another about these issues as well."

The Centre for the Advancement of Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CAETL) is on board with a Friday, Mar. 11 Talking About Teaching session that will address the topic of respectful teaching and respectful learning. Other events include the Monday, Mar. 7 Lethbridge Public Interest Research Group film screening and a Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar workshop.

"We're hoping that by the end of the week, people are willing and open to talk about making this a much more diverse and respectable place to be, whether it's inside or outside the classroom," says Adams.

As Jiskoot adds, it all starts with initiating the conversation.

"I think the main goal is mutual respect, understanding and gaining an awareness," she says. "Even if people don't actually go to any of the activities, at least if they start talking about it, that's a beginning."

GET THE FACTS

• The CAETL Talking About Teaching seminar features panelists Dr. Suzanne Lenon (Women's Studies), Andrea Glover (Library/FNTP), Dr. Bruce MacKay (Liberal Education) and Dr. Sameer Deshpande (Management). The session is Friday, Mar. 11 from 2 to 4 p.m. in AH100.

• The LPIRG film screening of, The Experimental Eskimo, is Monday, Mar. 7 at 7 p.m., Galileo's Lounge (in the Student Union Building).

• The Wednesday, Mar. 9 webinar is titled, Diversity, Inclusivity, Civility, and runs from 5 to 6:30 p.m. in L1168.

• Gender and Diversity Caucus members include: Dr. Pamela Adams (Education), Dr. Carly Adams (Kinesiology and Physical Education), Ardis Anderson (Philosophy), Dr. Yale Belanger (Native American Studies), Don Gill (Art), Andrea Glover (Library), Dr. Hester Jiskoot (Geography), Dr. Rob Sutherland (Neuroscience), Dr. Janet Youngdahl (Music).

For a look at the February issue of the Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

Events - November

trevor.kenney — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:18:53 +0000

Pronghorns Athletics

Nov. 19-20 | Canada West Men's Hockey | ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Regina vs. Horns | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena

Nov. 26-27 | Canada West Women's Hockey | ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ of Saskatchewan vs. Horns | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena

Dec. 3-4 | Canada West Men's Hockey | UBC vs. Horns | 7 p.m. nightly, Nicholas Sheran Arena

Lectures

Nov. 17 | Art Now: Conceptual artist, Gareth Long | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 17 | Student Seminar
ACM Rocky Mountain Regional Contest | Noon, C674

Nov. 17 | Creating and Managing Effective Discussion Forums
12:15 p.m., TH 373

Nov. 17 | WestGrid Seminar: Virtual Reality Systems | Pierre Boulanger, Department of Computing Science, presents his research on virtualized reality systems | 12:30 p.m., CRDC L1126

Nov. 17 | Faculty of Management Lunch and Learn | Careers in Finance
12:05 p.m., TH 277

Nov. 18 | Women Scholars Speaker Series | Isa Milman presents, Jewish Women Pioneers on the Canadian Prairies | Noon, Andy's Place (AH100)

Nov. 19 | Art Now: Conceptual artist, Micah Lexier | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 19 | Department of Economics Lecture series | Migration as a Catastrophe: Geometric Analyses of Two Models Using Novel Mathematics by Jermiah Allen | 2:30 p.m., B543

Nov. 22 | Art Now: Writer, Nancy Tousley | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 22 | Architecture & Design Now: Michelangelo Sabatino
6 p.m., C610

Nov. 24 | Art Now: Multidisciplinary artist, Sonny Assu | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 26 | Art Now: Painters, John Brown and Dagmar Dahle | Noon, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 29 | Architecture & Design Now: Vancouver designer, Michelle Biggar | 6 p.m., C610

Dec. 1 | Faculty of Management Lunch and Learn | Networking
12:05 p.m., TH 277

Dec. 2 | Pre-recorded Public Lecture Series | Anticipating a New Golden Age by F. Wilczek, Nobel Laureate
Department of Physics and Astronomy | 6:30 p.m., PE 264

Dec. 9 | Women Scholars Speaker Series | Shifts in the Production/Reproduction Nexus in Aging Societies
Dr. Susan McDaniel | 3 p.m., Andy's Place (AH100)

Performances

Nov. 19 | Romantic Reflection
Musaeus String Quartet with pianist & U of L alumnus Matthew Blackburn | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church

Nov. 20 | Faculty Artists & Friends
Glen Montgomery in Recital: Romantic composers | 8 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall

Nov. 22 | Ode to Joy – Beethoven's Symphony #9 | Lethbridge Symphony and Vox Musica with soloists Janet Youngdahl (soprano); Sandra Stringer (mezzo-soprano); Blaine Hendsbee (tenor); and George Evelyn (bass-baritone) | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church

Nov. 23 | Music at Noon: Gwen Klassen (flute), Elinor Lawson (piano) | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Nov. 23-27 | Spring Awakening
Mature content; A "children's tragedy" | 8 p.m. nightly, ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Theatre

Nov. 26 | U of L Wind Orchestra Concert | 8 p.m., Southminster United Church

Nov. 30 | Music at Noon: Greg Brookes and Deanna Oye | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Dec. 4-5 | Magnificat & Messiah
The LSO with the U of L Singers perform Bach's Magnificat and the Christmas part of Handel's Messiah
8 p.m. (Dec. 4), 3 p.m. (Dec. 5), Southminster United Church

Dec. 7 | Music at Noon: Studio Showcase | 12:15 p.m., ��Ѹ��Դ��߿�Ƭ Recital Hall (W570)

Miscellaneous

Plays and Prose Writing Competition
Submission deadline, 4 p.m., Dec. 13
Rebecca Gray, W850

Nov. 17 | Annual Women's Health Fair | Presented by the Health Centre
10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1st Choice Savings Centre

Nov. 17 | Christmas in the Park 2010
Hot dogs and hot chocolate available in exchange for non-perishable food items or $2 donation | 6 to 8 p.m., Paterson Centre

Nov. 18 | Master of Social Work Information Session | Deadline to apply is Jan. 31, 2011 | kathi.burnett@uleth.ca | 6 to 7:30 p.m., AH116

Nov. 19 | Tribute to the Beast: All Ages Iron Maiden Tribute Show and Fundraiser! | Presented by the U of L Headbanger's Society | 8 p.m., Students' Union Ballroom

Nov. 20 | Culture Vulture Saturday
Button Making with Trap/door
Proceeds go to Trap/door Artist Run Centre | 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., U of L Art Gallery

Global Justice Student Speaker Challenge | Application forms available at www.ulsu.ca | Submit electronically to pirg@uleth.ca with Global Justice in the subject line | Deadline for applications is Dec. 3

Nov. 5 to Jan. 7 | Promising Objects | Works by Alison MacTaggart
U of L Main Gallery

Dec. 8 | Hollywood and Beyond: Great American Filmmakers
Screening of, It's a Wonderful Life
6:30 p.m., Lethbridge Public Library

For a look at the full issue of the November Legend in a flipbook format, follow this link.

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