University of Vermont News

The Earth: Treasure It Always

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Synopsis: In the pleasing quietness of his house — a place where Pakistani prayer rugs lie in maroon rectangles on top of clean, white, wall-to-wall Berber carpet — Saleem Ali tends his treasure. There is the soft laughter of his two sons upstairs, "needful treasures in my life," he calls them in the dedication to his new book, Treasures of the Earth: Need, Greed and A Sustainable Future."I'm an environmental pragmatist," says Saleem Ali, associate professor of environmental planning, whose new book explores why global trade and resource extraction are vital tools for environmental justice. (Photo: Joshua Brown)

Exhibit on Incarcerated Mothers Opens Nov. 9

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A nationally touring art exhibit titled "Interrupted Life: Incarcerated Mothers in the United States" focusing on motherhood, incarceration, reproductive policy, welfare policy, and politics in the United States opens on Monday, Nov. 9 at the Davis Center.

The exhibit, designed to offer insight into the lives of women who are incarcerated, raises questions about the equality and equity of the American justice system through race, class, gender and sexuality. The effects of incarceration on Vermont children and their families will be on display in the form of artwork, writings and photography produced by women incarcerated at the Northwest State Correctional facility in Swanton, Vt. A video created by teenagers telling the story of what it is like to have a parent in prison will also be shown.

Tickets Available for Three Upcoming UVM Theatre Productions

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

You Can't Take It With You, the Pulitzer Prize-winning creation of George S. Kaufman and Moss Hart, begins its run next week at Royall Tyler Theatre. Directed by Professor Sarah Carleton, the performance's cast includes combination of students from the UVM Department of Theatre as well as local talent.

Performances are Nov. 12-14 and 19-21 at 7:30 p.m., and Nov. 12 and 22 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for UVM faculty, staff, alumni and seniors (age 55 or above). UVM student tickets are $7 with a UVM ID and must be purchased at the box office. Group rates are available for ten or more people. An ASL interpreted and audio descriptive performance will be available at the Nov. 22 show.

Pre-Premiere Talk to Show Making of Extreme Ski Film

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Author, producer, and former professional skier Bill Kerig will visit campus Wednesday, Nov. 11 to discuss The Edge of Never, his nonfiction book and movie about 15-year-old Kye Petersen, who travels to Chamonix, France to ski the route that killed his father.

Kerig will show clips from the movie, read excerpts from his book, andreflect on his experience as a professional skier. The talk will take place at 1 p.m. in the Davis Center's Grand Maple Ballroom. At 7 p.m. that evening, the Flynn Auditorium will host the local premiere of the film.

Lecture/Performance Investigates Identity of Southern, Black, Gay Men

Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:00:00 -0500

It took E. Patrick Johnson, chair of the department of performance studies and professor in African American Studies at Northwestern University, more than three years to interview 77 men in 15 southern states to form the basis for his book Sweet Tea: Black Gay Men of the South. He needed just over an hour to bring their stories to life through performance art for a packed Billings North Lounge on Nov. 3 at the Burack President's Distinguished Lecture.

Johnson assumed the persona of six of the men during his performance of "Pouring Tea: Black Gay Men of the South Tell Their Tales" using their unique voices and mannerisms to express their views on religion, sex, love, class age, transgenderism, family and growing up gay in the south. The responses of the men, who ranged in age from 19 to 93, offered insight into how gay, black men navigate their way through life in a southern culture that Johnson maintains is less backward and more accepting than it is often given credit.