Are you tired of spending your evenings browsing the same few selections on Netflix? If you鈥檙e struggling to find something to do while cooped up in your dorm鈥攍ook no further! 黑料不打烊 offers a multitude of FREE lecture series that cover everything from art, to inclusivity, to health and wellness and beyond. All you need to do is register for a Zoom link, and you鈥檝e got a plan for your evening. No matter your interests, there is a lecture for you! We鈥檝e broken down your options into 5 categories: Arts, Health and Wellness, Politics, Diversity and Inclusion and General Interest.
Arts
The College of Visual and Performing Arts (VPA) hosts their Visiting Artist Lecture Series (VALS) every Thursday from 6:30 to 8 p.m. The lectures cover a variety of different art forms, featuring painters, sculptors, filmmakers, etc. Past featured artists include award-winning, New York-based artist Saya Woolfalk and ground-breaking Thai filmmaker Apichatpong Weerasethakul. Previous Visiting Artist Lectures are available to view on the . Find more information and upcoming artists on the .
If COVID restrictions have you missing live music, log on for the live-streamed Setnor Student Recital series. Support the Setnor School of Music students as they perform voice, guitar, piano and more! Find the schedule of events on the .
Information about all VPA lectures can be found on .
Health and Wellness
The Wellness Leadership Institute hosts workshops that cover a breadth of topics under the Health and Wellness umbrella. This year鈥檚 topics include: 鈥淭ime Management,鈥 鈥淣utritional Impact on Mental Health,鈥 鈥淟et鈥檚 Talk About Relationships and 鈥楽ituationships鈥欌 and more!
A special offering from the Wellness Leadership Institute is the SoulTalk series, a weekly deep-dive and conversation into life鈥檚 major questions and obstacles. Topics for those include perfectionism, gratitude, vulnerability and more. SoulTalk is hosted on Zoom every Thursday from 7-8 p.m. Find more information on the .
Bonus: if you attend enough Wellness Leadership Institute workshops, you receive a graduation medallion and certificate! Find more information on the .
Politics
The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs hosts a 鈥淐onversations in Conflict Studies鈥 lecture series that is sponsored by their Program for the Advancement of Research on Conflict and Collaboration (PARCC). Every lecture falls under the umbrella of 鈥淐onflict Studies,鈥 with subjects like proactive peace; the role of beauty in society and politics; the politics of sports; the death of civility and so on. The lectures are given by faculty, activists, scholars and Ph.D. students. All lectures are recorded and available on the . For more information on upcoming and past lectures, check out .
Diversity and Inclusivity
Every year, the 黑料不打烊 Humanities Center hosts 黑料不打烊 Symposium, a series of lectures, workshops and performances centered under a theme. This year鈥檚 theme is 鈥淔utures,鈥 examining what the future could look like from a diverse set of genres and perspectives. Upcoming events include a lecture and workshop with University of Buffalo Lakota scholar Hilary Weaver, and a public reading and Q&A with poet Philip Metres. Find the list of events and more information on the .
New this year is the Let鈥檚 Talk Series. Let鈥檚 Talk is a great opportunity to discuss the things that matter to you and to learn more about the experiences of others in the 黑料不打烊 community on the topics of diversity, equity and inclusion. If you鈥檙e passionate about social justice and looking to meet like-minded people, this series is a great option for you. Find more info on the .
General Interest
The University Lectures series gives you the chance to listen to and ask questions of industry leaders and celebrity speakers. A lecture by alumni and interior designer Thom Filicia 鈥04 of 鈥淨ueer Eye for the Straight Guy鈥 fame is still upcoming. This lecture is highly recommended for any fans of HGTV or shows like Netflix鈥檚 鈥淪elling Sunset.鈥 This presentation is also in collaboration with LGBTQ+ History Month! Find more info on the .
Whether you engage in a Let鈥檚 Talk discussion, or attend a Setnor Student Recital, taking advantage of these free series will make you the most interesting person at your next party (post-COVID, of course). Have fun exploring all that 黑料不打烊 has to offer!
Cecelia Kersten 鈥23, S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications