News briefs
23 April 2003
Beijing EAPers sent packing
On April 17, UC announced the suspension of its Education Abroad Programs in Beijing due to the continued spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome. Though no EAP students have been diagnosed with SARS, program officials instructed the 44 UC students in Beijing to depart immediately.
The program is supporting students with travel plans, helping eliminate financial obstacles due to the program suspension, securing as much academic credit as possible for students, and advising them on health care precautions upon their return.
EAP continues to monitor local conditions that may affect its programs in Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, and Vietnam. “At this time, all other EAP programs currently operating in Asia remain open,” said Professor John Marcum, universitywide director of the program. EAP will decide about operating its summer programs in Beijing no later than May 10.
Israeli/Palestinian dialogue on tap
“Humanizing the Israel-Palestine Conflict: Day of Mutual Recognition” will take place at International House Auditorium from 1 to 6 p.m. on Sunday, May 4. The afternoon symposium, organized by the Berkeley Tikkun student group, is a nonpolitical event designed to permit people on both sides of the conflict to be recognized and heard, and to listen to each other’s stories.
The event will include keynote addresses by Rabbi Michael Lerner and Palestinians for Peace & Democracy Director Mohammed Alatar; a panel of Palestinians and Israelis telling their personal stories; and options for participant dialogue among attendees. Admission is free, but tickets are required, and may be picked up at the I-House Program Office during business hours until May 2. Those wishing to attend a post-event Middle Eastern dinner at 6 p.m. should secure their ticket by April 30. For information, email berkeleytikkun@yahoo.com.
Militant religion in our time
The campus community and the public are invited to attend a day-long interdisciplinary conference on “Militancy and Religion: Religious Challenges to Secular Law” on Friday, April 25. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Badé Museum, Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave., two blocks from the North Gate entrance to campus. For information, e-mail ocker@sfts.edu.
Whither the liberal arts?
The next L&S Colloquium on Undergraduate Education will take place from 4 to 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30, in 370 Dwinelle Hall. The roundtable discussion, titled “The Liberal Arts: Dead or Alive?” will include Johanna Nichols, professor of Slavic languages and literature; Michael Nagler, professor emeritus of classics and comparative literature; and Tom Devlin, director of the UC Berkeley Career Center.
Former Clinton official to speak
Stuart Eizenstat, Under Secretary of State and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury during the Clinton administration, will speak at a seminar sponsored by Peace and Conflict Studies, the Institute of International Studies, and the Institute of Governmental Studies on Wednesday, April 30, from noon to 2 p.m. in 109 Moses Hall.
Eizenstat will discuss his new book Imperfect Justice: Looted Assets, Slave Labor, and the Unfinished Business of World War II. He will also answer questions about U.S.-European relations and U.S. foreign policy after the Iraq war.
I-House to host IGS symposium
“A Nation of Immigrants: Ethnic Identity and Political Incorporation,” a two-day conference spnsored by the Institute of Governmental Studies, will take place May 2 and 3 at International House. The sessions will run from 9 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Friday, May 2, and from 9 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 3. The event is free and open to the public. For information, visit www.igs.berkeley.edu/events/nation_of_immigrants.html, or phone
642-3020.