Indiana State University Newsroom

Indiana State University's Community Semester series includes discussions on drug policy, creativity and wellness, a program discussing Terre Haute's place in the Underground Railroad and the debut of a video art exhibition.

The 2014 Community Semester, which focuses on the theme "Crossroads," is a way for the College of Arts and Sciences to showcase what it does best and to encourage faculty and students to share with the community what they are learning. It is also a way to bring innovative ideas in the science, humanities, liberal and creative arts to the area.

On Feb. 10, the department of criminology will host the discussion "The Meth Epidemic: Drug Policy at the Crossroads" from 10-11 a.m. in the events area of Cunningham Memorial Library.

On Feb. 11, the Center for Student Research and Creativity will host an event from 3:30-5 p.m. at Clabber Girl that will feature a panel of creative thinkers in our community.

Pete Ciancone of the WILL Center will lead a discussion about "creativity"-what it is, where it comes from, how it can be nurtured-among the audience and featured panelists, including Dennis Evers, Everstech Consulting in Waste Treatment and Resource Recovery Technologies; Morgan Lidster, Inland Aquatics; Mike Sacopolous, Medical Risk Institute; and Michael Tingley, artist.

The department of languages, literatures, and linguistics will explore international perspectives on recreation and wellness during an event Feb. 13 from 3:30-4:45 p.m. in the events area of Cunningham Memorial Library.

This interactive event showcases cultures from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. Topics vary from a look at stress reduction via treatment at a hammam (bathhouse), to sports, motivational African proverbs, zumba, and more. Coordinated by professor Lisa Calvin; presenters include Laura Olbrich, Abdoul Diop, Aroua Smati, Kareema Maddox, Meghan Salinas, Patty Saylor, Kate Zimmer, and Dr. Solange Lopes-Murphy.

Allen Chapel's role in the Underground Railroad will be highlighted during a program Feb. 13 from 5-6 p.m.

Allen Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church, located at 218 Crawford St., has occupied two buildings in Terre Haute, both of which have played a vital role not only in local African-American life, but also in the nation's evolving dialogue on race, freedom, and equality. Join us at the present church, built in 1913, to learn how this congregation may have served as an important link in the "Underground Railroad" that aided so many escaped slaves on their journey to freedom.

Other chapters in the chapel's proud history will also be highlighted by presenters Marlene Lu, Friends of Historic Allen Chapel, and professor Chris Olsen of the department of history. The abolitionist Frederick Douglas helped raise money for the church, and, before serving as the first black U.S. senator, Hiram Revels founded one of the country's earliest schools for African-American children at Allen Chapel. This event is co-sponsored by WFIU and the Department of History.

"Rewritten by Machine and New Technology: Video Art in the 20th and 21st Centuries" will open Feb. 17 in University Art Gallery, located in the Landini Center for Performing and Fine Arts.

Curated by Barbara Racker, University Curator, and Sala Wong, digital art professor, this exhibition is an introduction to the history of video art and its contemporary tendencies. It includes seminal works dating from 1973 to 2011 by internationally acclaimed artists, including Stephanie Barber, David Hall, Gary Hill, Joan Jonas, Takeshi Murata, Nam June Paik, Semiconductor, Bill Viola, and Hiraki Sawa. The exhibit runs through March 21.

These events are free and open to the public. A complete list and description of the Community Semester's activities may be found at: http://www.indstate.edu/communitysemester  .

Media contact and writer: Paula Meyer, ISU Communications and Marketing, 812-237-3783 or paula.meyer@indstate.edu