Humanities
10.8.08Conference will focus on problems of inequality in education
Social scientists and philosophers will convene Oct. 17-18 at the Arrillaga Alumni Center at Stanford to examine issues related to educational equality, including charter schools, the achievement gap between black and white students and the relationship between economic inequality and inequality in schooling.
Gifts to the arts top $200 million; new space planned
Longtime Stanford supporters Deedee and Burt McMurtry, former chairman of the Board of Trustees, are giving $30 million toward construction of a new building for the Department of Art and Art History. The building will be named in their honor.
Avant-garde director Robert Wilson: 'What we see can be as important as what we hear'
Robert Wilson—considered by many to be the foremost living director and stage designer—was at Stanford last week to present the first of the Presidential Lectures in the Humanities and Arts of the 2008-09 academic year.
Two months in Oxford, trying out tutorials and umbrellas amid dreaming spires
The Stanford Program in Oxford, offered through the Bing Overseas Studies Program, provides eight weeks for 45 or so Stanford students to absorb all of Oxford.
Ethics Center gets $5 million gift and a new name
The Center for Ethics in Society at Stanford has received a new $5 million gift from longtime supporters Bowen H. "Buzz" McCoy, '58, and his wife, Barbara.
Avant-garde director, artist to give Presidential Lecture
Avant-garde theater director, stage designer, playwright and visual artist Robert Wilson will present a multimedia self-portrait that combines talk, demonstration and performance at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 1, in Kresge Auditorium.
Writers share insights about their craft, field questions at Three Books forum
The writers were zesty, accomplished, celebrated, awarded, and, if the term isn't too démodé, hip. So this year's noisy class of incoming freshmen treated them like rock stars, with hoots and howls and deafening applause on the evening of Sept. 17.
Philosophy Talk heads to Marsh Theater
Stanford professors will tackle life, death and Second Life before a live audience in downtown San Francisco. "Philosophy Talk" (KALW 91.7 FM), billed as "the radio show that questions everything except your intelligence," will record two shows in front of a theater audience Sunday, Sept. 28.
Authors Nicole Krauss, Kiyo Sato win 2008 Saroyan Prize
Two very different female writers are this year's recipients of the third William Saroyan International Prize for Writing (also known as the Saroyan Prize). Stanford University Libraries, in partnership with the William Saroyan Foundation, announced the winners during a ceremony today at Stanford.
‘Three Books’ program explores youth, choice and self-identity
Three very different explorations of self-identity were mailed to incoming Stanford students several weeks ago as part of this year's "Three Books" program. The authors will appear together Sept. 17 on a panel during New Student Orientation.
Stanford jazz camp hits high notes
The jazz that filled the halls of the Braun Music Center at the end of last month came not only from the Stanford Jazz Workshop faculty but also from their students—the 12- to 17-year-olds participating in the annual jazz camp on campus.
New life given to ancient Egyptian texts stored at Stanford for decades
They're torn and faded and have the woven texture of a flattened Triscuit. At first glance, the ancient Egyptian texts look like scraps of garbage. And more than 2,000 years ago, that's exactly what they were—discarded documents, useless contracts and unwanted letters that were recycled into material needed to plaster over mummies, like some precursor to papier-mâché.
Musical journey
The Stanford Symphony Orchestra, Stanford Taiko and combined choral ensembles from the Department of Music recently traveled to China to promote cultural exchange, strengthen understanding between Chinese and American youth, and celebrate their vibrancy and the spirit of Olympic cooperation.
All that jazz
Pianist Taylor Eigsti and guitarist Julian Lage will perform together Sunday, July 27, at the Stanford Jazz Festival.
Stanford Summer Theater’s 10th season features works by Ireland’s Brian Friel
In a small town in rural Ireland, Maire falls in love with George, a shy British soldier enchanted with all things Irish, not just Maire, but also the local pub's fiery poteen, the land, the people and the language—even the place names he has been ordered to wipe off its maps.
