A three-day conference at Middlebury College in early October will focus on the interconnection of Islamic culture with cultures around the world.
“Islam and Politics in a Globalizing World” is the topic of the 2007 Nicholas R. Clifford Symposium. College officials established the symposium in 1993 to honor the distinguished career of Professor Emeritus Clifford. Clifford was a member of the college”s history department from 1966 through 1993. He also served as vice president for academic affairs on three occasions: 1979-85; 1989; and from 1991-93. A former Middlebury College trustee, Clifford was co-chair of the college”s bicentennial celebration committee.
The symposium includes lectures, panel discussions, dance and music performances and a film screening. All events are free and open to the public.
“What it means to be a Muslim,” 4:30 p.m., Thursday, Oct. 4. This panel discussion will be led by Justin Stearns, Middlebury College instructor in religion. Panelists include members of the college”s Islamic Society. The program will be held at the Robert A. Jones “59 House, located on Hillcrest Road, off College Street (Route 125).
“Iraq and the future of political Islam,” 8 p.m. Thursday Oct. 4. James Piscatori, Oxford University professor and senior scholar at the Centre for Islamic Studies, will deliver the symposium”s keynote lecture in Room 216 of McCardell Bicentennial Hall. The hall is located on Bicentennial Way, off College Street (Route 125).
“Why does Islam become politicized?” 4 p.m. Friday, Oct. 5. Allison Stanger, Middlebury College professor of political science and the director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at the college, will lead this panel discussion. Panelists include: Andrew March, Yale University assistant professor of political science; David Patel, Cornell University assistant professor of Middle Eastern politics; James Piscatori, Oxford University professor. The program will be held at the Robert A. Jones “59 House, located on Hillcrest Road, off College Street (Route 125).
“Islam, Human Rights and Democracy,” 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 6. Quinn Mecham, Middlebury College assistant professor of political science, will lead this panel discussion. Panelists include: Amr Hamzawy, senior associate of the Democracy and Rule of Law Project at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace; Mirjam Künkler, Princeton University instructor in Near Eastern Studies; Naz Modirzadeh, senior associate at the program on Humanitarian Policy and Conflict Research, Harvard School of Public Health. The program will be held at the Robert A. Jones “59 House, located on Hillcrest Road, off College Street (Route 125).
“Landmine/Map of the World,” 1:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6. Leyya Tawil, Middlebury College artist-in-residence, will perform this solo dance. An improvised dance performance will begin after the solo dance, where Tawil will be accompanied by violinist Mike Khoury. Tawil is of Syrian-Palestinian descent and Khoury”s heritage is Palestinian-American. The dance aims to break misperceptions about Middle Eastern women and culture. Khoury also will discuss the Arab avant-garde in music. The program will be held in the Center for the Arts” Dance Theater, located on South Main Street (Route 30).
“Osama,” 3 p.m. and 8 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 6. A film screening, “Osama” is the first Afghan film shot since the fall of the Taliban. It won the Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film of 2003. Director Siddiq Barmak portrays a young girl and her mother after they lose their jobs under the Taliban. With no men to support them and harsh rules restricting women, the girl disguises herself as a boy named Osama to earn a living. The film”s showing is co-sponsored by the Hirschfield International Film Series and will be shown in the Dana Auditorium in the Sunderland Language Center on Main Street (Route 125).
For more information on the 2007 Clifford Symposium, call Charlotte Tate, assistant director of the Rohatyn Center for International Affairs at Middlebury College at 443-5975 or e-mail, [email protected].
