Campus News

 

 

The school has recently hosted a variety of lectures, with topics ranging from religion to sneakers to the impact of language on race. Two of the speakers, Diane Moore and Jim Keady, were part of the Wantman Family State of the World lecture series, while comedians Teja Arboleda and Dwayne Perkins, speaker Marc Elliot, and former Freedom Rider Rev. Ralph Lord Roy all came to speak about diversity issues for Martin Luther King, Jr. week.

 

Harvard University scholar Diane Moore visited campus to spend time with the religious studies department and talk to students about the necessity of understanding other religions. To read about Moore’s talk, “Religion Beyond Fundamentalisms: the Importance of Religious Literacy in the 21st Century,” click here.

 

Jim Keady, director of Educating for Justice, Inc., spoke to students about Nike’s overseas factory workers in Tangerang, Indonesia. Keady’s presentation included a documentary created when he and his colleagues tried to live on less than $2 per day, like the local workers. To read more, click here.

 

For other news and recaps of great speakers, visit our news page.

 

NMH and Haiti Relief
After a huge push in January to raise money for Haiti (student and staff contributions exceeded a total of $2,500), it would have been easy enough for NMHers to dust off their hands and consider their job done. Instead, the community continued fundraising  through such events as a benefit concert by the NMH World Music Combo and another concert by Wipe A Tear: Haiti The ultimate goal is to raise $10,000 and buy the clinics a new truck to transport their medical supplies from complex to complex in Haite. Wipe A Tear advisor and religious studies teacher Lara Freeman says the group is considering “the present suffering and about the long term needs of our neighbors in Haiti.” To read more, click here.

 

Students Create Tangible Revelation
More than 40 NMH student artists have their work on display at the Gallery at the Rhodes Arts Center now through April 25.

 

The artwork, which was selected by visual arts faculty from among pieces created in the 2009-2010 school year, includes paintings, drawings, traditional and digital photography, ceramics, monoprints, wood assemblage, and traditional and digital design work.

 

“It is a tangible revelation to the NMH community and our guests, as to what is achievable by our students in a well accentuated visual arts program,” said Philip Calabria, visual arts department chair. “Hopefully, it will encourage other students to take part.”

 

The show has been an annual feature at NMH since it was started in 1949 by longtime faculty member Douglas Jones.

 

Honoring Larry
On February 2, Louise Schwingel delivered a moving tribute to former NMH faculty member Larry Friedman, who passed away on January 19. She described Friedman, who had worked at NMH between 1979 and 1995, as a passionate teacher of English and Irish literature. Schwingel said, “He will be remembered for his curious intellect, for his laugh, a high pitched giggle that shook his entire body, and for his irreverent humor.” To read her full tribute, click here.

 

Sharpe Gospel
Kevin Sharpe, leader of the modern gospel ensemble The Kevin Sharpe Group, was the featured guest at NMH’s annual concert to benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters program. The Springfield native had been working with the concert choir all winter, sharing his love of gospel music. Sharpe has performed with jazz artist Archie Shepp, recorded with soul diva Betty Harris, and gone served as the music director for the Smith College Gospel Choir. The performance also featured the NMH Singers, Select Women’s Ensemble, Hogapellas, Nellies, NMH Concert Choir, and the World Music Choir.

 

Glass Menagerie
NMH students took to the stage in 1930s costumes on February 18–20 for performances of Tennessee Williams’ poignant and dreamlike memory play The Glass Menagerie. The portrait of a family was directed by Brady Ward ’10, who said he aimed to create a sense of confinement. Next up are: The Importance of Being Earnest, Oscar Wilde's brilliant tour de force, on April 1–3; and Shipwrecked! An Entertainment, an adventure tale that combines the best of Robinson Caruso and Gilligan’s Island, on April 22, 24, and 25. Shipwrecked! is directed by Will Baker ’10, who said his ensemble piece will attempt to keep the audience “on the edge of their seats.”

 


Do you love NMH? Tell us why at 130reasons.nmhblogs.org. We are compiling the top 130 reasons alumni, students, and parents love NMH as part of the 130^th Anniversary Campaign, so share what you think makes NMH special.

 

To read more about life on campus or to contribute to the conversation, visit one of our more than 30 other blogs—all with a window into what makes NMH a places that lives the mission: http://nmhblogs.org/

 

In spring 2010, NMH students traveled, studied, and did service in destinations including Dominica, Cambodia, and New Zealand. Breathtaking photos of the New Zealand trip, led by faculty members Meg Donnelly and Glenn Minshall, can be viewed here.