Eastern Connecticut State University

Sept. 7, “And God said, ‘Let there be evolution!’; Reconciling the Book of Genesis, the Qur’an, and the Theory of Evolution”
Location: Student Center Theatre
Professor Charles M. Wynn Sr.'s new book, "And God said, 'Let there be evolution!'; Reconciling the Book of Genesis, the Qur'an and the Theory of Evolution," deals with the continuing conflict between scientific understandings and religious beliefs.

Sept. 14, “The Sissy Boy Experiment”
Location: Betty R. Tipton Room, Student Center
Maris Murphy promotes awareness and advocacy about suicide and suicide prevention. She is the sister of Kirk Andrew Murphy, who committed suicide years after being subjected to "The Sissy Boy Experiment," an experimental therapy in the 1970s to change his "effeminate" behavior.

Sept. 21, New Yorkers for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Location: Betty R. Tipton Room Student Center
David Kaczynski is the brother of Theodore Kaczynski, the so-called Unabomber, who was arrested in 1996 for bombings that caused three deaths and numerous injuries. Bess Klassen-Landis was 13 years old when her mother was brutally raped and murdered in their home. They team up to advocate hope, forgiveness and a better future for our criminal justice system.

Sept. 28, Razing a Privileged Conscious
Location: Student Center Theatre
Social justice educator and author Art Munin works extensively with student advocacy, education and conduct. His lecture addresses issues of diversity and privilege and allows the audience to reflect on their own beliefs.

Oct. 5, John Mandelman on "Marine Bycatch"
Location: Science 104
While overfishing is a well-known threat for many commercial fish species, the plight of non-target species (bycatch) gets less attention. Mandelman will explore the broad ecological issues of capture and release; discuss recent studies on the biological impact of being bycatch; and address new approaches to reducing the incidental catch rates of shark, rays and skates.

Oct. 12, A Human Right to Reproductive Health
Location: Women's Center
Jane Roberts, co-founder of 34 Million Friends of the United Nations Population Fund, is a well-known activist for women's access to education, health and human rights. She will speak on reproductive health, which includes surviving childbirth, having access to family planning, avoiding HIV/AIDS and manifestations of gender-based violence.

Oct. 19, Creating Change in Ourselves
Location: Student Center Theatre
Activist Erin Davies refused silence when her VW Beetle was vandalized and left with homophobic slurs because her car sported a rainbow. Davies shares her inspirational story to raise awareness about hate crimes and homophobia.

Oct. 26, ICYIZERE: hope Documentary
Location: Student Center Theatre
Award-winning documentary filmmaker Patrick Mureithi, a Kenyan native, traveled to Rwanda to film a gathering of 10 survivors and 10 perpetrators of the 1994 genocide. ICYIZERE: hope is a documentary about their experiences.

Nov. 2, Beverly York
Location: Shafer Auditorium
Beverly York is a historian with expertise on the culture and history of Windham. She is an adjunct lecturer of history and humanities at Quinebaug Valley Community College, a site administrator of the Nathan Hale Homestead Museum located in Coventry, and an educational consultant at the Windham Textile & History Museum.

Nov. 9, “Wildlife Posters and Postage Stamps”
Location: Johnson Room
Steve Buchanan’s work is known by anyone who has ever owned a wildlife poster or used a motorcycle postage stamp. Buchanan is a scientific illustrator who was a concert pianist and professor before he found his second calling as an artist. He designed several stamp sets including pollinators, insects, American crops and carnivorous plants, in addition to motorcycles. He will display some of his artwork and describe how he creates his illustrations by computer.

Nov. 16, AnnaMaria Cardinalli-Padilla
Location: Betty R. Tipton Room
AnnaMaria, an accomplished classical flamenco guitarist and scholar, will share her passion for the richness of the Latino culture through her music.

Nov. 30, M. T. Anderson
Location: Student Center Theatre
M. T. Anderson has written stories for adults, picture books for children, adventure novels for young readers and several books for older readers (both teens and adults). His satirical book "Feed" was a finalist for the National Book Award and was the winner of the L.A. Times Book Prize.