Tuesday, April 28, 2015

2015 Spring Honors Engagement Opportunities

It has been a busy semester. Let us know what events were most meaningful to you, Honorables! (Click on the "# comment" box at the bottom of this post.)

If you attended an ECU-sponsored academic, fine arts, or cultural event on campus this spring that is not listed here, let us know!
1.        January 20:  MLK Celebration in the Estep
2.        January 20 and Wednesday, January 21:  Honors Lunch in the Taff Cafeteria.
3.        January 20:  Meet with Joy Hofmeister, new State Superintendent of Public Instruction.
4.        January 22: Research Workshop #4
5.        January 23: Second City Hits Home (2 points)
6.        January 27: Watkins Lecture (Aradhna Pillai)
7.        January 29: Tri-Beta Presents: What to Expect in Med School and Dental School
8.        January 29: Ramadan Research Symposium (2 points)
9.        January 29: A Very Chorale Valentines
10.     February 5: Dr. Houston Mount book signing and Q&A
11.     February 6:  Foreign Film Festival screening:  “Stalingrad”
12.     February 10: Higher Ed. Day at the Capital
13.     February 12-14: ECU Theatre and Music Presents:  “Annie Get Your Gun”
14.     February 13: Foreign Film Festival screening: “OSS 117: Lost in Rio”
15.     February 20: Foreign Film Festival screening: “No”
16.     February 23: 9th Annual Composers Concert
17.     March 3: In Plain Sight Documentary and Discussion Panel
19.     March 5: Dr. Lark Powers Piano Recital, Fine Arts Center
20.     March 9: Concerto Competition Audition, Fine Arts Center
21.     March 10: Louise Young Diversity Lecture
22.     March 11: Robert Noyce Teacher Scholarship Discussion
23.     March 12: ECU Screens presents: "Treasure Island"
24.     March 24: Steve Filkins Piano Recital
25.     March 25: ECU Screens presents: "Three Idiots" (2 points)
27.     March 26: Clayton Sullivan Senior Recital
28.     March 27: ECU Presents: Annie Moses Band
29.     March 28: Equalicon2K15
30.     April 2: Student Trumpet Recital
31.     April 2-4: Scissortail Creative Writing Festival
32.     April 3: Scissortail Feature:  Darrel Bourque (2 points)
33.     April 6: An Evening of Jazz and Pop Standards
34.     April 7: Honors Research Workshop #4
35.     April 9: Instrumental Ensembles Concert
37.     April 13: ECU Screens presents: Behind the Beautiful Forevers
38.     April 13: Jordan Clark Senior Recital
39.     April 14: Wind Ensemble & Symphonic Band Spring Concert
41.     April 15: Oklahoma City Bombing Survivor:  Terri Talley
42.      April 16-18: ECU Theatre Presents: Woyzeck
44.     April 23: Parker Ethics Lecture
45.     April 23-24: Opera Workshop
46.     April 23: Instrumental Ensembles
47.     April 24-25: Collage' Spring Dance Concert
48.     April 27: ECU Singers at St. Joseph Catholic Church
49.     April 28: Jazz Ensemble Concert (Ataloa)
50. April 28: Nefarious: Merchant of Souls Film Screening and Informational Talk
51.     April 30: ECU Screens presents: Of Mice and Men (Estep)
52.     April 30: Jazz Band (Ataloa)

14 comments:

  1. I had the opportunity to see Three Idiots when I took EQ 2 last spring semester, and I remember being concerned that it was going to be a terrible movie. But I was wrong. It was amazing, and as soon as it was over I knew I'd have to watch it again, and I was thrilled when it was announced that Three Idiots was going to be played at the Foreign Film Festival this year. The movie is an award-winning Bollywood comedy-drama about the lives of three young men during their time in college, and it touches on all the high's and low's of that time, all the adventures they had, and all the memories they made. The movie is so well-made! You get to know the characters, feel what they feel, and see what they see. And it goes so much deeper than just a story about college students - it shows that we should do things for the sheer joy of learning and because we love it, not because it's what will make the most money or make other people jealous. And it makes very real the devastating results of unrealistic expectations and pressure to perform. So for me, this movie is not only hilariously full of fun antics, but it also teaches some real-life lessons that we would all benefit from learning. I loved this movie and it was a pleasure to be able to see it again.

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  2. The Honors Caucus was also a great deal of fun. I very much enjoyed the time to catch up with my fellow honors students and feast on pizza with them :) I was very blessed at this time to be named HSA President. What an honor (no pun intended)! I am so thankful for this opportunity, and I am looking forward to serving the honors program in this way for the next year. It was awesome to see who else was also running for office, and I am definitely looking forward to working with each and every one of these great people. It was kind of sad to realize that the older officers are moving on, but as they get closer to graduation they are coming to a new chapter in their own lives, and that is really exciting. I also realized that I can give an impromptu speech when I need to. I should have known that I would have to say something, but I didn't think about it, and when Dr. Benton asked me to speak…well…I think it turned out alright! It was definitely a fun time, though, and things like that always remind me why I am in honors. It's easy sometimes to get bogged down in the amount of work that needs to be done and lose sight of the bigger picture. I know that what I have learned through the honors program has been invaluable, and I hope I will be able to stick with it for the rest of my college career.

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  3. Finally, the Spring Showcase. I think it is so neat that we have a way to tell others about all the work we have put into our research projects, and it is so good to see what projects people have been doing. The projects are so diverse! It is awesome. Each project comes from a completely different major, and even within each major there are so many different things you can look into. There were three different physics projects done in the room I was in, and each one was completely unique. Then there were presentations from the perspectives of math, psychology, performing arts, and more. It was quite impressive. One thing that scared me though, is the knowledge that I will be doing the same thing next year! I cannot believe the time has gone this fast. And that means that I have a lot of work to do between now and this time next year. It is neat though, to see what I will be doing, and to know that it is not impossible. Many of these students have majors that are just as involved as mine, and they still managed to do their projects, so that tells me that I can too. I definitely enjoyed my time at Showcase.

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  4. I really enjoyed my last semester in the honors program and hate to leave, I have learned so many valuable things throughout these last four semesters. I always love the idea of having honors lunch in the Taff Cafeteria with professors. During class, you only see them in their “natural habitat,” or their classroom on campus. It is an awesome opportunity to get out of the classroom and talk to them one-on-one about anything and everything, perhaps even life in general. It is good to keep in mind that they are human too and they want to see you succeed, because with your success, they are successful as well.
    The Ramadan Research Symposium is always my favorite because it is an event that pertains to my scope of practice as a nurse. I get to first-handedly hear about all of the revolutionary new discoveries that are being looked into, most of them having to deal with medical advances. With an ever-changing and advancing field, it is hard to keep up with the most technologically advanced methods of performing tests, utilizing state-of-the-art machinery for accurate results as well as precise and time-efficient experiments. In science, time is everything. With faster methods to obtain better results, we are more able to replicate experiments in order to prove their accuracy, and we are better able to show precision through instrumentation.
    Behind the Beautiful Forevers was a depressing but exhilarating screening that displayed the harsh reality that India is going through as far as economic status and living conditions are concerned. It really shed light on how lucky we are to live here in the United States with much better living conditions than that of most countries. I also had a blast writing a descriptive biography on my sister, Chloe through the piece of prose that was published in the Originals, named Melodic Peace.

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  5. My first semester in Honors was very enjoyable. I realized that the Honors Program really encourages students to get involved in on-campus activities. I went to a few, and I would like to discuss about them. I went to "Second City Hits Home" which premiered January 23rd. I really enjoyed the comedic aspect they portrayed. All of the actors were extremely talented; however, some of the jokes that were made were a bit offensive. I do not want to degrade their show, but I would not recommend it to others due to the extensive vulgarity included. I decided to go watch "Annie Get Your Gun" which premiered February 12th-14th. I really enjoyed the comedy that was shown. I had never seen Annie Get Your Gun, but I am very glad I was given the opportunity to witness it. It was a great show, and I would recommend it to others. This semester during the Foreign Film Festival they premiered The Three Idiots Bollywood film. Before going, I had no idea what to expect. I assumed that the movie quality would be poor, unentertaining, and non-relatable; however, all three of these assumptions were not true. I absolutely loved the movie, The Three Idiots, and I would recommend it to others. The film was extremely relatable due to the college base scenery. I do not want to spoil what happens, but you should definitely "expect the unexpected". I also attended the Scary Potter Musical. The show was honestly one of the best productions ever to exist. I have been to several on-campus plays/musicals and they have all been good, but this performance is definitely set apart. I am so glad I got to see the talent some of my fellow ECU Tigers possess. I really enjoyed being in Honors. It has encouraged me to get involved with on-campus activities.

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  6. I would really like to write about the foreign film festival and the movie “Three Idiots”, but as I can see from others comments you can already tell it was great. It had ups and downs and maneuvered them spectacularly.
    Anyways moving forward another thing I really enjoyed was the Second City Hits Home. Yes it did have vulgar language and slightly raunchy parts at time, but I think the reason I enjoyed it so much was because I did the workshop before that was taught by some of the actors. It was an improv workshop which was so much fun I cannot even begin to describe, but as I went into the theatre to watch the show I had a new found respect and awe at what they were doing because even though I did the same thing just hours before they are doing it in front of hundreds of people.
    Another of my favorites this semester was the Scissortail Creative Writing Festival. I went to a main speaker, Mary Kay Zuravleff, and her books name was “Man Alive”. She gave a brief overview and dove into reading her book. When she first said she was doing a book reading I shrunk in my chair a little bit and thought “Oh great an hour of listening to this lady’s book which is probably about something boring”, but oh was I wrong. She was funny, exaggerative and her book was great! My only regret of that night was not having enough money to actually buy her book!
    Last but not least I loved “Of Mice and Men”. Being from a school in which we were never required to read the text I never have. When I went into this movie I expected a boring movie about a boring novel, but at the end I found myself so enthralled by the story I almost cried. As emotional as that movie was it made me wish I had read the book a long time ago. Also I thought the acting was great. They sold the character that they were in and I would go into more detail, but just in case there is someone who is actually reading this and has not read or seen the book I won’t give any spoilers. Just read or watch it. You won’t regret it, but your heart might after it gets torn into pieces by being too emotionally involved with the characters.

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  7. Watching Second City at the beginning of this semester lead to a lot of “inside jokes” with my friends in reference to their performance. I am also looking forward to seeing one or more of them on Saturday Night Live, in the next few years, then tell my student, “I saw them when they came to East Central in 2015.”
    Watching Stalingrad was a very eye opening experience. I am not a history buff, so I was very glad I attended the mini lecture before-hand giving a back story to the film.
    I took my boyfriend to “Annie Get Your Gun” and I was in the play in middle school and there were so many times he would tell me to stop singing along (even though I was very quiet). Those classic songs still get stuck in my head on a regular biases.
    “Three Idiots” was such a great experience. Even though I don’t know all the lyrics, still I still catch my self humming “All is Well” accompanied with three pats to calm the heart. And “Zoo Bee Doo Bee” is so stinking catchy! And the message of the importance of chasing happiness and success will follow is very applicable to our age group.
    James Franko was the reason I went to watch “Of Mice and Men” and while I knew it would be sad because, well it is Steinbeck, I was not expecting something that would make me cry like I did. I will not spoil it, but the ending left me feeling very sad for George and Lenny.

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  8. Despite not being heavily active in engagement this semester, I have to say that the events that I did attend were spectacular. Possibly my favorite event for the entire semester, and possibly the whole year, was the showing of "Three Idiots" in the ESTEP. I hardly even waited a week before going online and searching for a copy of my own, and it really opened my eyes to the world of Bollywood. The theme of staying true to one's self really struck a chord with me, and I have probably watched it four or five times since the showing. The musical numbers now serve as inside jokes within honors, and the film's ability to switch from comedic buffoonery to realistic portrayals of the dire situation in India exalt it as one of my favorite films of all time.
    Another ESTEP showing that I was really looking forward to was "Treasure Island". Seeing as how the original narrative was one of my absolute favorite stories growing up, I'd been anticipating the reveal of National Theatre Live's adaptation for weeks beforehand. I was more than pleasantly surprised to discover how the original tale was adapted, including Jim's gender switch to female. I was captivated for the entire performance, and only wish I could have seen it live. The acting was marvelous, and the portrayal of Jim by Patsy Ferran was relatable and inspired. The play managed to capture the sense of adventure and longing that the book so effortlessly conveys, and was one of the best adaptations I'd ever seen.
    Finally, EqualiCon was an outstanding event, one that I wish more students had participated in. For the entirety of March 28th, the East Central University campus was filled with acceptance and love. The panels were highly educational and offered a true glimpse into the lives of LGBT individuals in Oklahoma. The events surrounding EqualiCon, including A Scary Potter Musical (which was divine and comical, to say the least) and the drag show held afterwards managed to garner plenty of attention for East Central. My only critique of the entire event was that it did not last long enough.

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  9. The Bollywood film "Three Idiots" was an amazing experience. Before watching it, I had not known what to expect, which was due to my unfamiliarity with the "Bollywood" type of movies. To me it was like a grand mix of many different genres, with some the switches between them being so fast that it almost felt like an emotional roller-coaster ride(in a surprising sort of way) . There were also plenty of song and dance numbers throughout the film(they often tended to go on for longer than I would have expected,but I enjoyed them nevertheless).

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  10. At the 'University Life Around the World' conference held just before the 'Three Idiots' screening, I was able to learn about different practices, lifestyles, and cultures. The panel was very informative and helpful. They told us of the competitive nature held by most people back home. One woman told us about certain struggles held by females back home. Most women refuse or are unable to obtain a proper education because many professors refuse to give the women decent grades without sexual favors. This only made my fondness of East Central and those around me even greater. This was a very enlightening semester.

    -Maranda Clymer

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  11. The support shines all throughout East Central. With all of the professors in the Honors Program always pushing for our success, and someone always around the corner to help you, it is hard to feel alone. To know of all the people from Honors supporting our fellow students at the Honors Showcase, and to see people of different sexualities and from all around being supportive of one another and celebrating the others progress brings the greatest sense of brotherhood and sisterhood within Honors and all throughout the university.

    -Maranda Clymer

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  12. This semester has been a crazy one for me. Even though I did not go to every event, I still had a blast. One of the best things I went to was the Harry Potter musical. That was simply amazing. I absolutely loved how much time and effort it took to create that. I was singing the song for days afterwards. I wish they had recorded it and put it up somewhere so I could show my friends back home just how great it was.
    Another thing that was hilarious was Second City Hits Home. I am so thankful that we brought them to ECU. I didn’t have to decide if I was going; I just knew. I’m glad I went. It had me laughing and brought me to the point of tears. For days after the performance, it was all my friends and I talked about. Great comedians are hard to find. I can’t wait to see them when they get on SNL or something. They all had so much potential.
    I think the best thing I went to this year was the “3 idiots” premier. It was my first taste of Bollywood and I am so thrilled with it. The themes in it were funny yet so series. I laughed, then cried, then laughed some more. To this day, I am singing their songs and watching it over and over on YouTube. Since almost all of my friends went to it we now have inside jokes because if it. The ‘all is well’ is an amazing one. I can’t wait to show it to my friends back at home.
    All and all, it was a fun time. I can’t wait to come back next semester and do all the things ECU has!

    -Lauren Tucker

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  13. This spring semester, I was able to be lucky enough to attend two separate honors classes at the same time. I was really only able to participate in the background of one and do work in the other, but it was an experience that was truly worthwhile. I was able to see how two different professors, Professor Chubb and Professor Peters, were able to teach the same content in a completely different manner. This was an experience that was truly delightful, and I recommend that others try this in the future as well. I am even going to do it again, if my schedule allows it of course. ~Nathaniel Starry

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  14. The Honors program admittedly forces me out of my bubble. If I had things my way, I'd avoid people just to have the breathing room. Some of the on-campus activities I've been encouraged to participate in weren't so uncomfortable. They were enjoyable, and I didn't have to worry about being forced to talk to people I didn't know or getting caught up in a social skill based event. They were nice and not particularly demanding. I went to the honors lunch, only one. There I spoke to some professors and some of my fellow honor students about the usual -- my major and which class EQ class I took. It was nice and not the least bit uncomfortable. The next event I went to was Second City. It was a lot of laughs and absolutely no pressure. I keenly remember someone suggest the beaches of Oklahoma, all none of them. It was quite the experience, and I didn't mind too terribly that I was in a crowd. I also went on the Norman/Seminole road trip. I went and took nots of the "Death of Sohrab" folio of the Shanahmeh -- it was a wonderful opportunity and I felt affected that we could actually be so close to them. Oh! Also, it goes without saying that I enjoyed the shrunken heads and the mummies. And the Persian armor. That really helped with my paper. Also, I gained an appreciation for Gregory Gerrer's work. It's like looking through smudged glasses. In some places it's clear and so very real, and in others it's fuzzy. The next event I went to was the screening of "Three Idiots." It was absolutely amazing. I can actually take that phrase "I laugh, I cried," and mean it. Because, man, I felt affected. The next event I went to was the Scissortail Creative Writing Featival. I went with my friend Archer, she needed nots for a paper and I needed a crutch for social interaction. Win win, if you ask me. I later went to listen to the ECU Singers at the St. Joseph Catholic Church. They were amazing. It's truly remarkable how people can sing so skillfully. I liked Tundra best, honestly. It was something else. Brought forth this feeling that I needed to do something; needed to go somewhere. Highlight of my semester. Lastly, I went to the banquet. It was nice. No pressure, no self-consciousness -- well, not a lot. My table-mates spoke of Russia and being 15 miles across the Border to Mexico. Oh--and bad movies. Are food, listened to the speakers, and generally had a good time for a socially anxious individual. It was adequate -- and no, not in a bad way. Why does everything adequate is bad? So yeah. I felt like I couldn't talk about any one event because I don't have the best memory when it comes to socializing, but what I remember of each was amazing.

    -C. Elizabeth Cooley

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