AMANDA DEDIE
Special to The Leader
The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences Brown Bag Series, more commonly known as simply the “Brown Bag Series,” is a string of monthly lectures given by a panel of speakers in accordance with the season’s theme. The Brown Bag Series is kicking off this semester with “A Healthy Climate.”
The Brown Bag series occurs nationally at colleges and universities. The concept is to urge those attending the series bring their lunch with them in a brown bag. The talk is purposely scheduled to be around the time people eat lunch. This has happened at the Fredonia campus for over 10 years.
On Wednesday, Oct. 1, the Brown Bag Series will present a lecture titled, “The Power of Narrative: Engaging Difficult Stories from Our Campus and Classrooms.” Laura Johnson, associate professor of communication who has been working with the Brown Bag Lecture Series committee for four years, explained the theme of the presentation via email.
“Our panel will share stories and explore how to respond to stories that students share,” Johnson said. “How to navigate difficult moments that cross cultures and may touch on prejudice, how to work through the politics of social justice work in education, and offer the opportunity to share stories through an online audio project called ‘Fred Stories.’”
Six presenters, who represent a cross-section of the campus population, will discuss how to respond to the stories and situations that students will share.
Dr. Heather McEntarfer, associate professor of English, went more in-depth about the Brown Bag Series, and this Wednesday’s lecture in particular.
“This year they’re looking at how to think about the things that affect our health on campus, broadly speaking,” McEnfarter states. “I think they will get to hear a whole range of perspectives from faculty members across campus … in the one on Wednesday, we’re talking about difficult stories, difficult moments that have taken place on campus, around issues about identity in particular, so students will get to hear faculty members and one student talk about difficult moments around race, sexuality and identity in particular.”
The other members of the lecture panel for Wednesday’s presentation are Bill Boerner, Chief Diversity Officer & Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Brian Boisvert, Assistant Professor, Department of World Languages and Cultures; Robert Dahlgren, Associate Professor and Chair of Curriculum and Instruction, College of Education; Jeffry Iovannone, Visiting Assistant Professor, Interdisciplinary Studies and Coordinator of the Women’s and Gender Studies Program; Heather McEntarfer, Assistant Professor of English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences; Maria Nuñez, Public Relations Chair for Sister Circle, Latinos Unidos e-board member, English major; and Jellema Stewart, Director of the Center for Multicultural Affairs.
John Kijinski, Dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Science and professor of English, funds the series through his department and has been actively involved since 2003.
“It’s important that students see their time at a college as something more than just attending classes and requirements, and it’s very important for them to see that the people we have working here have expertise in addressing very specific problems from multi-disciplinary perspectives. This is one of the opportunities where you can get someone … talking about a common problem that is very important to all of us.”
The Power of Narrative: Engaging Difficult Stories from Our Campus and Classrooms takes place Wednesday, Oct. 1 from noon -1 pm in Williams Center Room S204.