To Be Young, Gifted, and Black

As an alternative to watching Othello this weekend, there is another local production that I am also willing to give you extra credit for watching.

To Be Young, Gifted, and Black by Lorraine Hansberry, the writer of A Raisin in the Sun, will be showing at Winter Haven Campus of Polk State College (16 miles from SEU: see driving directions) on the Main Stage Theater in the Fine Arts Building (see WFA on campus map).

"Opening night, March 30, will include a pre-show reception at 6:30 p.m. with a 7:30 p.m. curtain time. The play continues March 31 through April 2 at 7:30 p.m. and closes with a Sunday matinee April 3, curtain 2:30 p.m." Tickets are $8.

If you do go--which I would encourage--post a statement on your blog indicating that you watched the production in order to receive the extra credit.

Also, see this production in the news.

Watching Othello Is Now Optional

I've decided to make watching Othello an optional activity instead of required. I am, however, offering extra credit. 

The SEU production is at the Polk Theater on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, April 1-3. Also note that on Thursday, there is a reduced rate production that you may attend.

If you do go--which I would encourage--post a statement on your blog indicating that you watched the production in order to receive the extra credit. 

See the university’s Arts and Events Calendar.

Lake Bonny Park Field Trip

Before class on Tuesday, April 5, you will need to visit Lake Bonny Park. The park is off Bartow Rd., directly across from Lakeland High School, about five minutes from Southeastern: see map.

The purpose of this activity is to give you yet another opportunity to undertake the spiritual practice of paying attention, which is a practice of poets like Mary Oliver and of theologians like St. Augustine.

The instructions are as follows:

• Reread one of the nature poems of your choice of those we've discussed in class or of the ones that will be discussed the following class (one of the poems from Mary Oliver or Robert Hass).
• Go preferably in the morning or evening when it is cool.
• Find a quiet place to sit or stand in nature.
• Be still, be quiet, pay attention, watch, and listen.
• Go alone or go with someone else. If you go with someone, do not spend much time talking.
• Stay at the park for a minimum of 45 minutes; stay still for at least fifteen minutes.
• Don't read or write during the fifteen minutes of stillness.
• Write a nature poem of your own at least 20 lines (or several shorter poems adding up to that much). 
• In addition to meeting the prompt, include your poem in your post for the next class. Since writing these poems is part of this field trip, they do not count towards the 300 word minimum for the post.
• Also, include in that post the following statement: "I went to Lake Bonny Park for this field trip, and I stayed there for at least 45 minutes." If you were there for less time, indicate the amount of time you were there for. 

Circle B Bar Nature Reserve Field Trip, March 31

Great Blue Heron photographed at Circle B
from "Birdwatching from a Christian Perspective"

Set on Lake Hancock here in Polk County, Circle B Bar is a stunningly beautiful nature reserve that features a Nature Discovery Center, hiking trails, and restored wetlands. It's a wonderful place to spend time outdoors and to see wildlife, especially birds. Like all wetlands, it also serves an important environemtnal function in our watershed. In conjunction with reading and writing some nature poetry, we will be visiting the reserve to take a tour, learn a little about the environment, spend some time in nature, and do some community service.

We will visit on Thursday, March 31, from 9:20-11:30 AM. Since this is during chapel time, I've arranged for you to get chapel credit for your attendance.

You will need to wear clothing appropriate for the setting. Suggested things to wear/bring: closed-toed shoes, shorts, t-shirt, hat, sun screen, bug repellent, water bottle, and some sort of snack like a granola bar. A camera and/or would be nice but are optional. However, do make sure to bring a notebook, something to write with, and copies of the texts for the day.

You will have to arrange your own transportation. Carpooling is encouraged. Circle B is about 6.5 miles from Southeastern. (See map.) Please make sure to arrive on time.

The community service will involve pulling non-native invasive species of grass from some plots of uplands that are undergoing restoration. I'm told that gloves will be provided. But prepare to get a little sweaty and dirty.

Though we may have to be flexible, the planned itinerary is as follows:

• Take a tram ride tour to the uplands
• Spend some time sitting in nature and reading nature poetry
• Community service project in uplands
• Continue tour on tram
• Return to Nature Discover Center to discuss visit

Event This Friday - Extra Credit

This Friday (tomorrow!) at 7:00 PM, Laura Runge--one of my PhD professors from USF--will be presenting writing and photography on the Hillsborough River in A115.

 

Since this pertains to the nature poetry that we are going to be reading and discussing soon, I am inviting you to come. 

  

I am offering extra credit: If you attend, I will give you 10 points added to your midterm or final exam grade. If you attend and write an additional blog post in response to the reading, I will give you 30 points added to your midterm or final exam grade.

AFI Field Trip, March 22

Alliance for Independence (AFI) has worked with adults with mental disabilities in Lakeland for over 50 years. In conjunction with reading Tom Griffin's The Boys Next Door, we will be visiting their facility to take a tour, learn about their work, and do some community service.

We will visit on Tuesday, March 22, from 9:15-11:15 AM. Since this is during chapel time, I've arranged for you to get chapel credit for your attendance.

You will have to arrange your own transportation. Carpooling is encouraged. AFI is 1.5 miles from Southeastern. (See map.) Please make sure to arrive on time.

The community service we will do will involve taking turns reading a story with the adults who AFI serves. When we do this, the plan is to break into three groups, each comprised of two of the small groups that we have in class. So when we break into these reading groups, stay with your small group from class.

Grades for Midterm

Grades for the Midterm Exam have been posted in Blackboard. Select the "See Exam Grades" link on the side bar. Have a good spring break!