The Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement plans to round out the semester with several events and opportunities for community service. Two events highlight the contributions of Triveni Mathur and international students, and the final International Café and a holiday community service opportunity offer productive breaks from studying and end-of-semester stress.
• International Café: Slouching toward dystopia, with Stephen Marr, senior lecturer in peace and conflict studies at Malmö University in Sweden, noon, December 4, Spencer Center
Marr will challenge attendees to rethink futures for communities such as Detroit or Lagos, Nigeria, where stereotypes and popular writings often create the expectation of only negative outcomes.
• Culminating address by Triveni Mathur, tentatively scheduled for 5 p.m., December 4,
Spencer Center
Mathur, who is in residence at Mary Baldwin University (Mary Baldwin) as a Fulbright-Nehru Visiting Scholar, will share her thoughts on what she has learned about peace from Mary Baldwin students. A reception will follow Mathur’s talk, and information will be available about sustainable holiday gift-giving through such organizations as BeadforLife and Heifer International.
• Going-away celebration for international students, 5 p.m., December 5, Spencer Center
This event gives international students a chance to show appreciation for their time at Mary Baldwin. It is open to the community so their fellow students, professors, and friends can say goodbye and wish them well. Students Sonoko Iwamoto, Ayana Kuroki, Yuka Matsui, Mako Watanabe, and Yuika Yasui, all of Japan, and Heewon Kim, of South Korea, are returning to their home countries.
• Volunteer to be a Salvation Army bell ringer, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., December 6, Beverley Street, downtown Staunton
The Spencer Center will coordinate volunteers in hour-long shifts for holiday bell ringing, which raises money for the Salvation Army to help local families in need.