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"What is a Hero?"
An "Against Indifference" Symposium
Sponsored by the College of Arts and Sciences at Ashland University
In the fall of 2000, a group of faculty in the College of Arts and Sciences joined efforts to produce a week long symposium on the Holocaust. Dr. Elie Wiesel was the keynote speaker for the event, the Art Department held an exhibition
with a Holocaust theme, the Music Department contributed with a moving concert and other planned events took place around campus with the help of the Theatre and Religion Departments and the Office of Student Affairs. With the success of this event, the College of Arts and Sciences Dean, Dr. John Bee, developed a Symposium Committee in fall 2001 to plan and host a similar event every other year.
The overarching theme of these collective symposia is “Against Indifference,” which is understood in at least two senses. First, the University wants to give attention to topics that are important — topics that, because of their currency and centrality, demand thought and attention. Second, those at Ashland University
believe that in our school, our “House of Intellect,” people must take seriously — the fight against indifference toward — ideas.
The 2003 Against Indifference Symposium brought to campus four distinguished
speakers to address the
issue of human nature. Then, in 2005, the Symposium focused on the topic of terrorism. Finally, in 2007, "The Promises and Perils of Technology" were brought to light through engaging thought and conversation among our speakers, students and guests."
This year, the symposium topic is “What is a Hero?." With the assistance of the four distinguished speakers coming to campus this fall, the University hopes to engage students and guests in thought and conversation
about heroes.
  
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8
4:00 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium
"What is a (Super)hero?"
This roundtable
discussion on the image of the hero as portrayed in comic books will feature Tom DeFalco (former comic book writer and editor-in-chief of Marvel Comics), Robin Rosenberg (clinical psychologist and editor of The Psychology of Superheroes), and Mark White (associate professor of politics, economics, and philosophy at the College of Staten Island and editor of Watchmen and Philosophy: A Rorschach Test and Batman and Philosophy: The Dark Knight of the Soul).
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21
4:00 p.m. in the Student Center Auditorium
Robert Faulkner, "The Greatness of the Hero"
Robert Faulkner is professor of political science at Boston College and author or editor of seven books on various subjects in philosophy. His talk will be entitled "The greatness of the Hero," and will be drawn largely from his 2007 book The Case for Greatness: Honorable Ambition and its Critics. This talk will be cosponsored by the Ashbrook Center (which is contributing an additional $500 to Professor Faulkner's honorarium).
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 15
7:00 p.m. in the Trustees Room of the Convocation Center
Brenda Berkman, "Taking the Heat: Twenty-Five Pioneering Years for Women Firefighters in the New York Fire Department"
Brenda Berkman was one of the first women to join the New York Fire Department, repeatedly facing gender discrimination during her attempts to do so. She retired in 2006 after a 25-year career which included service on 9/11.
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WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28
7:00 p.m. in the Trustees Room of the Convocation Center
Perry Moore, "Tapping into Your Inner Hero"
Perry Moore is a best-selling author, film producer, screenwriter, and director, best known as the executive producer of the Chronicles of Narnia films. His 2007 book Hero deals with the tribulations of a gay superhero. |
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