Friday, June 10, 2016
A Year in Review
International House serves the University of Chicago and greater Chicagoland as a cultural and intellectual center, hosting programs with the goal of advancing cross-cultural understanding and public discourse on community, national, and world affairs. Over 150 public programs involving a diverse array of cosponsors are held and attended by over 35,000 individuals annually. This past academic year, the Global Voices Lecture & Performing Arts Series launched the Global Voices Interview Series, a program which has enabled us to showcase some of the unique perspectives of our guests, ranging from New York Times columnist Frank Bruni to Chicago Blues Legend Eddie “The Chief” Clearwater. We present the links to these discussions below, as well as a selection of videos from our various lectures and performances throughout the year. We’d like to extend our thanks to all of the community members, attendees, and co-sponsors who made this a wonderful year and we look forward to another exciting year full of new events and programming, starting on September 24th with the Hyde Park Jazz Festival.
Until then, we invite you to enjoy our 2015-2016 Global Voices Highlights below!
Autumn Quarter Highlights
International House marked 84 years of international friendship and public programming with a Founder’s Day Celebration featuring Chicago Blues legend Eddy Clearwater, an international music icon who got his start in Chicago. To learn about the founding of International House, as well as Eddie Clearwater’s life and music, read this article by Global Voices Interviews Editor Patrick Reilly. This event was co-sponsored by the Global Voices Performing Arts Series and the generous support of alumnus Bart Lazar, AB’82.
On October 17th, Nahuel Pennisi, a folk singer from Buenos Aires, performed at International House’s Assembly Hall. Pennisi’s performance was remarkable, incorporating many of the musical riches of Argentine folklore. Make sure to watch the performance here. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Performing Arts Series, Sylvia Hevia Productions, AARP Illinois, the Consulate General of the Argentine Republic in Chicago, and Yes! Press.
On November 16th, former congressman Bob Inglis (R-SC) visited International House for a screening of the documentary Merchants of Doubt, a film about highly charismatic pundits-for-hire who present themselves in the media as scientific authorities in order to spread confusion about well-studied public threats.Take some time to read our interview with Bob Inglis, or watch the Q&A from the event here. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series and The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.
This past year, International House was delighted to present the Second International Korean Traditional Performing Arts Competition. Watch this competition, where amateur artists demonstrated their talents in the categories of Traditional Instruments, Traditional Voice, and Korean Dance. This event was presented by the Global Voices Performing Arts Series, the International Korean Traditional Performing Arts Committee, and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Chicago.
Read our interviews with bestselling author Rick Perlstein and community activist Jitu Brown from our October 17th event “Their City and Ours: A Baffler Forum on Developmental Disorder.” Rick Perlstein and Jitu Brown were joined by writer and attorney Tom Geoghegan and senior editor of The Baffler Chris Lehmann for a discussion of politics, art, and developmental disorder in Chicago. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Performing Arts Series, The Baffler, and the Seminary Co-op Bookstore.
Learn about our interview with journalist Zerlina Maxwell and Dr. Dawne Dupart from their November 17th discussion about issues of rape and domestic violence in communities of color. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, the Beta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., RSVP, the Center for the Study of Gender & Sexuality, the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, & Culture, and the Student Government Finance Committee.
Winter Quarter Highlights
On February 3rd, Professor Leif Wenar spoke about his new book Blood Oil: Tyrants, Violence, and the Rules that Run the World, in which he argues that the West has a moral responsibility to end its dependence on oil from authoritarian regimes. Watch a video of his talk or read over our interview with him to learn more. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, the Social Enterprise Initiative at the Booth School of Business, the UChicago Gate, and the Seminary Co-op Bookstore.
Professor Wendy Freedman visited us on February 1st for the first TEDxUChicago Salon, where she spoke about the next generation of high-powered telescopes. Watch a video of her lecture or read our interview with her. This event was co-sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series and TEDx UChicago.
On February 10th, photographer Wil Sands presented his recent photo exhibition “Waiting for Mother Russia” about the recent conflict in Ukraine. Read or watch our interview with Wil Sands to learn about his work in photojournalism. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, Art Works Projects, and The Center for East European and Russian/Eurasian Studies at the University of Chicago.
This year, the Global Voices Program began hosting a series of Open Mic Nights for friends and residents of International House, and we are excited to continue hosting these programs throughout the 2016-2017 year. Watch the performances from our very first Open Mic Night.
Read our interview with Adam Cifu, a practicing physician and professor at the University of Chicago Medical School, about his new book Ending Medical Reversal: Improving Outcomes, Saving Lives. Adam Cifu, MD, was joined by Vinayak K. Prasad, MD, MPH, for a discussion of their book and the issue of medical reversal. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, the UChicago Department of Medicine and the Seminary Co-op Bookstore.
Learn about our interview with Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, the Consul General of India in Chicago, during his January 21st visit to International House for a screening of the movie India Awakes. Dr. Ausaf Sayeed was joined by Bob Chitester, president and CEO of Free To Choose Network, Tom G. Palmer, executive vice president for international programs at the Atlas Network, and James Tustey, director of India Awakes for a discussion of the movie. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, the Consulate General of India in Chicago and Free to Choose Media.
Spring Quarter Highlights
On May 1st, we hosted Tsukasa Taiko, a performance group which demonstrates traditional concepts of Japanese art, instills appreciation for artistic excellence, and evolves the taiko art form. You can watch their performance here. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Performing Arts Series and Tsukasa Taiko.
Virginia Espino and Consuelo Hermosillo joined us for a screening and discussion of the film No Más Bebés, which addressed the coerced sterilizations of Mexican-origin women in the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center in the 1960’s and 70’s. For more information, watch the discussion or read the interview. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series and M.E.Ch.A. de UChicago.
On May 4th, New York Times columnist Frank Bruni visited International House to discuss the 2016 presidential election, informed by a decades-long career in journalism. You can find our interview with him here. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series and the Institute of Politics.
Read our interview with Dr. Alejandro Poiré, Mexico’s former Secretary of the Interior, from the Latin American Matters third annual policy forum. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, Latin American Matters, the Harris School, Mexicans at UChicago, and Student Government.
Learn about our interview with interfaith activist Hind Makki and education expert Juan Salgado, two of the panelists from the Niagara Foundation’s May 26th Chicago Interfaith Gathering. This three-day program addressed current trends and challenges in the project of healing individuals and communities during and after conflicts. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series and the Niagara Foundation.
Author José Orduña visited I-House to discuss his new book The Weight of Shadows: A Memoir of Immigration and Displacement. Our interview with him can be read here. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, M.E.Ch.A de UChicago, the Organization of Latin American Students at UChicago, and the Seminary Co-op Bookstore.
On May 16th, Swedish Journalist Johan Norberg visited for a screening of his new documentary The Real Adam Smith. Read our interview with Mr. Norberg here. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, Free to Choose Media and the Adam Smith Society of the Manhattan Institute.
Dr. Seth Darling, Argonne National Laboratory nanoscientist, gave a talk on the future of fresh water and water technology. Read over our interview for more information about Dr. Darling’s work on green science and technology. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Office of the Vice President for Research and for National Laboratories.
Read our interview with Professor David Shulman, keynote speaker at the third annual Vivekananda Lecture. In his lecture, he explored the idea of wickedness in South Indian philosophy and applied these concepts to his experiences in Palestinian territories. This event was presented by the Global Voices Lecture Series and Southern Asia at Chicago.
This past academic year, we were pleased to speak with Professor Kathleen Cleaver before the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture’s 2016 Annual Public Lecture. Her lecture focused on the role of women in the Black Liberation Movement, in the past and present. Our interview with her can be found here. This event was sponsored by the Global Voices Lecture Series and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics, and Culture.
