In Brief

 


Latest theatre offering opens

At the Crossroads, a modern version of Sophocles’ Theban plays, will be presented by Theatre students the April 6 to 9.

Adapted by Gina Wilkinson, At the Crossroads recalls Oedipus Tyrannos, Oedipus at Kolonus and Antigone, classics that oppose fate and free will, love of family and of country, man and the gods, life and death.

More than 25 students — actors, designers and production staff — have created this production for the D.B. Clarke Theatre, under director Micheline Chevrier. For details and ticket information, please see What’s On.

It’s also worth noting that the current production at the Black Theatre Workshop, Black Men Don’t Bowl, involves many actors and production staff with Concordia connections. The production has been getting rave reviews.


Students win library survey prizes

Some of the staff of the Concordia Libraries took a break on March 27 to celebrate the success of a survey of their services and thank those who participated.

Lib-QUAL+ was a standardized survey developed in the U.S. to measure academic library user satisfaction. At Concordia, there was a 15-per-cent response rate, and half of those who responded added helpful comments. That’s a remarkable result, according to Director Bill Curran.

Students were encouraged to participate with a draw for prizes, including iPods and print services debit cards.

As Curran said, “The real winners are the staff and users, because this survey will tell us where to deploy our limited resources.” The results are still under analysis.


Travel overseas for credit

Got itchy feet? Two academic units at Concordia have opportunities for students to quench their wanderlust this summer — for credit — in Greece and China.

The Hellenic Studies Unit and the Kokkalis Foundation of Greece are offering scholarships to send two full-time students to Ancient Olympia, Greece for two weeks from June 26 to July 10.

Through the Olympic Summer Seminars, a joint initiative with Yale and Duke Universities, participants can earn three elective credits in any field in the Humanities.

This year’s session features two seminars on “War, Conflict and Identity” and “The Challenges of Media Policy and Technology.” Participants will take a critical approach to these topical subjects under the tutelage of some of the world’s top scholars.

For program details, visit www.kokkalisfoundation.gr

The scholarships offered by Concordia cover all expenses except return airfare to Greece. This includes tuition, room and board, and travel and visits to various archaeological sites.

To receive class credit, participants must write a report under the supervision of an advisor as part of an independent study upon their return.

Interested undergraduate and graduate students must submit an official transcript, a cover letter indicating their willingness to participate, and curriculum vitae detailing personal, academic and professional experience (including references) to Dr. Nikos Metallinos, Hellenic Studies Unit, Concordia University, 7141 Sherbrooke St. W. (L-CJ.4.403), H4B 1R6.

Deadline for application is May 5.

The Department of Classics, Modern Languages and Linguistics is seeking students to study Chinese language and culture at Nanjing University for eight weeks in June and July.

Students at all levels are welcome to apply, and those who participate will receive 12 credits. The program costs $3,000 and includes round-trip airfare, transportation to the campus, tuition and accommodation in the university’s residence.

Some funding is available to Quebec residents through the province’s Student Mobility Bursary program. For more information, contact Bradley Nelson at bnelson@alcor.concordia.ca