Calendar Archives

WAC Calendar / Activities Archives (2003-2012)

WAC Activities 2011-2012

Spring Semester 2012

Writing in the Workplace Panel Discussion
A special presentation by a panel of professionals who will discuss ways they use writing on the job and offer their advice on how to improve your workplace writing skills. Sponsored by the Center for Leadership and Engagement.
Friday, February 10th, 9:30 - 10:30 am, Lowell Cowan Center - Lower Cafe

Common Book Discussion Groups on This I Believe - Volume 2: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, edited by Jay Allison & Dan Gediman
Join us for refreshments, discussion, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's Common Book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions and campus conversations. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!
(Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.)
Wednesday, February 15th, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Bedford - Room CC-217
&
Thursday, February 16th, 2:30 - 3:30 pm, Lowell - Room LF-310 (Court Room)

Writing and Students with Learning Disabilities
This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, exploring ways to respond to the writing of students with Learning Disabilities in courses across the disciplines. To register, please sign up in advance through the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage.
Sponsored by WAC & Disability Support Services.
Wednesday, February 22nd, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Lowell TLRC

Facilitating Online Discussions – Faculty Roles & Practices
This workshop will explore the possible roles of the faculty member in electronic discussions such as Blackboard Discussion Boards, encouraging instructors to consider their pedagogical goals and what may be the most effective ways to facilitate discussion for their students. To register, please sign up in advance through the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage.
Sponsored by WAC & the Office for Professional & Instructional Development.
Tuesday, February 28 ^th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

REVEALED:Portraits from Beneath One’s Surface Film and Discussion with Photographer Scott Indermaur
“ THIS I BELIEVE REVEALED” is a collaborative project between Photographer Scott Indermaur and RIPR (Rhode Island National Public Radio) that involves print, radio, photography, and film that create a unique and multi-dimensional experience. The result is a powerful combination of creativity, words, photography, and film. Photographer Scott Indermaur creates one-of-a-kind portraits of individuals who have been given the unique challenge of symbolically capturing their essence and spirituality in a small box. This new documentary film explores the insights and the impact “ THIS I BELIEVE REVEALED” has had on these individuals and on Indermaur himself. It was filmed in Rhode Island by Christian de Rezendes of Breaking Branches Pictures. Photographer Scott Indermaur will be on hand for a discussion immediately following the film presentations. Information and the film trailer at www.revealedproject.com/
Sponsored by WAC, the Art & Design Department, and the Center for Leadership & Engagement .
Thursday, March 1st, 10:30, Lowell Federal Building-Assembly Room
&
Thursday, March 1st, 1:30, Bedford Campus Center-Cafe East

Your Student Plagiarized! What do you do? What can you do?
This workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism and our current detection options. There will also be hands on instruction on SafeAssign, the plagiarism detection software program available for use by all MCC faculty automatically through Blackboard. If you are not yet using SafeAssign, what might you be missing? To register, please sign up in advance through the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage.
Sponsored by WAC & the MCC Libraries.
Wednesday, March 7 ^th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Bedford Library – Alcott Room

Fall Semester 2011

What It Means to be an American: Three Perspectives on What I Believe
In celebration of Constitution Day, a panel of MCC faculty and students will share their perspectives and responses to Yasir Billoo’s thought-provoking essay, “The Right to Be Fully American,” one of the 75 essays in This I Believe II: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, the MCC Common Book. Come join the conversation!
(Link to Billoo’s essay: http://thisibelieve.org/essay/15416/ ) Sponsored by Student Development and WAC.
Friday, September 16^th, 10:30-11:30, Bedford Café

Faculty Workshop Series: “Better Student Writing – Yours for the Asking!”
Do you find that your students’ writing is below standard? Are you frustrated because numerous students fail to follow the parameters of the writing assignment you hand out? Do you avoid developing writing assignments because grading them feels subjective and takes too long? If any or all of these situations apply to you, then sign up for the Writing Coaches' next 3-part workshop which will focus on solving common problems with college writing assignments. All workshops will be offered by MCC “Writing Coaches,” Jill Keller and Ellen Nichols. $250 stipend available. The application deadline is September 19^th, and all full- and part-time faculty are eligible. See Newscaster for further information, flier, and application! (Or email Phyllis Worth at worthp@middlesex.mass.edu for flier and application.)
Wednesday, September 21st, 2:00-3:30 pm, Wednesday, October 19th, 2:00-3:30 pm,
&
Wednesday, November 9th, 2:00-3:00 pm in the Lowell TLRC

Writing in the Workplace
Find out first-hand how writing is used on the job every day. Come meet four professionals from the health, criminal justice, law enforcement, and business information technology fields, and listen to what they have to say about their career paths, job responsibilities, and how they use writing at work. Sponsored by Student Development and WAC.
Wednesday, September 21st, 9:30-10:30, Bedford - Cafe East

Common Book Discussion Groups on This I Believe - Volume 2: More Personal Philosophies of Remarkable Men and Women, edited by Jay Allison & Dan Gediman
Join us for refreshments, discussion, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's Common Book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions and campus conversations. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!
Thursday, September 22nd, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Lowell - Room LF-310 (Court Room)
Monday, September 26th, 1:00 - 2:00 pm, Bedford - Room CC-217

Writing in the Workplace
Find out first-hand how writing is used on the job every day. Come meet four professionals from the health, criminal justice, law enforcement, and business information technology fields, and listen to what they have to say about their career paths, job responsibilities, and how they use writing at work. Sponsored by Student Development and WAC.
Tuesday, September 27th, 9:00-10:15, Lowell - Federal Bldg, Assembly Room

Faculty Workshop: The ELL Writer in Your Classroom
This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, presenting ways to respond to ELL (English Language Learner - non-native English speakers) student writers across the disciplines. Sponsored by WAC and the ELL department.
Thursday, September 29th, 2:00 - 3:00, Lowell TLRC

Faculty Workshop: Your Student Plagiarized! What do you do? What can you do?
This workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism and our current detection options. There will also be hands on instruction on SafeAssign, the plagiarism detection software program available for use by all MCC faculty automatically through Blackboard. If you are not yet using SafeAssign, what might you be missing? Sponsored by WAC and the MCC Library.
Wednesday, October 12th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Lowell Library – Kerouac Room

Faculty Workshop: You assigned writing, but you didn’t expect this! How to respond to overly personal, disturbing, or emotionally provocative writing This faculty workshop will address instructors’ concerns and questions about disturbing student writing, providing strategies for responding to student writers across the disciplines. Sponsored by WAC and Personal Counseling and Consultation Services.
Tuesday, October 25th 2:00-3:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

Slam Your Vote: Open Poetry and Fiction Reading
Calling all creative writers! Let your creative voice be heard! And Win a $50 Prize!
With another election season here again, we want to elect MCC's Best Slammin' Writer for 2011! This poetry and fiction reading and contest is open to the entire MCC community. If you're interested in reading, please contact Gail Mooney by email at mooneyg@middlesex.mass.edu or phone at ext. 3839. Sponsored by the Creative Writing Program, WAC Committee, and Student Activities.
Thursday, November 3rd, 12:00, Bedford Campus Center-Cafe East

How To Work It - Publishing Workshop
Come find out about agents/editors, cover letters, where to send pieces, how to go about it, editing, as well as tricks and pitfalls -- the nitty gritty of getting published. This workshop is offered by Jean Trounstine, MCC Humanities professor and author of Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women's Prison, Almost Home Free, and co-editor of Why I'm Still Married. Attendance is limited to 20. RESERVE A SPACE TODAY by contacting Tom Laughlin (email laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or phone ext. 3839; please provide the following: a) your name, b) phone number, c) email address (if any). Sponsored by the Creative Writing Program, WAC Committee, and Student Activities.
Wednesday, December 7th, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m., Lowell City Building, Room LC 302

WAC Activities 2010-2011

Spring Semester 2011

Faculty Workshop Series: “Better Student Writing – Yours for the Asking!”
Do you find that your students’ writing is below standard? Are you frustrated because numerous students fail to follow the parameters of the writing assignment you hand out? Do you avoid developing writing assignments because grading them feels subjective and takes too long? If any or all of these situations apply to you, then sign up for the Writing Coaches' next 3-part workshop which will focus on solving common problems with college writing assignments. All workshops will be offered by MCC “Writing Coaches,” Jill Keller, Denise Marchionda, and Ellen Nichols.  The application deadline is February 7^th, and all full- and part-time faculty are eligible. See attached flier for information and an application!
Bedford campus: Wednesday, February 9th, 2:00-3:30 pm, Wednesday, February 23rd, 2:00-3:30 pm, & Wednesday, March 9th, 2:00-3:30 pm in the Bedford TLRC.

One World Series presents Rebecca Skloot - *CANCELLED*
Author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks
Rebecca Skloot’s New York Times best-seller, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, is the fascinating true story of the woman – Henrietta Lacks – known to scientists around the world as “HeLa.” She was a poor Southern tobacco farmer who worked the same land as her slave ancestors, yet her cells – taken without her knowledge – became one of the most important tools in medicine. The first “immortal” human cells grown in culture, they are still alive today, though Henrietta has been dead for more than 60 years. Skloot will share how she spent a decade writing and researching this amazing book, including the Lacks family’s response, and the ethical implications of medical research.  This presentation should provide further context for issues raised in the MCC Common Book, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance. To reserve seats for groups of eight or more, contact Rebecca Newell at 781-280-3763 or e-mail: newellr@middlesex.mass.edu
Sponsored by MCC’s Student Union Government Association and WAC.
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, February 8th, 10:30 am, LC Café - *CANCELLED*

Who Do You Think You Are? NBC Television Series - New Season Begins February
This is an American genealogy documentary series on NBC TV in which a different celebrity each week goes on a journey to trace his or her family tree. Last year’s episodes available on line include Spike Lee, Susan Sarandon, Brooke Shields, Matthew Broderick, Lisa Kudrow, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Emmitt Smith. This series will provide interesting perspectives and further context for issues raised in the MCC Common Book, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance.
Broadcast information and full episodes available for viewing at www.nbc.com/who-do-you-think-you-are/
New episodes beginning February 4th on NBC television

Faculty workshop: Writing and Students with Learning Disabilities
This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, exploring ways to respond to the writing of students with Learning Disabilities in courses across the disciplines.  (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.) Sponsored by WAC & Disability Support Services.
Bedford Campus: Thursday, February 17^th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

Everything You Ever Wanted To Know About Plagiarism, But Were Afraid to Ask
Faculty workshop by Gail Fenson, Director, First Year Writing Program, University of New Hampshire–Manchester
We dread its discovery, are confused about its origins, and wonder how to deal with it. In this workshop, exploring the origins and meanings of plagiarism may help us rethink our responses to it. Be prepared to color, sing, and discover the part you play in this ever present dilemma.
(Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.)Sponsored by WAC & the Office of Professional and Instructional Development.
Lowell Campus: Monday, March 7th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Lowell TLRC

Faculty Workshop: Using MCC’s “SafeAssign” Plagiarism Software
Immediately following Gail Fenson’s plagiarism workshop, this workshop will offer hands on instruction in SafeAssign, the plagiarism detection software program available for use by all MCC faculty automatically through Blackboard. If you are not yet using SafeAssign, what might you be missing? A few minutes is all you need to set up your assignments as “SafeAssign” assignments!
Sponsored by WAC, the Office of Professional and Instructional Development, & the MCC Library.
Lowell Campus: Monday, March 7^th, 3:00-4:00 pm, Lowell TLRC

Exploring Your Own Inheritance: An Introduction to Genealogy Workshop
This hands-on workshop is designed to help people get started in genealogy and family history. The workshop answers the question "How do I start?" and will provide guidelines for recording and organizing information gathered, as well as providing time for guided online research. One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, this workshop should encourage personal insights and provide further context for issues raised in Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance. Sponsored by WAC and the MCC Library.
Bedford Campus: Thursday, March 24^th, 2:00-3:30, Library’s Alcott Room

A Celebration of Words in honor of National Poetry Month and Diversity Day
This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin (laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or ext.3839), Maryanne Mungovan (mungovanm@middlesex.mass.edu or ext.3267), or Mary Lou Horn (hornm@middlesex.mass.edu or ext.3351). Sponsored by WAC, the Multicultural Center, M.O.M.S., & Student Activities.
Lowell Campus: Monday, March 28th at 12:30 pm, City Building, Lower Café

Writing in the Workplace
Find out first-hand how writing is used on the job every day. Come meet four professionals from the health, criminal justice, law enforcement, and business information technology fields, and listen to what they have to say about their career paths, job responsibilities, and how they use writing at work. Sponsored by Student Development and WAC.
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, April 13th, 9:30 – 10:20 am, Campus Center Bldg – Café East

Fall 2010

Common Book Discussion Groups on Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritanceby Barack Obama
Join us for refreshments, discussion, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's Common Book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions and campus conversations. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, September 22nd, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Room CC-217
Lowell Campus: Thursday, September 23rd, 2:30 - 3:30 pm, Room LF-310 (Court Room)

Faculty Workshop Series: I Assigned a Research Paper – What the Heck Is This?
This three-part workshop series will help you create or improve research paper assignments and assessment criteria.   All workshops will be offered on the Lowell campus by MCC “Writing Coaches” Jill Keller, Denise Marchionda, and Ellen Nichols. Compensation in the amount of $250 will be paid to faculty who attend all three sessions, develop or revise a research assignment and assessment rubric as a result, and agree to implement and evaluate the impact of that assignment on the quality of student research writing during the Spring 2011 semester.
See the attached flier for more information and an application!
Lowell campus: Wednesday, October 6th, 2:00-3:30, Wednesday, October 27th, 2:00-3:30, & Wednesday, November 17th, 2:00-3:30. Location TBA.

Writing in the Workplace
Find out first-hand how writing is used on the job every day. Come meet four professionals from the health, criminal justice, law enforcement, and business information technology fields, and listen to what they have to say about their career paths, job responsibilities, and how they use writing at work.
Bedford campus: Thursday, September 30^th, 9:00 a.m., Campus Center Bldg – Café East

Exploring Your Own Inheritance: An Introduction to Genealogy Workshop
This hands-on workshop is designed to help people get started in genealogy and family history. The workshop answers the question "How do I start?" and covers guidelines for recording and organizing information gathered, including home sources, interviews of relatives, and common outside primary sources, such as vital records (birth, marriage, death), tax and voting records, funeral/cemetery records, and census. One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, this workshop should encourage personal insights and provide further context for issues raised in Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance.   Co-sponsored by the MCC Library.
Lowell Campus: Wednesday, October 6th, 2:00 -3:30 pm, Federal Bldg Library, Kerouac Room

Sharing Personal Stories of Race, Culture, & Ethnicity: An MCC Panel Discussion (Link to flier)
A panel of MCC faculty and staff members will describe a moment in their lives when their race, culture, or ethnicity was made an issue; offer audience members opportunities to share their own personal stories; and lead a discussion on what we might learn from our personal stories. One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, this panel and discussion should encourage personal insights and provide further context for issues raised in Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance. Co-sponsored by NCBI at MCC.
Bedford Campus: Tuesday, October 26th, 12:00 pm, Campus Center, Café East
(also Lowell Campus: Tuesday, November 23rd, 12:00 pm, Federal Bldg - Assembly Rm)

A Twilight Stroll in Sleepy Hollow Cemetery (Link to flier)
“Always do what you are afraid to do,” said Ralph Waldo Emerson. So come, pass beyond the squeaking iron gates, listen and stroll with us on a late October evening through this historic, wooded cemetery where visitors from around the world come to “Authors Ridge” and walk among the graves of Emerson, Henry David Thoreau, Nathaniel Hawthorne, Louisa May Alcott, Bronson Alcott, and many other famous writers, philosophers, artists, activists, and abolitionists of the 19^th century.   Visit “Mourning Victory,” or the Melvin Memorial, commissioned by James Melvin in memory of his three brothers who died during the Civil War, a sculpture created by Daniel Chester French who also designed the Lincoln Statue in Washington's D.C.'s Lincoln Memorial. One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritanceby Barack Obama, this twilight walk and talk will offer historical context to more fully appreciate our own American “dreams,” “inheritance,” and the legacy of “race & inheritance” influencing all people in this country. And if we listen, perhaps we’ll hear some other spirited voices from the shadows . . .     (For more information on Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, see www.concordma.gov/pages/concordma_cemetery/sleepy )
We will meet just inside the "Authors Gate," which is the first cemetery gate on the right when driving from Bedford toward Concord Center.
*A shuttle bus will leave from the Campus Center Building Parking Lot, for anyone who would like transportation to and from the Bedford campus. Please sign up in the Student Activities Office – CC-201.
Friday October 29^th, 5:00 - 6:00 pm
Sleepy Hollow Cemetery, 129 Bedford Street, Concord, MA

Slam Your Vote: Open Poetry & Fiction Reading
Calling all creative writers! Let your creative voice be heard! And Win a $50 Prize!
With another election season here again, we want to elect MCC’s Best Slammin’ Writer for 2010! This poetry & fiction reading and contest is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in reading, please contact Tom Laughlin by email at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or phone at ext. 3839.
(Flier to print) (Current list of readers)
Sponsored by the Writing Across the Curriculum Committee & Student Activities.
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, November 3rd, 12:30, Campus Center - 1st Floor Lounge

Sharing Personal Stories of Race, Culture, & Ethnicity: An MCC Panel Discussion (Link to flier)
A panel of MCC faculty and staff members will describe a moment in their lives when their race, culture, or ethnicity was made an issue; offer audience members opportunities to share their own personal stories; and lead a discussion on what we might learn from our personal stories. One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, this panel and discussion should encourage personal insights and provide further context for issues raised in Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance. Co-sponsored by NCBI at MCC.
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, November 23rd, 12:00 pm, Federal Bldg - Assembly Rm

Faculty workshop: Writing and Students with Learning Disabilities
This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, exploring ways to respond to the writing of students with Learning Disabilities in courses across the disciplines. Jointly sponsored by WAC & Disability Support Services. (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.)
Bedford Campus: POSTPONED TO SPRING 2011 SEMESTER

WAC Activities 2009-2010

Spring 2010

Faces of America: Becoming American (Public Television series)
What made America? What makes us? These two questions are at the heart of this series. Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. turns to the latest tools of genealogy and genetics to explore the family histories of 11 renowned Americans. Looking beyond the black experience to the wider immigrant experience, Professor Gates unravels the American tapestry, following the threads of his guests' lives back to their earliest origins around the globe. (This will provide interesting perspectives for the MCC Common Book.)
Broadcast locally on WGBH-TV & NHP-TV during February & March
Available for viewing on line at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/

A Celebration of Words in honor of National Poetry Month and Diversity Days
This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin (laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or ext.3839) or Maryanne Mungovan (mungovanm@middlesex.mass.edu or ext.3267).
(Call for Readers flier )      (Current list of readers)
Sponsored by WAC, the Multicultural Center, Academic Support, & Student Activities.
Lowell Campus: Monday, March 29th at 12:30 pm, City Building, Lower Cafe

MCC Music Professors performing works by African & African American Composers
Part of MCC's "A World of Music Concert Series."  One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance, this concert offers musical and historical context to more fully appreciate the legacy of “race & inheritance” influencing African Americans and all people in this country, as well as what contributes to individual “dreams” and aspirations. (Flier with details ) Co-sponsored by the Music Department.
Lowell Campus: Sunday, April 11^th, 3:00 pm, Federal Building, Assembly Room

Sharing Personal Stories of Race, Culture, & Ethnicity: An MCC Panel Discussion
A panel of MCC faculty and staff members will describe a moment in their lives when their race, culture, or ethnicity was made an issue; offer audience members opportunities to share their own personal stories; and lead a discussion on what we might learn from our personal stories. One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, this panel and discussion should encourage personal insights and provide further context for issues raised in Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance.
Co-sponsored by NCBI at MCC.
Lowell Campus: Wednesday, April 21st, 12:30 pm, Federal Building, Assembly Room

Fall 2009

Common Book Discussion Groups on Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance by Barack Obama
Join us for refreshments, discussion, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's Common Book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions and campus conversations. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, September 22nd, 2:00 - 3:00 pm, Room LF-310 (Court Room)
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, September 23rd, 3:00 - 4:00 pm, Room CC-217

Weekly Creative Writing Hours
Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers.
Bedford Campus: Thursdays, 1:00 - 2:00, Writing Center, Room AR-201 (starting 9/24)
Lowell Campus: Tuesdays, 1:00-2:00, Federal Bldg Library, Kerouac Room   (starting 9/22)

Faculty workshop: You assigned writing, but you didn’t expect this! How to respond to overly personal, disturbing, or emotionally provocative writing
This faculty workshop will address instructors’ concerns and questions about disturbing student writing, providing strategies for responding to student writers across the disciplines. (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.) Jointly sponsored by WAC & Personal Counseling and Consultation Services.
Bedford Campus: Thursday, October 1st, 12:00 - 1:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

Faculty workshop: Writing and Students with Learning Disabilities
This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, exploring ways to respond to the writing of students with Learning Disabilities in courses across the disciplines. Jointly sponsored by WAC & Disability Support Services. (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.)
Lowell campus: Thursday, October 8th, 2:30 - 3:30 pm, Lowell TLRC

Faculty / Staff Workshop: NCBI Welcoming Diversity/Prejudice Reduction Workshop
Faculty and staff using or considering using the Common Book, Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance by Barack Obama, may wish to attend this thought-provoking, one-day, on-campus workshop that will explore many of the issues of diversity raised in the Common Book. This workshop may help generate new ideas for Common Book related assignments and improve comfort levels when facilitating discussions related to diversity issues and/or the Common Book.  For more information, follow this link: NCBI Invitation
Bedford campus: Tuesday, October 27, 8:45 am – 4:00 pm, Campus Center Building - Café East

Faculty Workshop: Plagiarism and Safe Assign --Your Student Plagiarized! What do you do? What can you do?
This faculty workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism and our current detection options, including the new SafeAssign software. (Read an article on the rise in college plagiarism from Educause Review. And/or listen to this brief 4 minute NPR commentary, Plagiarism in College, from an adjunct professor in New York.)   Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.
Bedford Campus: Tuesday, October 27th, 2:00 - 3:30 pm, Bedford Campus Library, Alcott Room

Open Poetry & Fiction Reading
Calling all creative writers! Let your creative voice be heard! And Win a $50 Prize!
With another election season here again, we want to elect MCC’s Best Slammin’ Writer for 2009! This poetry & fiction reading and contest is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in reading, please contact Tom Laughlin by email at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or phone at ext. 3839. (Flier to print.) (Current list of readers.)
Sponsored by the Writing Across the Curriculum Committee, Student Activities, and the Creative Writing Hours.
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, November 4th, 12:30, Campus Center - 1st Floor Lounge

“Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed” documentary film presentation & discussion
     Did you know that the first open-heart surgery was performed by a black doctor, Daniel Hale Williams? Not many people did in 1968, the year this eye-opening documentary film, narrated by Bill Cosby, was first released. Many still don't today. One segment of a celebrated series broadcast on Public Television, “Black History: Lost, Stolen or Strayed” reviews the numerous contributions of African-Americans to the development of the United States. From the perspective of the turbulent late 1960s, this film highlights the fact that their positive roles had not generally been taught as part of American history, a pervasiveness of derogatory stereotypes persisted, and black people had long been victims of negative attitudes and ignorance. Viewing this film today offers us an opportunity to explore our own perspectives — to examine how things have changed in our lives and in the lives of others around us, as well as how troubling stereotypes still persist four decades later.
     One of the events supporting the MCC Common Book, Barack Obama’s Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race & Inheritance, this film offers historical context to more fully appreciate the legacy of “race & inheritance” influencing African Americans and all people in this country, as well as what contributes to individual “dreams” and aspirations. “Black History: Lost, Stolen, or Strayed” raises a number of potential points for discussion related to ongoing issues of race in this country, such as those highlighted following the recent arrest of Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
A discussion will follow the film.
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, November 10^th, 2:00 – 4:00 pm, Federal Building – Assembly Room
Bedford Campus: Monday, November 16^th, 12:30 – 2:30 pm, Campus Center - Café East

WAC Activities 2008-2009

Spring & Summer 2009

Faculty workshop: Writing and Students with Learning Disabilities
This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, exploring ways to respond to the writing of students with Learning Disabilities in courses across the disciplines. Jointly sponsored by WAC & Disability Support Services. (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.)
Bedford campus: Thursday, February 19^th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

Faculty workshop: You assigned writing, but you didn’t expect this! How to respond to overly personal, disturbing, or emotionally provocative writing
This faculty workshop will address instructors’ concerns and questions about disturbing student writing, providing strategies for responding to student writers across the disciplines. (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just
show up that day.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC & Personal Counseling and Consultation Services.
Bedford campus: Thursday, March 5^th, 1:00-2:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

SPECIAL SUMMER EVENT!!!

The Great Japanese and American Pastime on film and in Person:
Kokoyakyu documentary film showing and a Lowell Spinners Game!
“The Great American Pastime on film and in Person” event returns on Sunday, June 20th ! After last summer’s success (with the film American Pastime followed by a Spinners game), the WAC Program, Office of Student Activities, and New England Chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League bring you the film Kokoyakyu and a Lowell Spinners game! Kokoyakyu: High School Baseball is a fascinating one-hour documentary about the national phenomenon of the annual Koshien high school baseball tournament in Japan. You want pure sports spectacle? You want the "thrill of victory and the agony of defeat?" Forget about Olympic athletics, the American pros, and even Friday-night football in Texas. Take a look at high school baseball in Japan. Since 1915, Japan’s prestigious Koshien Tournament has pitted the best high school baseball teams in the country against each other for the national championship. As shown in Kokoyakyu, the first English-language film to examine the phenomenon, baseball has become a national rite of passage for the country's youth. For thousands of Japanese teens, their families and teachers, as well as millions of spectators, the annual tournament that begins with some 4,000 teams and finishes with 49 teams competing for the national championship at Koshien Stadium in Osaka manages to be both pure baseball — and purely Japanese. This annual tournament is where MLB players like Daisuke Matsuzaka, Ichiro Suzuki, and Hideki Matsui first became famous. (event flier) After the viewing of the film, participants will travel to a Lowell Spinners minor league baseball game!
NOTES: This is a final event related to MCC’s 2007-2009 Common Book, Julie Otsuka’s novel, When the Emperor Was Divine.
We are asking for a $10 donation to cover the cost of the baseball game.
Please e-mail Tom Laughlin of MCC at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or Steve Nishino of NE-JACL at nishino@nejacl.org for baseball game ticket information.
The film is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by MCC’s Writing Across the Curriculum Program, MCC’s Office of Student Life, and the New England Chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League
Saturday, June 20^th, 2:00 pm, MCC’s Lowell Campus, Federal Bldg, Assembly Room

Fall 2008

The Bill of Rights: Striking the Balance
The Bill of Rights is not only an important legal document; it has become a cultural symbol of American values. But what happens to the Bill of Rights during times of national crisis? Come learn more about the Bill of Rights and how its significance has been shaped by history. (This presentation will also provide interesting historical perspectives and explore issues raised in the MCC Common Book, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka.) Presented by Clea Andreadis, Dean of Social Science and Human Services. Prior to coming to MCC, Dean Andreadis was an Assistant District attorney in Middlesex County where she handled both trial and appeals cases. (link to event flier)
Sponsored by WAC, Student Activities, and Social Science & Human Services Division.
Bedford Campus: Monday, September 15^th, 11:30–12:30, Campus Center Building- Café East

Common Book Discussion Groups on When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka Join us for food, merriment, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's Common Book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions and campus conversations. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!
Bedford Campus: Monday, September 22^nd, 12:30-1:45 pm, Room CC-217
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, September 23^rd, 1:30-3:00 pm, Room LF-222

Weekly Creative Writing Hours
Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers. (flier to print)
Bedford Campus: Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00, Writing Center, Room AR-201(starting 9/25)
Lowell Campus: Mondays 12:30 - 1:30, Federal Building, Library, Kerouac Room (starting 9/22)

Faculty workshop: You assigned writing, but you didn’t expect this! How to respond to overly personal, disturbing, or emotionally provocative writing This faculty workshop will address instructors’ concerns and questions about disturbing student writing, providing strategies for responding to student writers across the disciplines. (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just
show up that day.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC & Personal Counseling and Consultation Services.
Lowell campus: Thursday, October 9^th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Lowell TLRC

One World Series presents Sus Ito & Margie Yamamoto

Sus Ito was a Lieutenant during World War II in the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team, a Japanese-American self-sufficient unit who fought with uncommon distinction in Italy, France, and Germany that became the most highly decorated military unit in the history of the United States Armed Forces. Sus Ito and the 442^nd helped liberate prisoners in Dachau and was also part of the dramatic rescue of the “Lost Battalion of WWII,” when a battalion of the Texas 36th Division was cut off in the mountains of Germany for 9 days surrounded by German forces. The 442nd fought a grinding battle inch by inch up the mountains to reach the "Lost Battalion." They did so at a terrible price, suffering many more casualties in the relief effort than they saved. All this while Sus’s family, and the family of others in the 442nd unit, were locked behind barbed wire in internment camps in the desert. Sus Ito went on to become a famous cellular biologist, researcher, and Professor of Cell Biology and Anatomy at Harvard Medical School, where he is now Professor Emeritus. (Further information and streaming videos of Dr. Sus Ito at http://focus.hms.harvard.edu/1998/Mar6_1998/complete.html#PROFILE, www.goforbroke.org/mot/522.htm & www.goforbroke.org/mot/099-ito_sus.htm )

Margie Yamamoto’s family lived on Terminal Island in Los Angeles County, California. The island was home to hundreds of first and second-generation Japanese-Americans prior to World War II. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, Terminal Island became the first place where the U.S. Government decided to evacuate Japanese-Americans; all of the adult males on Terminal Island were incarcerated by the FBI and the rest of the inhabitants were forced to evacuate their homes and leave the island within 48 hours. The government then demolished every home on the island. As a young child, Margie lived with her family in a Japanese-American internment camp. Her family’s story is similar to what happened to the fictional family in Julie Otsuka’s novel, When the Emperor Was Divine (the MCC Common Book). Retired now after many years working at WGBH, Boston’s public television station, Ms. Yamamoto is Co-Chair of the New England Chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League.
Dr. Ito and Ms. Yamamoto will talk about their personal experiences as Japanese-Americans, and the experiences of their families, during World War II. ( event flier)

Jointly sponsored by WAC, the Humanities Division, and the One World Series.
Lowell Campus: Monday, October 20th, 12:30–1:45 pm, Federal Building – Assembly Room

Slam Your Vote: Poetry & Fiction Reading
Come Cast your Vote! Elect MCC’s Best Slammin’ Writer! This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin ( laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or ext. 3839).
(Call for readers poster / flier. For a current list of candidates/readers)
Bedford Campus: Monday, November 3rd, 12:30, Campus Center - 1st Floor Lounge

Matter of Fact, MCC's improvisational theatre troupe, presents
"Images from a Racist World" related to the MCC Common Book When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Explore issues in powerful skits that will raise questions and awareness – all based on Julie Otsuka’s When The Emperor Was Divine, the MCC Common Book – including a talkback session with the audience. Open to the whole MCC community. Faculty members interested in bringing their classes can reserve seats in advance by contacting Tom Laughlin at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu Jointly sponsored by WAC & Matter of Fact Players. (For poster)
Bedford Campus: Monday, November 17^th, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, Campus Center Building- Café East

How to Work It (Publishing Workshop)
Jean Trounstine, MCC humanities professor, author of Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women's Prison and Almost Home Free, and co-editor of Why I'm Still Married, will offer her publishing workshop, How to Work it for the MCC Community. Come find out about agents/editors, cover letters, where to send pieces, how to go about it, editing, as well as tricks and pitfalls -- the nitty gritty of getting published. Co-sponsored by Student Activities. Attendance is limited to 20. RESERVE A SPACE by contacting Tom Laughlin by email at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or
by phone at ext. 3839.
Lowell Campus: Thursday, December 4th, 7:00 - 9:30 pm, Room LC-302

WAC Student Writing Contest
For this year’s contest, the essay topic is not a fixed one. The essay need only be one that is written in response to an assignment in a Fall 2008 or Spring 2009 semester course or program at MCC. We encourage interested students to speak with a faculty or staff member about submitting their writing, and we ask faculty and staff members to submit the best pieces of student writing they receive this year, with the student’s permission, of course. Winner receives $100 Prize! …. and the essay will be published in Fall 2009 issue of Writing Across the Curriculum & In the Disciplines: A Journal of Student Writing at Middlesex Community College !
The deadline for contest entries will be April 15th, 2009
Go to the WAC Student Writing Contest page, for further details.

WAC Activities 2007-2008

Spring & Summer 2008

Weekly Creative Writing Hours
Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers.
Bedford Campus: Tuesdays 1:00-2:00, Writing Center, Room AR-201(starting 2/12) (flier)

One World Series presents Julie Otsuka, author of When the Emperor Was Divine,
MCC’s Common Book for 2007-2008
Inspired by the experience of family members who were detained in Japanese-American internment camps during World War II, Julie Otsuka’s acclaimed first novel is a lean, intimate portrayal of one Northern California family. Published in 2002, When the Emperor Was Divine is set during one of the more controversial episodes in U.S. history. It explores what it means to be loyal to one’s country and to oneself, as well as on the necessity – and emotional price – of remaining brave and human, even as the larger world grows more fearful and savage. When the Emperor Was Divine has won several prizes, including the American Library Association’s Alex Award and the New York Public Library’s Book for the Teen Age Award.
Jointly sponsored by WAC, the One World Series, and the Humanities Division.            (event flier)
Lowell Campus: Monday, February 11th, 12:30–1:45 pm, Cowan Center Café
Bedford Campus SIMULCAST: Monday, February 11th, 12:30–1:45 pm, Café East

Matter of Fact, MCC's improvisational theatre troupe, presents "Images from a Racist World"
Explore issues in powerful skits that will raise questions and awareness – all based on Julie Otsuka’s When The Emperor Was Divine, the MCC Common Book – including a talkback session with the audience. Open to the whole MCC community.
Faculty members interested in bringing their classes can reserve seats in advance by contacting Tom Laughlin at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu
Jointly sponsored by WAC & Matter of Fact Players. (For poster)
Bedford Campus: Monday, February 25th, 12:30 - 1:30 pm, Bedford Café

Faculty Workshop: Plagiarism and Safe Assign --Your Student Plagiarized! What do you do? What can you do?
This faculty workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism and our current detection options, including the new SafeAssign software. (Read an article on the rise in college plagiarism from Educause Review. And/or listen to this brief 4 minute NPR commentary, Plagiarism in College, from an adjunct professor in New York.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.
Lowell Campus: Wednesday, March 5^th, 2:00 - 3:30 pm, Lowell Campus Library, Kerouac Room

Faculty workshop: You assigned writing, but you didn’t expect this! How to respond to overly personal, disturbing, or emotionally provocative writing This faculty workshop will address instructors’ concerns and questions about disturbing student writing, providing strategies for responding to student writers across the disciplines. (Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just
show up that day.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC & Personal Counseling and Consultation Services.
Bedford Campus: Tuesday, March 11th, 2:00-3:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

Facilitating Blackboard Discussions - Best Practices for the Use of Blackboard
How do you encourage student written discussions on Blackboard Discussion Boards? What is the most effective role for you in these electronic written discussions? What are your expectations for student writing in these electronic discussions? This faculty session is part of the annual faculty Blackboard Dinner sponsored by the Middlesex Interactive department.  Come join this discussion with faculty from a variety of disciplines who use Blackboard discussions in their courses.
Jointly sponsored by WAC and the Middlesex Interactive department.
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, March 25th, 4:30 pm, City Building, Lower Cafe

A Celebration of Words in honor of National Poetry Month and Diversity Days
This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839.    (Call for Readers flier) (Event flier)   ( For a Current List of Readers )
Sponsored by WAC, the Multicultural Center, Academic Support, & Student Activities.
Lowell Campus: Monday, March 31^st at 12:30 pm, City Building, Lower Cafe

Film Talks: Time of Fear
Screening of this film followed by a discussion with the film's producer, Kathryn Dietz
In World War II, more than 110,000 Japanese Americans were forced to leave their homes and relocate to military camps. This 2004 documentary film tells the story of the 16,000 men, women and children who were sent to two camps in southeast Arkansas, one of the poorest and most racially segregated places in America. It also explores the reactions of the native Arkansans who watched in bewilderment as their tiny towns were overwhelmed by this influx of outsiders. With rare home movies of the camp and interviews with Japanese Americans and Arkansans who lived through these events, TIME OF FEAR is a tale of suspicion and fear, of resilience and of the deep scars left by America's long and unfinished struggle with race.
NOTE: A discussion will follow the screening of this film with Kathryn Dietz, the film’s producer and co-owner of Ambrica Productions. In addition to this film which has been broadcast nationally on PBS, Kathryn Dietz has produced a number of other films for PBS, including films for the Frontline and American Experience series.
Sponsored by WAC, the Humanities Division, & Student Activities.   (Event poster / flier)
Lowell Campus: Monday, April 7^th, 12:30 – 2:30 pm, Federal Building Assembly Room

Reading in Slow Motion: The Humanities and the Work of the Moment
Faculty presentation and discussion by Richard E. Miller, Chair, Department of English, Rutgers University
With the world now awash with text, what is the point of writing? With information always just a few clicks away, what is the point of doing research? And, with our students released into the fast-paced, auto-didactically driven realms of the web, what is the point of teaching reading? Hasn’t the digital revolution effectively done away with the need for training students to work with print? In this talk, Dr. Miller will argue for a model of instruction in the humanities that concentrates on training students in the arts of meditative, speculative, deliberative thought. Setting aside pedagogical approaches to the humanities that seek to provide coverage, to build towards content-mastery, or to underwrite an exclusively critical worldview, Dr. Miller will offer a definition of the humanities that prepares students to experience both the life of the mind and the ongoing encounter with one’s own limitations that makes this experience possible.
Sponsored by the Humanities Division, Office of Professional Development, and WAC.
Bedford Campus: Tuesday, April 8^th, 2:00-3:30 pm, Café East, Campus Center Bldg

X.J. Kennedy - Poetry Reading and Presentation
Poet and writer X. J. Kennedy has been widely published and won a variety of awards and accolades, including the Lamont Award of the Academy of American Poets and the Aiken-Taylor Award for Lifetime Achievement in Modern American Poetry. He is a former poetry editor of The Paris Review, and his poems have appeared in The New Yorker, Poetry,The Hudson Review and have been aired on the Today show, Good Morning America, and Garrison Keillor's radio programs. Follow this link to read a more detailed bio and a sample of his poems: http://www.thehypertexts.com/X%20.%20J.%20Kennedy%20Poetry%20Picture%20and%20Bio.htm
Sponsored by the Humanities Division, Student Activities, & WAC.   (Event flier)
Bedford Campus: Monday, April 14th 12:30 – 1:45, Campus Center - 1st Floor Lounge

Japanese Taiko Drum Performance by Odaiko New England
Come welcome Spring with a bang and a boom! Taiko are large drums traditional to Japan. Odaiko New England is a performing group that weaves traditional elements of taiko with contemporary influences to create a dynamic art form; they have performed all over New England and have performed the national anthem at RED SOX games. This live demonstration will give students, faculty and staff a perspective of Japanese culture and might also provide interesting multicultural perspectives to contribute to reading of the MCC Common Book, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka.   Don’t miss this exiting performance!   (event flier )
Sponsored by the Multicultural Center and the International Club.
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, April 22^nd, 10:30 am, City Building, Cafe

One World Series presents Lucinda Franks, journalist and author
Lucinda Franks, author and the first woman to win the Pulitzer Prize for national reporting, will be discussing her memoir, My Father's Secret War about her discovery that her father was actually a spy during World War II. (event flier)

Sponsored by the One World Series and the Humanities Division.

Bedford Campus: Monday, April 28^th at 11:30, Campus Center, Café East

WAC Student Writing Contest
The WAC Committee sponsors writing contests each semester. The topic for the Spring 2008 WAC Student Writing Contest is the following: What happens when our human vulnerabilities of fear, prejudice, ignorance, and racism affect the perception we have about "other" people? Explain your response. You might consider recent or past national and world events, as well as your own observations, experiences, and/or readings.
Go to the WAC Student Writing Contest page, for further details.
Submission Deadline: May 2nd, 2008.

Carnegie Group Writing Sessions
These faculty sessions are exclusively for MCC Carnegie Group members involved with classroom-based research projects and articles. These two “writing retreat” days will provide research and writing resources and a supportive environment for moving forward with your research project. All Carnegie Group members are invited to attend. Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Office of Professional Development.
Tuesday, May 20 & Wednesday, May 21 from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Bedford Teaching, Learning and Reflection Center

COMING THIS SUMMER!!!
American Pastime movie showing and Lowell Spinners Game!
American Pastime is a 2007 film set in the Topaz War Relocation Center, a Utah camp which housed thousands of people during the Japanese American internment during World War II. This is the same internment camp where the fictional family in Julie Otsuka’s novel, When the Emperor Was Divine (the MCC Common Book) end up. While the film is fiction, it depicts life inside the internment camps, where baseball was one of the major diversions from the reality of the internees' lives. Location scenes were filmed in bleak, desolate land, not far from the site of the actual internment camp.After the viewing of the film and a brief discussion, participants will travel to a Lowell Spinners baseball game (1:30 pm. start time). For more information and reservations for this movie and game event, please contact Tom Laughlin (email laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or phone 781 280 3839).
This is jointly sponsored by the New England Chapter of the Japanese-American Citizens League and MCC’s WAC Program.
Lowell Campus: Sunday, Auguest 10^th, 10:00 am, Lowell Campus, Federal Building, Assembly Room

Fall 2007

Weekly Creative Writing Hours
Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers. Bedford Campus: Fridays 2:00 - 3:00, Writing Center, Room AR-201(starting 9/28) (flier to print)
Lowell Campus: Tuesdays 1:30-2:30, Room LF-222  (starting 10/16)

The Bill of Rights: Striking the Balance
The Bill of Rights is not only an important legal document; it has become a cultural symbol of American values.   But what happens to the Bill of Rights during times of national crisis?   Come learn more about the Bill of Rights and how its significance has been shaped by history. (This presentation will also provide interesting historical perspectives and explore issues raised in the MCC Common Book, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka.) Presented by Clea Andreadis, Dean of Social Science and Human Services. Prior to coming to MCC, Dean Andreadis was an Assistant District attorney in Middlesex County where she handled both trial and appeals cases.
Jointly sponsored by WAC, Student Activities, and the Social Science & Human Services Division.
Lowell Campus: Monday, September 17^th, 10:30 – 11:30 am, City Building- Room G5

Common Book* Club: Discussion Groups on When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Join us for food, merriment, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's Common Book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions and campus conversations. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, September 19^th, 2:00-3:30 pm, Room CC-217
Lowell Campus: Thursday, September 20^th, 1:00-2:30 pm, Room LF-310

The War – “A Necessary War” (Episode 1)
(new Public Television documentary film series by Ken Burns begins)

This new documentary THE WAR explores the history and horror of World War II from an American perspective by following the fortunes of ordinary men and women who became caught up in one of the greatest cataclysms in human history. This first episode examines the impact of Pearl Harbor and America's entrance into World War II, including ways it shattered the lives of inhabitants of Sacramento, CA, such as Walter Thompson and Burnett Miller who entered the armed forces to train for war. In addition, the film discusses how 110,000 Japanese Americans all along the West Coast, including some 7,000 from Sacramento and the surrounding valley, are forced by the government to abandon their homes and businesses and are relocated to inland internment camps. (This will provide interesting historical perspectives for the MCC Common Book, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka.)
(For complete series schedule locally, including repeat broadcasts, see WGBH or New Hampshire Public Television)

Sunday September 23^rd, 8:00 pm – 10:30 pm, broadcast locally on WGBH TV Boston (Ch. 2) & NHPTV

Publication Release Party and Celebration in honor of the new student journal …
Writing Across the Curriculum & In the Disciplines: A Journal of Student Writing from Middlesex Community College
The WAC Committee worked with faculty from across the college to gather examples of effective student writing in their courses and academic disciplines. This new journal is an exciting representation of the different types of writing expected in different courses, disciplines, and programs at MCC. We hope that reading and discussion of this journal will increase understandings of the wide variety of writing expected in different academic disciplines, programs, and careers, and to further stimulate discussion among faculty and students about the role of writing in their courses and at the college.
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, September 26^th, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, Trustees House - Faculty Reading Room

Reading Our Students’ Writing Across the Curriculum:
Come Share Your Reactions, Thoughts, & Questions in response to the new …
Writing Across the Curriculum & In the Disciplines: A Journal of Student Writing from Middlesex Community College
The WAC Committee worked with faculty from across the college to gather examples of effective student writing in their courses and academic disciplines. We see this new journal as an exciting representation of the different types of writing expected in different courses, disciplines, and programs at MCC. So what did you notice? What do you think? What questions were raised for you?   Open to faculty, students, staff, and administrators!
Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Teaching, Learning, and Reflection Center.
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, October 3^rd, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, Trustees House- Galvani Room
Lowell Campus: Thursday, October 4^th, 1:00 – 2:30 pm, LF-310

“After Silence” film presentation and discussion
This 2003 short documentary film poses the question "What does it mean to be an American in a time of uncertainty and fear?" The subject area is the fragile nature of civil rights, and it explores the Japanese American internment through the lens of 9/11. This film is intended to promote discussion on civil rights, citizenship, discrimination, and the dangers of setting aside the Constitution in times of crisis--when it would seem that we need it the most. (This presentation will also provide interesting historical perspectives and explore issues raised in the MCC Common Book, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka.) Discussion following the film led by Humanities professor Sandi Albertson-Shea.
Bedford Campus: Tuesday, October 9^th, 2:00 – 3:30 pm, Campus Center - Café East

One World Series presents Glenn Kumekawa
Glenn Kumekawa was 14 years old when he and his family were given two weeks to leave their home in San Francisco. They ended up behind barbed wire for three years at Camp Topaz in the Utah desert. This is the same internment camp where the fictional family in Julie Otsuka’s novel, When the Emperor Was Divine (the MCC Common Book) end up.   Kumekawa is now a leading public-planning expert and professor emeritus at the University of Rhode Island where he was director of the Intergovernmental Policy Analysis program. He is also president of the Nisei Student Relocation Commemorative Fund that provides scholarship aid to students from Southeast Asian immigrant families in the United States.   Kumekawa was profoundly affected by both the internment experience and the efforts of Americans of conscience who worked to free Japanese Americans from the camps. He will talk about his personal experiences and the parallels he sees between racial attitudes in this country then, following the attack on Pearl Harbor, and now, after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. (Follow this link to read an interview with Glenn Kumekawa published in the June 2006 issue of Sojourners Magazine.) Jointly sponsored by WAC, the One World Series, and the Humanities Division.    (event flier)

Bedford Campus: Thursday, October 11th, 10:30–11:30 am, CC-Café East

A Celebration of Words - Poetry and Fiction Reading
This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839. (Call for readers flier. Poster . For a current list of readers)
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, November 7th, 12:00 – 1:00, Campus Center - 1st Floor Lounge

Faculty Workshop on Plagiarism: Your Student Plagiarized! What do you do? What can you do?
This faculty workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism and our current detection options. (Read an article on the rise in college plagiarism from Educause Review. And/or listen to this brief 4 minute NPR commentary, Plagiarism in College, from an adjunct professor in New York.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, November 14^th, 2:00 - 3:30, Library - Alcott Room

What is ... WAC? (TLRC information session for faculty)

WAC? WID? Writing to Learn? How can I get better writing from my students in my classes? How am I supposed to respond to this writing? Come explore how WAC might support you. Please feel free to join us for all or part of this session.
RSVP at http://tech.middlesex.mass.edu/LENS/schedule.asp or call Phyllis Worth, extension 3661.

Lowell Campus: Tuesday, November 20^th, 12:00-1:00, Library - TLRC

Noodlebib and Research Assistance Drop-In Sessions
These sessions are for help with works cited / bibliography lists using an easy online bibliography tool (Noodlebib) and other research related questions. Drop in during these hours with any or all of your materials, source information, and questions regarding your works cited pages or the research process!
Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.
Lowell Campus: Wednesday, November 28th,  9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Federal Building- Library, Kerouac Room
Bedford Campus: Wednesday, November 28th, 9:00 am to 12:00 noon, Library-Alcott Room

Origami Workshops
Join the International Club in welcoming Akira Yamamoto, renowned master of Japanese Origami, in two interactive workshops.   These workshops might also provide interesting multicultural perspectives to contribute to reading of the MCC Common Book, When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka.  Please see attached flyer.
Sponsored by the Multicultural Center and the International Club.
Lowell Campus: Wednesday, November 28th at 11:30 am and 1:30pm. LC-G05

How to Work It (Publishing Workshop)
Jean Trounstine, MCC humanities professor, author of Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women's Prison and Almost Home Free, and co-editor of Why I'm Still Married, will offer her publishing workshop, How to Work it for the MCC Community. Come find out about agents/editors, cover letters, where to send pieces, how to go about it, editing, as well as tricks and pitfalls -- the nitty gritty of getting published. Co-sponsored by Student Activities. Attendance is limited to 20. RESERVE A SPACE by contacting Tom Laughlin by email at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or by phone at ext. 3839.
Lowell Campus: Thursday, November 29th, 7:00 - 9:30 pm, Room LF-310

Matter of Fact, MCC's improvisational theatre troupe, presents "Images from a Racist World"
related to the MCC Common Book When the Emperor Was Divine by Julie Otsuka
Explore issues in powerful skits that will raise questions and awareness – all based on Julie Otsuka’s When The Emperor Was Divine, the MCC Common Book – including a talkback session with the audience. Open to the whole MCC community.

Faculty members interested in bringing their classes can reserve seats in advance by contacting Tom Laughlin at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu Jointly sponsored by WAC & Matter of Fact Players. (For poster)
Lowell Campus: Monday, December 3rd, 10:30 - 11:20 am, Lowell Campus, City Building, Upper Cafe

WAC Student Writing Contest
The WAC Committee sponsors writing contests each semester. The topic for the Fall 2007 WAC Student Writing Contest is the following: What happens when our human vulnerabilities of fear, prejudice, ignorance, and racism affect the perception we have about "other" people? Explain your response. You might consider recent or past national and world events, as well as your own observations, experiences, and/or readings. Go to the WAC Student Writing Contest page, for further details.
Submission Deadline: December 7th, 2007.

WAC Activities 2006-2007

Spring 2007

The Common Book* Club Party: Discussion Groups on Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan
Join us for food, merriment, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's common book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!
Lowell campus: Tuesday, February 6th, 1:00 – 2:30 p.m., Room LF-310
Bedford campus: Wednesday, February 7th, 2:00 – 3:30 p.m., Room CC-217

Weekly Creative Writing Hours
Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers.
Bedford Campus: Fridays 1:30 - 2:30, Writing Center, Room AR-201 (starting February 9th) (copy of flier)
Lowell Campus: Thursdays 1:00 - 2:00 LC-406B.

Getting Effective PowerPoints from Your Students
This faculty session is co-sponsored by the Computer & Engineering Technologies Division. Do your students create PowerPoints (PPTs) in your courses? Or do you want students to create effective PPTs in your courses? What are your expectations for student PPTs in your discipline? What have you found effective? What have been your frustrations?   Should there be some common standards (and rubrics perhaps) for MCC students?   Come join this discussion with faculty from a variety of disciplines who assign PowerPoints in their courses.
Bedford Campus: Thursday, March 1st, 12:30-2:00 pm, Bedford TLRC

Facilitating Blackboard Discussions
How do you encourage student written discussions on Blackboard Discussion Boards? What is the most effective role for you in these electronic written discussions? What are your expectations for student writing in these electronic discussions? This faculty session is part of the annual faculty Blackboard Dinner sponsored by the Middlesex Interactive department.  Come join this discussion with faculty from a variety of disciplines who use Blackboard discussions in their courses.
Jointly sponsored by WAC and the Middlesex Interactive department.
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, March 27th, 4:00-6:00 pm, City Building, Lower Cafe

A Celebration of Words in honor of National Poetry Month and Diversity Days
This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839. (Call for Readers flier)    ( For a Current List of Readers )
Sponsored by WAC, the Multicultural Center, Academic Support, & Student Activities.
Lowell Campus: Wednesday, March 28^th at 1:00, City Building, Lower Cafe

One World Series presents Claire Cook
Claire Cook has written the novels Ready to Fall, Multiple Choice and Must Love Dogs, which was made into a successful movie. She'll talk about the writing process as well as what it is like to write for Hollywood. Faculty should contact Rebecca Newell at ext. 3763 with requests for reserved seating. (For event flier.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC and the One World Series.

Bedford Campus: Wednesday, March 28th, at 12:30, Bedford Café East

Faculty Workshop: Your Student Plagiarized! What do you do? What can you do?
This faculty workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism, our current detection options, and our new and easier option of using Turn It In within Blackboard. (Turn It In is an online plagiarism prevention service for which MCC pays. There are now a number of new features in the new edition that allow Turn It In to work seamlessly with Blackboard.com.) (Read an article on the rise in college plagiarism from Educause Review. And/or listen to this brief 4 minute NPR commentary, Plagiarism in College, from an adjunct professor in New York who uses TurnItIn.com.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.
Lowell Campus: Wednesday, April 4^th, 2:30 - 4:00 Lowell Campus Library, Kerouac Room

WAC Student Writing Contest
The WAC Committee sponsors writing contests each semester. The topic for the Spring 2007 WAC Student Writing Contest is How do you define the American Dream? Is it attainable for you? Why, or why not?
Go to the WAC Student Writing Contest page, for further details.
Submission Deadline: May 4, 2007.

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Office of Professional Development.
Tuesday, May 22 & Wednesday, May 23 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Bedford Teaching, Learning and Reflection Center

Fall 2006

Weekly Creative Writing Hours

Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers.

Bedford Campus: Fridays 1:30 - 2:30, Writing Center, Room AR-201 (starting September 29th) (copy of flier)

Lowell Campus: Wednesdays, 3:00 - 4:00, Room LC 406B -Writing Center (starting October 11th)

The Common Book* Club Party: Discussion Groups on Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan

Join us for food, merriment, and WACky ideas as we discuss this year's common book and consider ways to incorporate this book in class discussions. Open to faculty, staff, students, and administrators!

Bedford Campus: Wednesday, October 4^th, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Room CC-217

Lowell Campus: Thursday, October 5^th, 1:00-2:30 p.m., Room LF-310

Getting Effective PowerPoints from Your Students

This faculty session is co-sponsored by the Computer & Engineering Technologies Division. Do your students create PowerPoints (PPTs) in your courses? Or do you want students to create effective PPTs in your courses? What are your expectations for student PPTs in your discipline? What have you found effective? What have been your frustrations? Should there be some common standards (and rubrics perhaps) for MCC students? Come join this discussion with faculty from a variety of disciplines who assign PowerPoints in their courses.

Lowell Campus: Tuesday, October 17^th, 12:30-2:00 pm, Lowell TLRC

The ESL Writer in Your Classroom

This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, exploring ways to respond to ESL student writers across the disciplines.

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the ESL department.

(Signing up on the MCC / LENS Professional Development Calendar Webpage ahead of time would be helpful for our planning, but you can also just show up that day.)

Bedford Campus: Tuesday, October 24th, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m., Bedford TLRC

A Poetry Reading and Celebration of Words

This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you’re interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839. (Call for Readers flier) ( For a Current List of Readers )

Wednesday, November 8^th at 12:00 – 1:00

Bedford Campus, Campus Center, 1st Floor Student Lounge

Coffee Time with author Jenna Blum,author of Those Who Save Us, will speak in this first series event of the Fall semester. Part of the Coffee Time series.

Thursday, November 9th, 10:30 a.m.

Bedford Campus, Campus Center, 1st Floor Student Lounge

Faculty Workshop on Plagiarism: Your Student Plagiarized! What do you do? What can you do?

This faculty workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism, our current detection options, and our new and easier option of using Turn It In within Blackboard. (Turn It In is an online plagiarism prevention service for which MCC pays. There are now a number of new features in the new edition that allow Turn It In to work seamlessly with Blackboard.com.)

(Read an article on the rise in college plagiarism from Educause Review. And/or listen to this brief 4 minute NPR commentary, Plagiarism in College, from an adjunct professor in New York who uses TurnItIn.com.)

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.

Bedford Campus: Wednesday, November 15^th, 2:00 - 3:30

Bedford Campus Library, Alcott Room

One World Series Presents

Chuck Hogan, author of Prince of Thieves

Prince of Thieves, MCC's Common Book for 2006/2007, was awarded the Dashiel Hammett Prize (the best crime-fiction novel of the year) for 2004, has received much praise from critics and other authors, and was recently optioned for film production by Law & Order producer Dick Wolf. Stephen King said, “Prince of Thieves is a terrific read. Chuck Hogan has woven a rich narrative of friendship, young love and mounting suspense. On each season's fiction list, if you are lucky, there are one or two books that live up to the advance hype. Prince of Thieves is such a book.” (For more information on the Common Book.) (For a copy of the event flier)

Jointly sponsored by WAC and the One World Series.

Lowell Campus: Tuesday, November 14th, 10:30

Federal Building, 1st Floor, Assembly Room

Noodlebib Drop-In Sessions

Bibliography? Works Cited? MLA Style? Is there an easier way? Yes!

Noodelbib: The Easy On-Line Bibliography Tool

Students! Come get help using Noodlebib to create your works cited pages during either of these helpful drop-in sessions. Drop in during these hours with any or all of your materials, source information, and questions regarding your works cited pages!

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.

Lowell Campus: Thursday, November 30th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon,

Federal Building, Library, Kerouac Room

Bedford Campus: Friday, December 1^st, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon,

Library, Alcott Room

WAC Student Writing Contest

The prompt that students are asked to respond to is the following:

One of the themes in the MCC Common Book, Prince of Thieves, is that of an individual's effort to make significant life changes. The philosopher Kierkegaard once said that "with every change there is fostered a hope of finding a way out." And yet, it seems often so difficult for people to make significant changes. What is your view, based on your observations, experiences, or readings? Explain.

See the WAC Student Writing Contest page, for further details.

Submission Deadline: December 8th, 2006.

WAC Activities 2005-2006

Spring 2006

Weekly Creative Writing Hours

Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers.

Bedford Campus: Fridays 12:30 - 1:30, Writing Center, Room AR-201 (starting February 10th)

The Common Book* Club Party: Discussion Groups on Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan

Bedford campus: Tuesday, February 7th, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m., Room CC-217

Lowell campus: Wednesday, February 8th, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m., Room LC-302

Coffee Time with Laurie Hazard and Jean-Paul Nadeau, the co-authors of Foundations of Learningwill speak in this first series event of the Spring semester.

Part of the Coffee Time series.

Tuesday, February 7th, 12:00 p.m.

Lowell Campus Writing Center, Room LC-406B

One World Series Presents

Readings by the award-winning writers and editors of a new book entitled

Why I�m Still Married: Women Write Their Hearts Out On Love, Loss, Sex, and Who Does the Dishes.

This new collection of essays, co-edited by Karen Propp and MCC Professor Jean, captures the passion, loss, joy, friendship and humor that marks a life-long commitment. Discussion and book signings will follow each presentation.

Lowell Campus: Tuesday, February 14th, beginning at 12:00 noon,

Federal Building, Assembly Room

(Writers & Editors Reading: Kathleen Aguero, Marge Piercy, Karen Propp, Jean Trounstine)

Bedford Campus: Wednesday, February 15th, beginning at 11:30 a.m.,

Bedford Campus Center, East Cafe

(Writers & Editors Reading: Elizabeth Graver, Karen Propp, Audrey Shulman, Jean Trounstine)

Sponsored by MCC's One World Series.

Faculty Workshop on Plagiarism: Your Student Plagiarized � What do you do? What can you do?

This faculty workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism, our current detection options, and our new and easier option of using Turn It In within Blackboard. (Turn It In is an online plagiarism prevention service for which MCC pays. There are now a number of new features in the Fall 2005 edition that allow Turn It In to work seamlessly with Blackboard.com.)

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.

Wednesday, March 1st, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m.

Kerouac Room, Library, Federal Building, Lowell Campus

The ESL Writer in Your Classroom

This faculty session will address instructors' questions and concerns, exploring ways to respond to ESL student writers across the disciplines.

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the ESL department.

Wednesday, March 8th, 1:00 - 2:30

Lowell TLRC, Library, Federal Building, Lowell Campus:

One World Series PresentsJamaica Kincaid, award-winning author/novelist

Celebrated for her compelling prose and poetry, Jamaica Kincaid has written for The Village Voice and The New Yorker, and has published 10 books and novels, including Annie John, Lucy, At the Bottom of the River, Small Place and Autobiography of My Mother. She has been praised for her "emotional truthfulness" and vivid descriptions of the coming-of-age of strong-minded girls who, like herself, grew up in poverty in the tropics. A native of the Caribbean island of Antigua, Kincaid will speak about growing up female in a colonial society. A book-signing will follow the program. Free and open to the public.
Lowell Campus: Tuesday, March 28th, beginning at 12:00 noon, DoubleTree Hotel Ballroom (the DoubleTree Hotel is adjacent to the Lowell City building)

Celebration of Poetry Month & Shakespeare's Birthday!

This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you're interested in doing a reading, please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839. (Call for readers flier. For further details, flier, & list of readers.)

Wednesday, March 29th, beginning at 1:00 p.m.

Lower Cafe, City Building, Lowell Campus

One World Series Presents

Chuck Hogan, author of Prince of Thieves

Prince of Thieves, MCC's Common Book for 2005/2006, was recently awarded the Dashiel Hammett Prize (the best crime-fiction novel of the year) for 2004, has received much praise from critics and other authors, and was recently optioned for film production by Law & Order producer Dick Wolf. Stephen King said, Prince of Thieves is a terrific read. Chuck Hogan has woven a rich narrative of friendship, young love and mounting suspense. On each season's fiction list, if you are lucky, there are one or two books that live up to the advance hype. Prince of Thieves is such a book. (For more information on the Common Book.)
Jointly sponsored by WAC and the One World Series.

Tuesday, April 25th, beginning at 12:00 noon,

Cafe East, Campus Center Building, Bedford Campus

Noodlebib Drop-In Sessions

Bibliography? Works Cited? MLA Style? Is there an easier way? Yes!

Noodelbib: The Easy On-Line Bibliography Tool

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.

Lowell Campus:

Friday, April 21st, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Federal Building, Library, Kerouac Room

Bedford Campus:

Thursday, April 27th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon

Library, Alcott Room

Coffee Time with Phyllis White Rodriguez-Peralta

will read and discuss her book, Philadelphia Maestros: Ormandy, Muti, Sawallisch. For more information about her book, visit the following website: http://www.temple.edu/tempress/titles/1845_reg.html Also, check out the attached flyer.
Part of the Coffee Time series.

Thursday, April 27th, 12:00 p.m.

Bedford Campus, Campus Center Building, Student Lounge

WAC Student Writing Contest

Topic: The MCC Common Book, Prince of Thieves, raises questions about one’s ties to family, friends, and community. These parts of one’s life may positively or negatively influence the efforts of an individual to make life changes.

From your observations and experiences, what do you see as the positive and negative influences of family, friends, and community upon the growth and development of an individual?

Submission Deadline: May 9th, 2006. (For more information.)

Rock Question Project & River Question Project

Check out the Rock Question Project in front of the Trustees Building in Bedford and the River Question Project in the Lower Cafe in Lowell. Installed in mid October, these inquiry projects are ongoing.

Fall 2005

Weekly Creative Writing Hours

Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers.

Bedford Campus: Thursdays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m., Writing Center, Room AR-201 (starting September 29th)

Lowell Campus: Fridays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m., Writing Center, Room LC-406 (starting October 7th)

Coffee Time with Paul Marion, editor of Atop an Underwood: Early Stories and Other Writings by Jack Kerouac,will discuss and read from the writings of Jack Kerouac.

Part of the Coffee Time series.

Wednesday, September 14th, 12:00 p.m.

Lowell Campus Writing Center, Room LC-406B

The Common Book* Club Party: Discussion Groups on Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan

Bedford: Wednesday, October 5th, 2:00 ï¿½ 3:30 p.m., Room CC-217

Lowell: Thursday, October 6th, 1:00 ï¿½ 2:30 p.m., Room LC-302

WAC Student Writing Contest

Topic: People still debate whether a person is influenced more by one's environment (nurture) or by one's personal make-up (nature). Of course, many people believe that one's personality is a combination of both nature and nurture. Which of these two factors do you think has the strongest influence on the bank robbers in Prince of Thieves? Do you believe that this factor is the strongest influence on people in general? Explain.

Submission Deadline: December 9th, 2005. (For more information.)

Grappling with Grading Writing?

This faculty workshop is co-sponsored by the Teaching, Learning and Reflection Center.

For further information or questions, call Phyllis Worth, ext. 3661.

Please RSVP on the Intranet at the LENS calendar site.

Bedford Campus: October 25th, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m., Bedford TLRC

Rock Question Project & River Question Project

Check out the "Rock Question Project" in front of the Trustees Building in Bedford and the "River Question Project" in the Lower Cafe in Lowell. Installed in mid October, these inquiry projects are ongoing.

A Poetry Reading and Celebration of Words

This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you're interested in doing a reading,

please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839. (Call for Readers flier)

Tuesday, November 15th at 12:00 noon,

Bedford Campus, Campus Center, 1st Floor Student Lounge

Faculty Workshop on Plagiarism: Your Student Plagiarized - What do you do? What can you do?

Bedford Campus: Tuesday, November 29^th, 2:00 - 3:30

Bedford Campus Library, Alcott Room

This faculty workshop will explore student plagiarism issues, including discussions of our pedagogical responses to plagiarism, our current detection options, and our new and easier option of using Turn It In within Blackboard. (Turn It In is an online plagiarism prevention service for which MCC pays. There are now a number of new features in the Fall 2005 edition that allow Turn It In to work seamlessly with Blackboard.com.)

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.

How to Work It (Publishing Workshop)

Monday, December 5th, 7:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Lowell Campus, Room LC-302

Jean Trounstine, MCC humanities professor, author of Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women's Prison and Almost Home Free, and co-editor of Why I'm Still Married, will offer her publishing workshop, How to Work it for the MCC Community. Come find out about agents/editors, cover letters, where to send pieces, how to go about it, editing, as well as tricks and pitfalls -- the nitty gritty of getting published, Co-sponsored by the Learning Community, attendance is limited to 20. RESERVE A SPACE by contacting Tom Laughlin by email at laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or by phone at ext. 3839.

Noodlebib Drop-In Sessions

Bibliography? Works Cited? MLA Style? Is there an easier way? Yes!

Noodelbib: The Easy On-Line Bibliography Tool

Bedford Campus: Tuesday, December 6th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon,

Library, Alcott Room

Lowell Campus: Thursday, December 8^th, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon,

Federal Building, Library, Kerouac Room

Jointly sponsored by WAC & the Library.

WAC Student Writing Contest

Submission Deadline: December 9th, 2005. (For more information.)

WAC Activities 2004-2005

Spring 2005

Fundraiser for Tsunami Relief: Honoring SouthEast Asian & African Cultures

Poetry Reading & Bake Sale

Hear the rich contributions of poets from SouthEast Asian and African countries that have recently suffered unprecedented death and destruction from the devastating earthquake and tsunamis in the Indian Ocean. Come join the MCC community to read, listen, honor, and contribute. (If you're interested in reading, please contact Tom Laughlin at ext.3839.) (Some Poetry Selections - poetry from Tsunami-affected countries)

Wednesday, February 2nd, at 12:00 noon

Bedford Campus Cafe

Thursday, February 3rd, at 12:00 noon

Lower Cafe, City Campus

Creative Writing Hours

Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and to get some feedback from other writers.

Bedford Campus (weekly - Spring '05) Fridays 12:00 - 1:00 in the Bedford Campus Writing Center, beginning February 11th.

City Campus (weekly - Spring '05) Fridays 12:00 - 1:00 (NEW! 4/29 - 5/13) in the City Campus Writing Center.

How to Work It (Publishing Workshop)

Tuesday, March 8th, 7:00 - 9:00 p.m. (weather cancellation 3/8; rescheduled for April 5th, 7:15-9:30 p.m.)

Lowell Campus, City 302

Jean Trounstine MCC humanities professor and author of Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women's Prison, Almost Home Free, and the forthcoming Why I'm Still Married, will offer her publishing workshop, How to Work It, for the MCC Community. Come find out about agents/editors, cover letters, where to send pieces, how to go about it, editing, as well as tricks and pitfalls -- the nitty gritty of getting published. Co-sponsored by the Learning Community. Attendance is limited to 20. RESERVE A SPACE by contacting Tom Laughlin (email laughlint@middlesex.mass.edu or phone ext. 3839).

Creative Writers' Corner

A column in the MCC newspaper, The Campus Report.

Grappling with Grading Writing? (a Teaching, Learning, and Reflection Center offering for faculty)

This interactive workshop, facilitated by Phyllis Gleason, Professor of English for 14 years, is designed to assist faculty across the disciplines in getting the writing they expect from students. Feel free to bring troublesome assignments, or come and listen to others' frustrations regarding the difficulties associated with assigning and grading student writing. The workshop will provide suggestions for using Bloom's Taxonomy to frame essay questions or assignments that elicit the kinds of responses you are aiming for as well as a discussion about consistency in grading students' writing. Call Phyllis Worth at extension 3661 for further information.

Tuesday, March 8th, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Bedford TLRC

Wednesday, March 9th, 12:00-2:00 p.m., Lowell TLRC

Poet Jean Flanagan reads and discusses Black Lightning, her new book, as part of the Coffee Time series.

Wednesday, April 6th, at 12:30

Bedford Campus, Writing Center, Room AR-214

Celebration of Poetry Month & Shakespeare's Birthday!

Wednesday, April 20th, 2005 at 12:00 noon

Lower Cafe, City Campus

This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you're interested in doing a reading,

please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839.

Writing Across the Curriculum Committee's

Student Writing Contest -- Deadline Extended to May 1, 2005

Topic: In a free society, how free should we be to speak our minds? Is free expression free for all?

Currently accepting submissions. Contact Prof. Tom Laughlin at ext. 3839 for further information.

(See the following attachments )

Fall 2004

Weekly Creative Writing Hour begins September 24rd at noon

Fridays 12:00 - 1:00 p.m.

Bedford Campus, AR-201

Students, faculty, and staff interested in creative writing can meet to share their work and get some feedback from other writers.

Literature Through Music (part of the MCC World Music Concert Series)

MCC faculty members Mark Berger, violin; Susan Dill, soprano; Carmen Rodriguez-Peralta, piano; Johannah Segarich, mezzo-soprano; and David Zoffoli, narrator will present a program of musical works inspired by literature.

Monday, September 27th at 12:30 p.m.

Bedford Campus Concert Hall

Coffee Time with Poet Michael Casey who will read and discuss his poetry at both the Lowell and Bedford campuses. His first book, Obscenities, won of the Yale Younger Poets Award in 1972, and his latest book, Raiding a Whorehouse, was released earlier this year (for more biographical notes).

Part of the Coffee Time series.

Friday, September 24th at 12:30 p.m.

Lowell Campus Writing Center, City 406B

Wednesday, September 29th at 12:30

Bedford Campus, Room AR-214

Coffee Time with Hilary Holladay who will discuss her latest book, Wild Blessings, a study of Lucille Clifton's poetry.

Part of the Coffee Time series.

Thursday, October 7th at 12:30 p.m.

Lowell Campus Writing Center, City 406B

Coffee Time with Jean Trounstine, MCC professor and author of Shakespeare Behind Bars and Almost Home Free. Jeanwill discuss the use of writing as a vehicle for self-discovery and healing. Part of the Coffee Time series.

Monday, November 8th at 12:30 p.m.

Lowell Campus Writing Center, City 406B

A Poetry Reading and Celebration of Words

Wednesday, November 17th at 12:00 noon

Student Lounge, Bedford Campus

This poetry & creative writing reading is open to the entire MCC community. If you're interested in doing a reading,

please contact Tom Laughlin, ext.3839.

Teaching ESL Students

Wednesday, November 17 from 2-4pm

Bedford Campus, Library, Room 5, ext. 3772

This faculty workshop is presented by the Teaching, Learning and Reflection Center.

For further information or questions, call Phyllis Worth, ext. 3661.

Please RSVP on the Intranet at the LENS calendar site: https://intranet.middlesex.mass.edu/CollegeWide/LENS/Schedule.asp

Grappling with Grading Writing?

Friday, November 19 from 12-1pm

Bedford Campus, Library, Room 5, ext. 3772

Tuesday, November 23 from 1-3pm

City Campus, Cubicle 57, ext. 3274

This faculty workshop is presented by the Teaching, Learning and Reflection Center.

For further information or questions, call Phyllis Worth, ext. 3661.

Please RSVP on the Intranet at the LENS calendar site: https://intranet.middlesex.mass.edu/CollegeWide/LENS/Schedule.asp

WAC Student Writing Contest

Topic: In a free society, how free should we be to speak our minds? Is free expression free for all?

Submission Deadline: December 10th, 2004.

The Common Book* Club Party: Discussion Groups on The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Dates/times to be announced - at City Campus, Room LC-302 (Cancelled - Work-To-Rule)

& Dates/times to be announced - in Bedford, Room CC-216 (Cancelled - Work-To-Rule)

An Introduction to Noodlebib: The Easy On-Line Bibliography Tool

Dates/times to be announced - (Cancelled - Work-To-Rule)

Noodlebib is an online tool (the library subscribes to it) that simplifies the process of creating and editing MLA and APA-style source lists. It shows students how to cite the sources used in their research. Noodlebib takes care of punctuation, alphabetization and formatting and produces a polished source list. Students love it.

How to Work It (Publishing Workshop)

Dates/times to be announced - (Cancelled - Work-To-Rule)

Jean Trounstine MCC humanities professor and author of Shakespeare Behind Bars: The Power of Drama in a Women's Prison and Almost Home Free, will offer her publishing workshop, How to Work it for the MCC Community. Come find out about agents/editors, cover letters, where to send pieces, how to go about it, editing, as well as tricks and pitfalls -- the nitty gritty of getting published, Co-sponsored by the Learning Community, attendance is limited to 15. RESERVE A SPACE by contacting Phyllis Gleason at x 3801.

WAC Activities 2003-2004

Poetry & Fiction Readings / Presentations

WAC sponsored two open poetry readings this year, one at Bedford in the fall and the other celebrating Shakespeare’s birthday at the City Campus. As in the past, both events were well attended, and a diverse group of student, faculty, and administrators presented the readings. WAC also funded a small luncheon for Lois Lowry on April 22 following her presentations and book signing at the Federal Building.

A Poetry Reading and Celebration of Words

Wednesday, November 5th at 12:00 noon

Student Lounge, Bedford Campus

Celebration of Poetry Month & Shakespeare's Birthday!

Wednesday, April 7th at 11:30

Lower Cafe, City Campus

One World Series Presents
Lois Lowry, author of The Giver
Noon, Thursday, April 22, Lowell Campus, Federal Building, Assembly Room
The Giver, MCC's Common Book for 2004, deals with the college's Learning Community theme of Freedom of Speech. It is part of a series that includes Gathering Blue and new this spring, The Messenger. Lois Lowry is a prolific, Newbery Award-winning author.

Common Book Discussions

These discussions of the common book were open to, and attended by, faculty, staff, students, and administrators.

The Common Book Club Party: Discussion Groups on The Giver, by Lois Lowry

Wednesday, September 17th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. at City Campus, Room LC-302

& Tuesday, September 30th, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. in Bedford, Room CC-216

Improvisational Theater

Matter of Fact, Middlesex Community College's improvisational theatre troupe, performed a series of skits based on the question that the MCC Learning Community is posing this year (in connection with the Common Book and WAC Writing Contest), "In a Free Society, How free should we be to speak our minds? Is free expression free for all?"

Who's Freedom is it Anyway?

Matter of Fact, Middlesex Community College's improvisational theatre troupe

dates and locations

Writing Contests

The WAC committee and the MCC Learning Community co-sponsored two essay-writing contests during 2003-2004, one in the fall and one in the spring.

Publishing Workshops

The WAC committee sponsored two very well attended sessions of Professor Jean Trounstine's publishing workshop How to Work It, where faculty and students could come and find out about agents/editors, cover letters, where to send pieces, how to go about submitting, and other details about publishing.

Blackboard Website to Support Common Book

Middlesex Interactive in conjunction with Academic Support and the Writing Across the Curriculum Committee established a Blackboard site to support this year's common book. The site contains resources that augment the novel and provide faculty with examples, ideas, and lessons that can be used in the classroom as well as audio clips from interviews with Lois Lowry. To request faculty access to this Blackboard site, please contact Phyllis Gleason at gleasonp@middlesex.mass.edu or ext. 3801.