Frankenstein exhibit
Frankenstein Penetrating the Secrets of Nature November 10, 2009
The library has acquired the traveling exhibit “Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature”. The exhibit is scheduled to be on campus from November 17, 2009 through January 10, 2010. Opening day, the exhibit will be displayed in the NCF Atrium and introduced by Dr. Nicole Greene at 4pm in room 105 of the NCF building. From November 18, 2009 until January 10, 2010, the exhibit will be on view on the fourth floor of the library.
December 2, 2009 a panel will discuss Mary Shelley’s creation and December 4, 2009 Frankenstein movies will be shown on campus. Keep checking in to get more information.
Frankenstein: Penetrating the Secrets of Nature explores Mary Shelley’s world that gave birth to Frankenstein. The exhibit examines how playwrights and filmmakers transformed the Frankenstein story into one of the Western world’s most enduring myths. It considers how Mary Shelley’s unfortunate creature frequently provides a framework for discussions of contemporary biomedical advances such as cloning, which challenge our traditional understanding of what it means to be human.
The exhibit was developed by the National Library of Medicine in collaboration with the American Library Association.
Sorority and Fraternity Reading November 3, 2009
Several sororities and fraternities are represented here on the Xavier University campus. Each organization has a website: Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc., Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc., Kappa Alpha Psi, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc., Zeta Phi Beta Sorority Inc., and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. At the library, you don’t have to be shy about requesting information regarding sororities and fraternities. The following books are currently available in the Archives Department:
The History of Alpha Phi Alpha by Charles H. Wesley
In Search of Sisterhood: Delta Sigma Theta and the Challenge of the Black Sorority Movement by Paula Giddings
Alpha Kappa Alpha by Marjorie H. Parker
Weekend in Review November 3, 2009
The barn was filled to capacity Saturday night for Xavier’s Neophyte Step Show!
Kappa Alpha Psi
Neophytes entered the auditorium in disguise.
AKAs entering the barn.
An Alpha in his paraphernalia.
Zeta Phi Betas celebrate!
Zetas celebrate!
When all is said and done…Omega Psi Phi.
Omegas at the Neophyte Step Show.
Paula Singleton honored on her 15th Anniversary! October 13, 2009
Paula Singleton
Paula Singleton has been a biology and government documents librarian at Xavier University for the past 15 years. We wish her a Happy Anniversary and hope she will be here for many years to come!
Congratulations! You are now officially the class of 2010! October 9, 2009
There was inspiration all around on Tuesday, October 6, 2009 at the Founder’s Day Convocation. All faculty and freshman filled the gymnasium to see 60 honorees celebrate their employee anniversaries.
The class of 2010 donned their graduation robes for the first time and exuded the type of excitement that only a soon to be graduate can conjure. Dr. Francis declared the class of 2010 to be the class that had “faith beyond faith” when they decided to attend Xavier University of Louisiana in 2006 just one year after Hurricane Katrina. The class was also reminded to thank the people who helped them get as far as they’ve gotten.
And it goes, the freshmen have begun to pursue their dreams of education and the seniors are edging towards their final send off. Encouraging is this cycle of academia.
Exhibits at the Library written by Lester Sullivan September 10, 2009
In Rush for the Gold, Archivist Irwin Lachoff and Sports Information Director Ed Cassiere team up to tell the story of basketball, football, baseball, track and field, and other sports at the University from 1925 to 2001. Rare photographs and printed items, trophies, and an actual Xavier basketball warm-up suit from about the 1940s are on view just outside the Archives on the third floor whenever the Library is open. Included is a summary by Mr. Cassiere of six leading Xavier sports accomplishments.
Inside the Archives, viewable on weekdays from 8 to 4, is Basile Barès, Slave and Freedman, Composer of New Orleans. Xavier Archives holds the only known photographs and unpublished music in manuscript by the piano virtuoso. Before the Civil War, Bares became the only slave in the United States to have a piece of music copyrighted in his name. As a freedman after the war, he played at the Paris Worlds Fair of 1867 and went on to be the most popular entertainer in New Orleans during Reconstruction. All this and more is covered in the exhibit.
Eric and his Zhongruan September 3, 2009
Eric Joseph leads a double life. By day he’s a research archivist and library assistant here at the Xavier Library, but at night he turns into a rock star fluent in a plethora of stringed instruments. Last week Eric was kind enough to play his new Zhongruan in the lobby of the library. A Zhongruan is a Chinese tenor plucked instrument. It has a round body and a long neck similar to that of a banjo but with only four strings. Eric ordered his new instrument from China earlier this summer and excitedly shared its arrival with us all. The wait was well worth it for those of us who got to hear him play. We hope to have him bring these soothing sounds to our library again during the holiday season so be on the look out for Eric Live at the Library.
Xavier’s Required Reading August 27, 2009
This year all of the Xavier University freshmen have been instructed to read President Barack Obama’s book Dreams from My Father. The memoir chronicles his youth in Hawaii and Indonesia, as well as his undergraduate years first at Occidental College and later at Columbia University. Once all have read it, freshman across campus will engage in discussions about Mr. Obama’s coming of age stories.
Ever the intellect, President Obama is also doing a little reading during these final days of summer. According to the New York Times, the president took the following five books to Martha’s Vineyard for his vacation this week:
The Way Home by George Pelecanos
Hot, Flat and Crowded by Thomas L. Friedman
Lush Life by Richard Price
Plainsong by Kent Haruf
John Adams by David McCullough
It is rumored that President Obama is a fast reader, but the title John Adams alone is over 700 pages making this an impressive reading list to be sure. Take heed dear Xavier freshmen, take heed.
