The Cultural Events Committee will be hosting a plethora of events on campus this year. On September 16, the Cultural Events Committee co-hosted with NCC’s English department on a screening of “Russell Banks: I Write in Order to Be a Better Person” which was accompanied by director Dennis Mueller. The film focuses on Russell Banks’s life as a writer in which he found importance in race and those of different cultural backgrounds. The film also touched on Russell’s childhood and how that impacted him as a writer. Russell sadly passed away Jan. 28, 2023, after seeing a rough draft of the film. Mueller talked about how he hopes people would see that this was a “story about humanity.”
Image of Russell Banks taken by Jennifer S. Altman.
The Communication and Media studies, and Political Science and Cultural Events co-sponsored a webinar on the First Amendment and Academic Freedom on September 17. The First Amendment and the Constitution was discussed in an open forum which was projected in Smith Hall. Pizza was provided for those who attended. The meeting focused on the concerns of the current administration’s effects on academic freedom in schools and universities. A Q and A was open to allow viewers from multiple colleges to ask questions and participate.
Steve Macek, professor of communication and media studies at North Central College, is also a part of the Cultural Events Committee. Macek is most excited for the book launch for ‘North Central and Naperville: A More Welcoming Place’ “which is edited by two members of our history department, Shereen Ilahi and Ann Durkin Keating,” said Macek. The event takes place in Stevenson Hall during NCC’s community hours 11:50-1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Banned Books Week
Coming up next are two banned book events which take place Monday, Oct. 5 and Wednesday, Oct. 13. The October 5 banned book event will be “Right to Read Night Book Club and Book Censorship Trivia Contest” which will be located at Oesterle Library. The October 13 banned book event will be “Freedom to Read Panel with Veronica Arreola.” Arreola is the author of “J is For Justice” which is a feminist children’s book that focuses on teaching children about justice, activism and civic engagement. It was “banned at the school level in the United States due to its themes addressing race, colonialism, and political content” according to banned-books.org. This event will be located in Goldspohn room 20.
Banned Books Week takes place from Oct. 4 to Oct.10. Banned Books Week highlights books that have been censored in schools, libraries and bookstores.
The next Cultural Event will be held Monday, Oct 19 at 5:30 p.m. in Stevenson Hall. This event will be a screening titled Trump: The First 100 with Brian Karem. The documentary focuses on Donald Trump’s second term of his presidency. Brian Karem, CNN and FOX veteran broadcast journalist directed and narrated the film.
“For anybody who’s a journalist, or journalism major, [this]could be really interesting because you have a chance to [talk to]somebody who has been part of the White House press corps,” Macek said.
Macek explained that the Cultural Event Committee would love to hear from students if they have any ideas for future events.
