Tufts University American Studies

Past Events

To give you a sense of some of the exciting events that happen every month at Tufts and in the surrounding neighborhoods, we keep an archive here of past events.

February-April 2008
Tufts American Studies Department presents:
Native American Issues: the Politics of Representation
Native American Guest Speakers for Spring 2008
Thursdays from 3 - 4:15 PM
Crane Room, Paige Hall, Tufts University

February 7
Maurice Foxx, Mashpee Wampanoag
Chair, Massachusetts Commission on Indian Affairs
“Massachusetts and Wampanoag Indian Identity and Sovereignty”
February 14
Pam Ellis, Hassanamisco Nipmuc
Nipmuc Nation Tribal Historian
“The Federal Recognition Process and Federal Trust Responsibilities”
March 6
Lisa Brooks, Missisquoi Abenaki
Assistant Professor of History, English, and Folklore at Harvard University
“Native American Literature and Nationalism”
April 3
Linda Coombs, Aquinnah Wampanoag
Associate Director, Wampanoag Indigenous Program at Plimoth Plantation
“Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Northeastern Indigenous Lifeways”
April 17
Judy Dow, Winooski Abenaki
Councilor, Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs
“Algonkian Indian Basketry and Artistic Adaptations”

Department of American Studies 0185
For more info, contact Dr. Margaret Bruchac, Visiting Lecturer
phone: (413) 584-2195 email: margaret.bruchac@tufts.edu

February 2008
Tufts American Studies Department presents:
Native American Issues: the Politics of Representation
Native American Guest Speakers for Spring 2008
Thursdays from 3 - 4:15 PM
Crane Room, Paige Hall, Tufts University

February 2008
American Studies Informational Luncheon

Posted 11/5/07
American Studies Majors' Meeting and Pizza Party!

Students are invited to a majors' meeting and pizza party on Tues. November 13 at 4:30 p.m. in the Laminan Lounge (Olin Center). The Director Deborah Pacini, Jean Wu and other faculty will be there to answer your questions about the recent curriculum changes, as well as other American Studies issues you might want to talk about. Also present will be the recipients of last year's Ted Shapiro Awards, who will talk briefly about their projects.

Be sure to visit the Aidekman Arts Center to view the exhibit of Miguel Luciano, the Artist in Residence at Tufts who was here in October. His fabulous art work will be on display through December.

Posted 9/24/07
Miguel Luciano: Art at the Intersection of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics.

From October 20 to December 30th, artist Miguel Luciano's show titled Cuando las Gallinas Mean (When Hens Pee) will be on view at the Slater Concourse Gallery in the Aidekman Art Complex. The show will be accompanied by a lecture, Boricua Pop: Puerto Rican Folklore and Consumer Fantasy on October 22, 5-7 PM. Three student art workshops will be held to facilitate a collaboration between the artist and Tufts student on creating a piece to be shown at Tufts. Please click on the postcard below to view a detailed description of this program.

Posted 11/1/07
Identities in Motion:
The Construction of Asian-American Identity in the Film Industry
Wednesday, November 14, 2007, Barnum 08, 5:30-7:00 p.m.

Come hear filmmaker Eric Byler of Charlotte Sometimes and Americanese, speak about the media representation of Asian Americans in films and its effects on identity construction. Eric has also made a TV pilot and several Youtube political documentaries focusing on the intersection of race and politics.

For more information on Eric please go to:
http://myspace.com/ericbyler
http://www.youtube.com/user/EricByler52

Click here to view the flyer.

Posted 9/30/07
Health Disparities & Higher Education Symposium
Saturday, November 17, 2007 - Tufts University

Boston is one of the nation's most prestigious hubs of cutting-edge medical training, treatment, and research. And yet it is also home to some of the most serious and shocking disparities in heath and health care.

Featuring guest speakers, panel discussions, and interactive workshops, the Health Disparities & Higher Education Symposium aims to help Boston-area students, faculty, and community members gain a better understanding of health disparities, and our role as individuals, institutions, and communities in fighting to ensure that all people have access to quality health and health care.

The daylong event will feature presentations, workshops, and keynotes by: John Auerbach, the Massachusetts Commissioner of Public Health; Anthony Chen, the Medical Director of Community Health and Director of Minority Health at Cambridge Health Alliance; Elmer Freeman , the Executive Director of the Center for Community Health Education Research and Service, Inc., and Representative to the National Institutes of Health; Brian Gibbs , the Director of the Division of Public Health Practice and Program to Eliminate Health Disparities at the Harvard School of Public Health; Joan Reede, the Dean for Diversity and Community Partnership at Harvard Medical School, and many, many others!

This symposium is free and open to the public. However, space is filling up quickly. Please visit http://healthdisparities07.googlepages.com/ to register and learn more.

Posted 10/12/07
New Arts Festival Day

New Arts Festival Day is Sunday, November 18. Two performances at 4:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. in Distler Hall. Free and open to the public. Features the Tufts Dance Ensemble directed by Daniel McCusker. New works by Tufts Composers and the New Music Ensemble, directed by John McDonald. Also featuring premiere choreography by guest artist Kaela San Lee.

Posted 9/23/07
Honk! Symposium: The Philosophy of Honk: Street Bands, Civic Engagement, and Social Change.

On October 5, 3-5 P.M., join internationally known speakers as they talk about this exciting new form of street art at the kick-off event for Return of Honk! - the second annual festival of activist street bands. Location: Davis Square, Somerville. View the flyer here.