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Controversial Philosopher Peter Singer comes to Connecticut College Oct. 23

NEW LONDON, Conn. - Controversial philosopher Peter Singer is coming to Connecticut College to discuss his most recent book, "The Life You Can Save," in which he argues that people in affluent countries should give generously to help fight world poverty, Friday, Oct. 23, at 2 p.m. A highly respected academic and well recognized public figure, Singer is considered by some to be the pre-eminent philosopher of our time. He is perhaps most famous for his book, "Animal Liberation," which is widely considered to provide the base argument for the Animal Liberation Movement, also called the Animal Rights Movement. Recently, he published a piece in The New York Times Magazine, titled, "Why We Must Ration Health Care."

Singer will be joined by a panel of Connecticut College professors, including economists Maria Cruz-Saco and Purba Mukerji, philosopher Simon Feldman and psychologist Stuart Vyse, and by Alice Fitzpatrick, president of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut, for the discussion, "If I Can Save A Life, Should I? Affluence, Morality and the Problem of World Poverty."

On the Connecticut College campus, Singer's upcoming visit has already generated a great deal of excitement. "Singer's broad body of work goes beyond philosophy and has deep pragmatic implications for raising important questions about the moral responsibility of the affluent and the privileged in sharing their wealth and resources with the impoverished mass of humanity," Connecticut College Professor Sunil Bhatia said.

This event, which is part of Connecticut College's Fall Weekend celebration, will be in John C. Evans Hall, Cummings Arts Center, and is free and open to the public.

Other highlights of Fall Weekend, the college's annual celebration for alumni, parents, students and friends of the college, include a keynote lecture, "Revolution in the Internet Era," by Fernando Espuelas, a 1988 Connecticut College graduate and technical trailblazer who has been named one of Time magazine's "Leaders for the New Millennium." Espuelas will speak Saturday at 3 p.m. in the John C. Evans Hall, Cummings Arts Center.

Other events open to the public include:

Friday, Oct. 23

- 4:30 p.m., Thomas Glave, a founding member of the Jamaica Forum for Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays, will read from his newest work, "Our Caribbean: A Gathering of Lesbian and Gay Writings from the Antilles," Charles Chu Asian Art Reading Room, Shain Library.

- 8 p.m. "The Tempest," a Theater Department production of the Shakespearean classic, $8 general admission, $6 students, Tansill Theater.

- 8 p.m., "A Cappella, Connecticut College Style," an annual all-group a cappella concert, Harkness Chapel.

Saturday, Oct. 24

- 9:15 a.m., "Thwarting Cyber Criminals - Staying Safe While Staying Connected," a panel discussion featuring John H. Jessen, founder and chair of Electronic Evidence Discovery Inc.; Christopher Morris, a 1996 Connecticut College graduate and director at PricewaterhouseCoopers; and V. David Watkins, a 1978 graduate and CEO of White Sky Inc., Ernst Common Room, Blaustein Humanities Center.

- 11 a.m., Women's Field Hockey vs. Colby College, Silfen Field.

- 11 a.m., Women's Soccer vs. Colby College, Tempel Green.

- 11 a.m. - 3 p.m., "Harvestfest," an annual bazaar featuring food, crafts and gifts, Tempel Green.

- 1:30 p.m., "Why Talk? Staying Connected in an Electronic Age," a discussion with Rick Stratton, a 1996 Connecticut College graduate and owner of the content management application company Feed.Us; Anne Mickle, a 1989 Connecticut College graduate and director of college counseling at St. Timothy's School; and Jason Nier, associate professor of psychology, Silfen Auditorium, Bill Hall.

- 1:30 p.m., "All The News That's Fit to View … Online," a discussion of new media and news delivery, featuring Jay Lauf, a 1986 Connecticut College graduate and publisher of "The Atlantic;" Paul Leavitt, reporter and editor for USA Today; and Jim Berrien, a 1974 Connecticut College graduate, president and COO of Mother Nature Network and former president and publisher of Forbes Magazine Group, Ernst Common Room, Blaustein Humanities Center.

- 2 p.m., Men's Soccer vs. Colby College, Tempel Green.

- 2 p.m., "The Tempest," a Theater Department production of the Shakespearean classic, $8 general admission, $6 students, Tansill Theater.

- 3:30 p.m., Green Campus Tour led by members of the Renewable Energy Club, beginning at Tempel Green.

- 5 p.m., Gallery Talk with Professor Ted Hendrickson, who will discuss his photography currently on display, Joanne Toor Cummings Gallery, Cummings Arts Center.

- 5:30 p.m., Athletic Hall of Fame Ceremony, celebrating the induction of three new alumni athletes, Charles B. Luce Field House.

- 6:30 - 9 p.m., 2009 Fall Star Party, featuring telescopic star and planet viewing, fall and winter constellation planetarium shows by the Children's Museum of Southeastern Connecticut, hands-on astronomy activities for kids and a lesson in celestial navigation for beginners by R. M. Maxwell of the Treworgy Planetarium at Mystic Seaport, Olin Observatory, F.W. Olin Science Center.

- 8 p.m., onStage at Connecticut College presents "Dianne Reeves: Strings Attached featuring Russell Malone and Romero Lubambo," tickets are $28, $24, and $20 general, $25, $21.50 and $18 for seniors and $14, $12 and $10 for students, Palmer Auditorium.

- 8 p.m. "The Tempest," a Theater Department production of the Shakespearean classic, $8 general admission, $6 students, Tansill Theater.

Sunday, Oct. 25

- 9 a.m., Fall Foliage Walk with Arboretum Director Glenn Dreyer, beginning at the main entrance to the Native Plant Collection on Williams Street.

- 2 p.m., "The Tempest," a Theater Department production of the Shakespearean classic, $8 general admission, $6 students, Tansill Theater.

About Connecticut College

Situated on the coast of southern New England, Connecticut College is a highly selective private liberal arts college with 1900 students from all across the country and throughout the world. On the college's 750-acre arboretum campus overlooking Long Island Sound, students and faculty create a vibrant social, cultural and intellectual community enriched by diverse perspectives. The college, founded in 1911, is known for its unique combination of interdisciplinary studies, international programs, funded internships, student-faculty research and service learning.

For more information, visit www.conncoll.edu.

--CC--



October 14, 2009