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Sept. 20-23 events at Monmouth College

Luncheon talk by Godde, screening of 'King Corn,' Family Weekend on tap

by Barry McNamara

Monmouth, IL (09/14/2018) —

Monmouth Associates program kicks off with talk about study-abroad trip to Sumatra

A program about a recent study-abroad trip to Southeast Asia will kick off the 2018-19 Monmouth College Associates luncheon series.

Monmouth biology professor James Godde led four students in May to the Indonesian island of Sumatra. He will speak about the study-abroad experience at noon Sept. 20 in the Whiteman-McMillan Highlander Room of Stockdale Student Center.

Accompanying Godde to Sumatra were John Cunningham '19, a biology major from Woodstock, Ill.; Shane Herkert '20, a biology major from Verona, Wis.; Emma Johanns '21, a biochemistry major from Burlington, Iowa; and Brenna Lobb '19, a bioinformatics major from Heyworth, Ill.

The group studied wildlife in Sumatra, comparing its presence in primary forest areas to deforested areas.

The cost for a buffet lunch is $10 ($9 for Monmouth faculty and staff). Reservations can be made by calling 309-457-2231 by Sept. 18 or by email at alumni@monmouthcollege.edu.

A free shuttle van transports passengers from two locations to every Associates luncheon. The van stops at the northeast quadrant of the Public Square at 11:45 a.m. and at the Faith United Presbyterian Church parking lot at approximately 11:50 a.m. It returns to both locations immediately following the program.

Shuttle reservations can be made also by calling 309-457-2231. Parking is available along North Ninth Street and in the parking lot near the Stockdale Center.

The other Monmouth Associates programs this academic year will be held Nov. 15, Feb. 21 and May 16.

'King Corn' opens Monmouth College's Public Philosophy and Film Series on Sept. 20

An award-winning film set partially in an Iowa corn field will start the new season of the Monmouth College Public Philosophy and Film Series.

But rather than starring actors Kevin Costner and James Earl Jones and depicting a host of old-time baseball players, "King Corn" investigates the role that corn plays in what it portrays as an increasingly complicated and dysfunctional American food industry.

"King Corn" will be shown at 6 p.m. Sept. 20 in the Barnes Electronic Classroom on the lower level of Hewes Library. Free and open to the public, the film will be introduced by Monmouth biology professor Eric Engstrom, who will also lead a post-film discussion.

"I think it will be appealing to a college audience on a number of levels," said Engstrom, who has used the 2007 film in his classes. "For one, it was made by two recent college graduates, so they were not far removed from the age of our students when it was filmed."

Engstrom said the Peabody Award-winning film also employs "critical thinking," as the filmmakers were inspired to create it when they learned that their generation was the first in history not expected to live as long as their parents.

"They talk to researchers about diet, they talk to an agronomist at Iowa State University," said Engstrom. "Eventually, what they decide to do is rent an acre from a farmer in Iowa (outside of Greene, just north of Waterloo) and grow their own corn. The movie tracks that - what goes into growing an acre of corn."

A key moment is when the filmmakers travel to a retirement home to interview former Secretary of Agriculture Earl Butz, who headed the federal department from 1971-76.

"He certainly had a role in the transformation of the food industry," said Engstrom. "This is exactly what he was setting out to do - to make food so cheap and abundant that it ceases to be a concern for Americans. They can worry about other things. Food has never been anywhere as cheap, relatively, as it is now. But the film asks what's the cost of that? Are we paying for it in other ways? The filmmakers try to answer that question."

Engstrom said "King Corn" is likely to stir some debate.

"Were the filmmakers looking for certain answers, or are they really explaining this is a non-partial way? Are the farm families of Iowa represented well? Did the filmmakers leave anything out?" he said.

A review in the Washington Post said the documentary ought to be "required viewing by anyone planning to visit a supermarket, fast-food joint, or their own refrigerator."

Visiting Assistant Professor of Philosophy and Religious Studies Ermine Algaier organized the Public Philosophy and Film Series, which began last spring.

"This series provides an informal, multidisciplinary platform for raising awareness of pressing contemporary public issues," said Algaier. "Both educational and entertaining, the series aims to provide the campus and Monmouth community with an informal space that intellectually challenges the broader community, while also creating a safe space to confront culturally diverse topics and ideas."

The other films to be shown in the series this fall are "Behind the Lines" (1999) on Oct. 25 and "Hell House" (2001) on Nov. 15.


Monmouth College to host Family Weekend, Sept. 21-23

Monmouth College will celebrate its annual Family Weekend Sept. 21-23. The three-day event allows students to share the Monmouth experience with their family members.

"Welcoming family members back to campus for the weekend activities and seeing the excitement of the students as they introduce their families to their new home is one of my favorite weekends," said Associate Dean of Students and Director of Campus Events Karen Ogorzalek, who oversees the weekend. "Families have just as much fun - if not more - than their students as they engage with other families and the Monmouth community. Everyone is a Scot this weekend!"

Family Weekend festivities begin with Mission Improvable, an improv comedy performance for students and their families at 7 p.m. Friday, Sept. 21, in Dahl Chapel and Auditorium.

At 8:30 p.m., the College will host "My Story." Held at April Zorn Memorial Stadium, the new event will feature members of the Monmouth community sharing their personal stories. Sponsored by the Associated Students of Monmouth College, "My Story" will also feature entertainment and refreshments.

On Saturday, Sept. 22, the first Parent & Family Council meeting will be held. It will include an open forum at 8:30 a.m. in Room 276 of the Center for Science and Business. A panel of Monmouth vice presidents will share highlights from their divisions.

At 10 a.m., a legacy brunch will be held in Mellinger Commons in the Center for Science and Business. Open by invitation to students and their alumni relatives, the event celebrates Monmouth's long-standing family traditions.

Also new to Family Weekend this year is an opportunity to attend the next talk in the Great Lectures Series, which began this fall. Anthropology professor Megan Hinrichsen will speak about the anthropology of happiness at 10 a.m. in Pattee Auditorium, on the lower level of the Center for Science and Business.

Families can also attend an overview of "Introduction to Liberal Arts" - the required course for all first-year students - and the role that mentors play in assisting first-year students. The ILA overview will be at 11 a.m. in the Veterans Great Room, located on the second level of the Center for Science and Business.

From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturday, inflatable activities for all ages will be available in The Quad behind Stockdale Student Center. There will also be a trick dog show, balloon artists, novelties and games. An all-campus cookout will be held at 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

The Fighting Scots football team will kick off its second home game of the season at 1 p.m. against Macalester College at April Zorn Stadium.

Saturday night will feature two events in Dahl Chapel and Auditorium. At 7 p.m., three music ensembles will present the annual Family Weekend Concert, which is free and open to the public. Performing will be the Monmouth Chamber Orchestra, the Monmouth Chorale and the Monmouth Winds.

Following the concert, "Found Footage Festival" will be shown at 9 p.m., emceed by two comedians. The one-of-a-kind free event showcases hilarious video footage from the strangest places.

The weekend's activities will conclude with a buffet brunch from 9:30 a.m.-1 p.m. on Sunday in the Main Dining Room in Stockdale Student Center.

For more information about Family Weekend, contact the office of campus events at 309-457-2345.

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Monmouth College students and their families always seem to be smiling during Family Weekend. The College will host its annual three-day event Sept. 21-23.

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