Art during times of stress, conflict, to be symposium focus March 26-28

How art and society interact at times of great stress will be the focus of "Adjacencies: Images Across Cultures," a March 26-28 symposium at UNC-Chapel Hill.

Films, speakers and discussions will be part of the free public event, to start at 5 p.m. nightly in the Coates Building at 223 East Franklin Street. UNC’s Center for European Studies and University Center for International Studies will sponsor the symposium, which will examine images across cultures in film, literature and the visual arts.

"Adjacencies is designed to discuss images of negotiation between cultures in conflict," said Dr. Nicholas Allen, assistant professor of English and Irish studies. Allen organized the symposium with Dr. Sahar Amer, an associate professor in the curriculum in Asian studies.

The symposium will begin March 26 with a reception and opening remarks by Dr. Darryl Gless, senior associate dean for arts and humanities and professor of English. Then artist John Duncan of Northern Ireland and Allen will discuss their new book, "The Cities of Belfast."

On March 27, Dr. Dominique Fisher, an associate professor of French, will introduce the film "The Battle of Algiers," a documentary on the Algerian War for Independence. Upon its release in 1966, the film was banned in France for fear that it would create civil disturbances. The Pentagon used the film as a learning tool for its war on terror and in Iraq.

A film featuring artistic reactions to the events of Sept. 11 will be shown March 28. "11’9"01 September 11" includes 11-minute, nine-second segments by 11 film directors. Dr. Martine Antle, associate professor of French, will introduce the film.

For more information, contact Jacob Sutherland, center research assistant, at (919) 843-9852 or Sutherland@unc.edu.

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Award presented to student veteran with highest grade-point average

Joongsup Lee has received the Veterans Academic Achievement Award for the fall 2003 semester at UNC-Chapel Hill.

The award honors the undergraduate student and military veteran who earned the highest grade-point average for that semester. Lee, a sophomore mathematical decision sciences major, received $500. He earned a perfect, 4.0 average for the fall semester.

After graduating from Hansung Math and Science High School in Seoul, South Korea, in 1998, Lee moved to the United States. He enlisted in the U.S. Army within a month of his arrival. In April

2000, Lee took his first permanent duty assignment in Germany. He participated in a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo. Lee received an Army Achievement Medal, a Kosovo Liberation Medal and a NATO Service Medal while in service. He was honorably discharged in July 2002.

Military service is a family tradition for Lee. All male members of his family have served in the military. His father retired as a Lieutenant Colonel after 30 years of service in the Korean Army.

Lee hopes to become an actuary after graduation. He is considering a graduate degree in his field. For more information, contact Kim Sieler, (919) 962-8292, krsieler@email.unc.edu.

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Contact: L.J. Toler, 962-8589, laura_toler@unc.edu