Macalester takes part in worldwide Lysistrata Project

The Classics Department will be staging a reading of Aristophanes' anti-war comedy Lysistrata this Monday, March 3 at 6 p.m. in the Weyerhauser Memorial Chapel as part of the Lysistrata Project, a one-time event that marks the first ever-worldwide theatrical protest against war in Iraq.

Steffanie Moxon '03 said that she organized the reading here along with the Classics Department when she heard of the Project from Classics Professor Mireille Lee. Moxon said that the event will be open to the public and that she hopes it will draw a large audience.

The ancient Greek comedy tells the story of a woman who gathers the wives of soldiers on both sides of the Peloponnesian War and gets them to withhold sex from their husbands until the violence ends and a peaceful resolution is found. "The play … is extremely funny and full of sexual innuendo, but at the same time contains a strong anti-war message," Moxon said.

There are fifteen readings being staged around the Twin Cities at venues that include cafes, bookstores, gymnasiums and theatres, according to a representative of the Project

Following the performances, a concert will take place entitled Beyond Lysistrata, A Concert for Peace. Doors are set to open at the historic Pentages Theatre at 7:45 p.m., and performances run from 8:30 to 10.

The Lysistrata Project was founded by New York actors Kathryn Blume and Sharron Bower.

As of press time, the daily count on the project's website (www.lysistrataproject.com) had a tally of 782 stages in 43 countries where the play will be read.
 

Macalester Habitat for Humanity dedicates house

Macalester Habitat will join other Habitat for Humanity chapters around the Twin Cities on Saturday, March 1 at 11 a.m. in the dedication of a St. Paul house that they have been funding and helping build since September 2002.

The house is located on Charles Street in Frogtown, according to Emily Purcell '06, and was funded entirely by Twin Cities Campus Chapters (TCCC), which includes four local high schools as well as St. Thomas, the University of Minnesota, Hamline, Concordia and Macalester.

Purcell said that Macalester's chapter had pledged $5,000 towards building the house and will continue to raise money for the duration of the academic year.

"A whole lot of students and other volunteers put so much effort and money into building this house, and it's going to be great to see the family we've been working with finally get to move in," Purcell said.

The ceremony on Saturday will feature speeches by various local Habitat leaders, including George Norris '04.
 

NPR's Robert Siegel considers ... I mean ... comes to Macalester

Co-host of National Public Radio's "All Things Considered" Robert Siegel will speak at 7 p.m. in the Hill Ballroom of Kagin Commons on Tuesday, March 4. The talk is entitled "NPR News: From Daily Reporting to Special Coverage."

Siegel has hosted "All Things Considered," one of NPR's most popular broadcasts, since 1987 and has reported for the station since 1976. He has worked as a producer, editor and director of news and information, and has reported from Israel as well as Eastern and Western Europe.

The event is part of the Broadcast Journalist Series that is co-sponsored by Macalester, Minnesota Public Radio and the law firms of Moss & Barnett and Fredrikson & Byron. The talk is free but tickets are required. They are being distributed at the information desk in the Campus Center as well as at Whole Foods stores.