SAS In Focus is the only newsletter devoted to reporting what’s happening in the School of Arts & Sciences.
In this edition . . .
ON STAGE: A STOPPARD CLASSIC
The International Theatre Program invites you to attend its production of Tom Stoppard’s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead.” This modern classic transforms two minor characters in Shakespeare’s “Hamlet” into unlikely heroes of a drama not of their own making, but one in which their fate must be fulfilled.
Hilarious and witty, profound and moving, slapstick and philosophical, Stoppard’s beloved masterpiece, directed by Nadia Guevara, speaks to all our lives as its hapless protagonists wrestle with meaning, destiny, and a self-determination that seems to lie forever beyond their control.
The show runs Nov. 21 through Dec. 7 at the Smith Theatre in the Sloan Performing Arts Center. Get your tickets here.
The curtain rises at 8 p.m. for performances running Thursday, Nov. 21 through Saturday, Nov. 23, and after Thanksgiving Recess, from Wednesday Dec. 4 through Saturday, Dec. 7. A matinee at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 24 features ASL interpretation.
BOOK NOOK: BODY AND SOUL
What transpires after a person dies? It is a question for the ages, and the focus of a new book by Andrea Gondos, Visiting Assistant Professor of Jewish Studies in the Department of Religion.
Her work, The Life and the Soul (SUNY Press, 2024), surveys the wide-ranging theories Jewish mystics have offered to the question.
Weaving together kabbalistic speculations and Jewish philosophical ideas drawn from distinct geographical regions and historical periods, this book is poised to serve as a point of departure for future comparative investigations on the life of the soul in Judaism and Eastern Religions.
FEEDBACK ON A “PRO-GROWTH U-TURN”
The Wall Street Journal heard and published feedback from David Primo, the Ani and Mark Gabrellian Professor of Political Science and Business Administration, on the news outlet’s recent commentary by Larry Fink, the chair and CEO of BlackRock investment company.
Primo wrote in part, “(I)t would have been nice for Mr. Fink to admit that his focus on net zero was for many years a distraction from the hard work of developing a growth-enhancing plan to address climate change.”
NEED ELBOW ROOM?
The Space Planning Team of the School of Arts and Sciences and the Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences is excited to announce the launch of the new Space Planning Web Portal, designed to simplify and streamline your interactions with the team.
This centralized platform allows faculty and staff to submit a variety of space-related requests — from additional space needs and renovation projects to furniture requests.
The portal offers a transparent, organized approach to managing space resources, making it easier for you to track the progress of your requests, view key milestones, and receive updates every step of the way. Each form is tailored to capture all essential details, ensuring that requests are processed efficiently and effectively.
The Space Planning Team believe this portal will enhance collaboration, reduce response times, and empower faculty and staff to better utilize the University’s space resources.
BLACKBOARD ULTRA 1-ON-1
The School of Arts and Sciences will transition from Blackboard Original Courses to Blackboard Ultra Courses in January 2025 — and there are lots of resources to bring faculty up to speed.
If you’re a faculty member and you’ve been thinking about your spring course but are unsure how to move it to Ultra, book a 1-on-1 session with the instruction design/technology team.
Sessions are available on Zoom and in person in Rush Rhees Library. Schedule a session here.
GOT NEWS TO SHARE?
Send your SAS In Focus news tips to SAS Senior Communications Officer David Andreatta at david.andreatta@rochester.edu. Tell him about research, awards, publications, symposiums, and whatever other news you think is fit to print. Be sure to put “SAS In Focus” in the subject heading.
