SAN MARCOS — California State University San Marcos began its annual free Arts & Lectures series this month. Open to the public, the series features 14 special engagements, which include dramatic performances, musical concerts, film screenings, art exhibitions and guest lectures. Topics encompass issues as diverse as border violence against women to the use of “neurofeedback technology” to aid healing.
“The series provides co-curricular discussion for students to further engage in classroom dialogues,” said Christine Vaughan, media spokesperson for the campus. “It’s also free and open to the public, so they can participate in the discussion as well.”
Later this month, the series will coincide with California’s Native American Day. To celebrate, the university will conduct a lecture and film screening of “Ishi: A Story of Dignity, Hope and Courage” Sept. 21.
The documentary chronicles the controversy following the death of California Native American, Ishi – thought to be the last of the Yahi Indians – whose body was subjected to an autopsy against his beliefs. The procedure resulted in the removal and disappearance of his brain, which was reclaimed 83 years later by tribal relations under the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act. For many, Ishi’s story is a testament to Native American perseverance and the struggle to repatriate artifacts sacred to Indian history.
“In 1968, our governor was Ronald Reagan, and he thought California should recognize a day as American Indian day,” said University Tribal Liaison, Tishmall Turner. “Every year, our university celebrates the day to let people know that Native Americans are still around – still contributing to our society. (The film) is a perfect reminder of that,” Turner said.
In October, New York Times best-selling author and journalist Edwin Black, whose books include “IBM and the Holocaust” and “Banking on Baghdad,” will present a lecture based on another of his books, “War Against the Weak,” which investigates the link between Nazi science and American eugenics.
In November, Dr. Nicholas Dogris will discuss how energy can be transferred through the human body to help heal at the molecular and cellular level in his lecture “The Energetic Wave of the Future.”
Provoking thought is just one of the university’s ambitions. For those seeking entertainment, the series will showcase musical performances by the Ritmo Loco Quartet, Bei Bei and The New Earth Ensemble, including a theatrical performance by Dulce Solis.
The series runs through Dec. 6. California State University San Marcos is at 333 S. Twin Oaks Valley Road. For more information, visit csusm.edu.
