Southeastern NEWS Southeastern Louisiana University Public Information Office publicinfo@selu.edu SLU 10880, Hammond, LA 70402 985/549-2341/fax 985-549-2061 Date: 2/25/02 Contact: Christina Chapple 46 PEARL BUCK, CHINA SCHOLARS TO LEAD DISCUSSION OF "THE GOOD EARTH" HAMMOND -- Two renowned scholars of China and author Pearl S. Buck will lead community discussions of Buck's prize-winning novel, "The Good Earth," as Southeastern Louisiana University begins celebrating March as Women's History Month. The classic novel has been the subject of a "community read," sponsored by the Southeastern Women's Center, which organizes the Women's History Month celebration. "The community read is a unifying project for the entire community. This shared reading experience brings people closer together as they find a common ground for discussion," said English professor Carole McAllister, whose women's literature class staged Southeastern's 2001 Women's History Month celebration. McAllister is coordinating this year's events along with College of Basic Studies instructor Susan Johnson, KSLU news director Mary Pirosko, and graduate assistant Pat Williams. "The Good Earth" was chosen for the community read because of Buck's place in literary history as the first American woman to win the Nobel Prize for Literature. "'The Good Earth' also won the Pulitzer Prize," Johnson said. "It is a simple story of life in China, but it deals with all the important roles that women play in society, in the workplace, at home, within the family." Johnson said the community read will culminate with discussions of the book and free lectures by two guest speakers, Xiongya Gao of Southern University-New Orleans and Elizabeth Lipscomb of Randolph Macon Women's College. Gao, an expert on Chinese culture and author of "Pearl S. Buck's Chinese Women Characters," will lecture and lead discussions on March 5 at the Hammond branch of the Tangipahoa Parish Library, 314 E. Thomas, and March 12 at the Hammond Regional Arts Center, 217 East Thomas Street. Both events are scheduled for 10 a.m. Pearl Buck scholar Elizabeth Lipscomb of Randolph Macon Women's College will present a lecture about Buck at 7 p.m. on March 19 at Southeastern's Sims Memorial Library. A discussion session will follow. McAllister said Women's History Month will also include a lively guest and faculty lectures series, an exhibit by Louisiana women artists, and an evening showcasing the talents of women in the performing arts. "Our audiences will learn of the diverse experiences of women -- past and present," she said. "It is a chance for the university to contribute to the community." Speakers include state Rep. Diane Winston of Covington, Father John Pitzer of Holy Ghost Church and 10 Southeastern faculty members. The lectures, which will all take place in Sims Memorial Library on Mondays at noon and Wednesdays and Thursdays at 11 a.m., are: Monday, March 4 Foreign languages professor Margaret Gonzalez-Perez, "Women and Islam." Wednesday, March 6 Donnie Booth, dean of the College of Nursing and Health Sciences, "Women in Health Care: From Dreams to Reality." Thursdays, March 7 Kellen Gilbert, head of the Department of Sociology and Criminal Justice," Women Who Swing with the Apes." Monday, March 11 Bill Robinson, head of the Department of History and Political Science, "Queens, Wives, Heretics, and Traitors: The Royal Women of Tudor England." Wednesday, March 13 Former Fanfare director Harriet Vogt, "Artistic Women Nurturing the Spirit." Thursdays, March 14 Marketing professor Teri Shaffer, "Breaking Through Glass Ceilings and Brick Walls." Monday, March 18 Father John Pitzer, "Holy Women of the Church." Wednesday, March 20 Biology professor Mary White, " A Woman's Place is in the .. LAB!" Thursdays, March 21 Rep. Diane Winston, "Sit It Out or Dance!" Monday, March 25 -- History professor Judith Fai-Podlipnik, "Heroines and Martyrs of the Holocaust." Wednesday, March 27 English professor Jana Schulman, "Uppity and Bloodthirsty Women." Thursdays, March 28 Foreign languages professor Katherine Kolb, "Feisty French Poets." From March 6 to April 12, Clark Hall Gallery will feature an exhibit titled "Real Women: Louisiana Women Artists Working in the Realist Tradition." An artists' reception is scheduled from 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 13, at the gallery. Gallery hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., weekdays. "We can do it! An Evening of Women in the Performing Arts" is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. p.m., March 26 in the dance studio, Room 153, of the Kinesiology and Health Studies Building. The entertainment is directed by Greta Sharp, Carole McAllister and Rebecca Basham. For additional information about Women's History Month, contact McAllister at 985-549-2044. -SLU- Press release available online at www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsp02.html