Campus News

ROCKFORD, Ill. — Rockford University’s Spring 2017 Forum Series kicks off its first of nine events next week, with this semester’s highlights including a celebration of the 170^th anniversary of the signing of Rockford University’s charter, a visit from artist and activist Che “Rhymefest” Smith, insights from a world-renowned art detective and a presentation by the director of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute.

The forum series is open to the public and, with the exception of performing arts events Orchesis Dance Company Concert, The Great American Trailer Park Musical and A Flea in Her Ear, are free of charge. Lectures and performances will take place on the Rockford University campus, 5050 East State Street, Rockford. Tickets are required for all events and can be obtained by contacting the Rockford University Box Office at 815-226-4100 or boxoffice@rockford.edu.

Action / (Re)action: Orchesis Dance Company in Concert
Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 26-28, 7:30 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

The Rockford University Orchesis Dance Company presents their annual concert of classical and contemporary dance. New works by dance faculty members Amy A. Wright and Mitchell Stolberg include ballet, modern, dance theatre, contemporary jazz, and tap.
Tickets – $12 adults, $9 students and seniors

Sex and the Law: C.L. Lindsay
Tuesday, Jan. 31, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

Attorney, author, and student advocate C.L. Lindsay will explain how the law applies to the more sordid parts of the college experience. Learn the legal aspects of consensual sexual issues, contraception, STDs, public nudity, sexting, stalking, and more.

14 Traits of Leadership: Chris Czarnik
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 3 p.m., Severson Auditorium, Scarborough Hall

Leadership is hard to define but easy to see. This seminar analyzes the fourteen traits that leaders must demonstrate on a daily basis in order for others to follow them and for you to lead your own life. We will also discuss the most common mistakes that new leaders make and how to avoid them. Chris Czarnik is a national career search expert with 12 years of job search counseling and motivational speaking experience. His innovative approach to job search has helped thousands of people land rewarding careers.

The Great American Trailer Park Musical
Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 23-25, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Feb. 26, 2 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

You’ll want to sing along with The Great American Trailer Park Musical, a naughty, bawdy, mischievous, and dysfunctional Florida community set to music. Directed by Jeff Hendry, Professor of Performing Arts.
$12 adults, $9 students and seniors

Charter Day
Monday, Feb. 27, 4 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

The 170th anniversary of the signing of the charter for Rockford University includes an academic procession of faculty in traditional robes depicting their rank, with stoles representing their respective alma maters and degrees. This year’s speaker will be Beloit College President Scott Bierman.

Breaking Down Walls & Building Bridges: Che “Rhymefest” Smith
Tuesday, March 14, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

Che “Rhymefest” Smith discusses how to citizens can use positions of leverage to address issues of police brutality, systematic biases, and lack of services. As a writer, artist, activist, political organizer and teacher, Che has cracked glass ceilings and shattered negative stereotypes about hip-hop. Among other awards, he won a Grammy for co-writing “Jesus Walks” with Kanye West and an Oscar for his work on the song “Glory,” featured in the film Selma.

 Priceless: Robert Wittman
Monday, March 20, 2016, 7 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

Called “the most famous art detective in the world,” Robert Wittman founded the FBI’s National Art Crime Team and served for 20 years as the FBI’s investigative expert in this field. He is responsible for recovering more than $300 million in stolen art and cultural property around the world. Since retiring from the FBI in 2008, he authored the New York Times bestseller Priceless: How I Went Undercover to Rescue The World’s Stolen Treasures. He speaks about his FBI career leading audiences through notorious art heists and incredibly daring undercover recoveries.

Astrobiology: Penelope J. Boston
Thursday, April 6, 4 p.m., Severson Auditorium, Scarborough Hall

Dr. Penelope Boston is the director of NASA’s Astrobiology Institute. Prior to joining NASA, Boston founded and directed the Cave and Karst Studies Program at New Mexico Tech, where she also served as a professor and led their Earth and environmental sciences department as chair. She also served from 2002 to 2016 as associate director of the National Cave and Karst Research Institute, a congressionally mandated institute in Carlsbad, New Mexico.

A Flea in Her Ear
Thursday-Saturday, April 27-29, 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, April 30, 2 p.m., Maddox Theatre, Clark Arts Center

Paranoia, infidelity, and lechery take center stage in raucous bedroom farce A Flea in Her Ear, a hysterical cocktail of chaos that could only have been devised by the master of comic stagecraft, Feydeau. Directed by Deborah Mogford, Performing Arts Chair, Professor of Performing Arts. $12 adults, $9 students and seniors