LEWISTON — George Mitchell, the former U.S. senator who served as President Obama’s special envoy for Middle East peace until last spring, will deliver the keynote address during a weeklong celebration of international and interdisciplinary education at Bates College.
Mitchell will speak at 5:15 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 27, in the Bates College Chapel, 275 College St. His talk follows the dedication of two buildings recently renovated by the college into academic facilities.
During the 4:30 p.m. dedication, Paul Marks, chairman and CEO of the aerospace materials maker Argosy International Inc., will offer remarks about living as a global citizen. Mitchell’s talk and the dedication of Hedge and Roger Williams halls culminate “Open to the World: Bates Celebrates Unbounded Learning,” the Oct. 24-28 series of events.
The week’s speakers also include Gary Hirshberg, “CE-Yo” of yogurt maker Stonyfield Farm. For more information, contact 786-6336 or arichard@bates.edu.
Events confirmed to date are as follows:
Monday, Oct. 24: Bates observes United Nations Day.
Tuesday, Oct. 25: “Translations: Bates International Poetry Festival” opens with a 4 p.m. welcome, readings by international poets at 4:45 accompanied by English translations, and an evening reception at 6, all in Chase Hall Lounge, 56 Campus Ave. This five-day event includes poets from around the world presenting their work, with translations created by Bates faculty and students; and a conference on the art and practice of translation. For more information, contact gdumais@bates.edu or 786-8293.
Wednesday, Oct. 26: At 6 p.m. is a screening of “Food, Inc.,” the Academy Award-nominated documentary exposing the corporate-controlled, industrialized underside of American food production. Following the screening at 7:30 p.m., Hirshberg, a prominent figure in Robert Kenner’s 2008 film, offers remarks. Olin Arts Center Concert Hall, 75 Russell St.
Thursday, Oct. 27: Hedge and Roger Williams halls are rededicated at 4:30, followed by Mitchell’s keynote. The keynote will be simulcast in Perry Atrium, Pettengill Hall, 4 Andrews Road. A reception in the atrium follows.
Friday, Oct. 28: In “Global Possibilities,” five young Bates alums discuss their experiences with initiatives that have both local and global consequences, at 4 p.m. in the Keck Classroom (G52), Pettengill Hall.
Built in the 1890s and having served varied roles, Hedge and Roger Williams halls have been renovated into state-of-the-art academic buildings that house Bates’ foreign language programs, language resource center and study abroad program (Roger Williams); and the environmental studies, religious studies and philosophy faculties (Hedge).
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