Today's Events | Ho Science Center, 101
NAST invites you to the Anthony Aveni Lecture Series with Dr. Victor Montejo.In this talk, Dr. Montejo will focus on the central idea developed in his newly published book Mayalogue: An Interactionist Theory of Indigenous Cultures (SUNY Press, 2021). Indigenous ideas of culture are very complex since they must make reference to their relationships with other living beings on earth. This ancient idea can be used retaken and used once again for explaining Indigenous belief systems in relation to the great connection or trilogy: human-nature-and the supernatural or spiritual world as the conciencia cosmica (cosmic consciousness). For Indigenous people there is a consciousness of belonging to the totality of creation: humans, plants, animals, rivers, mountains, the moon, the sun, the galaxies, and the spiritual world. In other words, this trialogical connection and reciprocity is of great scale that extends to the cosmic dimension for which rituals and ceremonies are necessary for pleasing the Creator. As Dr. Montejo mentions in Mayalogue, interactionism here can be labeled with the Maya term salap, the cross-weaving of threads to produce multicolored patterns of weaving, a metaphor for the diversity of cultures.Dr. Victor Montejo (Jakaltek Maya from Guatemala) is a renowned socio-cultural anthropologist, scholar, novelist, poet, activist, journalist, and important Maya public intellectual, specializing in Mesoamerican Indigenous cultures. Montejo's work integrates discourses on human rights, migration, Indigenous worldviews, and sustainable development. His contributions to understanding indigenous worldviews, such as the Popol Vuh, have been crucial in centering non-Western perspectives in academia through publications, such as Voices from Exile, Maya Intellectual Renaissance, and Mayalogue: An Interactionist Theory of Indigenous Cultures. He served as Guatemala’s Minister of Peace and a congressman, where he championed Indigenous rights, including establishing the National Day of Indigenous People of Guatemala and advancing reparation programs for civil war victims.Montejo also co-founded the American Anthropological Association's Commission for Human Rights, oversaw the implementation of Guatemala's peace accords as Minister of Peace, and continues to advocate for Indigenous self-representation through his leadership in the pan-Maya movement.As a Fulbright Scholar and award-winning writer, Montejo’s efforts have helped bridge Indigenous and Western perspectives and have worked to decolonize scholarship more broadly.

Today's Events | Lathrop Hall, 207
"Brain Sculpting: Creating optimal neural networks and functions with experience-based neuroplasticity" presented by Kelly Lambert, MacEldin Trawick Chair and Professor of Behavioral Neuroscience and 2024-25 Phi Beta Kappa National Visiting Scholar Program.Considering that our brains change from the womb to the tomb, it is critical to understand how life experiences alter neural functions. The ability to change our minds and our brains---known as neuroplasticity---is one of our most valuable "superpowers." A discussion of neuroplasticity research will span from the earliest "enriched environment" rodent studies to current research focusing on tuning brains for optimal functions throughout our lives. Over a half-century of research has identified fascinating neurobiological tools that the brain uses to adapt to our changing worlds. Knowledge that the brain can also change in maladaptive ways serves as a potent reminder that we should be mindful of our brain's experiences throughout our lives. Co-sponsored by Phi Beta Kappa and Mind, Brain, and Behavior Initiative. Reception to follow.

Today's Events | Persson Hall, 27
The Center for Freedom and Western Civilization's Forum on Philosophy and Religion welcomes Sohrab Ahmari, the US editor of UnHerd, for a lecture and discussion on “The Rise and Fall of Anti-Normal Politics” from 4:30-6 p.m. April 3 in Persson Hall Auditorium.Register via Zoom to join the event virtually.Ahmari co-founded Compact magazine, and spent nearly a decade at News Corp., as an editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal opinion pages in New York and London, and as the op-ed editor of the New York Post. His books include Tyranny, Inc.: How Private Power Crushed American Liberty—and What To Do About It (2023) and The Unbroken Thread: Discovering the Wisdom of Tradition in an Age of Chaos (2021), both published by Penguin Random House. His next book, on the triumph of normality, will be published by HarperCollins.

Today's Events | Benton Hall, 213
All juniors interested in applying to law school this upcoming cycle, and all seniors interested in applying post-graduation, are invited to join this session to learn more about the application process and timeline.

Today's Events | The Coop – O'Connor Campus Center, Coop TV Room
Join the leaders of Colgate'e Yes Means Yes program as they guide interested students through an activity to get a glimpse into what the program is like. RSVP to sign up for a time!

Today's Events | Little hall, Golden Auditorium
With producer Alex Coco ’12 in-personThe first American film awarded the Palme d’Or at the Cannes Film Festival since 2011, Anora features a star-making performance by Mikey Madison as Ani, a young Uzbek-American exotic dancer and sex worker from Brighton Beach who is pursued by Ivan (Mark Eydelshteyn), a customer from a wealthy Russian family. The Cinderella story begins to crack when Ivan’s parents catch wind of their marriage and demand that it be annulled, unleashing a series of events that upend the rags-to-riches narrative. The screening will be followed by a discussion with the film’s producer, Colgate alum Alex Coco ’12.Co-sponsored by Colgate Arts Council, Art Department, Theater Department, and the Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies program, with support from LGBTQ+ Initiatives.