1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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Transylvania’s Morlan Gallery to celebrate rural life in photos

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University’s Morlan Gallery this fall will present “Rural Women: Photographs by Maxine Payne,” a powerful collection of 20 silver gelatin portraits with texts compiled from international sites, including the artist’s own rural Arkansas. The exhibition will open Oct. 29 with a reception from 5 to 8 p.m. “Rural Women,” which will run through Dec. 2., will be part of the Lexington Gallery Hop on Nov. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m. Having been raised in rural Arkansas by her grandparents, Payne says she has always been interested in “country” people and spent her career making work that focuses on her experience with residents of rural Arkansas. Payne started the “Rural Women and Globalization Project” in 2006 with anthropologist Anne Goldberg. They have documented the lives of rural women using oral history and photography at five sites: San Luis, Costa Rica; Bagamoyo, Tanzania; Vinh Linh, Vietnam; Douglas, Arizona; Agua Prieta, on the U.S.-Mexico border; and rural Arkansas. The Arkansas Committee of the National Museum of Women selected Payne as the 2013 Scholar Awardee for the Globalization Project. Last month, the Arkansas Committee hosted a reception in honor of her significant contribution to the arts. The ongoing project was the subject of a TEDx talk in February 2014. The Globalization Project was inspired by Payne’s discovery of the photography of Jim and Mancy Massengill. The Massengills worked from 1937 to 1941 as itinerant photographers in rural Arkansas, documenting farmers, young

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Transylvania, Lexington Forum to host mayoral debate Wednesday

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University students will get a first-hand look at the democratic process during a campus mayoral debate co-hosted by the Lexington Forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Carrick Theater. Incumbent Mayor Jim Gray and challenger, former Lexington Police Chief Anthany Beatty, will answer questions submitted by students and Forum members during the event, which LEX18 and WEKU will broadcast live. Gray is vying for his second term in the Nov. 4 general election. The debate host will be LEX18 anchor Nancy Cox, and the moderator will be Tom Martin, Herald-Leader columnist, Transylvania staff member and Forum board member. While each campaign has been provided with a general list of related topics, they were not given specific questions.  “Hosting the mayoral debate on campus demonstrates to our students and our college community the importance of public dialog relating to local issues and the importance of participating in the democratic process,” Transylvania President Seamus Carey said. Molly Sutherland, president of the Lexington Forum, said her group is “all about the healthy discussion and analysis of community and regional issues. We always look for opportunities to host conversations that bring differing points of view into the open. This mayoral debate is a perfect example. And where more appropriate than this campus dedicated to the civic engagement of tomorrow’s leaders?” Doors will close at 6:50 p.m., and the debate will start at 7 sharp. Free tickets are available to members of the Forum

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CAN-DO founder to present Kenan Lecture at Transylvania

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Eric Klein, whose group tackles some of the world’s most critical problems, will give the William R. Kenan Jr. Lecture on Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m. in Transylvania University’s Haggin Auditorium. Klein founded the Compassion into Action Network—Direct Outcome Organization, a non-profit organization that steps up when people face a variety of threats: from natural disasters and environmental degradation to humanitarian crises and educational inequity. Klein started CAN-DO in 2004 after frustration mounted seeing organizations collect millions of dollars in donations without showing results. CAN-DO has since completed hundreds of large-scale disaster and revitalization projects in the United States and around the world with 100 percent accountability and zero red tape. The organization hires local citizens and employs veterans, while giving donors real-time video updates from the field. “Klein and his organization have conducted relief projects both overseas and in the United States, so we saw an opportunity for our students to become involved in his work if they wish,” said psychology professor Meg Upchurch, who coordinates the Kenan Lecture Series. “He was also an intriguing choice because he raises questions about the effectiveness of large philanthropic organizations. Whether the audience members agree or disagree with his stance, he will leave them with something to think about.” In 2008, Klein was awarded a Global Compassion Award at the United Nations for his achievements in international disaster relief efforts and humanitarian aid. He received a Heroes of Haiti award in 2010.

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Transylvania places high in U.S. News & World Report value ranking

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LEXINGTON Ky.—Transylvania University recently received more recognition for offering students one of the best values in the nation. The school placed high in the U.S. News & World Report’s Great Schools, Great Prices list, ranking 35th among U.S. liberal arts colleges for value. “Students and parents want to make sure they are getting a great return on their college investment,” said Brad Goan, vice president for enrollment and dean of admissions. “Value is about cost, but value is also about outcomes. Is it worth it? At Transylvania, we can say with confidence that it is definitely worth it—that a Transylvania education continues to pay dividends over the course of a lifetime.” Ninety-eight percent of Transylvania students receive financial assistance, and the average scholarship and financial aid package slashes the total cost of a Transylvania education by more than half. The Great Schools, Great Prices assessment is based on the U.S. News Best Colleges ranking and the net attendance cost for a student who has an average need-based financial aid level. “The list is one of several college value rankings that confirm what members of the Transylvania community already know,” Goan said. Overall, Transylvania ranked 81 out of the nation’s 249 liberal arts colleges, according to the U.S. News Best Colleges 2015 guidebook. The university also ranks 12th in the nation among liberal arts colleges for the economic value students receive per dollar, according to Washington Monthly’s 2014 Best Bang for

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