1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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Transylvania’s Shakesweek includes two free public performances April 25 and 26

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Cast of Cincinnati Shakespeare Company’s “Macbeth” LEXINGTON, Ky.—Several Transylvania University student groups are partnering for Shakesweek, a three-day festival of events celebrating the birthday of William Shakespeare. Included in the events are two free public performances, on April 25 and 26. On Thursday, April 25, at 5:30 p.m., the Cincinnati Shakespeare Company will present a post-apocalypse style version of “Macbeth” on the lawn of Old Morrison, Transylvania’s administration building on Third Street. The actors will offer a question and answer session following the performance and there will be blanket space and chairs for audience members. On Friday, April 26, at 5:30 p.m., there will be “A Night of Shakespeare Scenes and Music,” in Old Morrison chapel featuring scenes from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “Julius Caesar” and “Henry V” performed by students in The Transylvania Theatre Guild. The student band The Cowgill Tippers and Transylvania’s a cappella group, TBA, will perform pieces based on Shakespeare’s works. “This event initially came about because people from the English and theater departments had been talking about how we should collaborate more often, since we’re often studying the same works from different points of view,” said senior Elizabeth Davis, president of Sigma Tau Delta English honorary and organizer of Shakesweek. “What author could be more interdisciplinary than Shakespeare?” Other activities for students during Shakesweek include a screening of the 1999 film “10 Things I Hate About You,” which is based on Shakespeare’s “The Taming of

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Transylvania wins AIKCU’s annual “Battle of the Bumpers” contest for fifth year running

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—With the help of alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents and friends, Transylvania University is once again the winner in the Association of Independent Kentucky Colleges and Universities (AIKCU) “Battle of the Bumpers.” Transylvania beat out the other 19 AIKCU campuses to put the most campus license plates on Kentucky highways and the most dollars in the school’s general scholarship fund. Transylvania’s efforts helped increase their total sales to 901 in 2012, an increase of 49 license plates over 2011. Ten dollars from the sale of each plate is returned directly to the school’s general scholarship fund, translating into $9,010 for student scholarships at Transylvania. Overall, sales of Kentucky Independent Higher Education plates raised more than $47,900 for student scholarships in 2012. “In the last two years, we’ve increased our license plate sales and renewals by 36 percent,” said John Davis, director of annual giving. “Even though I’m thrilled about this accomplishment, the students are the ultimate winners. Thank you to all of our alumni and friends for their generous support.” The Kentucky Independent Higher Education series plates took to the roads in 2002. Each independent college and university had its own plate, but they all shared a common design theme. Thanks to advances in license plate printing technology and some changes in state regulations, AIKCU members were able to work with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet to redesign their plates in late 2007. The new plates went on sale in

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Transylvania professor receives distinguished fellowship

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania University philosophy professor Peter Fosl has been named the first recipient of the David Hume Fellowship at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH) at the University of Edinburgh in Scotland. From September 2013 until February 2014, he’ll pursue his own research at the university, present his findings, and engage with other international scholars in the university’s academic community. The fellowship was established as part of the university’s year-long celebration of the tercentenary of the birth of David Hume (April 22, 1711). Applications were accepted from Hume scholars around the world. “The appointment as David Hume Fellow with the IASH is a dream come true for me,” said Fosl.  “Students at Transylvania know that Hume is an intellectual hero of mine, and they endure sitting beneath a rather large portrait of him I’ve hung in our principal philosophy classroom—a copy of the portrait that hangs in the National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh. It’s dizzying to think I’ll be working among some of the world’s best philosophers in the town where he lived and the university he attended.” Fosl studied at the University of Edinburgh once before, as a Fulbright student working on his dissertation in 1990-91. He received the more recent fellowship on the strength of his research titled “The Promise of Philosophy: Skepticism and Naturalism in Hume.” “It’s a perfect circle to my intellectual career,” Fosl added. “A number of Transylvania students have recently enrolled

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Transylvania’s A. B. “Happy” Chandler was commissioner of Major League Baseball when Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — On April 15, 1947, Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball when he started at first base for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Transylvania’s own Albert B. “Happy” Chandler (class of 1921), the commissioner of baseball, had approved Robinson’s contract with the Dodgers to set the stage for the landmark event. Robinson went on to become the National League Rookie of the Year and member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The recently released film “42” chronicles Robinson’s struggles as a baseball pioneer who becomes a national icon.   In 1985, Chandler discussed the reasoning behind his decision in this interview. He argued that young Americans who had risked their lives on the front lines during World War II should not be denied the opportunity to play the nation’s pastime. With his mind made up, he had the courage to overrule the recent vote of the Major League owners, who wanted to deny African-Americans a place in their sport. While at Transylvania, Chandler played three sports-he was captain of the baseball and basketball teams and the quarterback for the football team-and briefly pursued a professional baseball career. He instead decided to attend law school and launch a political career. He eventually served as Kentucky’s senator and governor (twice). Chandler was elected posthumously to Transylvania’s Pioneer Hall of Fame in 2012. Photo: Commissioner of Baseball A.B. “Happy” Chandler shakes hands with Jackie Robinson at the 1949 World

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Transylvania announces Margo Buchanan as director of “Pippin”

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Actress, director and playwright Margo Buchanan has been selected to direct Transylvania University’s production of the Broadway musical “Pippin.” Sully White, Transylvania’s theater program director, will produce the show, which will be presented by the university’s theater and music programs May 16-19. “I have a deep affection for ‘Pippin,’” Buchanan said. “I had the vinyl record when I was a kid and I wore the grooves out. But, it has been an eye-opener getting to know this musical again as an adult.” Buchanan has taught professionals, college students and children in Chicago and Kentucky. In Chicago, she learned sign language, taught acting at The Center on Deafness and won grants to teach acting to deaf children in the city schools. These experiences led to her 1994 appearance in the feature film “Miracle on 34th Street,” where she interpreted for and acted with Lord Richard Attenborough. White said she was taught by Buchanan as part of the Lexington Shakespeare Institute’s summer program and knew that Buchanan would be a great fit to direct “Pippin.” “I have seen several things Margo has directed, and I trust her implicitly. She will be good with our students,” White said. Although Buchanan has directed non-traditional musicals and light operas, she says this musical is a whole new experience. “As I delve into ‘Pippin’ it seems less and less traditional,” Buchanan said. “It’s format and structure is that of a Broadway musical, but the story

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