1780 – The Official Blog of Transylvania University

1780 | The Official Blog of Transylvania University

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Parliamentary Procedure: Two Transylvania students spend winter term as interns to MPs in London

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Even the London fog can’t dampen the spirits of Transylvania juniors Andrew Goff, of Louisville, Ky., and Lindsey Anderson, of Shelbyville, Ky. Participating in the Hansard Scholars Program in London this term, these students are taking a new approach to hands-on learning. Their Mondays are spent as students, taking classes at the London School of Economics. The rest of the week is spent as interns to a Member of Parliament (MP) – their hands on the pulse of British government. Both Goff and Anderson have been thrown amidst exciting action. “Being introduced to the British system and at such a high level has definitely been the most rewarding part of my experience,” Anderson says. “I’ve gotten to see debates in the House of Commons, accompany my MP to talks with constituents, and even help prepare questions for him to ask at meetings of the Justice Select Committee.” Goff, too, has encountered exciting opportunities, including a trip to 10 Downing Street with his MP’s team and a special tour. “Someone on [Prime Minister] Cameron’s staff gave me the tour, and she told me it was the same one they gave to President Obama on his first visit to No. 10,” Goff recalls. “I was honored to get an insider’s glimpse of the rich and storied institution.” Often, the most compelling discoveries occur beyond the study abroad programs. Goff and Anderson, have taken in such incredible sights as the Palace of

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Leading constitutional law scholar to speak at Transylvania April 26; free and open to the public

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Yale University law and political science professor Akhil Reed Amar, one of this era’s most accomplished constitutional law scholars, will deliver Transylvania’s John Marshall Harlan Lecture on Thursday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. in Carrick Theater. The lecture is free and open to the public. Amar, who will speak on “America’s Symbolic Constitution,” is Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale, where he teaches constitutional law in both Yale College and Yale Law School. He earned his B.A., summa cum laude, in 1980 from Yale College and his J.D. in 1984 from Yale Law School, where he served as an editor of The Yale Law Journal. After clerking for Judge Stephen Breyer, U.S. Court of Appeals, 1st Circuit, he joined the Yale faculty in 1985. Amar was named one of the top 20 contemporary U.S. legal thinkers by a Legal Affairs readers’ poll and served as a consultant for the television show “The West Wing.” “We are elated to have Akhil deliver our second John Marshall Harlan lecture,” said Transylvania President R. Owen Williams. “As one of the nation’s truly great constitutional law scholars, he is a perfect fit for this lecture series. In addition to being a prolific writer, he is a remarkably engaging speaker. We are fortunate to have him on campus, and we extend an invitation to our entire community to enjoy this wonderful event.” Amar is co-editor of a leading constitutional law casebook,

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Hunter Hensley to present “Songs and Chants: A Window into the Middle Ages” at Transylvania March 22; free and open to the public

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Hunter Hensley, professor of voice at Eastern Kentucky University, will perform “Songs and Chants: A Window into the Middle Ages,” a program of medieval chant and early French song, at Transylvania University’s Old Morrison chapel Thursday, March 22, at 7:30 p.m. The concert is free and open to the public. The performance will include melodies from the earliest repertoire of ninth century Gregorian chant, through fourteenth century Machaut virelai—songs for dancing.  “The medieval melodies are the foundation of most music performed today,” said Hensley. Hensley recently completed academic recording projects of medieval music for musicologists at University of California Berkeley and Cornell University and has performed at three national musicological conferences in the last year and a half. Featured in the program will be a historic six-stringed Kinnor harp, or cithara, reconstructed and made to Hensley’s specifications by Stanley Caswell of Danville, Ky., in a performance of the twelfth century lamentation, Planctus David, by Peter Abelard (1097-1142). For more information, contact the fine arts office at (859) 233-8141

Liz Carroll Celtic music concert has been rescheduled for April 5; new ticket reservations must be made

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Grammy-nominated fiddler Liz Carroll will give a concert Thursday, April 5, at 7:30 p.m. in Transylvania University’s Carrick Theater. Accompanying Carroll will be Cork-born composer and pianist Cormac McCarthy. Tickets for the World Voices Series Concert are $10. (One free ticket with a Transylvania ID). The concert has been rescheduled, after tornado warnings on March 2 prompted the postponement of the show. Ticket reservations for the March 2 show are void and those wishing to attend the concert must make new reservations by calling (859) 233-8141.  Carroll began composing music as a child and has performed with artists ranging from violinist Yehudi Menuhin to rocker Don Henley. “Liz Carroll has amazed audiences around the world and we are thrilled to have her perform at Transylvania,” said Larry Barnes, professor of music and director of the World Voices Series. “She is a recognized master of the Celtic fiddle and all who come to hear her are in for a real treat.” In April 2011, Carroll was awarded the Cumadóir TG4, becoming the first American-born composer to be honored with Ireland’s most significant traditional music prize. Irish Echo, the largest circulation Irish American weekly newspaper, calls Carroll’s playing “nothing less than breathtaking,” and a concert review from The New York Times declares Carroll “Brilliant…She does more than run through her finger twisting reels and sustained slow airs. She—and her listeners—continually rediscover each melody.” McCarthy, originally from Cork, Ireland, lives in Chicago.

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Transylvania speech and debate team wins numerous awards at Kentucky Forensics Association State Championship

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LEXINGTON, Ky.—Transylvania’s speech and debate team walked away from the recent Kentucky Forensics Association State Championship with numerous awards. The team was named state small school champion in individual events and placed third overall in the combined speech and debate division and second among small schools in debate. In the debate competition, Bryan Dickman, of Williamsburg, Ky., and Ian Smith, of Lawrenceburg, Ky., were quarter-finalists and Smith also placed first in the open speaker category. In the novice speaker category, Taylor Deaton, of Richmond, Ky., placed second, Rebecca Radcliffe, of Lawrenceburg, Ky., placed fourth and Weylin Gilbert, of Russellville, Ky., placed eighth. The results for the individual events were: Radio broadcasting: Deaton placed first and top novice, Smith placed second and Radcliffe placed fourth. Editorial impromptu: Radcliffe was top novice and Smith placed third. Impromptu speaking: Deaton placed fourth and was top novice and Dickman placed sixth. Extemporaneous speaking: Dickman placed sixth, Taylor placed seventh and was top novice, Radcliffe placed eighth and Smith placed ninth. Finally, Deaton placed sixth and was top novice in the quadrathon, the top performers in the individual part of the tournament who were entered in four or more individual events. The team is coached by writing, rhetoric and communication instructor Gary Deaton and director of debate Clint Jones ’05. Raven Mineo ’11 and Leigh Ann Jordan ‘94 serve as alumni coaches.