To: students-request@lists.centre.edu
From: jayne.sharman@centre.edu
Good morning, everyone! A number of revisions and additions to the Spring Term 2024 Convocation calendar have recently been made, reflected both on the document and in the descriptions below. These events can also now be found under the Convocations page on CentreNet.
Mark your calendars for these upcoming convocations:
BEES
Tuesday, March 12, 2024 | 7:30pm – Weisiger Theatre (NOT open to the public)
Connect with nature like never before (and possibly never again) as you step into the magical world of bees! In this immersive, life-changing experience, Weisiger Theatre will be temporarily filled with a mysteriously donated megacolony of over 850,000 angry bees trained to fly and attack in formation on command, and you’re invited to interact with them as much as your heart desires! Step in (quickly) and experience raw, unbridled aggression and emotion from nature’s most prolific little pollinators!
Note: Centre College cannot be held legally liable or responsible for any personal damages incurred during the events of this convocation.
P Milly Reads the Weather
Friday, March 22, 2024 | 7:00pm – Newlin Hall (open to the public)
Get ready for an unforgettable night of meteorological memories with everyone’s favorite campus figure! This once in a lifetime opportunity will allow visitors the opportunity to watch President Moreland sit awkwardly on a wooden stool on stage and read local upcoming weather forecasts (Note: Predictions are subject to change) from his phone for upwards of two hours before a mandatory Q&A session! What’s the dewpoint in Salvisa next Friday? The highs and lows throughout Russell County this Thursday? Any chance of rain soon in Lancaster? There’s only one way to find out!
Greek 301
Tuesday, April 2, 2024 | 4:30pm – Young 113 (NOT open to the public)
You’ve done it once, you’ve done it twice, and now it’s back again! Strengthen your ties with your Centre Greek Life community as long-time Danville resident Ioannis Kasselakis sits and complains that nothing in “Greek Life” has anything to do with actual Greece, before presenting an hour-and-fifteen-minute-long Powerpoint about Feta cheese making, delivered entirely in Greek! This informative and global outreach-based event is sponsored by the Centre Greek Life Office and Panhellenic Council, and will include free Baklava samples at the end. Stick around and have a generally confusing time with some great eats!
A History of Convocations Convocation
Thursday, April 4, 2024 | 7:00pm – Newlin Hall (open to the public)
Have you ever been sitting in a Centre convocation event and found yourself wondering “am I here because I legitimately enjoy the content, or because of the tempting promise of sweet, sweet credits?” If so – and we know you have – then this is just the event for you! Delve into the riveting and storied chronology of Centre’s beloved convocation system, with a look back at some of the best and most notorious of all the credit-worthy events throughout the years. The event will then turn its attention to the future of the system, including exciting new changes to come in due time!
Note: In order to sign out of this convocation event and receive the allotted credits, students must correctly answer one comprehension question about every single convocation they’ve attended during their time at Centre upon the conclusion of the event.
Please be sure to take a few moments to review the Beginning of Term Convocation Notes that are attached to this email. In this document you will find information on the Convocation credit policies and procedures as well as Norton Center student ticket information.
For more information, including changes throughout the term, please check the Convocations page on CentreNet; this page should be your main source for updates to the convocation calendar throughout the academic year. You can also follow Centre College Convocations on Facebook and Instagram.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Jayne Sharman
Administrative Assistant
Centre College
600 West Walnut Street
Danville, KY 40422
Student Answers
I had the privilege of interviewing a student who has not only experienced study abroad once, but three times! This student spent a CentreTerm trip in Lake Tahoe, a summer term trip in Italy, and a semester-long trip in the fall in Strasbourg, France. Here are their answers to commonly asked study abroad questions!
Q: How would you compare Centre-term and summer-term experiences abroad with your semester-long trip?
“As expected, this trip was a little bit more than intimidating at first. There were the usual worries about staying in touch with close friends and family back home, becoming homesick after such a long stay, and missing an entire semester of traditional school here at Centre. Although the nervousness still lingered at the three week mark, it is easier to stay in touch and connect with people from back home than you might expect! Homesickness only struck hard around Christmas time near the end of this fall semester trip, but overall the experience was great!”
Q: Is there a certain time frame (fall semester, spring semester, CentreTerm, or summer term) that you would suggest going on if you are feeling nervous?
“One important aspect to keep in mind when selecting study abroad courses is flight coordination! When attending CentreTerm or fall semester courses, students are coming off a break, so they have to coordinate fights with professors. As long as there is strong communication though, professors are typically ready and willing to help, and often provide a flight log. If forced to choose one, I highly recommend summer courses! Not only do summer courses alleviate the stress of fitting a study abroad into your academic schedule, but they also provide you with extra credit!”
Q: How would you describe the language barrier?
“Although this issue may be scary, the language barrier was actually much less prominent than one could expect. The professors plan most of the schedule, so there isn’t usually a lot of struggle when it comes to coordinating plans. However, the language barrier does play a role when going out to eat at restaurants and when talking to tour guides. At restaurants menus are not translated into English, so it is helpful to take a picture and use Google Translate.
There is an added bonus in knowing the language of the country you are visiting, but there is also beauty in struggling! When visiting France, my friends and I didn’t originally know the language. When we would visit cafes, we would point to what we wanted, and once we became regulars the employees began to remember our orders. This even helped us to start learning the language, and by the end we could begin to order ourselves!”
Q: How do you think your experience studying abroad is different from a normal vacation or tourist experience?
“There is a huge difference between the traveler and the tourist mindset. In a tourist mindset, you go and take pictures whenever you visit without understanding the history or significance of where you are. However, Centre courses provide you with the traveler mindset. Professors facilitate meaningful conversations after each visit, making you think deeper about your experience. Although course work can be intimidating, it really is a compliment to the trip. Not only does it give you the chance to better understand where you are, but it also gives you the opportunity to talk about and analyze your experience with your peers!”
Q: What is one thing you would absolutely never leave behind when going abroad?
Adam-Chen Dedman
Adam-Chen Dedman is the Executive Director in the Office of Global Citizenship. His main job is working with institutional partnerships where we have study abroad programs. He also works with faculty members on budgeting and making plans for future strips. Here is an inside look on study abroad, and some advice from an expert!
Q: Why do you think global citizenship and study abroad is so important?
“When studying abroad or away, you are experiencing such a concentrated period of time in a new environment. This time constraint encourages students to make new discoveries everyday. In a new environment, wherever it may be, you encounter people who see the world in a different light, who have different ideas about life, politics, and society. In an increasingly globalizing world like this, there is always an opportunity to experience difference. By experiencing this difference, we become more effective and empathetic, in school, the workplace, and also as people.”
Q: Should students do their own research about the location they are going to?
“Absolutely! It is important not only to research the specific location, but also how that location relates to your goals. Take a look at the location of course, but also the specific courses, institutions, and how these courses and institutions will relate to your goals at Centre.”
Q: Do you have any advice for people who are feeling nervous about studying abroad?
“The best advice is to really think about why you are nervous. Students can be nervous for a number of reasons: being away from home, being on a plane, missing friends, but it is important to understand this before leaving. For example, if you are nervous about being completely independent, look into our programs which involve faculty members. Overall, just make sure that you have a stable support system that you can stay in contact with while abroad.”
Q: How do you prepare for culture shock?
“Cultivate a mindset that is comfortable with ambiguity. Drop any preconceived notions about what the experience should be, and learn that not knowing what’s going on is ok. But it is also smart to have a plan. If something goes wrong, know who you are going to contact. Know who you can contact when things go right and you just need a support system!”
Deadpool is coming to the Marvel Cinematic Universe on July 26th. As a fan of the first two Deadpool films and an enjoyer of Marvel, I was excited when the trailer popped up on my feed. As I watched it, however, I found myself apprehensive of the coming movie’s plot and their approach to previous characters’ growth.
Deadpool’s humor, thankfully, seems as hilarious as ever—a crucial part of the character. His personality is not what concerns me (though if they do change him from the entertaining antihero I’ve always appreciated, I imagine that I won’t be the only person disappointed).
No, my apprehension lies in the depiction of the Time Variance Authority. I was (and am) an avid fan of the LOKI TV series. The TVA experienced a lot of growth in the show, developing from villains into heroes. Are they all good people? No, not at all. Bureaucracy is a pain. However, there was improvement. Yet in the Deadpool & Wolverine trailer, Deadpool is seen fighting with people using Time-sticks, the weapons of the TVA. My worry is that the MCU writers have gone back on the TVA’s improvements and made them into villains again, thus erasing the growth in the LOKI series.
My concerns have a foundation, as well. There were many rumors after Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness that Wanda Maximoff’s character growth in Wandavision was erased due to screenwriters for the movie not watching the TV show or reading its scripts. It would be a shame to retcon what the LOKI series did; it is a critically acclaimed show which won Best Drama Series at the Critics’ Choice Television awards in January of 2024. It developed the character of Loki and the TVA in interesting, compelling ways. I hope that the screenwriters for Deadpool & Wolverine paid attention to what the LOKI show created and ensure its legacy isn’t rewritten or ignored.
I want to have a fun Deadpool movie. All I ask is that, on top of Deadpool’s own characteristics being upheld in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Marvel doesn’t disregard what the LOKI series built.
On a brisk, 34-degree night, 22 brave men and women took to Palisades Trail to hike the loop under the moon in all its glory. The Outdoors club provided headlamps, beanies, as well as hiker’s fuel (Cuties and Trailmix). Initially, the hike was quite intense with a 10 minute incline. The group was boisterous and was quite fun to hike with friends. Towards the middle of the hike, the trail was slightly bumpy and flat. In addition, the group experienced deer sightings and, if the landscape permitted, a pack of coyotes. The scenic spot had a wonderful view of the full moon. Half of the group split to head back to campus and the other half finished the loop. Overall, the hike was a great experience and getaway from the Centre bubble.
The Outdoors club is Centre College’s very own organization to promote active hobbies. Transportation was provided by volunteers in the club. The club’s administrative assistant, first-year Jo Mitchell-Butler, said,”I loved hosting the full moon hike, it was a beautiful experience and I got to know so many new people!“ The next full moon hike will be next month.
The full moon hike activity came after the Outdoors Club and Centre Health Promotion sponsoring an all-expenses-paid-for skip trip at Perfect North Slopes, IN. “I think the outdoors club gives the Centre student body opportunities to get outside and have fun! I’m excited to implement environmental stewardship and increase the accessibility of our events,” said Jo.
For more information regarding upcoming events like this, please consider joining the Centre Outdoors Club!
Welcome to the return of the Roaring 1920s in the 2020s! On February 10th, 2024, the SAC transported Centre students back into the years of prohibition and parties with a Speakeasy-themed fete. When my friends and I donned our best flapper outfits and headed to Old Carnegie, we went with good spirits but few expectations.
However, the moment we arrived at the front doors of Old Carnegie and a sign told us to use the back door instead, we knew we were in for a fun night. After all, what way is there to get into the spirit of secret speakeasies than to sneak into the building it would be held in? It truly seemed like we were circumventing prohibition to have a good time.
The ambience did not end there, though. The SAC had created a fun 1920s environment with signs about Blue being a wanted dog and urging us to vote for an end to prohibition. Jazz music played, food was served, and mocktails—snuck in due to alcohol’s illegality, of course—were given out.
1920s flappers circled the room, speaking as though it were the 1920s. They were fun and friendly and livened up the room whenever people entered. The flappers even gave us a wonderful performance with boas, feathered fans, and drama all the way. I could not keep the grin off my face when I watched them have such a good time.
After the flappers danced, a jazz band came out to perform, and the audience was dragged up to dance. Of course, drag is merely a descriptive word, because as soon as the flappers and your friends were next to you dancing and smiling, all nerves melted away. Several couples were even dancing with spins and dips. Truly, it was a wonderful moment with so much community, connection, and friendship that the everyday lacks.
Those who are dance-shy still had their own entertainment. Throughout the night, students could bet on ten horse races from the 1920s. Winners received raffle tickets to a modern derby, but it was in good fun and added to the atmosphere and energy of the speakeasy, no matter how many coins were lost or won.
Between the hired entertainment, the atmosphere created by students, and the fun made with friends, I know that I enjoyed my time at the SAC created party, and I will be attending more of their events. I encourage more people to do so as well. After all, who wouldn’t want to have more Roaring 20s in the 2020s? We all need some good old-fashioned (and modern) fun.
Last year, the case of Andersen et al v. Stability AI Ltd. was dismissed in front of a federal judge. This class action against generative AI companies claimed that they had used copyrighted material in their AI training databases, without obtaining the consent of the artist, arguing that this constituted an infringement of their copyright.
But what even is generative AI?
It wasn’t that long ago we saw the “AI-powered” craze, with smart furniture and devices claiming that some form of AI ran in the background. If you really wanted, you could even kickstart an AI-powered alarm clock that would choose when to wake you up.
These AI devices were ultimately “predictive” AIs, essentially AIs that utilize sets of data and conditional statements to predict what preexisting pattern or behavior would be most useful. Generative AIs work in a similar fashion, except that they analyze a large database to mirror appropriate patterns. For example, say you tell a generative AI you want an image of a cat. It would then scour its database for any image with the same markers as “cat” before applying all patterns it detects. In this case, it might recognize that under “cat” there are patterns of whiskers, cat ears, and 4 legs. It would then provide you with an image containing all the concepts of what it thinks a “cat” contains.
Ultimately, generative AI uses preexisting data to create outputs based on the conditions requested of it. Alongside predictive AI, generative AI can be used for all sorts of applications. As in the case of artists and writers, there is an immediate threat to many professional job positions. And often the threatening programs are trained on the data these professionals produce.
Generative AI services require mountains of data. For example, ChatGPT is trained on 570 GB of data collected from countless internet sources from web pages to books. The problem is that these training databases often incorporate copyrighted material without the consent of their creators. This means that artists and writers can be sampled without ever knowing, and have their work train a non-human competitor.
To hinder these hulking behemoths of data, Ben Zhao, a professor at the University of Chicago, led a team in the creation of software called “Nightshade”. Nightshade is a tool used by artists to apply small changes to an image that hinder machine-learning models, ultimately causing the models to output useless or incorrect results. This tactic of “data poisoning” intends to prevent software companies from sampling artists’ work in the creation of training databases. However, these data poisoning methods are often an uphill battle. While artists may be poisoning their current works, Midjourney’s founder claimed in a Forbes interview that their software was built on “a hundred million images”. With so much data already incorporated into these technologies, it’s uncertain as to how much of an effect data poisoning can really cause.
Others are taking a stand offline, with the Writers Guild of America winning job security protections against the use of AI by major film studios. However, these advancements against the use of AI are grappling with a wider market that is increasingly invested in generative AI technology. Billions of dollars are being invested into generative AI, with the hope of reducing labor costs and increasing efficiency. And while there are concerns surrounding AI becoming another dot-com bubble, the technology is already here and is already being used.
In the last couple of years, generative AI firms have seen their most threatening legal challenges resolved alongside massive investments. So it seems that, at least for now, the AIs are here to stay. The question that remains: How will these technologies be used, and who will stand to benefit?
]]>When I was looking at the courses for CentreTerm, I saw that there were so many interesting classes offered. Originally, I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do, but after seeing a class titled “Bone Rooms,” I knew I had found my choice. This class had the description, “Practice and Ethics in Skeletal Studies,” which was unlike any other course I had taken. I was only allowed certain classes in high school and I am planning on majoring in English while at Centre, so being able to take a skeletal studies class was an opportunity that I had to cease.
I enjoyed this class so much because the people there were so fun and the teacher was very nice and invested in the teaching material. I also liked being able to touch and label the bones. There were casts, real bones, and even a facial reconstruction project we got to work on. This facial reconstruction project was something that was completely new to me. We all got into pairs and were given casts of skulls, clay, toothpicks, and glass eyes to put in the skull. Because this was a bones class, we had been given the opportunity to identify and learn all of the parts of the skull and what they were called.
Our class got to work in a room full of bones on a group project as well. We were split up to label and arrange all of the bones to help organize and inventory what the school had. This was so cool to me because I didn’t realize how much work went into having this collection in an educational setting and how much care went into getting the bones. It was also very important to have ethically sourced bones and to know what that means. Our class got the chance to come up with ways to more ethically source the materials in the school. After learning a lot about the history of bone research and how bones in museums were sourced, we came to the conclusion that there are so many unethically and wrongfully sourced bones that were also made into casts. Watching videos about the history of anthropologists digging up bones that didn’t belong to them and how deep this past goes, our groups were also able to come up with solutions for the materials our school already has.
Because this was my first CentreTerm, I didn’t know what to expect but the 3 hour class every day was very helpful for me to learn more about anthropology and especially about the history of bone museums and research. After talking with other students about their experience, I realized that we all had fun during the three weeks we spent working hard. Also, since the class was during winter, watching snow fall during presentations and projects was only adding to my experience. The class was able to be inside and warm while taking notes and communicating about what we were observing. I had a great first CentreTerm as a freshman and I am excited to learn more about other opportunities and classes at Centre.
On the eve of Lunar New Year, more than 140 people attended the Lunar New YEar celebration in the Warehouse. The Asian American and Pacific Islander Coalition (AAPIC), Chinese Culture Club (CCC), and Centre Vietnamese Student Association (Centre VSA) came together to host the event. The University of Louisville Vietnamese Student Association (UofL VSA) were invited to attend this celebration in addition to the local Danville community.
Students, family, and friends from multiple counties traveled to this cultural affair and left with an enriched understanding of Lunar New Year: the celebration provided a presentation to describe the importance and meaning of Lunar New Year. Lunar New Year celebrates the arrival of spring and good fortune. Guests also enjoyed food from Pho BC and Oriental House, as well as traditional games such as Mahjong and bau cua tom ca (Vietnamese Gambling). Every student who entered the Warehouse was entered into the prize raffle fashioned in red envelopes to encourage new year fortune. The prizes included a lego set, variety snack box, and Asian face masks.
Decorated with Chinese paper lamps with red and gold accents, the Warehouse was booming with Lunar New Year decor. A glittering photo wall allowed students to take snapshots of this vibrant night. AAPIC co-President, junior Jennifer Vong, said, “I was very shocked and pleased to see an amazing turnout for the Lunar New Year Celebration. I would like to formally thank and shoutout to my amazing AAPIC exec team, VSA, and CCC for their hard work to make this celebration possible. AAPIC has come a long way, as it will turn two years old in a couple weeks, but we look forward to organizing more events for students on campus. Look out for flyers about our upcoming events!”
If you are interested in more information about upcoming events like this, please consider joining AAPIC, CCC, or Centre VSA!
During the chaos following rush week, many Centre students have witnessed the effects of hazing taking hold of their affiliated friends. While hazing has been a long time tradition of college fraternities and sororities, some are starting to wonder if it has gone too far.
In one recent testimony, a junior was walking back to their dorm in Old Quad from the library after a late night study session, and saw a hoard of naked freshmen running towards them in the dark. As a seasoned Centre student, this was not the first time they had witnessed a Flame run in action. No – what alarmed them was what happened when they reached the infamous art piece. One by one, the pledges were seen being raptured up into the trees by a separate group of freshman, crouching on the branches of the nearby trees. The witness, when questioned, stated that the affiliates were wearing fraternity t-shirts and nothing else, but was unwilling to name the group.
According to one DPS officer, these “Greek Tarzans” have come close to being caught multiple times, however no one has been detained as of now. Most victims of the “pledge-nappings” have managed to escape and make their way back to Greek Row with their sanity intact, but when approached, have been reluctant to speak of their experience. One brave Delta was able to tell us that it was “a slanderous experience akin to the removal of the cappuccino machine in Cowan” that left her feeling “worse than the entirety of the sorority house” — 78% of which had recently come down with a nasty strain of the flu.
Another perspective of this issue comes from a concerned Kappa whose roommate was one of the pledges that has yet to descend from the trees of terror. This sister was able to get into contact with her roommate, offering a brief insight into the minds of these tree-dwellers. Allegedly, these pledges have been indoctrinating their victims into a sanctuary above their sacred Flame. She spends her nights singing frat party songs, playing beer pong with acorns and red solo cups, and eating scraps of food out of stolen Deke hats. She told her roommate she has hope that she will one day be able to descend back to campus and rejoin her sisters and Centre community, but for now she is trapped in the web of hazing, desperately trying to learn the Greek alphabet. So far, she’s only missed a weekends worth of parties, though for committed affiliates that can feel like a lifetime.
This conundrum has left students, both affiliated and not, wondering if hazing has gone too far. How far must these pledges go to prove their worth? Where will Centre draw the line as to what counts as “too much?” Running the Flame seems harmless, pledges drinking every day doesn’t have too many adverse effects, and cracking skulls on the concrete while wrestling over a Deke hat can’t be too bad — right? Where do we draw the line?
We’re all part of the Centre community and, Greek or not, we have an obligation to take care of each other. Let’s approach hazing the way we played capture the flag at recess: play for your team and have fun running after your friends, but remember that the kids you see on the field might also be in your class the next day — or have a really cool gaming system they’re willing to share. Either way, stay safe and keep your eyes on those trees. You never know when the next hazing ritual will begin.