Actress and scholar Ruth Levin will join in a round table discussion titled "Europe en Miniature at the Margins." Focusing on a "Europe en miniature" at the "eastern-most border" of "Europe"--a region of "books and people," as the poet Paul Celan called it--is a region that is home to Austro-German, Jewish, Romanian, and Ukrainian cultures and has produced many poets who were fluent in several languages.

For centuries the area of today’s Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania has been shaped by different national and ethnic groups. This symposium will examine the (re)imagining and (re)interpreting of spaces, symbols and sites in the of Baltic region from the 19th to the 21st century. Presenters will address historical difficulties with “mapping” this multi-ethnic region as well as current issues connected with the region’s recent history after the dissolution of the Soviet Union.

Thursday, October 9, 2014 (Alcoa Room, Pitt School of Law, 2nd floor)

How strong is the bond between men united by the call to arms? Eight young Irishmen, thrown together for army training during the Great War, must move beyond the troubles between Protestant and Catholic as they prepare for the Battle of the Somme. Frank McGuinness' lyrical play captures the fierce friendship and loyalty among men who must face the wickedness and wastefulness of war. The effects of WWI, launched almost 100 years ago to the day, still haunt our headlines. This is a timeless story, appropriate for ages 12+.

The Turkish Nationality Room Committee is hosting a concert featuring the group NEOTOLIA, which will begin with a meet and greet reception with refreshments at 6 pm, followed by the concert at 6:30 pm. The proceeds of the concert will help fund the Turkish Room Summer Study Abroad Scholarship. Tickets are $25 per person, $10 for students, and additional donations to the scholarship fund will be accepted.

For the last decade there has been wide debate on European Union (EU) as a normative power actor in international politics. Visiting scholar Işık Kuşçu contributes to this debate by analyzing the impact of the EU in Kazakhstan in the field of human rights. As one of the former Soviet republics in Central Asia, Kazakhstan has emerged as an actor with a desire to win the recognition of the West as a modern, progressive power in the region. While the EU`s engagement in Central Asia does not have a long history, it considers Kazakhstan an important partner in the region.

Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness

Directed by Matt Torney

A Pittsburgh Premiere

Mr. Laurent Sierro has covered events in East and West Europe and the Middle East for ten years, most recently for the Swiss National News Agency. He will lead a discussion on the how changes in Europe and the nature of reporting have affected modern journalism.

Ruth Levin's concert is devoted to Yiddish art songs and poems written by Jewish poets from the Bukowina, Poland, Romania, and Russia. For the past ten years, Levin worked together with Alexei Belousov, a Russian-Jewish classical guitar concert artist in order to create a special program.

Mark your calendars! The EUCE/ESC invites students, faculty, and friends of the Center to join us at our opening reception in 4130 Posvar Hall. Learn about this year’s full schedule of events, new courses, faculty and students, and meet this year’s visitors while enjoying some light refreshments.