Week of April 20, 2025 in UCIS

Monday, April 21

(All day) Conference
Protest and Dissent: Cultureal and Political Resistance in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine
Location:
Humanities Center
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center and Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs along with Department of Communiction, Film and Media Studies, Humanities Center, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, Arts and Sciences Dean's Office, Gender, Sexuality, and Women's studies program, Carnegie Mellon Department of Modern Languages and The RIMA Course Development Fund
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This international conference will discuss the various forms of protest in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, with a particular focus on forms of protest in art and media. All forums will take place in the Humanities Center, followed by a screening of The Accidental President (dir. Mike Lerner and Martin Herring, 2024) in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium.

9:00 am Conference
Documenting Cultural and Social Protests and Resistance: Focus on Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine
Location:
Humanities Center, Cathedral of Learning
Sponsored by:
Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub and Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs along with Department of Slavic Languages & Literatures; Office of the Dean of Arts & Sciences; Film and Media Studies Program and Humanities Center
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Join us for the international conference “Protest and Dissent: Cultural and Political Resistance in Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine” on April 21, 2025, at the Humanities Center, the University of Pittsburgh, with a Zoom option available. The program features leading scholars from Bard College, Brown University, Fordham University, Indiana University Bloomington, University of California Santa Barbara, University of Pittsburgh, and Yale University. This event brings together scholars and community members to explore how culture shapes resistance across borders.

The conference will conclude with a screening of The Accidental President (Mike Lerner, Martin Herring, 2024), a powerful documentary about the personal and political journey of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the president-elect of Belarus. Join us on Monday, April 21, 2025, from 6:30 to 9:00 p.m. for the film, followed by a virtual discussion with the filmmakers, with an introduction and Q&A moderated by Andrei Kureichyk (Yale University).

3:00 pm Cultural Event
LING008 Discussion
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Hub along with Department of Linguistics
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Stop by the Global Hub to meet students from Pitt's English Language Institute as the Pitt community wraps up the academic year in the Global Hub together!

Tuesday, April 22

2:30 pm Information Session
Spring 2025 Global Distinction Drop-In Hours
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center, Global Hub, Nationality Rooms and Intercultural Exchange Programs, Office of International Services and Global Experiences Office
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Attention: Undergraduate students! Are you looking to gain experience that will help prepare you for a globally-connected job market? Stop by Drop-In Hours to learn more about getting the Global Distinction added to your academic transcript, receiving special recognition at graduation, and standing out to prospective employers!

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
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Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

The French Club will meet twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, during Spring 2025, EXCEPT on January 22, February 5, March 4, and March 5.

Wednesday, April 23

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
French Conversation Hour
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
European Studies Center and Global Hub along with French Club
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Join the French Club on Tuesdays and Wednesdays during Spring semester for conversational meetings and to practice French speaking and listening skills and create a francophone community on campus!

The French Club will meet twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, during Spring 2025, EXCEPT on January 22, February 5, March 4, and March 5.

Thursday, April 24

12:00 pm Cultural Event
LET YOUR BRUSH SPEAK: Contribute to the “Threads of Us” Mural
Location:
Global Hub (1st Fl, Posvar)
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center and Global Hub
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Join the Global Studies Center’s PiNTS (Pittsburgh Network for Threatened Scholars) Haifa Subay for a distinctive collaborative art initiative! We invite you to contribute to the creation of the "Threads of Us" mural — a collective artistic endeavor that explores themes of diversity, cultural expression, and shared humanity. This mural serves as a visual representation of how individual identities are interconnected, highlighting the global interdependence that binds us together while celebrating the richness of our unique backgrounds. Through this project, we aim to foster an inclusive environment that reflects the values of unity and mutual respect within the broader context of global studies.
To participate, select an open space on the canvas and express yourself through art. You can contribute a symbol that represents your identity or cultural heritage; write a word in your native language that embodies hope, love, or belonging; create a shape, color pattern, or abstract design that reflects your personal feelings or experiences; or simply let the colors flow — your unique touch is what makes this mural special. All materials, including paints, brushes, and colored pens, will be provided. We encourage you to embrace your creativity and add to this shared visual expression. Every contribution, no matter how small, is a vital part of this collective artwork.

Please Note: We ask participants to refrain from using national flags or political symbols. This mural is designed to be a safe, inclusive space for individuals of all backgrounds.

6:00 pm Teacher Training
Global Issues through Literature: Global Labor (Session 3)
Sponsored by:
Global Studies Center
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This reading group for K-16 educators explores literary texts from a global perspective. Content specialists present the work and its context, and participants brainstorm innovative pedagogical practices for incorporating the text and its themes into the curriculum. The Session 3 book is City of Saints and Thieves by Natalie Anderson.

Friday, April 25

12:21 pm Cultural Event
Global Perspectives Workshop at Environmental Charter High School
Sponsored by:
Asian Studies Center, Center for Ethnic Studies Research, Center for African Studies, Center for Latin American Studies, Center for Russian East European and Eurasian Studies, European Studies Center, Global Studies Center and UCIS Engagement
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The Center for African Studies (CAS), in collaboration with five other Title VI centers under the University Center for International Studies (UCIS), coordinated a dynamic in-school workshop program for 187 students at Environmental Charter High School. Themed “Global Perspectives: Exploring Traditions, Celebrations, and Cultural Understanding,” the event featured five interactive, concurrent sessions, each offered twice to allow students to engage with multiple cultural experiences.

The Center for African Studies led an immersive session on African languages, culture, music, and dance. Students learned greetings in various African languages, explored cultural traditions, and participated in vibrant African dance activities. The session encouraged cultural pride, active participation, and a deeper appreciation for Africa’s rich heritage.

4:00 pm Student Club Activity
Swahili Level 2 Conversation
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Center for African Studies and Global Hub along with Less-Commonly-Taught-Languages Center
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Swahili Level 2 students: Join Swahili instructor Faraja Ngogo on Fridays at 4-5 pm in the Global Hub to practice Swahili.

6:00 pm Student Club Activity
Addverse
Location:
Global Hub
Sponsored by:
Global Hub along with Addverse Poesia
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Join Addverse, a transcultural, multilingual, and intergenerational poetry organization, for weekly meetings in the Global Hub.

Addverse will meet weekly, on Fridays, during Spring 2025, EXCEPT on January 24 and March 7.