Monday Morning Update

October 04, 2010

Sex in the Bible: Provocative, entertaining and enlightening, Professor Michael Coogan's new book God and Sex: What the Bible Really Says is now in bookstores. In the book, Coogan looks at the Bible's stance on divorce, same sex relationships, lust, adultery, marriage and other hot issues. He also explores the language and social world of the Bible, showing how much innuendo and euphemism is at play, and how sexuality figures in the lives of many biblical figures. We have signed copies of the book for the first three readers who can name the two-hour PBS special in which Coogan was featured in 2008. Call 508-565-1070 or email mmcgovern@stonehill.edu

Alcohol Use: As the Alcohol Task Force (ATF) explores how to address student alcohol abuse, it has learned that, according to a 2009 survey of Stonehill students, 89% do not believe that alcohol use diminishes their academic performance. Moreover, 76% do not believe that it hurts their health. The reality is that a host of issues - missed classes, poor test results, memory loss, bad decisions, injuries and sexual assaults - stem from the abuse of alcohol. Developing strategies to help students correct these dangerous misperceptions and to empower them toward moderation and maturity is an ATF priority. For more on the work of the ATF, visit here.

Catholic-Jewish Dialogue: Scholar Dr. Mary Boys will be the guest speaker at the Kenneally Lecture on Wednesday in the Martin Institute. Her presentation Razing the Stumbling Block: Telling Our Sacred Story More Responsibly will focus on the story of the death and resurrection of Jesus and how its telling has shaped Jewish-Christian relations. Boys is the Skinner & McAlpin Professor of Practical Theology at the Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Sponsored by Stonehill's Catholic-Jewish Dialogue Committee, the lecture will begin at 7:30 p.m. For more, visit here.

Decisions: On Thursday at 6 p.m., author Jonah Lehrer will discuss his book How We Decide at this year's Common Intellectual Experience lecture inside the Sally Blair Ames Sports Complex. Over the summer, the Class of 2014 read Lehrer's best-selling book, in which he uses the unexpected discoveries of neuroscience to help readers make better decisions. For more, visit here.

Debates: The Martin Institute will be the host site of two state election debates in October. On Monday the 18th, State Auditor candidates Mary Connaughton (Republican) and Suzanne Bump (Democrat) will square off while on Monday the 25th, State Treasurer nominees Karyn Polito (Republican) and Steve Grossman (Democrat) will face-off for the last time before the November 2 election. The debates, both scheduled for 7 p.m., are co-sponsored by the Martin Institute, GateHouse Media, and WCVB-TV.

Photo Op: Studio Arts Professor Adam Lampton's exhibit of photos he took on a Fulbright-funded trip to Macao was reviewed in Art in America Magazine. To read the review, visit here.

Contact

For more information, contact Communications and Media Relations at 508-565-1321.