Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival, Oct 21-24


The Philadelphia Asian American Film Festival (PAAFF) is making its annual comeback from October 21st-24th!
The PAAFF is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Asian American film and filmmakers throughout the Philadelphia region and educating and exposing the region on films about Asian Americans through an annual film festival.
Tickets are usually well under $10, and the schedule for all film schedules can be found here:http://phillyasian.bside.com/2010/schedule/week.
If you are looking for opportunities to volunteer at the festival, you are strongly encouraged to attend avolunteer session this Saturday, October 9th at the Asian Arts Initiative (1219 Vine Street, Philadelphia). You will receive more information on how to get involved.
Some of the upcoming events:
  1. PAAFF 2010 Official Launch Party partnered with DNA Nightlife at G Lounge (111 South 11thStreet) on October 8th 10:00 P.M. – October 9th 2:00 A.M. Event for 21+ only (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131049333611999&index=1#!/event.php?eid=113408655386916&index=1)
  2. PAAFF 2010: Perspectives on Asian American Identity on Penn’s Campus, International House (3701 Chestnut Street) on October 21 5:30 P.M. – 7:00 P.M. (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=131049333611999&index=1) 
  3. PAAFF 2010: Opening Night Film – Colin Hearts Kay at Ibrahim Theater at the International House (3701 Chestnut Street) on October 21st 7:30 P.M. – 9:30 P.M. with a Free After Party (http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=137890809590547&index=1)

Check out the PAAFF website (http://www.phillyasianfilmfest.org/) or join the Facebook group (http://www.facebook.com/#!/PAAFF?v=wall.) for more information.

Korean Arts Festival at Haverford, Oct. 4 - Dec. 10


Haverford has organized a Korean Arts Festival from October 4th through December 10th. Attendance in these events may further encourage a Korean studies and Korean language program for Bryn Mawr and Haverford students in the near future, so we strongly encourage you to make an appearance!

Here are the following events:
 
1. Gods, Demons and Gernerals: Icons of Korean Shamanism, by The Korean Society of New York – Stokes 102 from October 4th until November 19th.
 
2. In and With: Contemporary Korean Art, by Hee Sook Kim (Haverford College Assistant Professor of Printmaking) – Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery from October 22nd until December 10th.
  • The Opening Reception will be held on Friday, October 22nd from 5:30 - 7:30.
3. Korean Music: Then and Now
  • Heungboga: Pansori (one-person opera with percussion accompaniment) – Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, Whitehead Campus Center on Wednesday,October 27th, 3 P.M.
  • Korean Kayageum Music: Pre-concert talk by Hyo-shin Na at 4:30 P.M., Concert by a Kayageum Ensemble at 5 P.M. at Cantor Fitzgerald Gallery, Whitehead Campus Center on Thursday, October 28th.
  • A Collaboration Between Korean and Western Musicians – Marshall Auditorium, Roberts Hall at 7:30 P.M. on Friday, October 29th.
All information regarding the Korean Arts Festival can be found at: http://www.haverford.edu/koreanartsfestival/

HC Alum pledges $7.5 Million for New Dorms!

"Michael B. Kim ’85, through his foundation, the MBK Educational
Foundation, has pledged $7.5 million toward construction of a new
dormitory that will be sited adjacent to, and constructed in tandem
with, another new dorm that received separate funding a year ago.


News of the gift was announced at last weekend's quarterly meeting of
the College’s Board of Managers.  Michael, who lives in Seoul, South
Korea, has been a member of the Board since 2005.

This is a most welcome and important gift for many reasons.  First and
foremost, it reaffirms our commitment to ensuring vibrant student life
at Haverford, and the role of living space in building a strong sense of
community.  Notably, we are not building in order to expand the size of
the student body, but rather because we want to better accommodate the
student body we already have, which has seen dorm living rooms become
bedrooms during the gradual expansion that has taken place since 1978.
The new dorms will also enable us to move many students up from the
Haverford College Apartments and closer to the heart of campus.

Michael was unable to attend the Board meeting, but said in an email,
“The Kim family is delighted to be contributing to the advancement of
the College through the gift of the MBK Educational Foundation.  We are
particularly pleased that the Foundation’s gift will touch the lives of
many students for years to come."   Michael is a founding partner of MBK
Partners, one of Asia’s largest private equity firms.

The College has offered to name the new facility in honor of Michael and
his family. His gift comes a year after another Haverford College
alumnus, Steven Jaharis ’82, made a challenge gift in support of the
other new dorm, to be named in honor of former Haverford president Tom
Tritton.

Groundbreaking for both buildings on what is now the parking lot east of
the Whitehead Campus Center will occur next April.

Student living space emerged as a top priority in a recent survey of
alumni and friends of the College who have expressed interest in
supporting Haverford philanthropically. The College expects that
these and other building projects, along with initiatives relating to
the expansion of faculty and curriculum, will form the core of an
upcoming comprehensive campaign, the general parameters of which the
Board of Managers also approved this weekend.
> Ultimately, a total of 160 students will call the two dorms home
beginning in September 2012.

Concept and design work, which included extensive input from across the
community, was conducted last year and came on the heels of the
College’s comprehensive Master Planning process.  The award-winning
architectural firm of Tod Williams Billie Tsien channeled community
input into an innovative design that takes its cues from Haverford’s
enduring respect for community and the land on which this community
thrives.

As Billie said in a note describing their plans, "The buildings and
landscape work together and free up space so that it can be used to
create larger and more positive social spaces for the students.  A
central open courtyard in each building brings light, air, and a
protected outdoor space for student use.  Student lounges are located on
either side of these courtyards, so when weather permits, large sliding
glass doors can open to connect the inside to the outside.  Light
monitors on the roof bring natural light through shafts to the lower
level, bathrooms and selected student rooms.  In this new complex, the
buildings and the landscape will work together to form a sense of
community that is contained and enhanced by nature.” "

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