For the 11th consecutive year, 糖心logo入口 will celebrate The Gathering from July 14-16 on campus.
The Gathering is an annual three-day symposium on creativity and imagination with performances, lectures, discussions, and workshops. This year鈥檚 event, 鈥淔inding the Better Angels of Our Nature,鈥 will explore ways of finding common ground among bitter rivals. Ideological differences in politics, religion, race, and scientific and cultural issues have deeply divided many Americans and have come to characterize our culture. Participants at The Gathering will explore ways to restore respect and acceptance among people and reconnect with the best ideals of our country.
Featured speakers
Featured speakers at the event will be journalist Mara Liasson; poet, historian, essayist, and commentator Jennifer Michael Hecht; and author Steve McIntosh.
Ms. Liasson,聽a political correspondent for National Public Radio, reports on the White House and Congress and is also a contributor to Fox News. She is well-known for in-depth reporting that gives audiences a balanced view of important news events. She covered the White House during both terms of President Bill Clinton. Ms. Liasson鈥檚 reports can be heard on NPR鈥檚 news magazines聽All Things Considered听补苍诲听Morning Edition. Her presentation at The Gathering will be on Friday, July 14 at 7:30 p.m. in Evans Hall in Hibbard Campus Center.
Ms. Hecht is聽the author of聽Doubt: A History: The Great Doubters and Their Legacy of Innovation from Socrates and Jesus to Thomas Jefferson and Emily Dickinson.聽She has also written聽The End of the Soul: Scientific Modernity, Aetheism, and Anthropology.聽Her best-known volume of poetry is聽Funny. She also has written several journals, including聽A History of Ideas. Ms. Hecht will present on Saturday, July 15 at 9:30 am. in Evans Hall.
Mr. McIntosh is an American author and president of the Institute for Cultural Evolution (ICE) think tank ICE focuses on the cultural foundations of America鈥檚 political dysfunction, working to expand the scope of what people can value. He has written three influential books on the philosophy that explains ICE鈥檚 perspective:聽Integral Consciousness and the Future of Evolution, Evolution鈥檚 Purpose,聽and his most recent,聽The聽Presence of the Infinite. His work explores the intersection of social development, spirituality, and politics. Mr. McIntosh will speak on Friday, July 14 at 1:30 p.m. in Evans Hall.
Panel Discussion
The Gathering will also feature a panel to discussion on the critical topic of climate change. The discussion, which will take place on Sunday, July 16 at 9:15 a.m. in Evans Hall, will feature Bernie McGurl, co-founder and executive director of the Lackawanna River Conservation Association; John Pullo, vice president of corporate development at Gentex Corporation, Simpson; Liska Chan, associate professor of landscape architecture at the University of Oregon; Brian Manning, from Manning Farm Dairy, Dalton; and Dr. Dale Holen, an associate professor of biology at Penn State University Worthington- Scranton campus.
Contact
For a complete list of speakers and schedule of events, or to register, visit or call (570) 945-8510.
