Hofstra being Neighborly

There are many arms of the University that serve the public good. Listed below are additional programs and areas of the University that present free or lowcost events and services for the public.

The Hofstra Arboretum provides a peaceful and colorful outdoor environment for members of the campus community and guests. In 1985 the Arboretum became a member of the prestigious American Public Gardens Association. The University also hosts the annual Hofstra Arboretum Flower & Garden Show, the largest flower and garden show on Long Island. The next one is scheduled for September 29 and 30, 2007. Visit www.hofstra.edu/FlowerShow for more information.

The Cultural Center (HCC) schedules hundreds of concerts, lectures, conferences and symposia every academic year, including the Presidential Conference Series and conferences on Frank Sinatra, John Steinbeck and F. Scott Fitzgerald. Many of these programs are free or charge very nominal admission fees. HCC also produces a calendar each semester that is inclusive of almost every event presented on campus. Visit www.hofstra.edu/Culture for related information and upcoming events.

The Dutch, Irish and Italian Festivals feature a wide array of food, crafts and live entertainment. The Dutch Festival is scheduled for May 6, 2007. Visit www.hofstra.edu/Festivals.

The Departments of Drama and Dance and Music present performances that are open to the public at very nominal ticket prices. Additionally, since 1951 the Department of Drama and Dance has hosted the Shakespeare Festival High School Competition, where students from Long Island and Queens present scenes from Shakespearean plays and compete for “Best Scene,” “Best Actor” and “Best Actress” honors. The Music Department presents a Middle School Honors Band Festival that invites seventh graders from Long Island middle schools to perform alongside students in the Hofstra Symphonic Band.

Hofstra Entertainment (formerly Hofstra USA Productions) is an on-campus production company that has provided unique and thought-provoking theatrical productions and related presentations for more than 30 years. Visit www.hofstra.edu/HofstraEntertainment for information on current and past seasons.

Great Writers, Great Readings is a program presented by the English Department, specifically the Creative Writing program. The series, which is free and open to the public, brings to campus award-winning authors, poets, essayists, and playwrights who participate in master classes with students and then present readings of their work. Past participants include Edward P. Jones, Haruki Murakami, John McPhee and Sharon Olds. Visit www.hofstra.edu/GWGR for details and upcoming readings.

The Hofstra University Summer Science Research Program (HUSSRP) offers selected research-oriented high school students the opportunity to work with Hofstra science faculty during the summer in an on campus research program. Two Long Island high school students who participated in HUSSRP in 2006 were selected as 2007 Intel Science Talent Search semifinalists.

The Institute for the Development of Education in the Advanced Sciences (IDEAS), which operates out of the School of Education and Allied Human Services, presents professional development workshops for educators and free lectures for the public every semester. IDEAS focuses on cutting-edge issues in science and technology and seeks to create public visibility and enhanced understanding of advances in science and technology. Recent lectures featured topics such as global warming, Internet safety and treatments for Alzheimer’s disease. Visit www.hofstra.edu/IDEAS for information on future events.

Hofstra Law School’s Clinics began more than 30 years ago in a second-floor walk-up above a fish store in the heart of Hempstead. Hofstra was one of the first law schools in the country to open a clinic, and by the late 1970s had one of the largest clinical programs in the nation. In 1977 the clinic moved to its current site in Joan Axinn Hall. The clinical mission, however, remains the same: teaching students lawyering skills and analytic methods through the provision of quality legal representation to clients in need. Visit www.hofstra.edu/Law for more information.

The Hofstra University Museum, open to the public at no charge, is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is dedicated to furthering the understanding and enjoyment of the visual arts. There are three main galleries: Emily Lowe Gallery, the Lowenfeld Conference and Exhibition Hall, and the David Filderman Gallery. There is also an extensive array of outdoor sculptures. Visit www.hofstra.edu/Museum for information on future exhibitions.

The School of Communication’s Association for Women in Communications regularly participates in V-Day, a global movement to end violence against women and girls. As part of V-Day activities, the group presents Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues. Ticket sales each year benefit the Nassau County Coalition Against Domestic Violence and Voices of Women Organizing Project.

The School of Education and Allied Human Services annually sponsors or co-sponsors approximately 50 professional development conferences for teachers, school administrators and other professionals who work with K-12 students. Topics deal with some of the most important issues facing adolescents, teachers and schools. Among those are gang violence, students with disabilities, legal issues in the schools, social and emotional literacy, technology in the classroom and promoting student leadership. For a complete listing of events visit www.hofstra.edu and in the search box type School of Education Conferences.

Also within the School of Education and Allied Human Services is the Liberty Partnerships Program (LPP), a collaborative program that provides 9th-12th grade at-risk students with a broad range of services designed to increase their motivation and ability to complete secondary school and seek entry into post-secondary education and meaningful employment.

The Stars on Sundays series, hosted by the Department of Physics and Astronomy, welcomes guests to the Hofstra Observatory where they can use University equipment for star-gazing while learning about the universe from astronomy faculty. The Hofstra Observatory is a rooftop facility that includes Celestron telescopes and computerized CCD cameras. For information visit www.hofstra.edu/astronomy.