2008 Woodie Awards
ATLAS Week has global focus
Rubina Baig
Issue date: 3/28/08 Section: News
Starting today, students on campus can learn to tango from two Argentinean dancers or witness a live simulation of how poverty affects families. Or, then can donate blood to help save lives or absorb Afghani culture by watching The Kite Runner in The Billiken Club.
All of these events and more are available, thanks to the eighth annual ATLAS Week, held from Friday, March 28 to April 4.
"One of the main goals of the ATLAS Program is to increase awareness of the global issues that confront us today, in an effort not only to promote discussion, but to inspire … action," said Michelle Lorenzini, Ph.D., coordinator of the ATLAS program. "It focuses on what we as global citizens can do to contribute to a better life for all people now and in the future."
Many events are presentations or discussions about various global issues such as child trafficking, cultural tolerance, poverty, illegal immigration, micro-financing, terrorism, emerging scientific research and women's rights. Discussions will explore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the genocide in Darfur and the AIDS crisis in Uganda. In one presentation, students will be able to listen to testimony from someone who grew up in an impoverished and uneducated African country and learn about what actions are being taken today to improve literacy in Africa.
The ATLAS Program was first launched in the spring of 2001, proposed as a one-week experience to highlight Saint Louis University's academic programs and involvement in international service and education. In its first year, the program had 10 events; this year's program has 72.
It was named "ATLAS" because atlases are used to identify where people have been, discover where they are and decide where they are headed, said Lorenzini.
ATLAS Week brings several groups together from all over campus to create one week focused on global issues and involvement. Today, people from every college within the University participate in ATLAS week. Faculty, staff and students all take positions on the planning committee as well, along with increased student involvement each year.
All of these events and more are available, thanks to the eighth annual ATLAS Week, held from Friday, March 28 to April 4.
"One of the main goals of the ATLAS Program is to increase awareness of the global issues that confront us today, in an effort not only to promote discussion, but to inspire … action," said Michelle Lorenzini, Ph.D., coordinator of the ATLAS program. "It focuses on what we as global citizens can do to contribute to a better life for all people now and in the future."
Many events are presentations or discussions about various global issues such as child trafficking, cultural tolerance, poverty, illegal immigration, micro-financing, terrorism, emerging scientific research and women's rights. Discussions will explore the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the genocide in Darfur and the AIDS crisis in Uganda. In one presentation, students will be able to listen to testimony from someone who grew up in an impoverished and uneducated African country and learn about what actions are being taken today to improve literacy in Africa.
The ATLAS Program was first launched in the spring of 2001, proposed as a one-week experience to highlight Saint Louis University's academic programs and involvement in international service and education. In its first year, the program had 10 events; this year's program has 72.
It was named "ATLAS" because atlases are used to identify where people have been, discover where they are and decide where they are headed, said Lorenzini.
ATLAS Week brings several groups together from all over campus to create one week focused on global issues and involvement. Today, people from every college within the University participate in ATLAS week. Faculty, staff and students all take positions on the planning committee as well, along with increased student involvement each year.
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