Coe Thursday Forum explores Catalonian culture and independence
William P. and Gayle S. Whipple Associate Professor of Spanish
Monica Fuertes-Arboix
Examine the rich history and culture of Catalonia — a region in the northeastern part of the Iberian Peninsula — with William P. and Gayle S. Whipple Associate Professor of Spanish Monica Fuertes-Arboix.
During this two-part Thursday Forum, participants will learn about the Catalan nation’s case for independence. The first part of the forum will focus on Catalan history, culture and identity while the second installment of the forum provides an overview of current events surrounding the Catalan independence movement.
This Thursday Forum series aims to educate and answer questions raised by Catalonia’s efforts to secede — is democracy at work in 21st century Europe? Can people who express themselves through peaceful means be denied the right to speak? Can a central government use violence to silence minority populations? And, what role does and should the European Union play in such events?
Thursday Forum lectures are held in Kesler Lecture Hall in Hickok Hall on the Coe campus. Each session begins with coffee and pastries from 8:45-9:15 a.m., followed by the class until 11:30 a.m. Each series concludes with an optional luncheon on the final Thursday. Admission is $35 for a four-week course or $12 per week. Visit www.coe.edu/thursday-forum to register.
For the remainder of the 2018-2019 academic year, the Thursday Forum schedule includes:
A New European State? Catalonia Past and Present — Jan. 17 and 24
Women in the Hebrew Bible — Feb. 7, 14, 21 and 28
Urbanism to Save Us All: How Cities are Reshaping our Social and Physical Lives — March 7, 14, 21 and 28
The Count, The Duke, The King and Glenn: Music of the Big Band and Swing Era — April 4, 11, 18 and 25
Coe values its location and relationship with the Cedar Rapids community and looks forward to providing insightful forum topics. Established in 1851, Coe has a national reputation for academic excellence enhanced by a student-centered, highly supportive campus environment. Our success in offering superb academics and exciting co-curricular activities stems in large part from our location in a thriving urban setting that promotes student growth and success. As such, we welcome the community to participate in this event.