Academic Council for Post-Holocaust Christian and Jewish studies offers two new courses
The Academic Council for Post-Holocaust Christian and Jewish Studies is offering two fall courses which examine Jewish/Christian conflicts. “Jews and Christians in Conflict: From the ‘Teaching of Contempt’ to Nosta Aette,” will examine how a negative image of Judaism developed in Christianity and why. The course will be offered on Sundays and will be team-taught by Brother Francis Blouin, incoming president of the Maine Council of Churches, and Abraham Peck, director of the Academic Council, and a member of USM’s History Department. “Who Am I? In Search of a New Christian and Jewish Identity,” will be team taught on Wednesday evenings by David Trobisch from Bangor Theological Seminary and Rabbi Harry Sky, rabbi emeritus of Portland’s Temple Beth-El and senior consultant in USM’s Osher Lifelong Learning Institute. This course will look at the historical development that led to the separation of the Jewish and Christian movements.
These courses are available for both undergraduate and graduate credit. For more information on these courses contact Abraham Peck, director at 780-5331
New Program in Art Department
The art department is beginning a program for studio art majors in the fall. The bachelor’s in studio art with a concentration in art and entrepreneurial studies requires courses in art history, studio work and business and technology courses. One component of the program is a required internship in galleries, allowing students to gain valuable experience from working first hand with art world professionals. Another option is the bachelor’s of fine arts with a concentration in art education. This degree offers studio experience and teacher certification in Maine. For information on these programs, contact the USM Office of Admission at 780-5670, or Art Department Chair Michael Shaughnessy at 780-5276.
Community Service Scholarship
An Owls Head couple, James and Lillian Haversat, is providing a $150,000 endowed scholarship to support voluntary community service by USM full-time students. The awards will be made annually, beginning with this academic year. The donors plan for the awards to fund opportunities for students to attend service-learning conferences and help defray tuition expenses. The gift was made through the University of Southern Maine Foundation. The awards will be known as the ChrisAlice Endowed Scholarships in memory of Christina Kerr Kasfedt, mother of Lillian Haversat, and Alice Haversat, mother of James Haversat. Both women were excellent role models for citizens aspiring to community service, noted the Haversats.