March 8, 2001

Imagine Russia during Miami festival

The Miami University Report

     Miami will celebrate all things Russian with "Imagining Russia," a fesitcal of scholarly and cultural events inaugurating the Havighurst Center for Russian and Post-Soviet Srudies March 22-April 1.

     Located in Harrison Hall, the center is directed by Karen Dawisha, Walter Havighurst Professor of Russian and Post-Soviet Politics and a top expert on the post-Communist world.

     Dawisha will give the center's inaugural lecture at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 22, in Gates-Abegglen Theatre, Center for Performing Arts.

     She will join Miami faculty to host an "Imagining Russia" symposium Friday, March 23, in the Marcum Conference Center.

     The symposium will bring together prominent and emerging scholars from across the country to examine Western perceptions of post-Soviet society. The symposium includes a public lecture by James Billington, Librarian of Congress, at 4 p.m. in 115 Shideler Hall. Billington, one of the most eminent historians of Russia, is creator and host of the PBS series "The Face of Russia."

     The most visible part of the festival will be golden onion domes atop the usual twin towers of Harrison Hall. Other events feature the music and art of Russia, as well as programming designed to appeal to a broad spectrum of faculty, staff, students and community members.