The Manhattanville community will have the opportunity to learn about the history of the college during the second annual Valiant Week hosted by the First Year Program and First Year Advisory Committee. Valiant Week begins Monday September 16th and will conclude on Friday September 20th. Here is a complete list of Valiant Week events. For more information please visit http://mville.edu/gps.

1. VALIANT WEEK 2013
Monday 9/16: A Valiant History: Stories and Snapshots from the Archives –
Presentation by Lauren Ziarko, Manhattanville College Archivist and
Special Collections Librarian (West Room 7 pm)
Kick off Valiant Week and brush up on our College’s history with a
presentation from Archivist Lauren Ziarko. Using images from the
archives, Lauren will explore the Manhattanville’s unique story. Over the
course of its 170 years Manhattanville has been a Catholic academy for
girls, a women’s college, and finally the college we know today.
Throughout the changes there has remained a spirit of community,
globalism, and service. This presentation will act as both an introduction
to our history and a conversation about the links between our past and
present identities.
Tuesday 9/17: Why Africa Matters – Presentation “An American in Guinea: Art and
Culture” by Ali Hoyt ’14 about her study abroad semester in West Africa
followed at 7 p.m. by a panel with Profs. Mohamed Mbodj, Don Nanjira
and Deborah Saleeby-Mulligan (West Room 6:30 pm)
Professor Mbodj will explore Africa's many significant contributions to
the world, in historical, economic, socio-cultural, political, scientific and
technological terms. Professor Nanjira, a former diplomat who
represented Kenya at the United Nations, will argue that there is a
compelling reason for the rest of the world to participate actively in the
quest to solve some of Africa’s most pressing challenges - with a view to
elevating recognition of Africa's roles for the common good of
humanity, and reducing Africa's vulnerability to herself and the world at
large. He notes that our goal should be to end the isolation,
impoverishment, and perpetual seclusion and marginalization of this

2. mighty and most culturally-diverse continent, which has been ignored
and exploited for far too long. Professor Saleeby-Mulligan will conclude
the presentation by discussing the important role African contemporary
art has begun to play outside of the continent of Africa itself. West Africa
in particular has recently given birth to a whole new movement of
contemporary art trends, which have gained international attention. The
most notable artists include El Anatsui, Ousamne Sow, Cheri Samba, and
Yinka Shonibare. Africa has also featured prominently as subject in the
work of contemporary artists such as in the moving photographs of the
Congo by Irish photographer Richard Mosse and the well-known
paintings of British painter Chris Ofili.
Wednesday 9/18: The Chapel: A Tale of Four Worlds – A talk and tour led by Prof. Peter
Gardella (O’Byrne Chapel entrance 3 pm)
Manhattanville’s chapel was built in 1962 by a college that saw itself at
the center of a triumphant, Roman Catholic world. The frieze over the
Chapel doorway and the interior of the sanctuary still express that
worldview. Within a few years, however, the changes of Vatican II
resulted in the original altar being removed, and a second world of
college history began. As the college used the chapel in the decades
following the 1970s, a third era culminated in the creation of the Heritage
Hall. Now the chapel and the college stand at the brink of a fourth age.
The Mission – Panel presentation led by Pat Scanlon ‘03/MS ’09, Head
Men’s Basketball Coach and First-Year Instructor (West Room 7 pm)
Manhattanville has a clearly defined mission statement: “To educate
students to be ethical and socially-responsible leaders in a global
community.”
As Valiants, we are called to lead. The first key to leadership is
understanding our mission.
What is our purpose? Whatever it is should guide our decision making,
and should be consistent in our personal and professional lives.
Bringing in a talented panel of Valiants, we will explore how current
students can better define their mission and go about living it.

3. Thursday 9/19: Discovering Heritage Hall – A tour led by Manhattanville’s “First Lady,”
Jean Strauss (entrance to Heritage Hall, Reid Castle stone corridor 4 pm)
Principles versus Prejudices: Is Mother Dammann's 1938 Speech
Applicable in the 21st Century? – Presentation by Gretchel L. Hathaway,
PhD, Chief Diversity Officer, Office of Diversity and Inclusion,Union
College, NY (West Room 7 pm)
This interactive lecture will provide opportunity for dialogue on the
newer concepts of diversity and inclusion on college campuses in relation
to the history of M'ville views on prejudice and privilege. [Dr. Hathaway
is a 1979 graduate of Manhattanville College.]
Friday 9/20: Meet the Writers - Pete Seeger – Sponsored by the Master of Fine Arts in
Writing program; free and open to the community (West Room 7 pm)
Join Manhattanville’s Master of Fine Arts in Writing program for a unique
event with legendary folk singer Pete Seeger. MFA Program Director
Mark Nowak will engage Seeger in a public conversation on writing and
“the social imagination” — what it means to be a creative artist in times
of social upheaval and social change. This intimate evening with one of
America’s most celebrated artists will examine the roles writing and
language have played in Seeger’s career. And in typical Pete Seeger
fashion, we will ask the audience to join in the conversation!
Organized by the First-Year Program and the First-Year Advisory Committee; free and open to the community.