From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

New book explores how contemporary Iranian artists sidestep line of repression
LAWRENCE — In the Islamic Republic of Iran today you can be a well-paid entertainer making escapist fare. But those aren’t the artists Rana Esfandiary is interested in. In her new book, “At the Threshold: Contemporary Theatre, Art, and Music of Iran,” the assistant professor of theatre & dance at the University of Kansas writes about the daring stage directors, probing photographers and electronic musicians who are pushing against mullah-imposed boundaries

KU faculty to host discussion: ‘The Deepening Crisis in Israel/Palestine’
LAWRENCE — A panel of University of Kansas professors will present “The Deepening Crisis in Israel/Palestine: History. Context. Human Rights.” to discuss the escalating conflict in the region. The event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Malott Room of the Kansas Union.

School of Engineering researcher to give distinguished professor lecture on signal processing
LAWRENCE — Shannon Blunt’s expertise in radar and remote sensing is internationally recognized, and he has made notable contributions that have been used in operational radar and sonar systems. The Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Kansas will present his inaugural distinguished professor lecture, “Embracing Uncertainty to Enable Physically Meaningful Signal Processing,” at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 26 in the Beren Petroleum Conference Center in Slawson Hall. Individuals can register to attend the lecture and reception.

Study examines role of working memory, cognitive functions in English learners learning to write
LAWRENCE — When a person attempts to express their thoughts in writing, they use a series of cognitive functions like working memory to access words and ideas they want to convey, phonological awareness of concepts such as syntax and more. And that is in their native language. A new study from the University of Kansas is among the first of its kind to examine cognitive functions and their role in teaching English learners to write in their second language, which can help shed light on how students learn to write and how to help close the achievement gap in the growing Hispanic English learning population’s writing abilities.

Full stories below.

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Contact: Rick Hellman, KU News Service, 785-864-8852, [email protected], @RickHellman
New book explores how contemporary Iranian artists sidestep line of repression
LAWRENCE — In the Islamic Republic of Iran today you can be a well-paid entertainer making escapist fare. But those aren’t the artists Rana Esfandiary is interested in.
In her new book, “At the Threshold: Contemporary Theatre, Art, and Music of Iran,” (Routledge), the assistant professor of theatre & dance at the University of Kansas writes about the daring stage directors, probing photographers and electronic musicians who are pushing against mullah-imposed boundaries, even as she cringes at the U.S.-based critiques of “Shahs of Sunset” and flower-haired regime-change activist Masih Alinejad.

Growing up in Iran, Esfandiary strived to avoid confrontation with the hijab-checking morality police who flourished under President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
She has lived in the United States since 2010 but has family who remain in Iran and visits frequently, seeing how artists toe the line of repression, sometimes falling below it into jail or persona non grata status, sometimes skating above it and getting away with technical violations of the law or at least its spirit.
In fact, one of the major figures about whom Esfandiary writes in the book, theatre director Ali Akbar Alizad, just left Iran in August to live in Great Britain.
“He was limited in his creative practice, both in academic and professional settings, after the woman-life-freedom movement,” Esfandiary said of the latest eruption of anti-government street protest in 2022.
Before his exile, Esfandiary said, Alizad rejected commercial opportunities and instead “created political works, but through the works of playwrights like Beckett and Pinter, which are so difficult for the Iranian censorship system to figure out because they are very abstract. So he can say what he wants to say without getting into trouble.”
That was true for a time, anyway.
The book covers Alizad’s 2018 production of Jean Genet’s “The Maids,” in which the director’s use of two male actors to portray the two ostensibly female servant characters not only violated a ban on cross-dressing but gave the class-conscious drama a contemporary, anti-authority undertone.
In a similar fashion, Esfandiary expounded on the growth of the electronic music movement in Iran, which circumvents the religious prohibition on female singing before mixed-gender crowds in public.
“Music is such an ambiguous topic in Iran because some works just get shut down and no one knows why, and some works get published and no one knows why,” Esfandiary said. “There is no set of well-defined rules.”
Esfandiary wrote that revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini reacted against the westernizing influence of his predecessor, Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, by banning certain forms of music.
“Khomeini was so against western music because he believed that the music would cause young people to be distracted from God,” Esfandiary said. “Little by little, the space opened up, but women still cannot sing in public in Iran.
“Well, electronic musicians in Iran produce music that has no lyrics, so that part is solved. Now we see women without hijab onstage performing these electronic pieces. We see women DJs and VJs on stage performing. They are kind of playing by the rules, but, at the same time, they’re amending the rules.”
In a time of repression, Esfandiary wrote, the very act of gathering in “jubilance has become a subversive tool to counter the state.”
Esfandiary devoted a chapter to cultural productions by and about expatriate Iranians in the West, such as the “reality TV” show “Shahs of Sunset,” in which the wealthy, self-absorbed stars adopt a “Persian” identity and shun an Iranian one.
Along with Alinejad and “Women of Allah” photographer Shirin Neshat, Esfandiary consigns the Shahs to “the category of a native informant echoing the hostile policies instigated by Washington hawks.”
The artists she admires and tries to highlight in her book, Esfandiary said, are those who still take risks but protest indirectly, from within the system “by finding loopholes.”
“There’s always this conception about Iranian artists who go against what the government wants, as if they’re revolutionary or they must sacrifice everything,” she said. “There are artists … doing their thing, but nobody talks about them because they are not as hot a topic as some of the most censored artists in Iran or abroad. And I just wanted to give some stage time for them to be heard and seen. They have found a way to protect their dignity, but, at the same time, criticize the government.”
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Contact: Christine Metz Howard, International Affairs, [email protected], @KUintlaffairs
KU faculty to host discussion: ‘The Deepening Crisis in Israel/Palestine’
LAWRENCE — A panel of University of Kansas professors will present “The Deepening Crisis in Israel/Palestine: History. Context. Human Rights.” to discuss the escalating conflict in the region.
The panel, in which faculty experts will share their knowledge on the region, will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. Oct. 18 in the Malott Room of the Kansas Union.
Panelists will include Samuel Brody, associate professor of religious studies; Elizabeth Esch, associate professor of American studies; Robert Warrior, Hall Distinguished Professor of American Literature & Culture; and Rami Zeedan, associate professor and acting director of the Jewish Studies Program.
The panel is sponsored by the Department of American Studies; International Affairs; Global & International Studies, the Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging; and The Commons.

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Contact: Savannah Rattanavong, Office of the Provost, 785-864-6402, [email protected], @KUProvost
School of Engineering researcher to give distinguished professor lecture on signal processing
LAWRENCE — Shannon Blunt’s expertise in radar and remote sensing is internationally recognized, and he has made contributions that have been used in operational radar and sonar systems.
The Roy A. Roberts Distinguished Professor of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science at the University of Kansas will present his inaugural distinguished professor lecture, “Embracing Uncertainty to Enable Physically Meaningful Signal Processing,” at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 26, in the Beren Petroleum Conference Center in Slawson Hall.
Individuals can register to attend the lecture and reception.
Blunt’s research concentrates on sensor signal processing and system design with an emphasis on waveform diversity and spectrum-sharing techniques. Several federal entities and industry partners have provided more than $20 million in funding to support his work, including the Naval Research Laboratory, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), the Air Force Research Laboratory, the Army Research Office and the Department of Energy. He has 19 approved or pending patents.
After earning his doctorate in 2002, Blunt worked with the radar division of the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory in Washington, D.C., for three years, after which he joined KU’s Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science. In addition to his professorship, Blunt has served as the director of the KU Radar Systems Lab since 2011 and the Kansas Applied Research Lab since 2018. Both labs are part of the Institute for Information Sciences.
Blunt was named a fellow of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in 2016 for “contributions to radar waveform diversity and design” and was appointed to the U.S. President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in 2019.
He has provided expertise on radar spectrum management and sharing to DARPA, the Air Force’s Science and Technology 2030 Initiative, the National Spectrum Consortium, the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering and to the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Blunt has chaired the board of governors for the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Society (AESS), IEEE/AESS Radar Systems Panel and a NATO research task group on dynamic waveform diversity and design, among numerous other conferences.
In 2022, Blunt became the first editor of a new academic journal, IEEE Transactions on Radar Systems. He sits on the editorial board for the Institution of Engineering and Technology’s (IET) Radar, Sonar and Navigation journal, and he has edited for IEEE Transactions on Aerospace and Electronic Systems.
In addition to more than 200 peer-reviewed journal, conference and book chapter publications under his name, Blunt has co-edited the books “Principles of Waveform Diversity and Design” and “Radar and Communication Spectrum Sharing.”
He has received several awards, including the Air Force Office of Scientific Research Young Investigator Award, the IEEE/AESS Nathanson Memorial Radar Award, the 2020 IET Radar, Sonar and Navigation Premium Award and multiple teaching awards.
Blunt earned his doctorate, master’s and bachelor’s degrees in electrical engineering, all from the University of Missouri.
The first distinguished professorships were established at KU in 1958. A university distinguished professorship is awarded wholly based on merit, following exacting criteria. A complete list is available on the Distinguished Professor website.

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Don’t miss new episodes of “When Experts Attack!,”
a KU News Service podcast hosted by Kansas Public Radio.

https://kansaspublicradio.org/when-experts-attack
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Contact: Mike Krings, KU News Service, 785-864-8860, [email protected], @MikeKrings
Study examines role of working memory, cognitive functions in English learners learning to write
LAWRENCE — When a person attempts to express their thoughts in writing, they use a series of cognitive functions like working memory to access words and ideas they want to convey, phonological awareness of concepts such as syntax and more. And that is in their native language. A new study from the University of Kansas is among the first of its kind to examine cognitive functions and their role in teaching English learners to write in their second language, which can help shed light on how students learn to write and how to help close the achievement gap in the growing Hispanic English learning population’s writing abilities.
The study performed a battery of bilingual cognitive tests with nearly 500 elementary-age English learners and found the relationships between English writing performance and cognitive skills became stronger as grades increased. However, the relationships between English writing and Spanish cognitive and reading determinants were mixed, indicating working memory capacity was especially important in the population’s performance in learning to write in their second language. The findings not only shed light on how students learn to write, they could help lead to development of interventions to help English learners improve their writing abilities.
Researchers performed tests to determine a group of English learner students’ aptitude in three cognitive and reading areas related to their native Spanish and English: phonological awareness, oral language development and working memory. They also tested their writing abilities in English as they progressed through first through third grades.
“We found working memory was the most significant predictor of writing ability. Within each test, there were multiple items that assessed the students’ performance in the cognitive functions we were studying and their English writing,” said Hui Wang of McKendree University, a recent KU doctoral graduate from the Department of Educational Psychology and lead author of the study. “There are about 5 million English learners in the United States, and 3.8 million of them are Hispanic, but very little research has been done on how this population learns to write.”
American education has focused largely on reading and math, both for English learners and as a whole in recent decades. Yet writing is frequently used to determine how well students understand a topic.
Michael Orosco, professor of educational psychology and one of the study authors, has long researched how English learners perform in schools and the cognitive functions that take part in learning reading, math and other subjects. He and colleagues have recently studied the populations’ reading writing and cognitive performance and how a lack of instruction in their native language hinders their learning to read in English.
“I told an assistant school superintendent of learning, ‘We should pull out these kids and assess their writing abilities.’ If we can’t look at how they’re developing, we’re not going to be able to design interventions and practices to help them improve,” Orosco said. “Children who are bilingual appear to have an enhanced working memory due to their bilingualism. While it’s an underlying trait that isn’t directly visible, it’s crucial for retaining and retrieving information, especially during writing.”
Working memory, phonological awareness and oral language development were measured in all students in both Spanish and English as they progressed through grades using a battery of bilingual assessments. Students’ writing abilities were also regularly assessed. Students’ performance in all the cognitive skills, as well as writing performance, increased as they progressed among the grades. However, only working memory consistently predicted higher scores in writing. Orosco said that this underscores the significance of working memory, particularly the ability to quickly recall vocabulary and concepts while writing. It also implies that without native language instruction in schools, students may not be enhancing their oral language development and phonological awareness skills, despite having innate strengths in their native language, he said.
The study, written with co-authors Anqi Peng, educational psychology doctoral candidate at KU; Haiying Long, professor of educational psychology at KU; Deborah Reed of the University of Tennessee; and H. Lee Swanson of the University of New Mexico, was published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology.

Orosco, who is also director of the Center for Culturally Responsive Educational Neuroscience in KU’s Achievement & Assessment Institute, said the findings emphasize the importance of understanding how students learn to write and also shed light on how the brain processes information, especially for bilingual learners.
“Neuroscience reveals that working memory is a complex cognitive function involving multiple regions. The prefrontal cortex is central to working memory, handling the retention and manipulation of short-term information. For bilingual individuals, this executive functioning region aids in merging linguistic structures and vocabulary from different languages, thereby boosting their bilingual working memory, which is vital for writing effectively,” Orosco said. “Our understanding of enhancing students’ writing skills has deepened. By bolstering their oral language and phonological awareness, we also appear to boost their working memory capacity. This increased capacity to retain and manage information is invaluable in guiding students in writing.”
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KU News Service
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-3256
Fax: 785-864-3339
[email protected]
http://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs

From the Office of Public Affairs | http://www.news.ku.edu

Headlines

New book ‘Trade War’ examines causes, history of conflict between US, China
LAWRENCE — With no resolution in sight for the trade war between the United States and China, a new book from a University of Kansas international trade law expert examines where the conflict may lead and its consequences thus far while also providing a critical historical and legal analysis of how it started. “Trade War: Causes, Conduct, and Consequences of Sino-American Confrontation” by Raj Bhala, Brenneisen Distinguished Professor of Law at KU, explores disagreements from both American and Chinese perspectives. Bhala examines the position of third-party nations such as India as well.

Kansas Economic Policy Conference to address urgent workforce needs
LAWRENCE — Each year, the Kansas Economic Policy Conference convenes Kansas state lawmakers, community and industry leaders and scholars. On Oct. 19, the conference will address workforce needs for Kansas. This free public event will take place at the Burge Union and online, and registration is required.

Haunting Humanities will bring wicked fun to Lawrence
LAWRENCE — The Hall Center for the Humanities will bring a Halloween twist to history, literature, language and culture in downtown Lawrence this month. The all-ages Haunting Humanities festival provides a unique opportunity for scholars to share serious research, nightmarish stories, chilling factoids and joyful revelations. This year’s celebration will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 25 at Abe & Jake’s Landing.

Enjoy an entire day of classical music with KPR’s Live Day
LAWRENCE – Kansas Public Radio will celebrate its commitment to classical music with an entire day of live performances Oct. 25 at the KPR Live Performance Studio and Lied Center of Kansas. Performers will include the Kansas City-based Opus 76 Quartet, Bach Aria Soloists, the Beaufort Winds and an evening performance by KPR host and violinist Destiny Ann Mermagen.

Full stories below.

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Contact: Mike Krings, KU News Service, 785-864-8860, [email protected], @MikeKrings
New book ‘Trade War’ examines causes, history of conflict between US, China
LAWRENCE — With no resolution in sight for the trade war between the United States and China, a new book from a University of Kansas international trade law expert examines where the conflict may lead and its consequences thus far while also providing a critical historical and legal analysis of how it started.
“Trade War: Causes, Conduct, and Consequences of Sino-American Confrontation” by Raj Bhala, Brenneisen Distinguished Professor of Law at KU, is a full-length legal and interdisciplinary analysis of the conflict. While the trade war officially started in 2018 when then-president Donald Trump placed tariffs on Chinese imports, its roots stretch back many decades. Solutions are scarce, confounding presidents, dictators, scholars and policymakers alike. Bhala provides an in-depth look at the sources, nature and scope of increasingly fraught relations between the two countries. For his part, he has been studying the relationship for decades.
“In 1982 I made my first visit. China was still emerging from Mao’s leadership and the horrors of the Cultural Revolution,” Bhala said. “I later researched and wrote about China’s reemergence, including its 2001 entry into the World Trade Organization in 2001, and – as a visiting scholar at Hong Kong University – the currency manipulation controversy. There was tremendous optimism that WTO entry would lead to political liberalization, and the handover of Hong Kong back to China might even be a reverse takeover. But as the years wore on and Xi Jinping took power, those hopes were disappointed.”
“Trade War,” available from Carolina Academic Press, details the conflict chronologically in three parts: tariff and non-tariff measures and future battles. Over the book’s 22 chapters, Bhala documents the history of the conflict, including legal and economic wrangling that led to America’s imposition of tariffs in 2018 and China’s counter-retaliatory measures – all of which continue to this day. The author wrote that while that action could be considered the first shots in the conflict, numerous presidents have been unable to solve trade issues with China. The book opens with a quote from President Joe Biden on China’s capacity to reshape the world order and one from China’s president on that nation’s rise.
“You’re not going to see a new China policy, if at all, until well into 2025. China policy hasn’t really changed under President Biden, with the exception of style and a more dignified approach,” Bhala said. “Whatever you think of him or his policies, President Trump recognized China’s industrial and trade policies and intellectual property piracy were not acceptable.”
Yet, Bhala’s opening quote from President John F. Kennedy, warning against demonization of peoples, also frames the book.
The book’s second part details non-tariff issues in the trade war. They include investment, financial and data decoupling. Part three covers human rights battles in the trade war, most notably, China’s aggressive approach to Hong Kong, and threats to Taiwan.
The final part of “Trade War” is devoted to future battles and offers competing characterizations of the conflict.
“The countries have within their power to choose if this is a forever trade war that could devolve into a shooting war, or if they want to step back and start solving, one by one, these economic and trade issues,” Bhala said. “As a lawyer, obviously that is my preference. To do that, I think it requires a calming of rhetoric and detailed, technical give-and-take.”
The book does not advocate for either nation’s position in the conflict and explores disagreements from both American and Chinese perspectives. Bhala examines the position of third-party nations such as India as well.
“India has long-standing strong ties to both the United States and China. And India does not view itself as a deputy sheriff for the U.S.,” Bhala said. “India sees itself not as picking sides but as a problem solver. I try to make clear how India views itself as a rational bridge between the two.”
Bhala recently discussed the book at an event sponsored by KU’s Center for East Asian Studies, and he will make a presentation at the International Bar Association Annual Conference in Paris next month as well.
In academia, the book could serve as a complement to Bhala’s four-volume set “International Trade Law: A Comprehensive Textbook.” Beyond the classroom, the book could be of interest to lawyers, policymakers, economists, financial market professionals, international business leaders or anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of the most pressing challenge in the political economy of the 21st century.
“We’re not going to get anywhere with continued insistence on the righteousness of either side’s cause,” Bhala said. “There is nothing ad hominem in this book. I would like to help people understand this conflict and help lawyers and those in power to step back, address and solve Sino-American relationship problems one at a time.”
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The official university Twitter account has changed to @UnivOfKansas.
Refollow @KUNews for KU News Service stories, discoveries and experts.

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Contact: Carrie Caine, Institute for Policy & Social Research, 785-864-9102, [email protected]
Kansas Economic Policy Conference to address urgent workforce needs

LAWRENCE — Each year, the Kansas Economic Policy Conference convenes community and industry leaders, policymakers and scholars. On Oct. 19, the conference will address workforce needs for Kansas.

Recent research shows that Kansas employers are likely to need 34,000 more credentialed workers than the state will have by 2030.

“Our report shows that surrounding states pay higher wages for skilled workers,” said Donna Ginther, Roy A. Roberts & Regents Distinguished Professor of Economics and director of the Institute for Policy & Social Research at the University of Kansas.

“Kansas is currently at full employment, and the addition of the Panasonic plant near Eudora and the EMP Shield plant in Burlington underscores the need to attract and retain workers to the state,” she said.

Workforce needs are closely linked to population trends. And in Kansas, the population growing slowly, even though the state boasts a low cost of living, easy access to amenities like recreational areas and short travel time between small towns and big cities. Most counties in Kansas have not grown in population in the 21st century.

During the conference, speakers will address questions surrounding workforce development from different perspectives. The event features keynotes from Ginther on the state of the Kansas economy and the Kansas workforce as well as from Misty Heggeness, associate scientist with IPSR and associate professor of public affairs & administration, on child care access and the Kansas workforce.

State and local leaders will address workforce development during a conversation among John Clark, Plumbers & Pipefitters Local Union 441, Kansas Apprenticeship Council member; Scott Smathers, Kansas Board of Regents; Amanda Duncan, vice president and chief business development officer, Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas; and Diane DeBacker, founding director of the Center for Certification and Competency Based Education, KU.

The conference will also include a conversation among industry leaders around workforce needs, with Sheri Gonzales, senior director of DEI, Evergy; and Neelima Parasker, CEO, SnapIT Solutions.

In the afternoon, legislators will have the opportunity to address workforce challenges and opportunities during a conversation among State Sen. Michael Fagg, R-14; State Rep. Brandon Woodard, House minority agenda chair, D-30; and State Rep. Stephanie Clayton, House minority whip, D-19.

Tim Carpenter, senior reporter for the Kansas Reflector; Teri Finneman, associate professor of journalism at KU and publisher of The Eudora Times; and Madeline Fox, news director at KCUR, will moderate the conversations.

The conference allows for in-depth discussions about matters of importance to the state, according to Ginther.

“The perspectives from legislators are very helpful in understanding the future policy direction of the state when it comes to retaining and growing the Kansas workforce,” she said.

The conference will take place at the Burge Union and online, with live captioning available. Registration is required to attend this free public event.

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Contact: Dan Oetting, Hall Center for the Humanities, [email protected], @KUHallCenter
Haunting Humanities will bring wicked fun to Lawrence
LAWRENCE — The Hall Center for the Humanities will bring a Halloween twist to history, literature, language and culture in downtown Lawrence this month. This all-ages humanities festival provides a unique opportunity for scholars to share serious research, nightmarish stories, chilling factoids and joyful revelations. This year’s celebration will take place from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Oct. 25 at Abe & Jake’s Landing.
“Haunting Humanities playfully explores the insights that the study of humanities can bring to everyday life,” said Giselle Anatol, interim director of the Hall Center. “From candy and cocktails to chilling stories about historical events, it’s an evening with something for everyone.”
Visitors will receive a map of the venue and can guide themselves through a series of innovative presentations, activities, games and enactments at their own pace. Each exhibit will have a rating – G, PG, PG-13 or R – listed in the event’s program to indicate whether it is appropriate for younger audiences or adults. Food vendors are Latchkey Deli and April’s Sweet Treats, and the Abe & Jake’s bar will feature a unique menu of spooky boutique cocktails.
Haunting Humanities is a KU original. It began as the brainchild of the Public Humanities Roundtable, a loosely knit group convened by the Hall Center, of faculty, staff, and community partners who were interested in developing new ways for humanities researchers to engage the public interactively with their work.
Haunting Humanities has a host of spine-tingling sponsors and hair-raising community partners, including Humanities Kansas, Friends of the Hall Center, Kansas Public Radio, Abe & Jake’s Landing and numerous KU academic departments.
A sampling of activities scheduled for the evening:
Cursed Classics
Learn the secrets of ancient Greek and Roman magic with KU’s Department of Classics. Design a curse to smite enemies or a love charm to capture the heart of a crush. Then use the newly acquired knowledge of the ancient dark arts to decode the spell and enter a drawing to win a prize.
“On a Dark and Stormy Night”: Crafting the Campfire Story
Danger lurks in the darkness, so join around the campfire for the telling of a few twisted tales. Don’t have a story to tell? Organizers will help participants write one.

Making Mary’s Monster
For the Making Mary’s Monster escape room, Mary Shelley and those attending embark on a writing contest to see who can pen the best ghost story. Mary, disturbed by a nightmare, begins her masterpiece, “Frankenstein.” In the midst of her work, she is struck by an affliction that visits students, academics and authors the world over: the dreaded writer’s block. Can participants free her?

El Dia de los Muertos: Passing on Family History through Art & Storytelling
Participants will learn about el Dia de los Muertos, the Day of the Dead, as they build an ofrenda, a colorful altar to honor late loved ones. In Mexican culture, the dead are to be celebrated and not feared. Afterward, participants can take a photo with Lucia, a 12-foot skeleton.

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Don’t miss new episodes of “When Experts Attack!,”
a KU News Service podcast hosted by Kansas Public Radio.

https://kansaspublicradio.org/when-experts-attack
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Contact: Emily Fisher, Kansas Public Radio, 785-864-0190, [email protected], @kprnews
Enjoy an entire day of classical music with KPR’s Live Day
LAWRENCE – Kansas Public Radio will celebrate its commitment to classical music with Live Day, an entire day of live performances Oct. 25. Individuals may attend these concerts at the Lied Center Pavilion or listen to the broadcast live on KPR.
The Opus 76 Quartet, a Kansas City-based string quartet, will kick off the day at 9 a.m. in the KPR Live Performance Studio. Violinist Joseph Genualdi and pianist Jihyun Oh will directly follow at 10 a.m. in the Lied Center of Kansas Pavilion. That performance, featuring autumnal tunes and other music of the season, will be free and open to the public. KPR also encourages schools, child care centers and other community groups to attend.
Performances will continue to alternate every hour between the KPR Live Performance Studio and the Pavilion until 3 p.m. Additional performers include pianist and Lawrence native Koji Attwood, Bach Aria Soloists, the Beaufort Winds and the St. Lawrence Catholic Center Music Ensemble, directed by Jesse Henkensiefken.
The evening will conclude with a capstone concert featuring the creepy classical sounds of Halloween by Kansas City violinist and KPR “Evening Classical” host Destiny Ann Mermagen. She’ll be accompanied by pianist Karen Savage and percussionist John Currey at the Lied Center of Kansas Pavilion at 7 p.m. This evening concert is ticketed. Tickets may be reserved at kansaspublicradio.org under the SHOP tab.
KPR’s Darrell Brogdon and Cordelia Brown will host the broadcast on KPR, online and on the KPR app.
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KU News Service
1450 Jayhawk Blvd.
Lawrence KS 66045
Phone: 785-864-3256
Fax: 785-864-3339
[email protected]
http://www.news.ku.edu

Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, director of news and media relations, [email protected]

Today’s News is a free service from the Office of Public Affairs