Provided

Children in the Africa Education Initiative.

Cultures and literature forum

The Cornell Comparative Cultures and Literature Forum presents "Comparatively Speaking: Conversations, Contexts, Convergences," March 12-13, 10 a.m.-6:30 p.m., A.D. White House. Roland Greene, Stanford University, will give the keynote, "The Decline of the Universal," March 12 at 4:30 p.m. Natalie Melas, Cornell, will give the plenary speech, "Going Bananas With Pairs: Seven Types of Comparison," March 13 at 4:30 p.m. Information: http://www.comparativelyspeaking.org.

Banquet for Haiti

The Haitian Student Association 28th annual banquet, "From Dusk 'til Dawn: A Haitian Renaissance," will be held March 12, 8 p.m.-1a.m., Duffield Hall in collaboration with the Cornell Caribbean Student Association. The banquet will feature Haitian cuisine, a Haitian comedian, a professional Haitian dance and music troupe, and a collection of talented student performers. Open to the public; contact Ashley Jeanlus, e-mail aj239@cornell.edu or 845-521-4830 for tickets ($3 per person; $5 will include raffle ticket).

Marvin Carlson returns

On March 13, Cornell faculty and students will engage alumnus and former faculty member Marvin Carlson, Ph.D. '61, in a rigorous and forward-looking conversation about the present and future of theater and performance studies. Moderated by professor Haiping Yan, the conversation is open to the comments, inquiries, challenges, enthusiasms and visions of all attendees. It begins at 4 p.m., Rm. 124, Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts, with reception to follow in the lobby. The winner of the 2010 Carlson Award for the best essay on theater or performance by a Cornell student also will be announced.

Carlson is a professor at the City University of New York whose interests include dramatic theory, theatre history and dramatic literature, especially of the 18th, 19th and 20th centuries. He has been awarded the ATHE Career Achievement Award, the George Jean Nathan Prize, the Bernard Hewitt prize, the George Freedley Award and a Guggenheim Fellowship.

On the catwalk

The Cornell Design League 26th Annual Fashion Show will showcase original full-line designs by 11 students, March 13 at 7 p.m., Barton Hall. The spring fashion show is organized by students who have an interest in fashion, design, event planning, marketing, graphics, photography and set design. Tickets: $10 in advance ($15 at the door), available in MVR 207 or from any Cornell Design League member.

Stop violence against women

In recognition of V-Day, the Cornell Women's Resource Center presents the 12th annual performance of "The Vagina Monologues," March 13 at 8 p.m. Alice Statler Auditorium. V-Day is a global movement to stop violence against women and girls. Proceeds will go to the Ithaca Advocacy Center and the V-Day Movement. Tickets: $8, WSH Ticket Office.

Folk concerts

Known for her richly lyrical voice and heartfelt songs, Priscilla Herdman gives a Cornell Folk Song Society concert March 13 at 8 p.m. in 165 McGraw Hall, accompanied by guitarist Max Cohen. Tickets: Ithaca Guitar Works, Ludgate Farms, GreenStar, Bound for Glory, at http://www.cornellfolksong.org/, and at the door. Information: online or 607-279-2027.

WVBR's free weekly Sunday evening folk concert, "Bound for Glory," presents Vermont-based trio Bread and Bones, known for their harmonies and folk traditions, March 14, 8-11 p.m., Anabel Taylor Café. Also broadcast live at WVBR, 93.5 FM. Information: http://wvbr.com/bfg.

All about Eva Tanguay

The legacy of legendary vaudeville performer and silent film star Eva Tanguay is explored in two special programs by Mary Brett Lorson, whose grandmother was Tanguay's costumer. The first is a multimedia presentation, "Cyclonic: The Dance and Life of Eva Tanguay," March 13, at 7:15 p.m., with live music by Lorson and the Soubrettes, theatrical readings about Tanguay, short original dance films and a clip depicting the real Tanguay dancing. On March 14, at 2 p.m., Lorson provides piano accompaniment to "The Wild Girl," a comedy in which Tanguay stars as a gypsy. Both programs show at Willard Straight Theatre.

Stravinsky means spring

Two free concerts feature works by Igor Stravinsky. CU Winds and Cornell Chorale perform his "Symphony of Psalms," March 13 at 8 p.m. in Bailey Hall, Cynthia Johnston Turner, conductor. Also featured: electronica composer Mason Bates' "Rusty Air in Carolina," Percy Grainger's "Lincolnshire Posy," "Irish Tune" and "Shepherds Hey!" Information: http://www.cuwinds.com/. Free and open to the public; no tickets required.

Pianists Xak Bjerken and Blaise Bryski will present Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" and Ravel's "La Valse," March 18, 8 p.m., Barnes Hall. Bryski earned a D.M.A. in 18th-century performance practice at Cornell and served on the piano faculty. Bjerken, Cornell associate professor of music, has given solo and chamber music recitals in Europe and the United States.

Faculty chamber music concert

Performers for the March 14 concert include Judith Kellock (soprano), Xak Bjerken (piano), Joseph Lin (violin), John Haines-Eitzen (cello) and guests Richard Faria (clarinet), Heidi Hoffman (cello) and Kenneth Meyer (guitar). Their performance will feature the premiere of a tempest round me, an ASCAP commissioned work by alum Steven Burke, Lorca Songs by graduate composer Jesse Jones and Kodaly's Duo for violin and cello. This free concert starts at 8 p.m., Barnes Auditorium. Information: http://music.cornell.edu/calendar/.

Reconstruction in Haiti

Michèle Pierre-Louis, former prime minister of Haiti and director of FOKAL (Foundation of Knowledge and Liberty), and Lorraine Mangonès, program director of FOKAL, will present a seminar, March 15, 12:20 p.m., Guerlac Room, A.D. White House, on the Martissant Park Project. The speakers will discuss plans for reconstruction of the Martissant neighborhood, including the Habitacion LeClerc Park as an earthquake memorial. One of Cornell's partners in the new Haiti Initiative, FOKAL focuses on the areas of education, culture, community development, environment, gender equity, civil society and training of young entrepreneurs.

Impacts on aging

Dr. Teresa Seeman, professor of medicine and epidemiology, UCLA Schools of Medicine and Public Health, will present the fourth annual Bronfenbrenner Lecture, "Exploring a Biopsychosocial Model of Cumulative Risk," March 15 at 4 p.m. in G10 Biotech Building. It will cover research seeking to understand the multiple biological pathways through which social factors cumulatively affect the aging process. A reception will follow. Information: 607-254-4336.

More than just race

William Julius Wilson, Harvard University, presents "More Than Just Race: Being Black and Poor in the Inner City," March 17 at 4:30 p.m. in Call Auditorium, Kennedy Hall, a free, public lecture that addresses his provocative new book on domestic poverty, followed by a book signing and reception.

Lecture on the Islamic Counter-Reformation

In a public lecture "The Islamic Counter-Reformation: A Sociological Explanation," March 18 at 10:30 a.m., Boyce Thompson Institute Auditorium, Frank Young of the Cornell Association of Professors Emeriti argues that the world is in the midst of a rerun of something like the European Reformation-Counter Reformation.

The politics of energy

The Peace Studies Program presents a brown-bag lunch seminar by Rawi Abdelal, Harvard Business School, "The Profits of Power: Energy Politics Between Russia and Europe," March 18, 12:15-1:30 p.m., G08 Uris Hall. Abdelal's primary expertise is international political economy and his research focuses on the politics of globalization and the political economy of Eurasia.

African education

Sarah E. Moten, chief of the USAID Africa Bureau Office of Sustainable Development, Education Division, will present "Across All Boundaries: HIV/AIDS and Education -- A Way Forward for African Families," March 18, 2:30-4 p.m., G08 Uris Hall. Moten manages a team of education professionals who provide guidance and technical assistance to 21 African education programs and is the manager for the Africa Education Initiative and a $30 million school fees program.

Flower bulb expert to speak at Statler

Flower bulb expert and author Anna Pavord will speak on "A Luxuriance of Bulbs," March 20 at 11 a.m., Statler Hall Auditorium. The talk is free and open to the public. Pavord has written eight books on flower bulbs, borders and gardening, including "New Kitchen Garden," "Border Book," "Plant Partners" and "The Tulip."