News to Use

Poets Needed for Peace Mission

For the fifth year in a row, a group of local poets and artists is putting together a book of poems and drawings on the themes of peace and justice. Any poet in Greater Cincinnati is encouraged to submit one to three poems for a book to come out during "SOS ART 2008" May 30-June 8, at the Art Academy of Cincinnati. Poems will be illustrated by local artists. Poets selected for the book will be invited to a reading during "SOS ART 2008. The deadline for submission is Feb. 25. Send submissions as 'Word" attachments or as full text to saad.ghosn@uc.edu or Saad Ghosn, 216 Erkenbrecher Ave., Cincinnati, OH 45229.

Love Over Dogma

Xavier Alliance presents For the Bible Tells Me So, a new documentary focusing on the lives of five Christian families who happen to have a gay son or daughter. Is the chasm separating gays and lesbians and Christianity too wide to cross? Is the Bible an excuse to hate? The showing is from 7-9 p.m. Feb. 5 in the Gallagher Student Center Theatre at Xavier University. Admission is free. A discussion will follow the film. For more information, call 513-921-8887.

African American Read In

The University of Cincinnati will again participate in the African American Read-In.

The event is from 9 a.m.-3p.m. Feb. 6. The Read-In is a celebration of both African-American literature and literacy and is sponsored by the National Council of Teachers of English. Crystal Wilkinson, a member of the Affrilachian movement who has written mostly short stories and poetry, will speak. For more information on the program, visit www.ncte.org/prog/readin/107901.htm.

Women´s Lunch Discussions

Xavier University´s Women´s Center offers a program of lectures as part of its Brown Bag Lunch Series. The programs are from 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Take your lunch to the center at 1415 Dana Ave. and eat as you listen and discuss. For more information, call the Women´s Center at 745-3737. The schedule is:

¯ Feb. 14, Christine Anderson, associate professor of history, shares her six months as a Fulbright Roving Scholar in Norway;

¯ Feb. 28, Trudelle Thomas, professor of English, and Shelagh Larkin, clinical faculty in social work, speak on "Spiritual Wellness: Personal Practices";

¯ March 1, Cheryl Nuñez, vice provost for diversity, discusses "A Women´s-Centered Perspective on Institutional Change";

¯ March 27, Roger Fortin, academic vice president and provost, discusses "The Place of Women in the History of Xavier University";

¯ April 10, Stephanie Brzuzy, chair of the department of social work, addresses "Transphobia: How Do We Know it When We See it?"

¯ April 24, Vickie Jones, director for stewardship, speaks about "Xavier´s Women of Excellence."

Celebrating Roe v. Wade

Freedom of Choice Ohio hosts the 35th Anniversary Roe v. Wade Dinner and Lecture Jan. 31 at Ohio State University´s Fawcett Center in Columbus. The keynote speaker is Dr. Susan Wicklund, a physician, pro-choice pioneer and author. Wicklund is the author of This Common Secret: My Journey as an Abortion Doctor. For more information or to reserve tickets all Jaime 800-466-2725 or write FOCOhio@gmail.com.

Stand for Peace

The Women in Black have been demonstrating against the war in Iraq since it started in 2003. Participants gather with signs in the traffic island at Vine Street and Central Parkways from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays. All peacemakers are welcome, including men and people not dressed in black. Peace workers in Northside hold a vigil from 4:30-5:30 p.m. Fridays in front of Hoffner Park, at the corner of Hamilton Avenue and Blue Rock Road.