The 35th Annual Appalachian Studies Association Conference, hosted by IUP March 23–25, is offering four free presentations to IUP students and the Indiana community. Conference registration is not required to attend these talks.
• “Pennsylvania as Greater Appalachia: Historical Perspectives,” by John Alexander Williams, Appalachian State University, noon–1:15 p.m., March 23, Eberly Auditorium. Williams is the author of “Appalachia: A History.” He will discuss Pennsylvania's role in the development of Appalachian culture.
• “Appalachian Impacts of Global Warming: Reasons for Hope,” by Robert F. Cahalan, NASA, 1:30–2:45 p.m., March 23, Eberly Auditorium. Cahalan is a member of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who shared the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore. He will discuss productive solutions to the global warming crisis.
• “The Significance of Powwows to Native Americans in Pennsylvania's Appalachia,” by Susan M. Taffe Reed, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 9:45–10:45 p.m., March 24, room 121, Eberly Hall. Reed will discuss how Indigenous peoples use Native American powwows to develop communal relationships in Appalachian Pennsylvania.
• “Uncovering Racist Sundown Towns in Appalachia and Across the Nation,” by James Loewen, Catholic University, 5–6 p.m., March 24, Eberly Auditorium. Loewen is the author of the books “Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism” and “Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.” He will discuss “sundown towns,” areas of the United States that drove out or forbade African American population growth between 1890 and 1968. Pennsylvania may have had perhaps 700 sundown towns, more than any other state.
Although conference registration is not required, persons planning to attend are asked to reserve a spot in advance by emailing Jim Cahalan, professor of English and conference program chair, at jcahalan@iup.edu.
Conference registration and the complete schedule of presentations are available at the conference website.