UpDate - Vol. 13, No. 30, Page 4
May 5, 1994
Up and coming

U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, UD'65, to talk on violence in America
     U.S. Sen. Joseph R. Biden Jr., Delaware '65, will discuss "Battling
Violence in America" in a free public presentation at 7 p.m., Monday, May
9, in Room 120 of Smith Hall.
     A former trial lawyer, Biden has focused on the nation's crime
problem, especially illegal drug trafficking and violent crime, throughout
his Senate career.
     He has long been considered a leader in developing ground-breaking
legislation dealing with criminal justice. As chair of the Senate
delegation in conference with the House of Representatives, Biden saw the
Brady Bill, imposing new controls on the sale of handguns, enacted into
law.
     A principal architect of the major crime bills enacted in 1984 and
1990, as well as major anti-drug legislation enacted in 1986 and 1988, he
was the primary author of the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act
of 1993.
     The Biden Violence Against Women Act, first introduced in 1990, is the
first federal legislation to recognize the enormity of the problem of
gender-related violence and to address crimes against women, including rape
and domestic violence. It is the first legislation in more than 10 years to
revise federal rape laws, to encourage states to improve rape-law
enforcement and the first, ever, to recognize a federal responsibility to
make "stay away" orders issued in one state enforceable in every other
state. It is also the first legislation to recognize that violent attacks
motivated by gender violate civil-rights laws.
     Biden is serving his fourth term in the U.S. Senate. He was re-elected
in 1990 by the largest margin of victory ever accorded a U.S. Senate
candidate in Delaware. He now ranks 16th in Senate seniority.
     His University appearance is sponsored by the Department of Political
Science and International Relations, the Department of Sociology and
Criminal Justice and the Women's Studies Interdisciplinary Program.
     For more information, call the Department of Political Science and
International Relations at 831-2355.

'Glamour' editor, to speak on health
     Linda Gordon, an editor at Glamour magazine, will discuss a
breast-health initiative for young women at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 10, in the
auditorium of Newark Hall. The program is free and open to the public.
     Joining Gordon will be Jill Biden and Maggie Thorpe, creators of the
Biden Breast Health Initiative, a breast-health program for teens; and Dr.
Susan Lowry, University physician with Student Health Services.
     Gordon's talk is part of Glamour/Hanes "Hand-In-Hand," an ongoing,
national breast-health education program Glamour developed for women ages
18-39. Funded by Hanes Hosiery, the program is designed to empower women to
take control of their breast health rather than ignore it out of fear, lack
of knowledge or passivity.
     The Biden Breast Health Initiative was developed for presentation in
both public and private high schools to female students in grades nine
through 12. The program focuses on the importance of breast health and
self-breast exams beginning at this age. The presentation includes
age-appropriate videos on self-breast exam, diagrams and breast models that
contain normal and abnormal lumps. The goal is to promote prevention and
early detection through education.
     Biden, in addition to being the wife of U.S. Sen. Joseph Biden, is an
educator of high-school- and college-age students. Thorpe is a registered
nurse at the Medical Center of Delaware's Cancer Center.
     Gordon's local appearance is sponsored by the University's Panhellenic
Council, the Wilmington Panhellinic Council and Wellspring, the
University's health education program.
     For more information, contact Jane Moore, assistant dean of students
at the University, at 831-2116.
                                                  -Jessica Kipp

Two poets to read in Memorial Hall
     Poets W.D. Snodgrass and Harry Humes will offer separate readings in
May, sponsored by the Department of English. Both readings are free and
open to the public.
     On Friday, May 6, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Snodgrass, Distinguished
Professor of Creative Writing and Contemporary Literature at the
University, will read from the works of Walt Whitman. The reading will take
place at 8 p.m. in 110 Memorial Hall on the Newark campus.
     Humes will appear at the University at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, May 12,
also in 110 Memorial Hall. He will read from his work and announce this
year's winners of the English department's literary prizes.
     Among Snodgrass' works are Heart's Needle, The Fuehrer Bunker: A Cycle
of Poems in Progress and Selected Poems. His most recent work is Each in
His Season. On reviewing that book, Bruce Bennett of The New York Times
wrote, "Mr. Snodgrass is a reverent and patient observer, and this new
collection is a considerable accomplishment."
     Snodgrass has received fellowships from the Guggenheim and Ingram
Merrill Foundations, the Academy of American Poets, the National Institute
of Arts and Letters and the National Endowment for the Arts.
     Humes has published four books of poems, including Ridge Music and The
Way Winter Works, both from the University of Arkansas Press. He is the
recipient of numerous awards, including the Theodore Roethke Memorial Prize
and a National Endowment for the Arts Poetry Fellowship. Copies of his
books are available at the University Bookstore.
     For information, call 831-1974.

Music department to host composer
     Gwyneth Walker, currently Vermont composer of the year, will be in
residence at the University May 9-11. Highlighting her visit will be a
concert at 8 p.m., Wednesday, May 11, in the Loudis Recital Hall of the Amy
E. du Pont Music Building.
     Walker's setting of poems by May Swenson, Songs for Women's Voices,
will be performed by the University Singers under the direction of Ruth
Oatman. Walker will introduce her composition and will meet with audience
members after the concert. Also appearing on the program is the University
Chamber Orchestra, under the direction of Peter J. McCarthy. The ensemble
will perform works by Bartok, Mozart and Rachmaninoff.
     Admission to the concert is $3.
     Walker also will present a free, open master class at 2:30 p.m., May
9, in the Loudis Recital Hall.
     Walker began composing full-time in 1982, following a 14-year career
as teacher of theory and composition at Oberlin and the Hartt School of
Music. She has written more than 90 commissioned works for orchestra, band,
chorus and chamber ensembles.
     Sponsored by the Department of Music, Walker's visit is funded in part
by the Faculty Senate Committee on Cultural Activities and Public Events,
the Visiting Women's Scholars Fund and Meet the Composer Inc.

Reception set for senior exhibition
     Seniors in the University's bachelor's of fine arts program will be
featured in a Senior Exhibition during May in Clayton Hall. An opening
reception will be held from 5-8 p.m., Friday, May 13.
     For additional information, call 831-2244.