Calendar highlights

Pianist Taylor featured in Waisman Center benefit
Christopher Taylor is the featured performer for the Friends of the Waisman Center’s annual benefit concert scheduled Friday, May 3, at 7 p.m. at the center.

Taylor joined the School of Music as an assistant professor in 2000. He has received widespread critical acclaim for his performances. At the Waisman Center benefit, he will play music by Beethoven and “Rags” by William Bolcom. A reception will follow. Information: 263-5837.

Staff town meeting today
A spring town meeting for academic staff today, May 1, noon-1 p.m. at Union South (see Today in the Union) will focus on civility and climate.

Town meetings are an opportunity for academic staff to raise workplace issues, particularly those concerning climate and civility. This is a chance to ask questions, bring up issues and concerns, and join in discussing issues with other academic staff. Resource people from Academic Staff Executive Committee, Madison Academic Staff Association, Academic Staff Public Representation Organization and the Academic Staff Personnel Office will be available to answer questions.

Peace forum planned
A peace initiative forum Thursday, May 2, 7 p.m. at Memorial Union, will present analysis and discussion of a new peace initiative for Palestine and Israel.

The initiative recognizes the highly interconnected aspirations of the Palestinian and Israeli peoples and offers a political solution that addresses those aspirations: a bi-national state.

For information on the initiative, see: http://ap-agenda.org/initiative.htm. The forum is sponsored by the Department of African Languages and Literature and the Middle East Studies Program. Sponsorship does not imply endorsement of the initiative.

Exploring the teaching life
A symposium, “The Life of a Teacher: An Invitation to Reflect,” will be held at Grainger Hall on Tuesday, May 21, from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. This symposium will explore the different stages that teaching careers have in common. As part of the program, Provost Peter Spear and deans Daryl Buss, Phillip Certain, Robin Douthitt and Charles Read will share stories about their lives as teachers.

As a follow-up to the symposium, a series of technology and learning workshops will be offered across campus Wednesday, May 22. For symposium and workshop schedules and registration, see: http://www.wisc.edu/provost/ccae/symform.html.