Tues, Sept 2 @ 6pm: Linda Pawlenty Discusses Clutch: An Education at Work
Driving a concrete mixer throughout graduate school, Linda Pawlenty became accustomed to being the odd one out: as a working-class laborer in academia and as a woman and an academic in the construction industry. But from the moment she became a truck driver, Pawlenty loved the satisfaction of proving herself, the thrill of coaxing large machines into place with precision and care. Similarly, when beginning a PhD program in literature, she maneuvered her way through the strange territory of the university, proud to be the first in her family to attempt the degree. In CLUTCH, she recounts her time shuttling between worlds, delivering with bracing clarity a rare perspective on gender, class, labor, and whiteness—and how the implications of each shift according to context. From enduring sexual harassment at construction sites and classist comments from professors, to the joys of driving a truck and finding academic fulfillment—Pawlenty takes stock of her disparate experiences to ask hard questions about power and acceptance, providing a beacon for those fighting for presence in places they are not expected—and not always welcome—to be. Linda Pawlenty is a truck driver and volunteers as an English language teacher for Spanish speakers. She holds a PhD in literary studies from the University of Nebraska–Lincoln. (Francie & Finch Bookshop, 130 S. 13 St)
Thurs, Sept 4 or Wed, Sept 10 @ 4pm: Pre-Health Orientation
Geared toward new UNL pre-health students, this session will provide an overview of what it means to be a pre-health student and discuss questions like: How do I find out what courses I need to take for my pre-health area and how do I plan when to take them? How do I explore different areas of pre-health? How can my co-curricular experiences enhance my application? (Nebraska Union, Regency Room)
Wed, Sept 10 @ 6pm: Open SARV Workshop
Engage in conversation with fellow Huskers in a safe and inclusive environment while increasing a shared sense of responsibility and community. First-year undergraduate students are required to attend an in-person SARV workshop. OPEN workshops are intended for first-year students who do not live on campus or for students who missed their workshop in their residence hall. Undergraduate students (of any level) who want to increase their understanding about sexual assault and relationship violence are welcome to join this open session. Facilitated by trained undergraduate Huskers CARE Peer Educators, SARV workshops are designed to help undergraduate students gain awareness of and increase understanding of sexual assault and relationship violence; learn about programs and resources available on campus and in the community; be empowered to become active in daily life through prevention of power-based violence by knowing how to intervene; and increase a shared sense of responsibility to prevent sexual violence and help create a safe community. REGISTER HERE: care.unl.edu/sarv-workshop.
Thurs, Sept 11 @ 4pm: Pre-Law Orientation
This workshop is designed for any student considering applying to law school in the future. Freshmen through seniors will learn what it means to be a pre-law student, how to best plan your undergraduate education for law school success, and what makes a competitive applicant. We will discuss specific timelines regarding your undergraduate preparation as you work toward law school admission. (221 Love Library South)
Wed, Sept 17 @ 3:30pm: The Robert Knoll Lecture Series: "Whitman, Democracy, and 19th Century Cultures of Data"
The English department, with support from the dean’s office, is offering three Knoll lectures this fall on Walt Whitman and the vistas of democracy. These talks will occur on the 30th anniversary of the Walt Whitman Archive and its 25th year of operation at UNL. Through talks by three prominent Americanists—all with expertise in 19th century American literature, Whitman and digital humanities — we have an opportunity to see how literary studies can speak to cultural change, identity and the possibility of renewal. Frequently called the “poet of democracy,” Whitman was banned in his day, and he remains provocative and challenging now. How did a man-loving man, disabled in his final decades and never affluent, come to be widely regarded as the national poet? And how and why did he become an inspiration for democratic movements worldwide? Can he speak to our current political problems (in case you’re curious, he hated tariffs with a passion)? (229 Andrews Hall/Bailey Library)
Wed, Sept 17 @ 4pm: Get to Know the LSAT
Pre-Law students of all grade levels are encouraged to attend this presentation on the Law School Admission Test (LSAT). Topic covered will include an overview of the exam and its sections, how to best prepare for the exam during your undergraduate education, practice LSAT opportunities, and timing of the test with law school admissions cycles. (221 Love Library South)
Thurs, Sept 18 @ 5:30pm: Humanities on the Edge Presents Dr. Jeanne Vaccaro: "Sex, Science, and Forms of Defiance"
Artists' interventions often help understand how we are made and unmade by disciplines like psychiatry, sexology, anthropology, and reproductive medicine. Anchored in a curatorial exploration of the recent exhibition Scientia Sexualis, this talk considers alternative access points to the history of science where sex, gender, and pleasure are concerned. Works that address and hold diverse political and historical situations in their forms and textures are grounded in archives mapping often painful histories, including trans, Black feminist, Indigenous, disabled, and queer tactics of survival. (Sheldon Museum of Art)
Thurs, Sept 18 @ 5:30pm: LGBTQA+ BIPoC Social
This event provides a space to recognize Queer, Trans, Black, Indigenous people of color and allows attendees to connect with a greater network of an affirmative community. The social is a casual mixer where guests can come and go as they please. Appetizers will be provided. (Gender & Sexuality Center)
Thurs, Sept 18 @ 5:30pm: Belonging: Finding Connection in a Lonely World Screening
Join the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues and the University Honors Program as we kick off the 2025-26 season. Loneliness and social isolation are increasingly recognized as having serious impacts on physical and mental health and community well-being. Learn more about this important issue by watching a selection of five-minute films from the WHO Social Connection Series and Project UnLonely Films, featuring stories of people making connections around the world. Engage in small-group discussions about the films, exploring how belonging is central to our health and well-being. Popcorn and beverages will be served. (Nebraska Union, Swanson Auditorium)