Inside Furman is published quarterly by the Furman University Department of Marketing and Public Relations. For story ideas, e-mail John Roberts, editor.
Summer fun for free
They're here.
And they come in all shapes and sizes – grade-school children in oversized t-shirts, sweaty, helmet-clad football players and middle-aged folks toting large bags.
Summer campers and visitors.
Between Commencement and Labor Day more than 9,000 business people, amateur athletes, musicians and conference attendees are expected to visit campus. The growing number of summer camps, events and conferences have become a way of life – and income – at Furman in recent years.
While some campus cynics may view the visitors as summer invaders – driving the wrong way on the mall, ripping up athletic fields and shattering campus tranquility with squeals and bombastic band music – many of us take a kinder and more helpful approach.
Marie Burgess, director of camps and conferences, offers another take.
“There are a lot of programs, events and concerts Furman faculty and staff can attend for free or for very little costs.”
For example, Sweet Adelines International, an international organization of women barbershop quartet singers, will host three on-campus concerts that are free to faculty, staff and students.
The Furman Pastor's School will also present a series of lectures by prominent theological scholars that members of the university community may attend. And Christians in Theatre Arts (CITA) will host several productions that are free to university faculty, staff and students.
And, of course, there is the ever-popular July Fourth event.
Below are details on a few upcoming events that you may want to mark on your calendar.
June 30 : CITA will host three separate performances, all beginning at 7:30 p.m. A storytelling festival will be held in Burgiss Theater while an Urban Ministry and Church Theatre performances will be held in the Daniel Chapel. A “Touring Performer Festival” will be hosted in Daniel Recital Hall. On July 1 , the same schedule and venues will apply. Tickets are required for the above-mentioned events but may be obtained for free from the CESC office in the University Center .
July 2 : A 7:30 p.m. show in McAlister will feature performances by AC. McNair Wilson, Doug Berky and the Collage Dance Company. Wilson is an author, inventor, speaker, humorist, director, actor, playwright, storyteller and ventriloquist who has performed his three original one-man plays more than 1, 500 times. Berky is a master of mime and improvisation, clowning and suspense. The Collage Dance Company is a collection of arts and artists whose purpose is to create, encourage, and demonstrate artistic expression for the worship of God.
July 4 : Faculty and staff may receive five complimentary tickets to the Fourth at Furman event, which includes carnival rides, live music and a spectacular fireworks display.
July 5-7 : Amy Levine, a professor of New Testament studies at Vanderbilt University will present a series of lectures that will focus on Jewish-Christian relationships. Her lectures, to be hosted in Daniel Chapel, are scheduled for 8:30 p.m. , July 5, 11 a.m. , July 6 and 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. on July 7.
July 5-8 : Bishop William Willimon, a bishop of the Birmingham area of the United Methodist Church and former dean of the Chapel and professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University will speak on “the Miracle of Preaching,” at 7:30 p.m. lectures July 5-7 and at 11 a.m. , July 8 in Daniel Chapel.
July 6-8 : Glen Stasson, a professor of Christian ethics at the Fuller Theological Seminary, will present a series of lectures that will focus on Christian ethics. His lectures, to be hosted in Daniel Chapel, are scheduled for 9:30 a.m. and 8:30 p.m. , July 6, 11 a.m. , July 7 and 9:30 a.m. , July 8.
July 15 : The Suzuki Music Camp will hold its closing concerts at noon and 7 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium. The camp hosts young, talented string musicians.
July 22 : “Rising Star Quartet Concert,” sponsored by the Sweet Adelines International, 8-11 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium.
July 23 : The Sweet Adelines will host two concerts; The “Harmony Classic Competition,” 2-6 p.m. and “Closing Show,” 8:30-10 p.m. Both events will be held in McAlister Auditorium.
In addition to the free programs and events, Furman athletic coaches also offer discount rates for children of Furman faculty and staff. During July and August the university will host soccer, volleyball, tennis and golf camps.
As the summer season nears its midway point, Burgess offers the following tip to the campus community:
For an updated list of who will be on campus, see the “summer camp” FUnet file on FUnet.