Georgia Museum plans Elegant Salute
On Nov. 18, the Georgia Museum of Art will celebrate the 10th anniversary of Elegant Salute, its biennial gala hosted by the Friends of the Georgia Museum of Art.

Elegant Salute X will honor M. Smith Griffith, who founded the fundraiser 20 years ago and served as chair of the first five galas, according to Ann Scoggins and C.L. Morehead Jr., co-chairs for Elegant Salute X.

“ ‘Smitty,’ as she is affectionately known at the museum, recognized the need for a major fundraiser to benefit the museum,” Scoggins said. “She began a tradition that has grown into one of the most anticipated events in Athens.”

In the past, the proceeds from Elegant Salute have been used in support of the museum’s exhibitions and educational programs. This year, all funds raised will be directed toward the museum’s most important concern of 2006—the construction of its Phase II addition.

“This year’s Elegant Salute occurs at a crucial time in the museum’s history; that is a time of expansion of both facilities and programming,” said William U. Eiland, the museum’s director. “Elegant Salute is an opportunity for all of our supporters to join us in this exciting project, because all proceeds from Elegant Salute will go to construction of Phase II, which is so necessary for our future.”

Tickets for Elegant Salute X are $250 per person; for more information, call Tim Brown at (706) 542-0427.

Astronomers offer glimpse at rare event
UGA astronomers will be busy this month with two programs, including one that will examine the unusual event involving the planet Mercury.

The first program, scheduled for Nov. 8, will rely on good weather, but the payoff could be spectacular. Mercury will appear in a moderately rare transit that places it directly between the Earth and the sun.

If the weather is clear, UGA astronomers will have telescopes with special solar filters on the Myers Quad so spectators can see the planet. The viewing is planned for 3–5 p.m.

“Do not try to view this event without proper protection for your eyes,” said Scott Shaw, astronomy professor. “Our telescopes will allow you to view the event safely.” The next such transit by Mercury will not be until May 2016.

The second program is a lecture on Nov. 10 in which professor Loris Magnani will speak on “A Pictorial History of the Arecibo Observatory.” The talk will take place at 7 p.m. in Room 202 of the Physics Building. The Arecibo Observatory is home of the world’s largest radio telescope, a giant dish a thousand feet across that has been featured in movies such as “Contact” and “Golden Eye.”

Women’s Studies presents lecture on ‘The Modern Colonial Gender System’
UGA’s Institute for Women’s Studies will present a lecture by Maria Lugones, professor of philosophy, interpretation and culture and comparative literature at Binghamton University.

Lugones’ lecture, entitled “The Modern Colonial Gender System,” will be held Nov. 9 at 5:30 p.m. in Room 248 of the Student Learning Center; a reception in the north tower of the SLC will follow the lecture. Both events are free and open to the public.

In addition to Binghamton University, Lugones teaches at Escuela Popular Norte, a center for popular education that she co-founded. Her most recent book is Pilgrimages/Peregrinajes Theorizing Coalition Against Multiple Oppressions.

She is also the author of Playfulness, ‘World’-Traveling and Loving Perception and Enticements and Dangers of Community for a Radical Politics.