If This Ground Could Talk: A Walking Tour of Unrecognized Sacred Spaces at VWU (10-03-2024)
What did newly freed slaves have to do with the VWU campus? What is the intentionally secret message at the statue of John Wesley? Why did a grove of trees cause deep controversy on campus? Why is a peace pole at the center of campus? Why was AIDS seen as particularly important here? These and other questions will be addressed on a walking tour of VWU’s sacred spaces, conducted by Professors Kathy Stolley and Craig Wansink, former VWU professors Steve Mansfield and Larry Hultgren, and Nusbaum Center Associate Director Kelly Jackson.
A sacred space is more than just a physical location; it is a place imbued with significance, memory, and a sense of reverence. While some such spaces are obvious, (e.g., Yosemite National Park, the Lincoln Memorial, and the National Cathedral), VWU’s sacred spaces may not be as immediately recognizable. Join us as we visit and learn about sites on the VWU campus that serve as touchstones for reflection, remembrance, and inspiration.
Thursday, October 10
Noon – 1:00 p.m.
Repeated 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
Tour begins in front of Monumental Chapel/Beazley Recital Hall
Sponsored in partnership with Dr. Kathy Stolley’s Sociology courses “Social Justice and Health,” “Introduction to Sociology,” and “Visual Sociology.”