LAWRENCEVILLE, NJ -- A dramatic play reading, the fall keynote theme lecture, and the first student theme awards colloquium will highlight Rider University's Theme Week schedule, October 12-16.

Now in the second year of the four-year program, Rider's theme program, titled "2001: To the Millennium and Beyond," is designed create unity and common purpose in academic and student life and to prepare students for their future after graduation.

The fall semester theme week activities will begin and conclude with showings of the hallmark movie, "2001: A Space Odyssey," on Monday, October 12, at 7 p.m. and Friday, October 16, at 10 p.m. in the Student Center Theater.

On Tuesday, October 13, Dr. Patrick Chmel, professor of fine arts, will direct a student dramatic reading of Cain or a Scientific Glory, a play about the spiritual and ethical dilemmas of science and technology, at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Theatre. The student cast will feature Robert Bonocore, Patrick Cecala, Keara Hailey, Moniqué McClung, John Mintz, Dale Santangelo, Pete Zicky, Chris Jimenez, and Jamie Micallef.

On Wednesday, October 14, Daniel Ingram, senior vice president for strategic development of algroup wheaton, will deliver the keynote theme lecture, titled, "Globalization and the Future of Work," at 4:30 p.m. in the Student Center Theater. Ingram graduated from Rider magna cum laude in 1979 with a B.A. degree in political science, and is a strong advocate of a liberal arts education.

In his position, Ingram is responsible for strategic planning, mergers and acquisitions, business development, and marketing communications for algroup wheaton, the pharmaceutical and cosmetics packaging division of Alusuisee-Lonza Holding, Ltd. of Zurich, Switzerland.

Highlighting the week will the theme awards colloquium on Thursday, October 15 at 11:30 a.m. in Sweigart Hall Auditorium. It will feature the first students to be honored for having written the best theme papers during the 1997-98 academic year.

The student award winners and their papers are: Eric Johannsen, "Globalization of Financial Reporting Standards;" Brian Caughie, "Utopia High School;" Dominqué Prizgint, "Cyberville: The Utopian City of the Future;" Kelly Hollister, "La diferencias culturales: una actividad del Programma del Tema;" Christine Wizda, "Medicinal Plants: Renewed Interest in 20th Century Harbors: Applications in Modern Medicine;" Christine Schwarz, "The Evolution of Families and Their Myths and Traditions;" Justin DeMarco, "The False Sense of Happiness in a Brave New World;" Melissa Mulryne, comparative essay on Robert Reich's economic vision and the society in Brave New World; and Natasha Gwira, comparative essay on "Fordism" and society in Brave New World.

Later in the afternoon, Dr. Candyce Leonard, professor of humanities at Wake Forest University, will give a lecture and film-excerpt presentation, "Constructing Society through Science & Technology in Film: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly," at 4:30 p.m. in Daly Dining Hall West.

Following Dr. Leonard's presentation, there will a banquet reception for Dr. Leonard and the student award recipients at 5:30 p.m., also in Daly West.

For more information on University Theme Week programs, contact program coordinator Dr. Linda Materna, associate professor of foreign languages and literatures, at (609) 895-5592. You may also visit the University Theme Program Web site at www.rider.edu/2001.

Rider University's Lawrenceville campus is located five miles south of Princeton and three miles north of Trenton on Route 206 in Lawrence Township, NJ. The campus is one-half mile south of exit 7A of Interstate 95.