AU in the Neighborhood

September 2023

Contact Us

202-885-2146

communityrelations@american.edu

Community Relations 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016-8033 United States

In This Issue

Changemaking Presidency: Burwell to Complete Term in June
Community Liaison Committee (CLC) Meeting on September 5th
AU Farmer’s Market Returns!
Join AU’s Airlie Berkshire Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program!
Osher Lifelong Learning Courses at American University
Orientation to the AU Neighborhood Partnership
Explore DC 2023
Art All Night
Consequence of Division
The Child Development Center has Openings for Fall Enrollment
The 2023 Feminist Art History Conference
How to Contact American University
American University Events

Changemaking Presidency: Burwell to Complete Term in June

Sylvia Burwell, AU’s 15th president and the first woman to lead the institution, announced on August 8, 2023 that she will complete her service at the end of the 2023–24 academic year.

Why it matters: Under Burwell’s leadership, AU’s endowment has grown by approximately 60 percent to about $950 million; we are closing in on our history-making, $500 million Change Can’t Wait goal; and our campus plan ensures that student thriving is at the center of our growth and development over the next 10 years. The groundbreaking work of our faculty has positioned AU as a research institution on the rise. Our changemaking students and alumni are living lives of purpose and working to build a more equitable, just, and sustainable world. And our dedicated staff are the glue that holds our extraordinary community together.

Dig deeper to read about all the accomplishments since Burwell arrived on her first day at AU in 2017 on a bike—and why AU is uniquely positioned for the next cycle of changemaking and impact.

Community Liaison Committee (CLC) Meeting on September 5th

American University's Community Liaison Committee (CLC) will hold a quarterly meeting on Tuesday, September 5, 2023. Refreshments will start at 6:30 pm, and the meeting will begin at 7 pm.

The CLC will take place in Rooms 1-3 of Constitution Hall on AU's East Campus and is open to the entire community. Free parking for the event will be available in the East Campus surface parking lot, accessible from Nebraska Avenue.

Please RSVP here.

If you have any questions or need more information, please contact communityrelations@american.edu or 202-885-2146.

AU Farmer’s Market Returns!

The American University Farmer’s Market is back! The Farmer’s Market is open every Wednesday, beginning August 30 through November 8, from 11:00 - 2:00pm on the Eric Friedheim Quadrangle. AU's own Airlie Farm will have fresh meats, produce, and honey for sale brought in from the local Virginia farm.

Learn more about the Farmer’s Market featured vendors and their offerings:

Enjoy RavenHook Bakehouse's fresh-baked bread and treats.
Mesisam the Ethiopian Eatery serves a variety of authentic Ethiopian vegetarian and non-vegetarian ready-to-eat meals.
Blu December offers loose leaf teas and honey.

Join AU’s Airlie Berkshire Farm Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program!

American University is thrilled to introduce our neighbors to the Airlie Berkshire Farm Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program.Fresh, local produce from AU’s Airlie Berkshire Farm is now available for our neighbors! This past summer, we launched this program with Berkshire Farm’s first ever 9-week summer share. Thank you to those neighbors who joined as subscribers!

The Berkshire Farm CSA program offers a unique opportunity for you to subscribe to the bounty of our farm, direct from the fields to your kitchen. By being a part of the Berkshire Farm CSA, you not only receive fresh, seasonal produce, but also contribute to supporting sustainable agriculture and become a vital part of our growing Berkshire Farm community.

The 9-week fall share starts on September 13 and continues until early November. As a subscriber, you will receive a weekly subscription box brimming with eight to twelve pounds of seasonal herbs, fruits, and vegetables such as squash, berries, broccoli, potatoes, and more. Berkshire Farm will deliver these boxes every Wednesday for pickup at the AU Farmers Market on the Eric Friedheim Quadrangle between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.

On pickup day, we’ll also have a variety of premium beef, pork, and additional vegetables for sale. For those interested in occasional shares, Berkshire Farm will also have between 10-15 “first come, first serve,” subscription boxes available to sell each week.

To embark on this farm-to-table journey, subscribe and make your payment at https://www.clover.com/online-ordering/airlie-berkshire-farm-warrenton. You can also find more information on the Airlie website. Our fall registration deadline is September 8, 2023.

For any questions or additional assistance, please email berkshirefarm@airlie.com

Osher Lifelong Learning Courses at American University

OLLI at AU offers courses ranging from "Today’s Supreme Court” to “Great Conductors of the Twentieth Century" or from "The Novels of Jane Austen" to "The Grey Zone of War"-- these are just four of the more than 95 highly affordable lifelong learning courses available during the fall semester starting September 26. Designed for people “50 and better,” nearly 1,500 members are active participants who join for the joy of learning with no tests and no grades. Classes meet once a week for 7-10 weeks. Take up to four classes for the fall semester for $300. Registration is open NOW. Choose your lottery selections before Friday, September 8. To obtain a catalog, go to our website: olli-dc@american.org or call 202-895-4860.

View our fall semester course offerings.

Orientation to the AU Neighborhood Partnership

Please consider joining the AU Neighborhood Partnership which works to provide a consensus-based forum to resolve issues affecting the communities near American University. Interested members of the community may join one of the Partnership’s five standing working groups, comprising community stakeholders and AU leadership.

The orientation sessions will serve as an introduction to the partnership, explore Zoning and Campus Planning in DC and offer ways to get involved in the partnership through one of the five working groups. Orientation sessions will be held online through Zoom on the following dates:

Monday, September 18 from 6 pm – 7:15 pm
Wednesday, September 27 from 6 pm - 7:15 pm
Monday, October 2 from 6 pm - 7:15 pm

More information about the AU Neighborhood Partnership and the Office of Community and Government Relations can be found online at https://www.american.edu/communityrelations/.

Please register in advance to attend the orientation sessions. Still have questions? Email us at communityrelations@american.edu.

Explore DC 2023

Art All Night

Come see American University's visual and performing arts in action as part of the Tenleytown Main Street's contribution to DC Art All Night. On Saturday, September 30, visit the AU Museum at the Katzen Arts Center after dark to explore five new exhibitions. Meet AU’s studio art MFA artists during open studios and see their work. Plus, see a site-specific performance at 8 p.m. on the site of Elyn Zimmerman's monumental sculpture Sudama, recently gifted from the National Geographic Society. Parking is free at the Katzen Arts Center, and all events are free.

Consequence of Division

This free, site-specific, and immersive performance combining movement, dance, and digital projections will activate the space around Elyn Zimmerman's Sudama. The event will take place on Saturday, September 30, 2023, at 8 pm.

This interdisciplinary performance will feature Nancy Jo Snider, Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer, on cello, Associate Professor, and computer musician William Brent, visiting artist Miřenka Čechová, and video content and design by Ross Karre (Oberlin Conservatory). Playing with the reflective boulders and pool that comprise Sudama, artists will explore the relationship between the multiple dualities inspired by the sculpture, including nature and technology, darkness and light, and rough and smooth textures.

The site is located across Massachusetts Avenue from the Katzen Arts Center at the site of Sudama. Attendees are invited to circulate the performance space to experience varying perspectives of sound, sight, and texture.

Funded in part by the CAS Mellon Research Fund Competition.

Accessibility: The space is fully accessible, and chairs will be available for audience members.

The Child Development Center has Openings for Fall Enrollment

AU's Child Development Center provides high-quality education and care for children 2-1/2 to 6 years of age. The Center uses a research-based system that offers a comprehensive, evolving set of resources that emphasizes the developmental uniqueness of each child. The Child Development Center has openings for fall enrollment. You can learn more about the Child Development Center online. For questions, please contact Beth Root, Director for the Child Development Center at eroot@american.edu.

The 2023 Feminist Art History Conference

September 29–October 1 | Online Panels & In-Person at the Katzen Arts Center/Livestreamed Keynotes

An international conference advancing feminist art, artists, methods, and research from American University's Art History program. Established in 2010 to celebrate and build on the feminist art-historical scholarship and pedagogy of Professors Emeriti Norma Broude and Mary D. Garrard, the Feminist Art History Conference is currently in its eighth iteration.

Full conference registration ($75 General Public/$30 Student) includes all panels and panel Q&As, both Keynote speeches, and a curator-led tour of “Making Her Mark: A History of Women Artists in Europe, 1400-1800 at the Baltimore Museum of Art (optional). Purchase conference tickets online.

How to Contact American University

As American University begins the Fall semester, we remain committed to being a good neighbor and working with you to support a positive community environment. The university works closely with students to educate them about their rights and responsibilities as residents of the District. As outlined in a postcard sent to residents in the 20008 and 20016 zip codes, you can help us stay informed if student behavior or events adversely impact the neighborhood.

For trash, property maintenance, and parking concerns:

Please fill out this online form to alert the Dean of Student’s office or

Email the Dean of Student’s office at dos@american.edu as well as Community Relations at communityrelations@american.edu

For noise concerns, AU has a specific process that will require contacting both the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and American University’s Police Department (AUPD).

First, call 311 to report the noise or other non-emergency concerns to MPD. If it’s an emergency, or unlawful violation, please call 911.
Second, call AUPD at 202-885-2527 to report the incident as well.

Filling out the online form, emailing our offices and/or contacting MPD and AUPD helps start our investigation and follow up processes so we can formally address the incidents when our students are involved.

If there are any additional concerns or questions, please contact Community Relations at communityrelations@american.edu or 202-885-2146.

American University Events

AU Museum

American University Museum hosts rotating exhibitions of contemporary art and art-related events. It is located on American University’s main campus at the Katzen Arts Center.

Join Us for the AU Museum Fall ’23 Opening Reception

September 9, 6:00pm – 9:00pm

Gallery Talk with artist Franklin White for “An American in Venezuela” 5:00pm – 6:00pm

Check out our art exhibitions for the fall season! In “CUSHNER”, witness Steven Cushner’s masterful manipulation of color and scale, and in “Rachel Rotenberg”, see how the artist imbues her cedar sculptures with both intimacy and monumentality. The larger-than-life oil pastels in “Franklin White: An American in Venezuela” invite you to examine the way nature generously gifted Merida, Venezuela with a bounty of beautiful things, while the photography in must-see “Lost Europe” offers an intimate look into lives of rural Ukrainians just before Putin’s invasion. Lillian Klein Abensohn’s “Song of Songs: Fruitful Relationships” explores the allegorical power of the still-life through suggestive depictions of fruits and vegetables, and “Nature’s Tapestry” re-visions the everyday through Bernis von zur Muehlen’s evocative photographs of the natural world. Make a night of it and explore these powerful and diverse artworks – come early for light refreshments!

September 16, 4:00pm – 6:00pm

Special presentation – “A Day in Kyiv” with Daniel Faust. This event draws on the AU exhibition “Lost Europe: On the Edge of Memories.”

September 23, 2:00pm – 3:00pm

Gallery Talk with artist Bernis von zur Muehlen for “Nature’s Tapestry”

AU Athletics

AU Volleyball Hosts Five Matches This Month in Bender Arena

AU vs. UMES

Fri. September 1^st at 7pm

AU vs. CCSU

Sat. September 2^nd at 11am

AU vs. Marist

Sat. September 2^nd at 5pm

AU vs. Lafayette

Fri. September 29^th at 7pm

AU vs. Lehigh

Sat. September 30^th at 4pm

For the latest on American University Volleyball, stay tuned to AUeagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_Volleyball), Instagram (@AU_Volleyball), FULL SCHEDULE

Ticket Information

Single Game: Adults: $8,

Youth (3-14)/ Senior (65+): $5

Military and Veterans: FREE (Must present military ID at ticket office, not available online)

Group Tickets (10 or more): Start at $2 each when purchased in advance. Call (202) 885-2617 to purchase.

Click here to purchase individual tickets

Bender Arena Sky Box Single Game Rentals at AU Volleyball

This luxury space at an affordable price seats 30 guests and includes snacks and soft drinks. Single match rentals are priced at $350. Additional catering is also available. Call (202) 885-2617 or email Clawed@american.edu to check skybox availability.

AU Men’s Soccer Hosts Two Tough Non-Conference Matches to Start the Season vs. VCU and West Virginia and then dive right into Patriot League play at Reeves Field.

AU vs. VCU – HOME OPENER

Fri. September 1^st at 4pm

AU vs. West Virginia

Tues. September 4^th at 4pm

AU vs. Boston University

Sat. September 23^rd at 1pm

AU vs. Navy

Wed. September 27^th at 3pm

Single Game: Adults: $8

Youth (3-14)/ Senior (65+): $5

Military and Veterans: FREE (Must present military ID at ticket office, not available online)

Group Tickets: Start at $2 each when purchased in advance. Call (202) 885-2617 to purchase.

Click here to purchase men’s soccer individual tickets

For the latest on American University Men’s Soccer, stay tuned to AUeagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_MSoccer), Instagram (@AU.MSoccer), FULL SCHEDULE

----

AU Women’s Soccer Hosts Three Home Games this Month on Reeves Field

AU vs. Richmond

Thur. September 7^th at 4pm

AU vs. Army

Sat. September 16^th at 1pm

AU vs. Holy Cross

Sun. September 24^th at 1pm

ADMISSION IS FREE ALL SEASON LONG

For the latest on American University Field Hockey, stay tuned to AUeagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_WSoccer), Instagram (@AU_WSoccer), FULL SCHEDULE

----

AU Field Hockey Hosts One Game This September at Jacobs Complex

ADMISSION IS FREE ALL SEASON LONG

AU vs. Lafayette

Sat. September 23^rd at 12pm

For the latest on American University Field Hockey, stay tuned to AUeagles.com and follow the team on Twitter (@AU_FieldHockey), Instagram (@AUFieldHockey), FULL SCHEDULE

Check AUeagles.com for complete sporting events schedule and ticket information!

Performing Arts

The Department of Performing Arts (DPA) presents its lineup of fall productions from the Theatre, Music, and Dance Programs. Featuring a Chamber Singers concert inspired by an AU Museum exhibition, music by The Go-Go's in Head Over Heels, original choreography from the Dance Program, and so much more.

Tickets for DPA events are on sale now. Free for AU students with ID; $10 for alumni, staff, children (under 18), faculty, and senior citizens (55 and older); $15 general public. Students are encouraged to reserve their free tickets in advance.

From the Theatre/Musical Theatre program

Overture 2023

Department of Performing Arts Directed by Nancy Bannon

Overture welcomes to the stage AU’s newest actors from the dynamic class of 2027. Showcasing the talents of its performers, this production features music, text, and movement assembled and devised by the student company, in collaboration with faculty director Nancy Bannon.

When: October 6, 2023, 8 p.m. and October 7, 2023, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Where: Katzen Arts Center, Studio Theatre, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

Head over Heels

Songs by The Go-Go's

Based on ‘The Arcadia’ by Sir Philip Sidney Conceived and Original Book by Jeff Whitty Adapted by James Magruder Department of Performing Arts Directed by Carl Menninger Music Direction by Kristin Stowell Choreographed by Cate Ginsberg

A hilarious, exuberant celebration of love, Head Over Heels follows the escapades of a royal family on an outrageous journey to save their beloved kingdom from extinction—only to discover the key to their realm’s survival lies within each of their own hearts. This laugh-out-loud love story is set to the music of the iconic 1980s all-female rock band The Go-Go’s, including the hit songs, “We Got the Beat,” “Our Lips Are Sealed,” “Vacation,” Belinda Carlisle’s “Heaven is a Place on Earth,” and “Mad About You.”

Content: The production includes sexual innuendo, simulated intercourse, violence, and death.

When: October 20 and 27, 2023, 8 p.m., October 21 and 28, 2023, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Where: Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre, 4200 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

Daughters of Leda

By Madeline SayetDepartment of Performing ArtsDirected by Shanara Gabrielle and Angelisa Gillyard

In this contemporary reimagining of epic tales from Ancient Greece, the seasons change, and Persephone returns to the underworld. A mortal girl arrives at the same time, asking questions that turn history upside down. The Fates have a game up their sleeve—they are tired, they need a vacation. But in order to depart, they have to give the stories they exploited back. In a whirlwind of events, Adam and Eve, Leda (and the Swan), Helen, Clytemnestra, Iphigenia, and Electra all come together to choose their own destinies and finally tell their side of the stories that have instilled fear of feminine knowledge for far too long.

Content: This production includes references to rape and suicide, and a depiction of domestic violence.

When: November 1-3, 2023, 8 p.m., November 4, 2023, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.Where: Katzen Arts Center Studio Theatre, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

Damn Things Will Kill Ya

By Olivia Luzquinos Department of Performing Arts Directed by Aaron Posner

"You can't choose who you love. It doesn't work like that."

A little thing like lung cancer isn’t going to stop Ruth from smoking—even in the hospital. As her children gather by her bedside, they struggle with the hard-headed, hard-hearted woman who raised them—and with each other. As events unfold, the family is forced to grapple with faith, fear, forgiveness, and the complicated consequences of letting go. Damn Things Will Kill Ya was written by recent AU graduate Olivia Luzquinos (CAS ’23) and features AU Theatre faculty member Tara Giordano as the matriarch Ruth. This production will be the first time the AU Theatre Program has fully produced a show by a recent graduate.

Content: This production includes adult themes and references to suicide.

When: December 5–8, 2023, 8 p.m., December 9, 2023, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Where: Katzen Arts Center Studio Theatre, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

From the Music program

Choral Abstractions

American University Chamber Singers Department of Performing Arts Daniel Abraham, Director

By its very nature, though text, choral music is not often abstract. Frequently, however, contemporary composers have taken a more abstract approach by creating music without word, by adopting vocal devices, or even creating open approaches to shape and form that provide greater parallels to visual art. Join us for an inspiring earful of innovative approaches to choral sound in conjunction with the American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center’s exhibition of large abstract works by Steven Cushner, this program with commentary will be a delight for the eyes, ears, and mind.

When: November 4, 2023 at 7:30 p.m. and November 5, 2023 at 4:30 p.m. Where: American University Museum at the Katzen Arts Center, 3rd floor, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

Fall for Jazz

American University Jazz Orchestra Department of Performing Arts Joshua Bayer, director

The AU Jazz Orchestra plays swing, bop, funk, and rock! Each concert features a variety of these styles.

When: November 10, 2023, 7:30 p.m.Where: Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

Florence Price Symphony no. 3

American University Symphony Orchestra Department of Performing Arts Matthew Brown, conductor

American University Symphony Orchestra will present, for the first time in its history, Florence Price's Symphony no. 3 in C minor. Florence Price was a Black female American composer who was largely overlooked during her career, and even more so posthumously, due to her race and gender. Her music is a force that the orchestral world is finally starting to reckon with.

When: November 11, 7:30 p.m. and November 12, 3 pm.Where: Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall

stay with me

American University Chorus Department of Performing Arts Casey Cook, directorBarbara Wilkinson, pianist

The AU Chorus fall concert explores the need for us to stay connected, to build a family and community, and to be together with those we love through the joys and sorrows of life. This concert will feature excerpts from Eric Whitacre's "The Sacred Veil." This concert will mark Casey Cook's 10th year as director of the American University Chorus.

When: December 1–2, 2023, 7:30 p.m. Where: Abramson Family Recital Hall, Katzen Arts Center, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

American Landscapes

American University Symphonic Band Department of Performing Arts Matthew Brown, conductor

The American University Symphonic Band explores a variety of works inspired by North America’s vast and varied natural world. Works include Copland's iconic “Appalachian Spring,” a delightful multi-movement work titled "A Little Mexican Suite" by Mexican composer Nubia Jaime-Donjuan, a modern setting of the classic song "Shenandoah" by Omar Thomas, and a variety of other works.

When: December 3, 2023, 3 p.m.Where: Katzen Arts Center, Abramson Family Recital Hall, 4400 Massachusetts Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016

From the Dance program

Discounted package tickets for Allison Grant's Senior Dance Capstone + Fall Dance Concert on November 18 are available. Free for AU students with ID, $10 for alumni, staff, faculty, children (under 18), and senior citizens (55 and older), $15 general public.

Fall Dance Concert 2023

Department of Performing Arts

The Fall Dance Concert is a mainstage event from the AU Dance Program featuring new work by guest artist Sarah Beth Oppenheim and selected student choreographers. Oppenheim brought Hardware to our virtual stage in 2021 and returns now to create a new work with AU dancers for the Greenberg stage. Her work will be shown alongside five student-choreographed, faculty-mentored protects – created this fall in our Choreographic Laboratory. Join us as we welcome fresh choreographic voices and new student performers to the AU stage.

When: November 17, 7:30 p.m., November 18, 3 p.m.Where: Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre, 4200 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016Tickets: Free for AU students with ID, $10 for alumni, staff, faculty, children (under 18), and senior citizens (55 and older), $15 general public.

Allison Grant's Senior Dance Capstone Performance

Department of Performing Arts

Featuring a capstone choreographic research project by dance major Allison Grant.

When: November 18, 1 p.m.Where: Harold and Sylvia Greenberg Theatre, 4200 Wisconsin Ave. NW Washington, DC 20016 Tickets: $5, Free for AU students with ID