SFA’s fifth annual International Film Festival will screen a film at 7 p.m. nightly tonight through Friday, Oct. 11, in Dugas Liberal Arts North, Room 142. The event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be provided by the Division of Multidisciplinary Programs.

Tonight, the festival opens with a screening of “Everybody Knows” (Todos lo Saben) with a pre- and post-film discussion led by Mario Morera, visiting professor.

The series will continue with “A Translator” (Un Traductor) tomorrow, with a pre- and post-film discussion led by Dr. Alexandra Martynova-Van Kley, professor in the Department of Biology; and “Birds of Passage” (Pajaros de Verano) Wednesday, Oct. 9, with a pre- and post-film discussion led by Dr. Gabriela Miranda-Recinos, associate professor in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Communication.

Foreign film standards vary from those in the United States, and topics may address controversial subject matter. Use your discretion in deciding whether to view these films. Each film will feature English subtitles.

For more information, contact Miranda-Recinos or Dr. José Neftalí Recinos, associate professors in the Department of Languages, Cultures and Communication, at (936) 468-2417 or (936) 468-2067, or email mirandag@sfasu.edu or recinosjn@sfasu.edu.

The second Faculty Senate meeting of the 2019-20 academic year is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, in the Forestry Building, Room 117.

Attend in person, or view the meeting live online.

Drs. Scott Gordon, SFA president, Steve Bullard, provost and vice president of academic affairs and Marc Guidry, associate provost, are expected to provide updates.

The senate will learn the results of the vote to amend the Constitution relating to nontenure track faculty. Voting by all eligible faculty members for the amendment change closed Oct. 4.

For more information, contact your senator or Dr. Jeremy Stovall, senate chair, at stovalljp@sfasu.edu. To view the senator list, click here.

SFA faculty members and professional advisors are invited to the Professional Academic Advisors Council meeting from 2 to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Steen Library Wyatt Room.

If you’d like to be included in the PAAC email list, contact Raquel Skidmore at skidmorerr@sfasu.edu.

SFA Gardens will host the monthly Theresa and Les Reeves Lecture Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 10, in the Brundrett Conservation Education Building at the Pineywoods Native Plant Center, located at 2900 Raguet St.

Jocelyn Moore, assistant education coordinator for SFA Gardens, will present “Changing Young Lives, One Garden Bud at a Time.”

Passionate about teaching our youngest citizens how to value and protect the environment through experiential learning and engagement, Moore teaches outdoor environmental education to local youth during field trips, after-school clubs and summer SFA Gardens Pineywoods camps.

Parking is available at the PNPC and Raguet Elementary School, located at 2428 Raguet St.

For more information, call (936) 468-4129, or email sfagardens@sfasu.edu.

Human Resources will offer professional development training each month throughout the fall semester.

Two sessions will take place tomorrow. "Basic Conflict Resolution for Managers" will be from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and "Utilizing Technology for Productivity" for administrative staff will be from 2:30 to 4 p.m.

For session details, visit myTraining and click “Browse for Training.”

SFA faculty and staff are invited to attend one or both of the remaining University Affairs Professional Development Series presentations, each scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to noon in the Baker Pattillo Student Center, third floor commons area.

“Do You #knowyour9: Understanding the Title IX Process and Your Role as an Advisor” will be presented by Lissy Turner, compliance specialist, Oct. 15.

“Engaging Parents of Gen Z Students: Tips and Best Practices” will be presented by Jamal Smith, director of Orientation Programs, Nov. 5.

For more information, contact Amy Roquemore at (935) 468-1174 or aroquemore@sfasu.edu.

Do you struggle with writer's block, procrastination or lack of motivation? You are not alone.

Scholarly Writing and Publishing is available to help you connect with peers and become a productive writer.

SWAP will meet weekly from 7 to 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m on Thursdays throughout the semester. If you cannot meet for two hours, attend at your convenience.

To join the group or for more information, contact Dr. Donna Fickes at fickesdj@sfasu.edu.

Cross-country:

The men's and women's teams competed in the Joe Piane Notre Dame Invitational. To view results, click here.

Football:

SFA - 20 vs. Sam Houston State University - 31

Soccer:

SFA - 1 vs. Lamar University - 4

SFA - 1 vs. McNeese State University - 2

Volleyball:

SFA - 3 vs. McNeese State University - 0

SFA’s Wind Ensemble will present “An Evening with James Syler” at 7:30 p.m. tomorrow in Turner Auditorium.

Syler serves as the School of Music’s composer in residence for the fall semester, working with student musicians as they perform his works. Included on this concert are diverse pieces from the composer’s catalog, including “Congo Square.”

Found in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans, Congo Square has been a gathering place for enslaved people since the early 1800s. The Code Noir of the early 1700s made Sundays work free for all inhabitants of the colony, including enslaved Africans. On these Sunday afternoons, the slaves would gather at Congo Square to commune, trade and, most importantly, make music. It was from these early beginnings that jazz music was born.

Syler’s “Congo Square” features African drums juxtaposed on sounds from early jazz, creating a “musical gumbo” that reflects the diversity of musical styles that came together to create the signature sound of New Orleans.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

The SFA Symphony Orchestra (Orchestra of the Pines) will perform under the baton of its new conductor, Dr. Gregory Grabowski, at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in Cole Concert Hall.

Among the selections on the program are Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “Romeo and Juliet Overture-Fantasy” and Leonard Bernstein’s “Symphonic Dances” from “West Side Story.” The concert also features a performance by Alina Nebzhidovskaia, one of the three winners of the School of Music’s recent concerto competition, on Alexander Glazunov’s Violin Concerto.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for seniors, and $3 for students and youth. For tickets or more information, call the SFA Fine Arts Box Office at (936) 468-6407, or visit finearts.sfasu.edu.

SFA’s Children’s Performing Arts Series will open its 2019-20 season Oct. 18 with two performances of Virginia Repertory Theatre’s “The Velveteen Rabbit," which targets children in Pre-K through fifth grade.

Performances are at 9:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. in Turner Auditorium, located in the Griffith Fine Arts Building on the SFA campus. Tickets are $7.50 for individuals and $6 per person for groups of 20 or more.

CPAS shows are designed to entertain, educate and engage young audiences of all ages, according to Diane Peterson, Fine Arts Box Office manager and director of the children’s series. Study guides provide suggestions for pre- and post-performance activities and discussions for teachers to use in the classroom. A comprehensive study guide for “The Velveteen Rabbit” may be accessed at cpas.sfasu.edu.

To order tickets, call (936) 468-6407 or (888) 240-ARTS. Visit the CPAS website at cpas.sfasu.edu for additional information.

The Costasiella kuroshimae, or leaf sheep, has the cutest features, including beady eyes, phosphorescent leaf-like feelers and a sheepish face.

The little critter is one of the only sea creatures in the world that can perform photosynthesis — the others all belong to the sacoglossa sea slug clade.

To read more, click here.