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Author and illustrator Mike Berenstain, whose parents, Stan and Jan, created the iconic children's literature series The Berenstain Bears, visits Elon this week for a public lecture that will explore the importance of early literacy and the art of writing and editing for children.

A national expert on the politics of health and social policy visits ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ on Thursday evening for the James P. Elder Lecture in Whitley Auditorium. Jacob S. Hacker of Yale University delivers remarks at 6:30 p.m. in his address, "Reform 2.0: The Battle over the Future of American Health Care," where he will examine what's ahead in the ongoing debate over national health care reform.

¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ is hosting a March 29-30 conference on media and politics in which the public is invited to attend workshops with influential public policy makers, journalists and academic researchers. Media and Politics: Openness, Accuracy, and Honesty in the 21st Century Media Landscape is made possible by ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ’s Turnage Family Faculty Innovation and Creativity Fund for the Study of Political Communication.

At a time when “networking” for many young adults involves little more than using Facebook or LinkedIn, a committee of ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ students has organized The Elon Network, an April 4 meet-and-greet that will provide an opportunity for students of all class years to learn about career options by interacting with peers who have already interned or completed research projects for various industries.

Michelle Micca '10 has been selected to present her choreography in The Young Choreographer's Festival on June 11, 2011, in Symphony Space New York at 8 p.m.

The wide variety of information sources in the 21st century – coupled with a news media industry weakened by budget cuts – requires citizens to more closely evaluate the motives of governments and businesses that are today in a better position to push their own agendas, according to a panel of researchers who spoke Tuesday for an inaugural conference on politics and the media hosted by ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ.

An organization that helps universities across North Carolina develop an ethos of volunteerism and service among students has awarded Mary Morrison, director of the Kernodle Center for Service Learning and Community Engagement at ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ, its 2011 Civic Engagement Professional of the Year Award.

With the growing number of Spanish-speaking patients who visit emergency rooms and doctors’ offices across the country, medical professionals often confront language barriers that can hinder treatment. Public health researchers have taken note, and a new introductory Spanish textbook authored by ¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ professor Ernest Lunsford takes aim at the problem.

¾Ã¾ÃÈÈ students started a fundraising drive this week to aid victims of the March earthquake and tsunami that devastated Japan. The same students are gathering messages of support from the community that will be translated into Japanese and delivered abroad to survivors whose lives have been upended by the natural disasters.