College notebook: More Eckerd students head to Cuba, MLK lecture series at SPC

Eckerd students, faculty returning to Cuba in force

Nearly 80 Eckerd College students will travel to Cuba this month to study science, the environment, economics and photography. They are among 375 students in 22 Eckerd College classes who will study abroad during winter term this month, the largest number in Eckerd's history. Associate marine science and biology professor William A. Szelistowski will return to lead a class and continue research begun last summer with students and faculty from the University of Havana. Visual arts professor Kirk Ke Wang will lead a photography class in Havana and Gregg Brooks is leading a class studying the natural sciences and culture of Cuba. Economics professor Peter Hammerschmidt, who led a class to Cuba last year, will return for two weeks to study the economy. In addition, the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute at Eckerd will send a group of adult learners to Havana in late January to study the art, history and landscape of the island nation and meet with government and cultural representatives. Last year, 18 Eckerd students spent two weeks studying in Cuba.

SPC to host social justice lectures during MLK celebration

Cornel West, a best-selling author, intellectual and commentator, will be one of several prominent African-Americans who will discuss social justice issues at the Heritage Lecture Series during the 2016 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration in St. Petersburg. The series, sponsored by the Cross and Anvil Human Services Center, will be held Monday through Wednesday at St. Petersburg College's Allstate Center campus, 3200 34th St. S. The events are free, but registration is required. West will speak at 7 p.m. Wednesday. To register for the lecture series, visit conta.cc/1m1jHGB. Other speakers will be:

• Lani Guinier, law professor at Harvard University and former member of the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division, who will speak at 7 p.m. Monday;

• Charles M. Blow, columnist for the New York Times, 10 a.m. Tuesday.

• Gerald Horne, author, historian and professor at the University of Houston, 6 p.m. Wednesday;

• John L. Burris, civil rights attorney and legal analyst for cable news media, 7 p.m. Tuesday.

The Cross and Anvil Human Services Center, 1201 Seventh Ave. S, is a partnership between the city of St. Petersburg and the Greater Mount Zion African Methodist Episcopal Church. It provides academic support services, mental health counseling, comprehensive youth mentoring, veterans' services and parental engagement training.

Still time to sign up for spring classes at SPC

Registration is ongoing for St. Petersburg College's spring 2016 term, which begins on Monday. The regular 16-week term and the first eight-week term begin Monday. The Express 12-week term begins Feb. 8, and the second eight-week term begins March 14. The first eight-week term ends March 4, while all other courses go through May 5. For information, visit spcollege.edu/register or call (727) 341-4772.