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Wrap up your semester with these December events at Emory
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Before the semester ends, make time for some fun and engaging events across campus, including basketball games, holiday performances and more.

— Emory Photo/Video

The fall 2024 semester is winding down, but there are still plenty of events to engage in before the Atlanta and Oxford College campuses become quiet for winter break. Catch holiday performances, athletic events, creative workshops, enlightening discussions and more.


1. Visit the Michael C. Carlos Museum for unique programming.

Celebrate Bodhi Day on Sunday, Dec. 1, at noon, in the Carlos Museum’s Ackerman Hall. The celebration commemorates the day Siddhartha Gautama achieved enlightenment. At the Carlos, attendees are invited to view images of the awakened one and the Bodhi tree in the South Asian gallery, followed by a craft and cookie snack. This event is free and open to the public, and no registration is required.

Every Sunday at 2 p.m., Carlos Museum docents lead drop-in tours of the galleries. Make plans to join a tour on Dec. 1, 8 or 15. These tours are free with museum admission and no prior registration is required. To join, meet the docent in the rotunda on level one of the museum.


2. Immerse yourself in topical conversations with experts.

Join the semester’s final JWJI Colloquium on Monday, Dec. 2, at noon in the Jones Room on the third floor of the Robert W. Woodruff Library. This session features Tamara J. Walker, associate professor of Africana studies at Barnard College, discussing “Philippa Schuyler’s Adventures in Black and White.” This talk is free and open to the public, but registration is required.

Learn how to influence viewers with the power of storytelling during “How to Tell a Story Powerful Enough to Open Minds and Change the World,” a keynote and panel event on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 3 p.m., in Room 101 of the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing building. Roxana Chicas, assistant professor in the School of Nursing, will provide the keynote address, detailing how to share scientific knowledge utilizing human narratives. This event is free to attend and open to the Emory and Atlanta community, but advanced registration is required via Eventbrite.

Join Beretta E. Smith-Shomade, professor of film and media at Emory, on Friday, Dec. 6, at noon, for the First Fridays Lecture in Room 204 of Convocation Hall. Smith will discuss “Finding God in All the Black Places: Sacred Imaginings in Black Popular Culture.” This discussion is free and open to the public.  


3. Cheer on the Emory Eagles in winter sports.

Support the men’s basketball team on Monday, Dec. 2, at 5:30 p.m. in the Woodruff PE Center Arena as they take on Oglethorpe University. Then, on Tuesday, Dec. 10, return to the WoodPEC at 6 p.m. to cheer on the women’s basketball team as they face Piedmont College

At Oxford College, make plans to support the men’s basketball team in Williams Gym on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. when they play New Rock Prep White and on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 1 p.m. as they face Virginia Peninsula Community College.

All Emory athletic events are free and open to the public. Check out the full Emory Athletics calendar and Oxford Athletics calendar.


4. Catch the final screening of this season’s Emory Cinematheque.

This semester, Emory Cinematheque has focused on the theme of “Southern Gothic,” screening films curated by Lydia Fort, assistant professor in theater studies. The final showing of the semester will feature the first two episodes of the hit show “True Detective” on Wednesday, Dec. 4, at 7:30 p.m. in White Hall, Room 208.

The screening is free and open to the public.


5. De-stress at a fun workshop.

Enjoy a moment away from academics on Thursday, Dec. 5, at 4 p.m. for No Strings Attached Knitting and Crocheting at the TechLab on floor two of Cox Hall. Attendees are invited to bring a knitting, crochet or fiber arts project to work on. No experience is required, and all materials are provided for this free event open to the Emory community.

On Friday, Dec. 6, at noon, the Emory community is invited to Santa’s Button Workshop in the Computing Center of Cox Hall, hosted by TechLab. Participants will learn how to print images for button and magnet making while enjoying holiday music and seasonal treats. All materials are provided for this workshop, and it is free to attend.

Use shrinkable plastics to create your own keychain on Monday, Dec. 9, at 3 p.m. in the TechLab on the second floor of Cox Hall. Attendees will make a favorite design on shrink plastic and utilize the TechLab tools to create a keychain. This event is free and open to the Emory community.

Learn how to create origami in the Unwindy Origami Workshop on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 4 p.m. in the Computing Center of Cox Hall, hosted by TechLab. The Emory community is invited to create their own pieces or follow a guided project to make a flower bouquet. All materials, supplies and snacks are provided for participants. This event is free to attend.

Students are invited to a de-stressing coloring workshop in the Computing Center of Cox Hall on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 5:30 p.m. The TechLab invites students to take a break, color and listen to relaxing music. All materials will be provided, and this event is free to attend.

On Monday, Dec. 16, at 3 p.m., head to the TechLab to create laser-cut holiday decorations. All materials will be provided and this free event is open to the Emory community.


6. Enjoy the holiday season with performances in Atlanta and Oxford.

December holds many opportunities to engage in artistic performances for the holidays.

On Friday, Dec. 6, at 7 p.m., the Oxford Chorale, Oxford Soul Collective and Oxford Chamber Ensemble will perform a Holiday Concert in Williams Hall. This event is open to the public but tickets must be purchased in advance.

Don’t miss “A Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols,” a holiday tradition for the Emory community, on Friday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m. in the Glenn Auditorium of Glenn Memorial United Methodist Church. Bringing together the Emory Concert Choir and University Chorus, enjoy a candlelit evening of music and scripture readings by special guests. Additional performances will be held at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 7. This event is open to the public, but tickets are required. Emory students are eligible for discounted rates.

Enjoy some of your favorite holiday tunes at the Emory Chamber Music Society of Atlanta’s Holiday Sing-Along on Sunday, Dec. 8, at 4 p.m. in Ackerman Hall at the Michael C. Carlos Museum. The sing-along will be led by pianists Julie Coucheron and William Random, featuring an appearance from Old Saint Nick himself. This event is free and open to the public.

The Atlanta Master Chorale will present its Christmas show Friday, Dec. 13, through Sunday, Dec. 15, at Emerson Concert Hall in the Schwartz Center for Performing Arts. Join the performances at 8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and at 4 p.m. Sunday. This event is open to the public, and tickets must be purchased in advance. Emory students are eligible to receive discounted tickets.


7. Gain a new perspective on the Rose Library.

Don’t miss the last chance of the semester to see unique items from the Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library’s collection. “Miscellaneous Monthly” is back on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 1 p.m. in the Danowski Seminar Room on the 10th floor of the Robert W. Woodruff Library.

This month’s event features items from the Rose Library’s photographer and artist collections. This event is open to the Emory community and is free to attend.


8. Learn how students are utilizing data science and artificial intelligence.

This semester, teams of Emory students in the AI.Data Lab — a co-curricular program by the Center for AI Learning — conducted data science and artificial intelligence research with different corporate sponsors.

They are excited to unveil their hard work and unique findings during the AI.Data Lab Showcase on Tuesday, Dec. 10, at 6 p.m., in Room 130 of the Goizueta Business School, featuring student presentations, posters and a networking reception. The Emory community is invited to attend this free event, and advance registration is recommended.


9. See exhibits at Emory Libraries before they leave.

Emory Libraries hosts a variety of exhibits throughout the year. Visit “breathe.,” an exhibit featuring photographs by Sheila Pree Bright, through Saturday, Dec. 21, on level three of the Robert W. Woodruff Library. The exhibit showcases Georgia landscapes involved in important moments of civil rights history and reimagines them as places of meditation and relaxation.

Head down one level to the library’s second floor to view “Caste: Stories of Resilience and Resistance,” an exhibit exploring caste through an intersectional lens, focusing on the relationship of caste to religion, politics and gender. “Caste” also closes in December.

These exhibits are open to the Emory community. Learn more about the visitor hours of the Woodruff Library.


10. Enjoy the winter break.

The end of the fall 2024 term is on Saturday, Dec. 21. We hope you have a restful and safe break, and we look forward to welcoming you back to campus in January!


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