MEDIA RELEASES

Dominican University presents “Fashions of World War I,” a lecture by Dr. Susan Strawn, as part of The Big Read’s ongoing exploration of Ernest Hemingway’s A Farewell to Arms . Strawn, assistant professor in Dominican University’s apparel design and merchandising department, will speak on Sunday, October 28 at 3 p.m. in Bluhm Lecture Hall, Parmer Hall, 7900 W. Division St., River Forest.

Strawn will discuss examples of clothing worn by the characters in Hemingway’s wartime novel and how these clothes reflected society at the time. During World War I, for instance, military styles such as Army-issued sweaters and trench coats became very popular with civilians. The author of Knitting America (Voyageur Press), a recently published history of knitting, Strawn will also examine the popularity of hand knitting during periods of war. During World War I, private citizens knit stockings and bandages for soldiers in Europe, as a way of showing their support of the troops overseas. Likewise, knitting groups today make hats and scarves for troops serving in the Middle East.

Dominican University is a co-sponsor of the Oak Park/River Forest/Forest Park Big Read, a program launched by the National Endowment for the Arts to bring communities together to discuss one book. Other upcoming on-campus lectures in the series include Dr. Peter Fallon on “ Ego-Journalism: From Hemingway to the Blogosphere” on November 5 and “Hello to Propaganda” by Dr. John Jenks on November 13. Both lectures are free and will be held in Parmer Hall.

Founded in 1901, Dominican University is a comprehensive, coeducational Catholic institution offering bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Dominican offers 50 undergraduate academic programs in the Rosary College of Arts and Sciences and 15 graduate programs in five graduate schools through the Graduate School of Library and Information Science, the Brennan School of Business, the School of Education, the Graduate School of Social Work and the School of Leadership and Continuing Studies. In the 2008 issue of America’s Best Colleges, U.S. News & World Report ranked Dominican University in the top tier of Midwest master’s level universities and as a best value for the tenth consecutive year.