Dr. Cropper hits the airwaves

Professor Corry Cropper, our beloved Department Chair, will be on the radio this Thursday discussing the opera Carmen by Georges Bizet. Since the 1880s it has been one of the world's most performed operas and a staple of the operatic repertoire. The discussion will be concentrated particularly on the story (by Mérimée) on which the opera is based and how Bizet's work is different from the original.

Catch it on Classical 89 at 11:00am, and again at 8:00pm.

If you miss the airing, you'll be able to listen to it at any time online (http://www.classical89.org/thinkingaloud/) after it airs.

-david

le Football

A lot of big news for soccer in France with Bordeaux and Lyons advancing in the Champions League. The top two teams from each UEFA Champions League group go into the first knockout round in the spring, with the third-placed clubs to enter the UEFA Europa League Round of 32. That means that Lyons (#2 in Group E) and Bordeaux ( #1 in Group A) have a chance at the big one. Marseille (#3 in Group C) didn't make the cut for the Champions League, but will enter the Europa League Rounds. Pas mal du tout.

Our very own Corry Cropper runs the blog,The Sports Academic. He commented on the recent Henry handball fiasco, shedding interesting cultural light on the apparently loaded issue. Dr. Cropper states, "in the wake of a financial meltdown and political scandal, Henry, dubbed 'Le Cheat' in Ireland, is being viewed as a symbol of France's decline." France's embarrassment over the whole thing is somewhat revealing of France's declining sense of national pride. To read more, click here!