College and university campuses across the country celebrate Study Abroad Day Monday, Feb. 27. To honor this day, the Center for Global Education and Fellowships will be offering passport sessions on Feb. 27 from Noon to 2 p.m. It’s a great time for anyone at Salve Regina to get a new passport or renew an old one.

This session does not allow for walk-ins and requires registration prior to the passport day. Those who register first will receive priority for their requested time slot. Please note that pre-registration ends on Thursday, Feb. 23, at 11:59 p.m. so to secure your spot pre-register for a passport session here.

Participants should bring the required documentation listed below, and they are encouraged to complete forms before arrival. All required forms will also be available during the session. A representative from the U.S. Postal Service will also be on hand to make the process as quick and easy as possible.

Requirements for new passports:

• Proof of U.S. citizenship, which includes one of the following: Previously issued, undamaged and fully valid U.S. passport; certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state; consular report of birth abroad or certification of birth; naturalization certificate; or certificate of citizenship.
• Proof of identification, which includes one of the following: Previously issued, undamaged U.S. passport; naturalization certificate; valid driver’s license; current government ID (city, state or federal); or current military ID (military and dependents). Photocopies (front and back) are necessary.
• Form DS11. Copies will also be available at the event.
• Two personal checks or money orders (cash and credit cards are not accepted). One $130 check should be made payable to “U.S. Department of State” and one $35 check should be made payable to “U.S. Postal Service.” Anyone needing expedited processing will need to pay additional fees.
• A photographer will be available for an additional $15 fee, which must be paid to U.S. Postal Service via check.

Requirements for renewal passports:

• First, participants should make sure they are eligible to renew by mail. Check the guidelines.
• Don’t forget to bring in the old passport. It will be mailed back to once the new passport has been processed.
• Form DS82. Copies will also be available at the event.
• A personal check or money order (cash and credit cards are not accepted). The $130 check should be made payable to “U.S. Department of State.”
• A photographer will be available for an additional $15 fee, paid to U.S. Postal Service via check. Participants can also use their own photo using these guidelines.
• Passport renewals will be mailed to the processing center. The Center for Global Education and Fellowships will provide envelopes and cover the cost of shipping for those who participate in Passport Day.

Please pre-register for a passport session here.

Featured image by Getty Images/Maudib

On Monday, Feb. 13, a public lecture will be held by nationally recognized writer and speaker Dr. Christopher de Vinck for the spring 2023’s Atwood Lecture in the Humanities. Entitled “Things that Matter Most: Home, Friendship, and Love,” this event is free and open to the public, and there is no need to register in advance. The engagement will take place at 4:30 p.m. in the Young Library of the Young Building on the Salve Regina’s campus on 508 Bellevue Ave.

Dr. Christopher de Vinck’s patient attention to everyday life offers an uncommon glimpse into the dynamism and drama of faith, disability, parenthood and the craft of writing. De Vinck has won two Christopher Awards, which celebrates authors whose work looks at the “highest values of the human spirit.” His essays have been selected three times for best column by the National Catholic Press Association.

Dr. de Vinck’s book “The Power of the Powerless: A Brother’s Legacy of Love” was selected by Christianity Today as one of the ten best biographies or autobiographies of the 20^th century. “Power of the Powerless” tells the story of de Vinck’s brother Oliver, who had a severe intellectual disability, and the impact of Oliver’s life upon those who surrounded him.

“My mother introduced me to The Power of the Powerless when I was in my teens,” said Dr. Miguel Romero, associate professor in the Department of Religious and Theological Studies. “The story of Oliver mirrored the story of our family life and impact of my own brother, Vicente, who has a profound intellectual disability. I returned to the book consistently over the years and used it as a trustworthy touchstone when I began teaching an undergraduate theology course focused on disability in 2012.”

Dr. Romero noted that “Power of the Powerless” has received serious scholarly attention from philosophers and theologians navigating the topic of disability.

“It offers an intimate glimpse into a world that is rarely seen today, a world where shared life with someone who has a profound disability can be received as gift,” he said.

Dr. de Vinck will also be talking about themes from another book of his with the same title as the lecture, “Things that Matter Most: Home, Friendship, and Love.”

Marjorie Atwood and the Donaldson Charitable Trust established the Atwood Lecture Series in 1981 as a tribute to her Salve Regina mentor and friend, Dr. Lubomir Gleiman in the philosophy department. Specifically, Atwood’s intent was to bring inspirational speakers to campus who could speak about the intersection of faith and reason, but do so with the flair of narrative and in a way that exemplifies the beauty of the written word.

The Pell Center for International Relations and Public Policy will be hosting another roundtable discussion Friday, Feb. 10, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:45 p.m., in O’Hare Academic Building, Room 121. A free lunch will be provided. Salve Regina University staff, students and faculty are welcome to participate. 

The Department of Defense announced on Feb. 2 that a Chinese balloon was observed over the state of Montana and was shot down off the Atlantic coast on Feb. 4 by a U.S fighter jet. The ballon has become a sensation on TikTok and was featured on a Saturday Night Live sketch — but for many, the topic of international balloons can seem sinister and can sometimes be difficult to understand. What is the big deal, really? 

Join the roundtable to discuss possible explanations of the balloon’s presence in the U.S, pose questions as to how this affects U.S-China relations, and look to the future to discuss how the Biden administration’s response will play out down the road. 

Roundtable discussions are open to students, faculty and staff at Salve Regina. The Pell Center will provide a free lunch. Space is limited. Please RSVP to pellcenter@salve.edu.