Don't Miss It!

The expressive qualities of dance in "Winter Works" by the Purdue Contemporary Dance Company will span from ethereal to muscular. Art in any form interprets life and living through its range and focus. Don't Miss It!

This installment of Don't Miss It! provides information through winter break. The next installment is to appear Jan. 11, the opening day of spring semester.

NOVEMBER 30

Get thee to a gallery! This is the last week for some current Purdue exhibitions before closing through winter break. Other exhibitions are open until Dec. 18. Current exhibition information always appears below event listings in Purdue Today's weekly calendar.

Purdue Christmas Show

A forum titled "What is Free Speech?" will have Purdue Graduate Student Government's president, Andrew Zeller, as moderator, remarks by President Mitch Daniels, and two speakers, plus Q&A. 6:30-7:30 p.m. Matthews Hall, Room 210. Details

DECEMBER 1 and 3

Chamber Music Recitals from Purdue Bands & Orchestras will feature different programs on the two nights, both at 7 p.m. in STEW, Fowler Hall. Details

DECEMBER 4 and 5

The Cultural Arts Festival caps the Black Cultural Center ensembles' semester of study, travel and artist interpretation. 7 p.m. STEW, Loeb Playhouse. $. Details

DECEMBER 5

The Purdue Symphony and Philharmonic orchestras once again will provide lovely, stirring music in concert. 8 p.m. STEW, Loeb Playhouse. Free. Details

DECEMBER 5 and 6

The 82nd Annual Purdue Christmas Show has four performances with sensational music and sets. For many people, this is a "don't miss it" every year. Noon, 4 and 8 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday. Elliott Hall of Music. $. URL: Details

DECEMBER 6

The "All-American" Marching Band is a highlight of the Lafayette Christmas Parade. 2-4 p.m. Downtown Lafayette. Free. URL: www.purdue.edu/bands

DECEMBER 7

Purdue's Christmas tree arrives at Purdue Memorial Union's Great Hall around 12:30 p.m. for a two-week stay, also setting off a week of Holidays at the Union.

The Presidential Lecture Series will welcome news columnist and author George Will for conversation and a Q&A period with President Mitch Daniels. 6:30-7:30 p.m. STEW, Fowler Hall. Details

George Will

DECEMBER 9

Holidays Around the World, a highlight of Holidays at the Union, features food, music, crafts, etc., associated with holidays from many cultures and traditions. 4-7 p.m. PMU, North Ballroom.

DECEMBER 11

Holiday Cheer and All That Jazz, plus Tuba Christmas will put some sizzle in your stockings. Tuba tunes at 7 p.m.; Purdue Jazz Bands’ annual holiday concert, featuring many cultures and nationalities, at 8 p.m. STEW, Loeb Playhouse. Free. Details

DECEMBER 11-12

The Purdue Contemporary Dance Company will present "Winter Dance Works." 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Saturday in Pao Hall's Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. $. Details

DECEMBER 12

Breakfast with Santa, a longstanding tradition and a part of Holidays at the Union, offers visits and photos with the big guy, plus crafts and stories, all free. And of course breakfast at a holiday price. 8-10:30 a.m. PMU, Great Hall along with Main Lounges, Room 118 and South Ballroom.

DECEMBER 1 to JANUARY 10

Sports outlook. Thinking of settling your brain for a long winter's nap? Check with the coaches.

* Men's basketball has eight close-by games in this period. New Mexico (2:15 p.m. Dec. 5), IUPUI (7 p.m. Dec. 7), Howard (7 p.m. Dec. 9), Youngstown State (2 p.m. Dec. 12), Vanderbilt (8 p.m. Dec. 22), Iowa (6 p.m. Jan. 2) and Michigan (7 or 9 p.m. Jan. 7) all have the opportunity to lose at Mackey Arena. Butler (5 p.m. Dec. 19) has to settle for seeing Purdue in the Crossroads Classic at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. $. Men's basketball

Men's basketball at Mackey Arena

* Women's basketball will pound the boards at Mackey Arena seven times in these six weeks, starting with the Big Ten/ACC Challenge and ending with the Hoosiers. Here's the drill: Boston College (6 p.m. Dec. 3), Dayton (2 p.m. Dec. 6), Incarnate Word (7 p.m. Dec. 10), Ball State (2 p.m. Dec. 13), Maine (Dec. 21), Illinois (Jan. 3), and Indiana (Jan. 10). $. Women's basketball 

* Swimming and diving. Boilermaker divers (men and women) will compete Dec. 15-20 in the USA Diving Winter Nationals at the IUPUI Natatorium, 901 W. New York St., Indianapolis. $. URL: Event  |  Men  |  Women

* Track and field. Purdue's squads will spark the high-voltage thrills of indoor meets with the Gene Edmonds 4-Way Invite (Jan. 8) in Lambert Fieldhouse. Track and field

* Wrestling. The Boilermakers will open the always rugged Big Ten season against Penn State (7 p.m. Jan. 8) in Holloway Gymnasium in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility. Wrestling

A PEEK AHEAD

JANUARY 18

This is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday, and events surrounding the occasion will be announced.

JANUARY 21-23

The 26th annual Purdue Jazz Festival will celebrate big with some world-class guest artists. $ for some shows. Details

These and other events, plus other timely information, are listed in the Purdue Today calendars under "Events" at www.purdue.edu/newsroom/purduetoday.