Don't Miss It!

The Winter Jazz Jam from Purdue Bands & Orchestras, coming Friday (Nov. 21), promises to be a fine appetizer for the feast of entertainment and culture to be served as the semester wanes and the holiday season arrives in full. This calendar has no turkeys, just lots of stimulation and enjoyment. Don't Miss It!

NOVEMBER 17

Tom Vilsack, U.S. secretary of agriculture, will speak in the Presidential Lecture Series, joined for a Q&A by President Mitch Daniels. 6:30-7:30 p.m. STEW, Loeb Playhouse. Details

NOVEMBER 18

Purdue's top research award recipients will give lectures, each followed by a reception. Marianne Boruch will give the Research & Scholarship Distinction Award Distinguished Lecture at 1:30 p.m.; Jay Melosh will give the Herbert Newby McCoy Distinguished Lecture at 3:30 p.m. Both in STEW, Fowler Hall. Details

Purdue Theatre's "The Crucible"

The World Film Forum winds up with "La Rafle," a look at the plight of Parisian Jews in 1942, when more than 13,000 were imprisoned in a bicycle arena as French civic leaders collaborated with Nazi invaders. Professor Allen Wood will be presenter. The showing is free with free popcorn (cash bar $). English subtitles. 7 p.m. Lafayette Theater, 600 Main St, Lafayette. Details

NOVEMBER 19-23

Purdue Theatre's "The Crucible" continues the season's exploration of shadowy places in the human mind. This acclaimed drama is based on the Salem witch trials. 2:30 or 7:30 p.m. on various days. Pao Hall, Nancy T. Hansen Theatre. $. Details

Sports week. This is what fast and furious is really about.
* Women's basketball gets Green Bay at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, then Toledo at 2 p.m. Sunday. $.
* Volleyball welcomes Rutgers at 7 p.m. Wednesday. $.
* Men's basketball faces Grambling State at 7 p.m. Thursday. $.
* Football closes its home season by shooting it out with Northwestern at high noon Saturday. $.
* Wrestling takes to the mat twice Sunday, grappling with Northern Iowa at 1 p.m. and Indiana Tech at 2:30 p.m. $.

NOVEMBER 20

Political heavy hitters will clash in "Face Off: Washington Comes to West Lafayette," a debate between Howard Dean and Michael Steele, former chairs of the Democratic and Republican national committees, respectively. 5:30-6:30 p.m. PMU, North Ballroom. Details

Howard Dean and Michael Steele

Native American Heritage Month as celebrated at Purdue will close with a presentation by David R. Boxley (Tsimshian), an Alaskan artist, carver, painter, traditional dancer and storyteller. 3-4:30. Krannert Building, Krannert Auditorium (Room 140). Details

NOVEMBER 21 and 23

Purdue Bands and Orchestras continues to present programs of note. All of its jazz bands will perform at 8 p.m. Friday. For a different vibe, the Purdue Wind Ensemble and Fall Concert Band will explore some rather evocative works at 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Details

NOVEMBER 24-30

May everyone have a safe, pleasant week.

A PEEK AHEAD

DECEMBER 1-7

Sports outlook. The first week of December is ACC/Big Ten challenge time in basketball, and both teams are here -- the men against NC State at 9 p.m. Tuesday and the women against Florida State at 7 p.m. Wednesday. The men also play North Florida at 2 p.m. Sunday. In wrestling, SIU-Edwardsville comes calling at 1 p.m. Saturday. Purdue Athletics

DECEMBER 5

The BCC Cultural Arts Festival will grow from a semester focus on the cultural mix that is Trinidad and Tobago. 7 p.m. Details

DECEMBER 6

The two orchestras of Purdue Bands & Orchestras will make "Symphonie Fantastique" by Berlioz and other excellent sound as amazing as its name. 8 p.m. Details

Holidays at the Union

DECEMBER 6-7

The 81st annual Purdue Christmas Show from PMO. What can we say? Let it show, let it show, let it show. Four performances. $. Details

DECEMBER 8-22

Holidays at the Union will bring the traditions so many love, including the tree, gingerbread house, Holidays Around the World and Breakfast with Santa.

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