The University of Mississippi has scheduled a media opportunity with Bobby Seale, co-founder and original chairman of the Black Panther Party, for 10 a.m. Thursday (Oct. 15) in the South Parlor on the Lyceum's ground floor. Seale will be available for question-and-answer for about 30 minutes, and one-on-one interviews will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis until 11 a.m.

The drum circle, just one segment of the Mississippi Arts Commission's 2009 Whole Schools Initiative, is part of a five-day conference offering educators innovative ideas for classroom arts integration. The 11th annual institute is going on at the University of Mississippi through Thursday (July 16), focusing on "Painting the Big Picture." Approximately 300 teachers, artists and administrators from more than 40 schools are in attendance.

The institute is filled with opportunities to learn how to teach math through dance and critical thinking and problem-solving through visual arts, and how hands-on, sensory lessons in the garden and kitchen can be translated into core subject lessons. Visit the WSI Web site at http://www.mswholeschools.org to learn more.

Members of the media are welcome to attend conference sessions and talk to participants. For media inquires, contact Susan Dobbs, MAC Public Relations Director, at 601-209-0927 or This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

University of Mississippi Chancellor Robert Khayat and Holmes Community College President Glenn Boyce are to sign an agreement creating a joint venture at the Holmes-Grenada Center campus at 9 a.m. Thursday (Nov. 8). The ceremony is set for the Grenada Center administrative offices at 1060 Avent Drive.

Authors John Grisham and Scott Turow, as well as exonerees Dennis Fritz and Cedric Willis, and Mississippi Innocence Project Director Tucker Carrington, will be on hand for a brief media availability Monday (Oct. 22) in Jackson. The 10-minute availability is set for 6:50 p.m. at the Hilton Hotel prior to a 7 p.m. fundraising dinner. There will be seats available for media representatives interested in attending the dinner. Due to the nature of the event, no photography - still or video - will be permitted during the dinner.