Power, as a sociological term, is laden with meanings that are difficult to extricate. Professor Frances Fox Piven, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and Political Science at the City University of New York, will attempt to do just that in a lecture on "A Theory of Popular Power" at Smith College as part of series of three lectures titled, "Challenging Authority." Piven has recieved numerous awards for her work, including a Lifetime Achievement Award of the Political Sociology Section of the American Sociology Association in 1995. Her interests include American politics, social welfare policy, political movements and electoral politics. (Thur., 5 p.m., Weinstein Auditorium, Wright Hall, Smith College. No admission charge.)
Poet Michael Collier will help students draw out the powerful messages embedded in the delicate structure of poetry when he reads to students later this week. Collier was the poet laureate of Maryland from 2001 to 2004, and is the recipient of the Guggenheim, National Endowment for the Arts and Thomas Watson fellowships. He is currently an associate professor of English at the University of Maryland, and the director of the Broad Loaf Writers' Conference. He is the author of "The Clasp and other Poems," "The Folded Heart" and "The Neighbor." (Thur., 8 p.m., Pruyne Lecture Hall, Fayerweather Hall. No admission charge.)
Six guitarists, including Mark Aplegate, Joe Belmont, Freddie Bryan '87, Bob Ferrier, Joe LaCreta and Adam Larrabee will perform with various Amherst College Jazz combos in this "Six-String Showdown." This is a fund-raiser organized by the College's music department for the Food Bank of Western Massachussetts. (Sat., 8 p.m., Buckley Recital Hall. Tickets $3 or canned food donation at the door.)