The future of schools such as the University of Dayton is often dependent on the cities that surround them.

In an effort to make the university community more aware of this, issues related to cities are the focus of the 13th annual Humanities Symposium, which takes place this week on Monday and Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in the Sears Recital Hall.

The first Humanities Symposium was held in 1994 in an attempt to develop the themes associated with general education. For the next four years, the event will focus on cities and how they undergo different changes.

John Heitmann, the alumni chair in humanities, believes the event will help students understand the role of cities and how they are transformed.

'There is a lot of interest in cities as a unit of analysis, and that sets the stage for our symposium,' Heitmann said. 'I want to enhance consciousness among students about what cities are all about and the processes of change and continuity related to urban growth.'

The Humanities Symposium features two speakers who are renowned for their research on cities.

'This is an opportunity to hear some of the best scholars in the world in the area of urban studies,' Heitmann said.

Tonight, Ira Harkavy will discuss the importance of students getting involved in the Dayton community. Harkavy is the founding director for community partnerships at the University of Pennsylvania, and has lectured extensively on the history and practice of the relationship between universities and their surrounding cities.

Harkavy is known for teaching courses that incorporate community service and is considered to be a pioneer of service learning.

In addition, Harkavy's speech will illustrate the impact that the development of the city of Dayton will have on the future of UD.

'The future of the university is tied to the future of the city of Dayton,' Heitmann said.

Students can help to improve the future of the university by getting involved in the community. While many UD students go all over the world to participate in service projects, there still are many service opportunities for students in Dayton.

On Monday a speech was delivered by Kenneth T. Jackson, a professor of history and social sciences at Columbia University. Jackson has spoken at hundreds of events in many countries and has co-authored several books. In his lecture, Jackson discussed the history of Dayton and explained how the city has gradually become less vibrant.

Furthermore, the lectures are connected to a new course on cities and suburbs which focuses on the factors that influence where people live, the consequences of living in certain environments and the advantages and disadvantages of living in these environments.

Students will have a chance to ask Dr. Harkavy questions during a reception following his speech. Admission is free and the event is open to all students and faculty. You can visit http://www.udayton.edu/~alumnichair/symposium.htm for more information.