This month’s can’t-miss campus events by Molly Callahan December 1, 2016 Share Facebook LinkedIn Twitter Lars-Erik Miller of Brilliant Ice Sculpture, uses an electric chainsaw to sculpt a husky out of ice during the Winter Wonderland event held at Snell Quad at Northeastern University on December 1, 2014. Staff Photo by Matthew Modoono While the days may be getting shorter, there’s certainly no shortage of things to do on campus this month. December offers everything from gingerbread and coffee to workshops and panel discussions. Here’s what you won’t want to miss. Xhibition Kitchen The semesterlong Food Network-style series features cooking demonstrations at the university’s Xhibition Kitchen in Stetson West. On Thursday, Dec. 1, at noon, cookie extraordinaire Dorie Greenspan will share cookie recipes from her new book, Dorie’s Cookies. Dinner for 12 Strangers Hosted by the Office of Alumni Relations, the monthly dinner is “an opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal on us while socializing and networking with Huskies outside your daily routine.” This month, the event is at Five Horses Tavern on Tuesday, Dec. 6, at 6 p.m. Registration is required. Students walk by the Winter Wonderland event at Snell Quad last year. Photo by Adam Glanzman/Northeastern University Food for your mind On Thursday, Dec. 1, at noon, at 310 Renaissance Park, several university English scholars will join Susannah Cahalan, author of the memoir, Brain on Fire: My Month of Madness, for a panel discussion titled, “Writing to Heal: Mental Health, Medicine, and the Humanities.” Another installment of the recurring dialogue around coffee and our connection to it, titled “The World in Your Cup: Conversations on the Politics and Culture of Coffee,” will take place on Thursday, Dec. 1, at 1 p.m. in Raytheon Amphitheatre. This iteration of the discussion series will focus on the future of cacao and coffee and will feature representatives of the Fine Cocoa Institute, the Coffee Quality Institute, and OxFam America. The final two installments of this semester’s Myra Kraft Open Classroom series, which focuses on the 2016 presidential election, will take place this month. The weekly class is held on Wednesdays from 6 to 8 p.m., in West Village F, room 20. Both classes this month will consider President Obama’s legacy—specifically his foreign policy legacy on Dec. 7 and the America he leaves behind on Dec. 14. Signs of the Season Each year the Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service organizes an annual program called Signs of the Season, featuring a variety of events throughout late November and December. More details—as well as the full list of events—are available on the center’s website. Programming includes the Challah Bake for Charity event on Dec. 1; Kwanzaa Observance on Dec. 2; Winter Wonderland on Dec. 5; Christmas Celebration on Dec. 6; and “Glory to his Name” free holiday concert on Dec. 7; and Reading Day Study Retreat on Dec. 8. Annual gingerbread construction contest Sign up by Tuesday, Dec. 6, for the chance to be one of 60 students randomly selected to compete in Northeastern Dining’s 16th annual gingerbread construction contest. The contest is on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 3 to 8 p.m. in the Stetson West Eatery. The edible creations will be on display on Friday, Dec. 9, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Xhibition Kitchen’s “Gingerbread Village” so the community can vote for its favorites. Cash prizes of $100, $75, and $50 will be awarded to first-, second-, and third-place winners, respectively. Students can register by filling out the Northeastern Dining feedback form with their names and emails, then selecting, “I want to be a contestant in the Gingerbread Construction contest!” After winners have been chosen, all the gingerbread abodes will be donated to Rosie’s Place, a local women’s shelter, to provide some holiday cheer. Michelle Fisher, E’18, left, Chelsea Knott, E’18, and Emily Hommel, E’18, make a gingerbread houses during the Winter Wonderland event in the Curry Student Center last year. Staff Photo by Matthew Modoono Service-Learning Expo Take a look at some of the partnerships Northeastern students have formed with community organizations this semester at this science fair-style event on Thursday, Dec. 8, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. in the Curry Student Center Ballroom. Registration is encouraged. Fall Human Rights Institute The Program on Human Rights and the Global Economy will host its 11th annual workshop on Thursday, Dec. 8, and Friday, Dec. 9. Scholars and leaders featured at this year’s convention will focus on the link between human rights and urban social justice under the title, “Global Justice Goes Local: The Emergence of Human Rights Cities.” Registration is required. Cheer on your Huskies With hockey and basketball in full swing, and the track season starting up, there are plenty of opportunities to cheer on the red and black this month. Here are just some of this month’s home events. On Thursday, Dec. 1, at 7 p.m., the women’s basketball team will take on New Hampshire. The women’s hockey team will face off against Vermont at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. On Saturday, Dec. 10, starting at 3 p.m., the men’s and women’s track teams will compete in the Jay Carisella Invitational. The men’s hockey team will host Clarkson at 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 30. The next day, the men’s basketball team will take on William and Mary at 2 p.m.