Seeger has made his mark primarily by composing popular folk songs such as "If I had a Hammer," "Where Have All the Flowers Gone?" and "Turn, Turn, Turn."
He was a civil rights and anti-war activist in the 1950s and 1960s. In 1955, Seeger was sentenced to jail for refusing to cooperate with the House Committee on Un-American Activities, according to the Harvard News Office statement.
Seeger was an undergraduate at Harvard between 1936 and 1938, but dropped out "mainly because I got interested in extracurricular activities," according to his 25th Anniversary Report.
Arts First is Harvard's annual celebration of the arts. The inaugural festival was held in 1993.
* INTERFAITH FORUM *
Student Groups Meet to Promote Religious Dialogue
About 15 students discussed ways to promote dialogue among different campus religious organizations in a dinner meeting yesterday at Loker Commons.
"It is difficult to discuss religion with people," said Brian P. Betty '97, who compared it to "walking on eggs."
Students said they attended the discussion, sponsored by the Interfaith Forum, in an attempt to learn more about other religions.
"Even though there are a lot of faiths out there that share stuff with Catholicism, I don't know what that stuff is," said Robert M. Haas '98, a member of the Catholic Students Association.
Some of the students attending the Forum expressed frustration with the meager discussion of religion in academia.
"Harvard is a place that suppresses spirituality," said Uzoma M. Kalu '99.
Members of the Interfaith Forum, which was created last semester, plan to continue discussions on a monthly basis among representatives of different religious groups, according to Naomi S. Stern '97, the Forum's chair.
"We are allowing a space to discuss religion and showing people on campus that it is something people want to talk about," Andrew D. Kirk '96 said.
The Interfaith Forum is currently working on a newsletter, which will be available in house dining halls, to inform students of events held by religious organizations.
It is also planning an interfaith text study as well as a day of service on May 9.
Members of the Harvard Radcliffe Christian Fellowship, Harvard-Radcliffe Hillel, the Harvard Buddhist Community, the Catholic Students Association and the Harvard Radcliffe Christian Impact attended yesterday's discussion.