Former Iowa Writers’ Workshop faculty Margot Livesey will present a free reading at 8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, in the Frank Conroy Reading Room of the Glenn Schaeffer Library, adjacent to the Dey House.

Iowa Writers’ Workshop graduates Robert Fernandez and Mary Hickman will read from their poetry at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The reading also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

John Freeman will be in conversation with Marilynne Robinson to talk about his new book, "How to Read a Novelist," at 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 16, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The discussion also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

Political philosopher Larry May will give a series of lectures on the University of Iowa campus Oct. 16-18 as an Ida Cornelia Beam Distinguished Visiting Professor.

The UI will host the American Conference for Irish Studies Thursday Oct. 10 through Saturday Oct. 12 at the Iowa Memorial Union. The conference draws upon Irish literature and its scholars to explore themes such as psychology and mental health, women, masculinity, and child labor.

A conference examining racial injustice in Iowa’s legal system titled "Racial Justice and Disproportionate Minority Incarceration" will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, in the Lindquist Center on campus thanks to a partnership between community groups and the University of Iowa.

Kelcey Parker will read from "Liliane’s Balcony," a novella set at Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 15, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The reading also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.

The threat of severe weather might have altered some Homecoming 2013 plans, but it certainly wasn't enough to sweep away the assembly of Hawkeye spirit in Iowa City on Oct. 4 and 5.

Derek Porter, director of the MFA lighting design program at Parsons The New School for Design in New York, will discuss his work in a lecture, “Explorations in Light,” Tuesday, Oct. 17, at 7:30 p.m. in Room 240 of Art Building West on the UI campus.

The University of Iowa School of Music will present a concert by the jazz quartet Koplant No at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 11, in the University Capitol Centre Recital Hall on the UI campus. The performance is free, and the public is welcome.

The University of Iowa School of Music will present a free concert by the UI Symphony Band and the UI Concert Band at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 9, in the Second Floor Ballroom of the Iowa Memorial Union.

Christopher Merrill, director of the University of Iowa International Writing Program, will read from his most recent books of poetry, "Boat" and "Necessities," at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14, in a free reading at Prairie Lights Books in downtown Iowa City. The reading also will be streamed live on the University of Iowa Writing University website.