Issues outside the classroom are the focus for this semester’s Spring Academic Lecture Series.

The theme for this year’s series, which began on Feb. 5, is “Issues Affecting America: Responsible Citizenship” and lecture topics range from homeland security to social behavior.

Dan DeVivo, a Harvard graduate and filmmaker, kicked off the Queens campus portion of the lecture series on Feb. 10 in the Storm Center with “Crossing Arizona,” a film showing and discussion on the trials and tribulations faced by undocumented immigrants crossing into Arizona due to heightened security in Texas and California.

On Feb. 25, also in the Storm Center at 5 p.m., Dr. Ronald Walters, director of the African American Leadership Institute, will present “The Social Contract.” In this lecture, Walters will discuss expectations for the Obama administration and a look back on Nov.’s historic election.

Olympic Gold Medalist and U.S. women’s softball pitcher Jennie Fitch will be the headlining speaker during the Women in Sports Day Celebration Awards Ceremony and Dinner Recognition at 4 p.m. at Marillac Terrace on Feb. 28. Fitch will speak on breast cancer and other issues effecting women today.

Frank Warren, creator of the blog Post Secret, reveals the inspiration for his popular Web site during “Post Secret: What’s Your Secret?” in Marillac Auditorium at 7 p.m. on Mar. 19.
Marillac Auditorium hosts “An Evening with Nikki Giovanni” on Apr. 2 at 7 p.m. featuring poet Nikki Giovanni, a winner of the NAACP Image Award and Langston Hughes Medal for poetry.

“Joy and Justice: The Challenge for Teaching in an Age of Inequality, Resurgent Segregation and Relentless Testing” is going to be a lecture given by Jonathan Kozol, an author and educator, on Apr. 8 at 3 p.m. in the Little Theatre.

This semester’s lecture series wraps up with “Anatomy of Prejudice,” on Apr. 23 at 5 p.m. in the Little Theatre. Jane Elliott, a teacher, will discuss society’s responsibly to identify and help eliminate prejudices.