Three things for February 2
1. Activist Stacey Abrams nominated for Nobel Peace Prize
On Monday, voting rights activist and Democratic Party politician Stacey Abrams was nominated for this year’s Nobel Peace Prize.
Abrams, whose work was credited with boosting Georgia voter turnout last year, joins a long list of nominees. Thousands of people, from members of parliaments worldwide to former winners, are eligible to propose candidates, reports Reuters.
“Abrams’ work follows in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s footsteps in the fight for equality before the law and for civil rights,” said Lars Haltbrekken, a member of Norway’s parliament.
Other candidates this year include Russian dissident Alexei Navalny and the World Health Organization and climate campaigner Greta Thunberg. The Black Lives Matter movement, Daniel Ellsberg and U.S. Congresswoman Barbara Lee have also been nominated.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee, which decides who wins the award, does not comment on nominations, but nominators can choose to reveal their picks.
The 2021 laureate will be announced in October.
2. Dustin Diamond dies at age 44
Dustin Diamond, known for playing Samuel “Screech” Powers in the hit 1990s sitcom “Saved by the Bell,” died Monday at the age of 44. The news of his death comes weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer.
Diamond’s “condition had greatly declined since last week, and he was taken off of breathing machines in an attempt to get him to hospice care,” said spokesperson Roger Paul.
Diamond was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer and was undergoing chemotherapy to fight it.
Diamond “was diagnosed with this brutal, relentless form of malignant cancer only three weeks ago. In that time, it managed to spread rapidly throughout his system; the only mercy it exhibited was its sharp and swift execution,” said Paul. “Dustin did not suffer. He did not have to lie submerged in pain. For that, we are grateful.”
His claim to fame began in 1989 on “Saved by the Bell” when he was introduced to the audience as Screech, the geeky best friend of protagonist Zack Morris.
3. Lee art gallery features professor’s work
The Lee University Art Gallery, located in Squires Library, is now featuring Rondall Reynoso’s artwork, assistant professor of Art.
The exhibit is titled “Covenant” and will be featured Feb. 1 through March 4. The exhibition is open for viewing from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions and guidelines, it is required for everyone to be wearing a mask at all times inside the gallery.
