AMHERST, N.Y. – Daemen College’s 16^th annual Academic Festival, a campus-wide celebration of academic and creative achievements, will feature a range of presentations, performances and other activities throughout the event scheduled for April 20. Activities will begin at 9 a.m. in the college’s Lumsden Gymnasium.

As part of the festival, activist Erin Davies will bring her rainbow-colored Volkswagon Beetle, known as the “Fagbug,” which has become a symbol of tolerance and acceptance, to a special diversity event on April 19.

The Fagbug will be on display from 2 to 5 p.m. outside the Wick Campus Center and information about the vehicle project will be available. Davies will talk about what led to her cross-country educational tour to raise awareness about hate crimes and the award-winning documentary, “Fagbug,” at a 7 p.m. lecture in the Wick Social Room. A question and answer session will follow.

Academic Festival 2016 centers on student poster sessions and presentations that cover a wide variety of relevant and unique topics, including wound healing, local and international service learning projects, contributions of refugees in Western New York, short films in early British literature, middle schoolers and art outside the classroom, inconsistent punishments in professionals sport, and behaviors of polar bears in the Buffalo Zoo.

Other festival highlights include the:

• 14^th annual Daemen Pre-Law Student Association’s Moot Court, which will examine a case involving an altercation between two high school students where the victim was allegedly chosen because of sexual orientation.
• U.N. Security Council Simulation will focus on the Syrian Civil War and will include a revival of peace talks in Geneva.
• Art Club Live, which is based on the club’s trip to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, will include a presentation of students painting Andy Warhol inspired artwork on large canvases and an installation emulating the style of Warhol.
• Ever-popular Festival Musicale and Faculty Musical Showcase will feature the music talents of students, faculty and staff.
• Shakespeare Banquet celebrating the 400^th birthday of William Shakespeare will include a Renaissance feast and musical and theatrical performances by students.

Sponsored by the Daemen Office of Academic Affairs, all Academic Festival events are free and open to the public. Additional information is available by calling 839-8253 or visit www.daemen.edu.