This is a weekly round-up of selective student events taking place coast to coast this week. All of these events are open to the general public.

SCOPING ADVANCED SCREENING OF FREEDOM RIDERS IN NORTH CAROLINA WHAT: Freedom Riders (Advanced Screening) WHEN: Monday May 2, 7:00 pm WHERE: Student Union, Movie Theater, UNC Charlotte, Charlotte, North Carolina

The Student Union Movie Theater is proud to announce the premiere of Stanley Nelson’s groundbreaking PBS documentary, “Freedom Riders.”  All shows are free and open to the general public. The film premieres on PBS on May 16. “Freedom Riders” focuses on a group of more than 400 black and white Americans who stood against the Jim Crow laws by riding on busses together throughout the southeastern United States in 1961.  From May until November, riders risked their lives—many enduring savage beatings and imprisonment—for simply traveling together on buses and trains through the Deep South. Deliberately violating Jim Crow laws, the Freedom Riders were met with bitter racism and mob violence along the way, sorely testing their belief in nonviolent activism.

SUPPORTING STUDENT FILMMAKERS IN WYOMING WHAT: Focus on the Future Film Festival WHEN:  Wednesday, 5/4, 5:30 pm WHERE: Classroom Building Room 133, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming

Join Laramie Junior High students as they present short films examining issues of Energy and the Environment at the 2011 Focus on the Future Film Festival. Refreshments will be served. Sponsored by the School of Energy Resources, the Science Posse, and the Science and Math Teaching Center.

SAVING ANIMALS WHILE CELEBRATING MEXICO IN MAINE WHAT: York Harbor Inn Charity Cinco de Mayo benefit for M.A.R.C. WHEN:  Thursday, May 5, 4:00 pm WHERE: York Harbor Inn, York, Maine, Off Campus

Come celebrate Cinco de Mayo at the York Harbor Inn’s charity fueled event to benefit the animals at UNE’s Marine Animal Rehabilitation Center.  Games, contests, and dancing with the salsa band!

BUYING A BIODIESEL TRUCK TO SUPPORT SUSTAINABILITY IN ILLINOIS WHAT: Farm2Fork: “Keep on truckin’!” WHEN:  Thursday, May 5, 5:00 pm WHERE: Lower Quad, Augustana College, Little Rock, Illinois

This fundraiser benefits a program at Augustana called Farm2Fork. Farm2Fork is designed to bring faculty, students, and local farmers together to implement Augustana’s sustainable movement. This fundraising event is to raise money for a biodiesel truck for Augustana’s Farm2Fork and Augie Acres. Come enjoy a healthy meal, as well as organic t-shirts and other eco-friendly merchandise available for purchase! There will also be live music throughout the entire night with bands comprised of Augustana students and graduates