Direct from London

All the King's Men, a male a cappella group from King's College, London, is touring several American universities in their first U.S. tour, including a Cornell performance Feb. 18 at 8 p.m., Barnes Auditorium. They offer traditional and contemporary music from such artists as Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and the Black Eyed Peas, with dynamic choreography. Information online.

On intellectual property

Michael Brown '74, attorney and partner, Brown and Michaels P.C., Ithaca, will lecture on "How Intellectual Property Works and What It Does for Business," as part of Entrepreneurship in the Life Sciences Lecture Series, Feb. 21 at 7:30 p.m., 116 Kennedy Hall. Free and open.

Eboo Patel to give MLK lecture

Eboo Patel, founder and executive director of Chicago's Interfaith Youth Core, will present the annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Lecture, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m., Sage Chapel. Named by U.S. News and World Report as one of America's Best Leaders of 2009, Patel is author of the award-winning book "Acts of Faith: The Story of an American Muslim, the Struggle for the Soul of a Generation." He served on President Obama's Advisory Council of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership. Patel was named a "Young Global Leader" in 2009 by the World Economic Forum.

MIT scientist-novelist

A novelist, essayist and astrophysicist, Alan Lightman, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, will talk about his new novel, "Mr. G, A Novel about the Creation," Feb. 22 at 4:30 p.m., Schwartz Auditorium in Rockefeller Hall, and will read from his other works, Feb. 21 at 4:30 p.m., Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium in Goldwin Smith Hall. He has published widely and lectured at more than 100 universities nationwide about the similarities and differences in the ways that scientists and artists view the world. Information: http://writing.mit.edu/people/faculty/homepage/lightman.

Administrative streamlining

Since 2009 Cornell has been assessing its administrative services, with the goal of saving up to $85 million annually by 2015. Vice President for University Communications Thomas Bruce will present an overview of his division's role in the Administrative Streamlining Program, Feb. 22 at 1:15 p.m. in G10, Biotechnology Building. He'll cover progress on: changes to the reporting relationships of communications staff in academic units, tracking University Communications spending, migration to a cost-allocation method for services, and redefining the job family. Information: http://asp.dpb.cornell.edu.

'A Different Path'

Monteith McCollum's unconventional film documentary, "A Different Path," featuring animation as well as cinematography, follows a sidewalk activist senior, a critical mass trumpeter, city kayaker and others, as they struggle to make their way through the modern automobile-centric urban environment. McCollum will attend the screening Feb. 22 at 7:15 p.m., Schwartz Center for the Performing Arts. It includes original music composed by the director and performed with Michael Louis Johnson. Tickets: $4. Information: http://www.cinema.cornell.edu.

'Who Gets Represented?'

Peter Enns, assistant professor of government, will discuss his recent work, "Who Gets Represented?" Feb. 23 at 4:30 p.m. at The Cornell Store, with book signing to follow. While it is often assumed that policymakers favor the interests of some citizens at the expense of others, it is not always evident when and how groups' interests differ or what it means when they do. "Who Gets Represented?" features some of the finest political scientists working in the areas of representation and inequality. Book discounted 20 percent.

Artist's talk

Howardena Pindell will speak about her work in conjunction with "Splendor of Dynamic Structure: Celebrating 75 Years of the American Abstract Artists," Feb. 24 at 5:15 p.m., Johnson Museum. An American artist, curator, professor and writer, Pindell is known for the wide variety of techniques and materials used in her artwork. Her work is often political, addressing the issues of racism, feminism, violence, slavery and exploitation. Free and open to the public.

Lecture by best-selling author

Nicholson Baker, New York Times best-selling novelist, nonfiction writer and essayist, will speak Feb. 24 at 4:30 p.m., Hollis E. Cornell Auditorium, Goldwin Smith Hall. Baker's critically acclaimed novels include "The Mezzanine," "Room Temperature" and "Vox"; his nonfiction work, "Double Fold: Libraries and the Assault on Paper," earned the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Immigration issues

Ana Avendaño, an associate general counsel and director of the Immigrant Worker Program at the AFL-CIO, will talk about "Immigration for Shared Prosperity," Feb. 24 at 4:45 p.m., 233 Plant Science Building. She advises national and local union leaders on immigration policy and has testified before the U.S. Congress on immigration policy and its effect on workers. This lecture is part of the Cornell Institute for Public Affairs Spring 2011 Colloquium Series.

Film festival

The Jewish Film Festival kicks off Feb. 24 at 7 p.m., Willard Straight Theatre, with an Ithaca premiere screening of "Precious Life," a documentary about a Palestinian mother whose infant son needs a marrow transplant that can only be performed at an Israeli hospital. The 2010 film was short-listed for Best Documentary Oscar. Subtitled. A discussion will follow the screening. Information on the film festival: http://cinema.cornell.edu.

'Swing Fling'

Cornell University Jazz Ensembles I and II, with Paul Merrill, director, will present a "Swing Fling," Feb. 25 at 8:30 p.m., B20 Lincoln Hall, featuring the Cornell big bands, guest vocalists, dancing and refreshments, with dance instruction at 7:30 p.m. Admission: $8 students; $10 general public (door sales only).

Tap dancer Savion Glover

Tap-dancer extraordinaire Savion Glover will present SoLo iN TiME, Feb. 28 at 8 p.m., Bailey Hall. Glover plays with tap as sound and sound as dance, exploring the percussive medley of flamenco, flamenco music and tap dancing as song -- a montage of sounds through dance composition and the many ancestral forms of flamenco. Tickets (general $28, $36, $39; student $20) available at http://www.CornellConcertSeries.com and http://www.BaileyTickets.com and in-person/by phone at Ticket Center Ithaca (on The Commons, 607-273-4497.)