Campus calendar

"Shelter" exhibit artist reception Artists represented in "Shelter," a traveling exhibition of artist's books focused on the issue of shelter, will be on hand for a reception tonight at Montserrat College of Art. The exhibit looks at a variety of notions of shelter, including interpretations of home (above), the psychology of personal space, and homelessness. A 30 percent commission on sales will benefit River House Inc., a Beverly-based shelter that serves chronically mentally ill homeless individuals. 6-8 p.m. Free. Montserrat College of Art's 301 Gallery, 301 Cabot St., Beverly. 978-921-4242, ext. 3. www.montserrat.edu/galleries

MIT Symphony Orchestra Here's a little something to celebrate in a scary time: Under the direction of Dr. Adam Boyles, the MIT Symphony Orchestra opens its season Friday with "Celebrate!" The concert launches with Dvorak's "Carnival Overture." MIT professor Peter Child will perform his "Child's Punkie Night," a composition he says is perfect for Halloween because it's "wrought with . . . wailing, cavorting, and carrying on." Brain and cognitive science student Matthew Serna will be the guest soloist for Prokofiev's Piano Concert No. 3. The evening will end with a performance of Joaquin Turina's "Sinfonia Sevillana." 8 p.m. $5. MIT Kresge Auditorium, 84 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 617-452-2394. joya@mit.edu

"Pope Joan" at BU If Senator Clinton and Governor Palin think politics plays a rough gender game, try being a woman who rises to the papacy in the ninth century! "Pope Joan" is a new play by BU alumna Michelle Poynton that recounts the scandal surrounding the ninth-century German woman who "supposedly" became the pope. The play is being presented as part of Boston University's Fringe Festival, a celebration that makes affordable opera and theater repertoire available to the general public in an attempt to broaden audiences. Fri-Sat 8 p.m., Sun 7 p.m. $7. Boston University Theatre, Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley Studio 210, 264 Huntington Ave., Boston. 617-933-8600. www.BostonTheatreScene .com

Flamenco concert at MIT "Juanito Pascual and Friends," featuring traditional flamenco on up through fanciful contemporary numbers, promises to be the flamenco event of the season. Flamenco @ MIT welcomes renowned flamenco guitar virtuoso Juanito Pascual, Spanish dancers Nino de los Reyes and Elena Andujar, and many more. Sun 8-10 p.m. $20, $12 students. MIT Kresge Auditorium, 48 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 877-365-3836. mit.edu/flamenco

Alvin Felzenberg talk at Harvard Coop Forget what the history books tell us about the good, the bad, and the ugly among our presidents; in "The Leaders We Deserved (and a Few We Didn't): Rethinking the Presidential Rating Game" author Alvin S. Felzenberg wrestles the amorphous world of presidential legacy into more tangible categories - character, vision, competence, foreign policy, economic policy, and human rights. Then he offers a surprising look at the best and worst in each category. Felzenberg discusses his book, at the Harvard Coop on Tuesday. 7 p.m. Free. Harvard Coop, 3d Floor, 1400 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge. 617-499-2012. www.thecoop.com

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