Date: Sep 22, 2008

Hofstra's Center for Civic Engagement Hosts and Celebrates the Sixth Annual Day of Dialogue

Facing the Future Together

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – Hofstra University’s Center for Civic Engagement and Educate ‘08 is sponsoring the sixth annual Day of Dialogue in various locations on Hofstra’s campus September 24, 2008 beginning at 9:05 a.m. with events running throughout the day and evening.  The conference will feature nearly 20 programs and speakers covering both domestic and foreign policies issues and is free and open to the public this year in honor of the president’s Educate ’08 initiative.

“Day of Dialogue, Facing the Future Together is a multi-perspective, one-day conference on public issues facing the nation,” said Director of the Center for Civic Engagement, Dr. Cynthia Bogard. “It is designed to help Hofstra students and the surrounding communities become informed voters and encourage dialogue between people with differing views.”

Some featured participants will include; Hofstra’s Dr. Gregory Smith, the documentary film maker of Heritage or Hate, on differing views on the meaning of the Confederate Flag, an archivist of the United States, Allen Weinstein, the founder of DebateWatch, University of Kansas Professor Diana Carlin and Founder of World Hunger Year, Bill Ayers.

Foreign policy events include a debate about where to go from here in the Iraq war, a panel on U.S. policy on Iran, panels on how the U.S. is viewed by other nations and a guided dialogue about Israel/Palestinian issues. Domestic policy events will discuss issues such as the economy, race and gender politics and the role of religion in the presidential election.

For a complete list of events, times and locations, please check hofstra.edu/dayofdialogue.  
For questions, please call (516) 463-5640 or (516) 463-6816.

On October 15, Hofstra University will host the third and final presidential debate of the 2008 election season.  This debate, focused on domestic issues, will be televised live around the world.

Leading up to the debate and the 2008 election, Hofstra is proud to host Educate '08, an unprecedented series of lectures, conferences, artistic performances and exhibitions, town hall meetings and interactive forums focused on the issues, history and politics of presidential elections.  Educate '08 provides our students, faculty and the entire surrounding community with access to the newsmakers, scholars and policymakers who have unique insight and knowledge of the American political system.  Many of our programs and events are free and open to the public, and we encourage you to join us for what will be a fascinating series of events.  During spring 2008's Educate '08 schedule, Hofstra hosted more than 30 events, including guests such as Mary Matalin and James Carville, David Gergen, William Kristol and Maureen Dowd, Charlie Cook, and many scholars, historians, journalists and policymakers.  
 
Find out more about Educate '08 by visiting www.hofstra.edu/educate08

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from more than 140 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence. The University also provides excellent facilities with state-of-the-art technology, extensive library resources and internship programs that match students’ interests and abilities with appropriate companies and organizations.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.