Date: Feb 23, 2010

The Annual International Scene

A Citizens Guide to U.S. Foreign and Economic Policies

Hofstra's annual International Scene Lecture series on domestic and foreign affairs will examine economic policy on war and military spending.  The first event, titled U.S. Military Policy featuring Chalmers Johnson, formal naval officer and consultant to the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency, will be held February 24, from 11:15 a.m.-12:30 p.m. in Leo Guthart Cultural Center Theater, Axinn Library.  The International Scene Lecture Series is sponsored by Hofstra's Departments of Economics, History and Sociology, along with the Center for Civic Engagement.

"We are entering a period of grave economic problems," says Martin Melkonian, professor of economics and co-director of the lecture series. "These lectures will focus on how America's military commitments affect, and are affected by those problems."

The five-lecture series is designed to present diverse views and stimulate dialogue among students and members of the Hofstra community about national and foreign policy issues in the context of the economy and military budgets.  The other lectures are:

American Economic Recovery and Wealth Disparity, Wednesday, March 3, 2010 featuring Max Fraad Wolff, Professor of Economics at New School for Social Research

Responding to Terrorism: Should the War on Terror be a War? Wednesday, March 17, 2010 featuring Chris Hedges, Pulitzer Prize Winning Author of Empire of Illusion: The End of Literacy and the Triumph of Spectacle

A Conversation with Dr.  Howard Dean, former Democratic presidential candidate and senior presidential fellow, Peter S. Kalikow Center for the Study of the American Presidency, Wednesday, March 24, 2010 featuring Howard Dean, and Carolyn Eisenberg, Professor of History

The Federal Budget in Crisis: Choices We Face, Wednesday, April 14, 2010 featuring Jo Comerford, Executive Director of National Priorities Project.

All events will take place at Leo A. Guthart Theater except the March 17, lecture which will be held in the Student Center Theater. The lectures will begin at 11:15 a.m. and end at 12:30 p.m. Admission is free and open to the public.  There will be a question and answer period following each lecture.  For more information on the International Scene Lecture Series, please call (516) 463-5595.  Cooperating sponsors for the series are Long Island Teachers for Human Rights and the Long Island Alliance for Peaceful Alternatives. 

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 150 undergraduate and more than 160 graduate offerings in liberal arts and sciences, business; engineering; communication; education, health and 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. 

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