Lunch seminar features Middle East expert Juan Cole

SIA students can attend a unique lunch seminar on "Democratization, Religious Extremism, Fragile States, and Insurgencies: Bush's Legacies to Obama and the Challenges Ahead," on October 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Courtroom of the Lewis Katz Building. The seminar, conducted by author, scholar and Middle East specialist Juan Cole is part of the "Geographies of Power" research initiative and is cosponsored by the Center for Global Studies, the School of International Affairs, the World Universities Network, and the Asian Studies Department.

Global partners in the research initiative, Ziad Elmarsafy from York University, UK; Shamil Jeppie from the University of Cape Town, South Africa; and George Pavlitch of the University of Alberta, Canada will participate via simulcast. Jan Burnett, Student Government Association Co-President helped organize the event and sees it as an opportunity to share dialogue, engage on key pressing issues, and network with a major scholar and public intellectual. Students who wish to attend should RSVP via e-mail at BZJ112@sia.psu.edu

The event is co-sponsored by the Center for Global Studies and the Asian Studies Department. Professor Cole will also give a public lecture from 4:30 to 6:00 p.m. in room 026 of the Hoesler Building.