VCU to host Government and Politics Lecture Series

By Lissette Linares

In an effort to keep the Richmond community informed about the issues surrounding the globalization of business, economics and politics, Virginia Commonwealth University’s Department of Political Science and Public Administration will host the first Government and Politics Lecture Series.

"Our department has long sought ways to keep the community better informed about issues that affect them," said Nelson Wikstrom, Ph.D., VCU chair and professor of political science and public administration. "We hope this series will provide the public with information that is valuable and necessary in understanding the world in which we live."

All lectures will feature a guest speaker followed by a question and answer session and reception.

Topics include:

• Hugh D. Keogh, president of the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, will speak about "Virginia’s Competitiveness in the Global Economy" on Sept. 23.
• On Oct. 21, Robert E. Denton, Ph.D., professor of communication studies at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, will discuss "Teledemocracy: How Television Undermines American Democracy."
• On Nov. 18, Virginia Delegate Eric I. Cantor will discuss "Issues Facing Virginia in the New Millennium," including topics such as transportation, education, the environment and economic growth.
• On Feb. 9, Charles Taylor, Ph.D., a political science professor at Virginia Tech and expert on Germany, will discuss the move from a totalitarian system to a pluralistic party system in "From Monolith to Multiplicity: Creating New Party Systems in Eastern Europe."
• The March 22 lecture will feature VCU Professor Judyth Twigg, Ph.D., with "The Russian Political Scene: What’s Old, What’s News and What it All Means." Twigg will discuss the economic and political challenges facing Russia in recent years and their effect on the country’s future.
• The lecture series will close April 12 with a talk by Frederick Hale, Ph.D., political science professor at the University of Stellenbosch in South Africa. In "Coming to Grips with a Troubled Past: The Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the New South Africa," Hale will analyze the role of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in the healing of Africa and in helping the country move forward. The commission was established to investigate past infractions of the law by former South African government officials and others.

The VCU Department of Political Science and Public Administration plans to offer the lecture series annually. All talks will be held at 7 p.m. in the Forum Room of the VCU Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. The lectures are free and open to the public. For more information, call 828-8068.