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News Release

Office of News and Information
Johns Hopkins University
3003 N. Charles Street, Suite 100
Baltimore, Maryland 21218-3843
Phone: (410) 516-7160 | Fax (410) 516-5251

September 12, 2002
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Tannaz Rasouli or
Jessica Valdez
(410) 516-7683 | mse@jhu.edu


The 2002 Milton S. Eisenhower Symposium
Changing Times: Who Are We?

An Introspective Look at American Identity in the 21st Century

The student-run Milton S. Eisenhower Symposium marks its 35th year at The Johns Hopkins University with lectures, a debate, book signings, exhibits and a film series addressing the theme "Changing Times: Who Are We? An Introspective Look at American Identity in the 21st Century."

Established in 1967 to honor the university's eighth president, the annual MSE Symposium is a student-organized lecture series, free and open to the public, that brings to campus experts with a variety of perspectives on issues of national importance. This year, the symposium aims to examine the various forces that impact American identity.

Throughout the 20th century, the United States was shaped by numerous political, social and economic upheavals, this year's organizers say. In the wake of Sept. 11, 2001, America must once again adapt to a new identity. Symposium co-chairs Meera Popat and Dennis Boothe, both juniors, and their staff have invited 10 speakers to Shriver Hall to explore the array of concerns facing the nation at the dawn of the 21st century.

The symposium begins on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 8 p.m. in Shriver Hall Auditorium with "The Melting Pot: Cultural Assimilation in Modern America," a lecture by conservative columnist Linda Chavez. A former director of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights and White House director of public liaison, Chavez is the president of the Washington, D.C.-based Center for Equal Opportunity, a non-profit public policy research organization focused on policies affecting racial preferences, immigration, assimilation, and multi-cultural education. Chavez is also the author of Out of the Barrio: Towards a New Politics of Hispanic Assimilation and a forthcoming memoir, An Unlikely Conservative: The Transformation of an Ex-Liberal. Chavez's lecture is co-sponsored by the Young America's Foundation and the JHU College Republicans. Doors open at 7 p.m. A reception in the Mattin Center's Ross Jones Building will follow the lecture.

The coming weeks will bring several other prominent guests from various fields to the Homewood campus, including actor and activist Edward James Olmos; Russell Simmons, founder of Def Jam Records; Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi and founder of the M.K. Gandhi Institute for Non-Violence; and Chris Matthews, host of MSNBC's "Hardball." Each lecture lasts approximately 45 minutes and is followed by a question-and-answer period and a reception where guests mingle with members of the audience.

The symposium will also present six films as part of the MSE Film Series. Films are meant to supplement the lectures by providing various viewpoints in anticipation of upcoming lectures. To mark the 35th anniversary of the symposium, an exhibit titled "MSE Symposium Throughout the Times" is on display on the first and second floors of the Ross Jones Building in the Mattin Center. The exhibit runs through Oct. 10.

As in the past, the MSE Symposium is expected to draw thousands of people. The student chairs select the topics, secure the speakers, raise the funds and publicize the series. Some funding is provided by the Student Council, but the students are responsible for raising the balance from corporations and foundations. For more information, call 410-516-7683, or visit http://www.jhu.edu/mse.

2002 MSE Symposium
Schedule of Events

Tuesday, Sept.17 at 8 p.m. -- Lecture: "The Melting Pot: Cultural Assimilation in Modern America," Linda Chavez. Shriver Hall Auditorium


Wednesday, Sept. 18, 8 p.m. -- Workshop: Cultural Assimilation at Hopkins. Several student groups will present this forum, where students will discuss cultural stereotypes on campus. AMR I Multipurpose Room


Friday, Sept. 27, 6:30 p.m. -- Film screening and lecture: "Americanos: Latino Life in the United States," a documentary by Edward James Olmos, will be shown in Shriver Auditorium at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m., Olmos will give a lecture by the same title, also in Shriver Auditorium. A book signing in the Clipper Room follows the lecture.


Friday, Oct. 4, 8 p.m. -- Film: "The Insider." Schafler Auditorium, Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.


Thursday, Oct. 10, 8 p.m. -- Lecture: "Defining the Times: The Power of the News Media," David Brock. Shriver Hall Auditorium. A book signing follows the lecture.


Tuesday, Oct. 22, 8 p.m. -- Lecture: "The Beat Goes On: The Influence of the Hip-Hop Revolution on American Identity," Russell Simmons. Shriver Hall Auditorium.


Friday, Nov. 1, 8 p.m. -- Film: "Enemy of the State." Schafler Auditorium, Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.


Thursday, Nov. 7, 8 p.m. -- Nadine Strossen and Christopher Whitcomb debate the topic "Big Brother: The Effect of Government Policies on Civil Liberties." Shriver Hall Auditorium.


Friday, Nov. 8, 8 p.m. -- Film: "A Time to Kill." Schafler Auditorium, Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.


Tuesday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m. -- Lecture: "Race Relations: Peace by Peace," Arun Gandhi. Shriver Hall Auditorium.


Friday, Nov. 22, 8 p.m. -- Film: "Gattaca.." Schafler Auditorium, Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.


Monday, Nov. 25, 8 p.m. -- A panel discussion, "On the Edge: Evolving Biotechnology, A Question of Ethics," will be led by Francis Collins, director of the National Human Genome Research Institute of the National Institutes of Health, and Ruth Faden, director of the Berman Bioethics Institute at Johns Hopkins. Glass Pavilion.


Friday, Dec. 6, 8 p.m. -- Film: "Thirteen Days." Schafler Auditorium, Bloomberg Center for Physics and Astronomy.


Sunday, Dec. 8, 8:30 p.m. -- Lecture: "Crossing Borders: Looking Outward to a Connected World," Chris Matthews. Shriver Hall Auditorium. A book signing follows the lecture.



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