NEWS

Military occupation, nuclear threat and SARS to be discussed in series

By JENA WITTKAMP
UNC News Services

CHAPEL HILL –Topics ranging from the military occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan to the SARS epidemic will be explored in a fall discussion series at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The free public series will focus on international topics, particularly events in Asia. UNC faculty and visiting scholars will discuss international events from a variety of viewpoints.

"Asia is of ever increasing importance to all of us as citizens in a democracy for many reasons, not the least of which is that it has long been a focal point for American military and political involvement," said Dr. Steven Levine, interim director of the Carolina Asia Center and associate chair of the international studies curriculum. "We hope the discussion series will get people to listen, talk, read and think, which are pretty core objectives in a university environment."

The series is presented by the Campus Y, the Carolina Asia Center and the University Center for International Studies. All discussions will begin at 5:30 p.m.

• "The Morning After: How is the United States Managing Military Occupation in Iraq and Afghanistan?" Sept. 10, Hanes Art Center Auditorium. This discussion will examine historical perspectives on military actions in Asian nations. UNC faculty members speaking will be history professor Dr. Miles Fletcher, chair of the curriculum in Asian studies; Dr. Willis Brooks, associate professor of history; and history professor Dr. Michael Hunt.

• "What’s the Deal with North Korea, Part II?" Oct. 7, Location to be announced. Are we closer to a peaceful resolution with a country that threatens the United States and its neighbors with nuclear weapons? How close is North Korea to delivering on its threats? Dr. Kinney Kim, a physics professor at N.C. Central University, will share his impressions from a visit to North Korea and discussions with Korean physicists. A representative from the South Korean Embassy will join him. Dr. Eugene Eaves, director of the NCCU Office of International Affairs, will moderate the discussion.

• "SARS: The Medical Phenomenon and the Media Response" Nov. 11, Gerrard Hall. Dr. Gail Henderson, UNC professor of social medicine and adjunct professor of sociology; UNC medical journalism professor Dr. Tom Linden; and a representative from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will speak. Henderson, whose research includes public health in China, will discuss SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome). Linden will talk about media coverage and political response to the outbreak.

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(Wittkamp, of Raleigh, is a senior majoring in women’s studies and journalism and mass communication.)

Contact: Steven Levine, 843-0130
News Services Contact: L.J. Toler, 962-8589, 962-2091