Events

Steve Bratt

Steve Bratt Poster

Chief Executive Officer of the World Wide Web Consortium

Tomorrow’s Web

Thursday, October 9, 2008
Rector Science Complex, Stafford Lecture Hall – 7:00 p.m.

New technology standards will shortly be finalized for the World Wide Web. These standards will transform the Web as we know it, permitting wide-spreadintegration of data, across an expanding range of Web sites and devices, and an explosion in the number of Web site creators and consumers. This future Web will be rich with disruption, opportunities, and challenges.

Topical Background
The Internet has become part of the daily lives of many people and organizations around the world. Emerging as one of the key dimensions of a globalized world, the Internet is accessible on many different types of devices, including cell phones and personal digital assistants.

The World Wide Web was created in 1989 by Sir Tim Berners-Lee, a British scientist working at the European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN) in Geneva, Switzerland. Today, a strong force behind the promotion of a “Web for Everyone” is the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). Tim Berners-Lee and others created W3C as an industry consortium dedicated to building consensus around Web technologies.

Long-term goals of the World Wide Web Consortium: Read more

Isabel Franc, prize-winning lesbian novelist

Isabel Franc Poster

LGBT Rights in Spain: Writing and Social Change

Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Stern Center, Great Room – 7:00 p.m.

What role can the writer play in bringing about social change? Franc, who grew up during the repressive dictatorship of Franco, addresses this question in the context of Spain’s gay and lesbian movement.

Topical Background
From the end of the Spanish Civil war in 1939 until 1975, Generalissimo Francisco Franco governed Spain autocratically, based on nationalism and traditionalism. As part of an imposed national unity, Spanish was the only official language, even though other languages were widely used in certain regions of the country. Censorship controlled every aspect of culture. Dissidents and opponents of the regime were imprisoned or they simply disappeared. During his rule, the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community was severely stifled. Not only was homosexuality illegal, but there were very few references to homosexuality in literature, cinema and music. Any references that did survive censorship were negative in tone. Despite this culture of oppression, a clandestine gay scene began to emerge in Barcelona in the 1960s.
Franco’s death in 1975 provided an impetus for drastic political and social change. Spain transitioned peacefully and relatively smoothly from Read more

Breaking Issue: Financial Meltdown

Financial Meltdown poster Monday, October 6, 2008 – 12:00 p.m.
Stern Center, Great Room

Teleconference presentations featuring financial experts associated with Dickinson College.

Panelists:
Michele Richardson ’85, Managing Director, Babson Capital Management
Brian Ruszczyk ’88, Managing Director, Latin America Investments, Citi Private Bank
Craig Weeks ’77, Managing Director, JP Morgan Chase Bank
Hance West, Investure (Dickinson College’s Investment Office)
Moderator: Annette Parker, Vice President and Treasurer, Dickinson College

Follow-up Discussion:
Monday, October 22, 2008 – 12:00 p.m.
Stern Center, Great Room

Panelists:
Jim Chambers ’78, Conundrum Capital Partners
Burt Sheaffer ’87, Sr Fx Options Trader, Bank of America
Jonathan Williams ’88, Investment Director, PNC Wealth Managment & Institutional Investments
Hance West, Investure (Dickinson College’s Investment Office)
Moderator: Tim Timura ’83, McGlinn Capital Read more

Michael Goldman

Associate Professor, University of Minnesota

Social Justice and Prosperity in a World City? Rethinking the ‘Flat World’ Thesis in Bangalore, India

Michael Goldman PosterThursday, October 2, 2008
Stern Center, Great Room – 7:00 p.m.

Topical Background
Bangalore, India has skyrocketed to prosperity in the global economy as a result of success and innovation in research and development (R&D).

The Indian city has been equated to the ‘Silicon Valley’ of California because of its surge in high-tech development. Numerous multinational Informational Technology (IT) firms are flocking to the region in an effort to outsource their IT services and generate products at a cheaper cost.

The Bangalore model is export-based and thrives on off-shore development directed at the United States firms and consumer markets. While it has created jobs and generated income to a certain extent, some argue that the Bangalore development model has not benefited the majority of the local population.

Has this prosperity led to equity in Bangalore, which was once the prototype of the global south? Are the bold new changes occurring in Bangalore, India improving the living conditions of the majority? Or has this development model simply exacerbated socio-economic divides in the city? Is the ‘Bangalore model’ — solving ‘megacity’ Read more

Prof. Richard J. Wilson

Director, International Human Rights Law Clinic, American University,

Washington College of Law

Guantanamo and the Nation’s Narrative: From Enemy Combatants to Lawfare

Rick Wilson PosterThursday, September 25, 2008
Stern Center, Great Room – 7:00 p.m.

This presentation will explore the unique, complex and sometimes puzzling language and culture of the prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and its contribution to our understanding of war and the rule of law since it began operations in early 2002. This talk presents the perspective of a lawyer and law professor who has has visited and worked with detainee clients at Guantanamo regularly since 2004.

Topical Background
The War on Terror has yielded a number of questions regarding the law and conduct of war. One of the more contentious debates concerns the detention and treatment of those captured during these hostilities. The Geneva Conventions defines POWs and affords them certain rights. However, the Bush Administration has determined that those captured in the War on Terror do not fit this definition or the Conventions do not apply, and have therefore withheld these rights from detainees. As a result, detainees who deny ever fighting against the United States have been detained incommunicado for years at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Read more

Rear Admiral John Hutson and Lt. Col. V. Stuart Couch

Rear Admiral John Hutson, dean and president, Franklin Pierce Law Center

Lt. Col. V. Stuart Couch, U.S. Marine Corps.

Keeping America Safe and Safeguarding American Values

Keeping America Safe PosterTuesday, September 23, 2008
Stern Center, Great Room – 7:00 p.m.

“Continuing the Conversation” immediately following the program in Stern 102.

This panel will address the question of how we can fight terrorists and strengthen our security in ways that are strong and effective and consonant with our values and our Constitution.

Topical Background
Since the beginning of the human rights movement in the mid-twentieth century, advocates of human rights and national security experts have often been at odds with one another. The former support the inviobility of human rights, while the latter stress the necessity of national security protection.
In times of war, including the ongoing war on terrorism, a fundamental human right that often draws attention is the right to be free from torture. The Abu Ghraib abuse scandal and questions regarding detainee treatment at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base have underlined the significance of this human right. Legal documents that are relevant to the issue of torture and abuse include the following:

&#8226Article 5 of the Universal Declaration of Human Read more

Tom Gerety – "Constitution Day Address"

Collegiate Professor of law and humanities, New York University School of

Law

American Wars: Citizenship and Warmaking Responsibility in the Age of the Professional Army

Tom Gerety PosterWednesday, September 17, 2008
Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.

Topical Background
Politicians often stress the importance of “doing one’s civic duty” in a democracy. Historically, one of a citizen’s most important responsibilities in a democracy is to defend one’s own rights and the rights of others.

The professional American military created in the aftermath of the Vietnam War undercut the obligation of America’s youth to contribute to the nation’s defense. As of June 30, 2008, about 1,427,546 people serve full-time in the U.S. Armed Forces, an all-volunteer, professional standing military.

Youth disengagement is viewed as a growing problem in American society. The majority of young Americans do not vote, and far fewer join the armed forces. Does this detachment from civic life pose a problem for American society? How important is a common civic identity in our diverse society? Who holds the responsibility for warmaking if the current generation of American youth is uninterested in exercising their civic rights?

About the Speaker
Dr. Tom Gerety joined the faculty of the NYU School of Read more

Dikembe Mutombo

NBA all star with the Houston Rockets and human rights activist

PROGRAM CANCELLED

Thursday, September 11, 2008
Anita Tuvin Schlechter Auditorium – 7:00 p.m.

Dikembe Mutombo, the center for the Houston Rockets in the NBA and a central figure in improving the quality of life for people in his birthplace, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will discuss human rights issues. Mutombo is chairman and president of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation Inc., which is dedicated to improving the lives of people of the Congo through an emphasis on primary health care and disease prevention, the promotion of health policy, health research and increased access to health care education.

Co-sponsored by American Studies, Sociology, History and Athletic Departments. Read more

Russia Resurgent? Crisis in the Caucasus

Panel Discussion

Russell Bova, Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Dickinson College
Andrew Wolff, Professor of Political Science and International Studies, Dickinson College
Craig Nation, Professor of Russian and Eurasian Studies, US Army War College
Elena Aysakova, Russian State University for the Humanities
Neil Weissman, Provost and Dean, Dickinson College
Russell Bova, Moderator, Professor of Political Science and International Studies

Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Stern Center, Great Room – 7:30 p.m.


Topical Background
In July 2008, conflict between Ossetian militia and Georgian armed forces boiled to a new high, causing Georgia to launch a surprise operation in order to seize control of South Ossetia. However, tension within Georgia began more than a decade ago in 1990 when Georgia abolished South Ossetia’s autonomy eventually resulting in ethnic fighting. When Georgia and Russia signed a peace treaty in 1992, Russian troops began patrolling the South Ossetia border. Over the years, Moscow has viewed itself as the protector of the enclave, which has been under pressure from the central government in Georgia.

On August 8, 2008 while countries around the world joined together in a display of unity during the Opening Ceremony of the 29th Olympic Read more

Debate: Should Pennsylvania Legalize Marijuana?

Allen St. Pierre,

Executive Director, NORML and the NORML Foundation

David Freed,

Cumberland County District Attorney

Professor Daniel Kenney,

Dickinson College, Moderator

Marijuana Poster
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Stern Center, Great Room – 7:00 p.m.

Thousands of Pennsylvanians each year are arrested for possessing and using marijuana. Does this policy of jailing marijuana users make any sense? What are the reasons for this policy? What are the reasons against it? Our panelists will debate these issues prior to a general question-and-answer period.

“Continuing the Conversation”
Stern Center, Room 102 – immediately following the debate

Topical Background
The debate concerning the legality or illegality of marijuana use has been going on for at least 70 years. However, Starting in the 1970s, twelve states (AK, CA, CO, ME, MN, NE, NV, NY, NC, OH and OR) began to decriminalize marijuana for personal use. Despite this trend, Pennsylvania continues to incarcerate and fine people convicted of possessing and distributing marijuana. Currently in the United States, more people are arrested per year for marijuana-related crimes than for all violent crimes.

Why is it that although the possession of obscene materials in one’s own home can’t be prosecuted, the private possession and use of marijuana are still Read more

Mark Alexander Program Photos

Obama Advisor Mark Alexander visits Dickinson March 27, 2008

Mark Alexander, Senior Advisor to Senator Barack Obama, visited Dickinson College on Thursday to rally voters for the upcoming Pennsylvania primary election. Alexander’s visit, sponsored by the Dickinson College Student Democrats with the logistical support of The Clarke Forum, overflowed the Stern Center Great Room and kicked off an exciting day of politics that also included a visit from William Jefferson Clinton, the 42nd President of the United States.

Students hand out Obama literature in the Stern Center.

Students hand out Obama literature in the Stern Center.

James Liska '09, president of the Dickinson College Democrats, introduces Mr. Alexander.

James Liska ’09, president of the Dickinson College Democrats, introduces Alexander.

The crowd in the Stern Center overflows the building.

The crowd in the Stern Center overflows the building.

Audience members listen to Mr. Alexander.

Senior Advisor to Senator Barak Obama, Mark Alexander.

Senior Advisor to Senator Barack Obama, Mark Alexander.

Mark Alexander.

Audience members listen to Mr. Alexander.

Audience members listen to Alexander.

Photos by A. Pierce Bounds ’71
Video by Chad Everts Read more

Diana Putman

U.S. Army War College; Director, Office of Economic Opportunities with U.S. Aid for International Development

Engendering Development: Experience from the Field

Friday, March 28, 2008 – Lunch Discussion
The Clarke Forum – Reservations required
Contact clarke@dickinson.edu

Development practitioners have explored a range of approaches to ensure that both women and men benefit from development projects. This talk will describe approaches in Africa and the Middle East that have enabled women to progress economically and consequently gain more social and political power. It also cautions against assuming that power is only in the public domain and will discuss similarities between Moslem and Japanese cultures where female power is less overt but nonetheless influential in society. Read more

Somdatta Mondal

Scholar-in-residence with Community Studies

Walking in a Sari and Combat Boots: Texts and Contexts of South Asian Diasporic Cinema

Tuesday, March 4, 2008 – Lunch Discussion
The Clarke Forum – Reservations Required
Email clarke@dickinson.edu

Discussion and clips of feature films and documentaries that illuminate the processes by which the South Asian community strives to forge an identity for itself in three Western countries (United States, Britain and Canada). Most independent filmmakers focus upon their South Asian tradition and how it collides with Western individuality. How do these films challenge and transcend homogenized mainstream media representations, and recognize heterogeneous differences within the South Asian diaspora? Read more

Vanessa Tyson

Consortium for Faculty Diversity Fellow

Power and Influence in the House: Progressive Coalitions, Interracial Alliances and Marginal Group Politics

Monday, February 25, 2008 – Lunch Discussion
The Clarke Forum – Reservations Required
 Email clarke@dickinson.edu

Discussion on the internal dynamics of the House of Representatives and the ability of members from the representing marginal groups, particularly racial minorities, to navigate the legislative process. Read more

Kimberly Dozier

CBS News Correspondent injured in Iraq and author
Kimberly Dozier Poster

Breathing the Fire: Fighting to Report – and Survive – the War in Iraq

Monday, April 21, 2008
7:00 p.m.- Stern Center, Great Room

Terrorism has made news reporting very dangerous. Reporters have become the targets of terrorist acts, where they once only stood next to targets. Being embedded has also made the role of correspondent more complex, raising such questions as which ‘side’ we’re on, whether we are legitimate targets when shadowing the military or insurgents, and the ethics of going on a raid to kill insurgents. Also, the ‘cable effect’ has made it more difficult to report a straight story because so many people now expect some sort of opinion, and cable television representatives openly criticize correspondents for anything they report.

Sponsored by Betty R.’58, and Dan Churchill and Penn State Dickinson School of Law

Issue in Context
From World War II to the Vietnam War and the first Persian Gulf War, reporters have been responsible for providing a connection between the battlefield and the American public. This connection was mediated by various means of communication from the telegraph, to the television and, finally, computers. The technological boom has facilitated Read more

The New Mediterranean Symposium

Thursday, April 3, 2008New Mediterranean Poster
Various Locations

Student Comments

Denisa Lazarescu ’08

Tahar Lamri
The Pilgrimage of the Voice
Award winning author and noted artist Tahar Lamri presented within the second part of the symposium the short story titled “The Pilgrimage of the Voice” which was interpreted in four different languages: standard Italian, as well as Mantovano, Romagnolo, and Venetian dialects. Sitting on the floor, surrounded by students and professors, Tahar Lamri read his story while accompanied by Cafe Mira lead singer, Reda Zine who played the gnawa, a Moroccan musical instrument resembling a lute. Trying to recreate the atmosphere of storytelling around a camp fire, Tahar Lamri and Reda’s spiritual music complemented and emphasized the story of the “The Pilgrimage of the Voice” which delves into the topic of languages and cultures blending and influencing one another across borders. The diverse musical and linguistic experience was meant to underscore the message that communication through storytelling, as the basis of many cultures, is the means to attaining tolerance and understanding among people across the world. As the story of Scheherazade and the “One Thousand and One Nights”, storytelling preserves life, forges bonds among people, ensures cultural progress, and, most importantly, fosters Read more

President Bill Clinton Campaigning for Hillary Clinton

Thursday, March 27, 2008 – 3:15 p.m. – 5:15 p.mClinton Poster
The Kline Athletic Center

Student Comments

Caitlin Rice

Former President Clinton did an excellent job of detailing what makes Hillary Clinton’s plans for America distinctive. On the event in general, I thought it was great to see so many people there and so excited–regardless of whether they were Democrat or Republican. Having former President Clinton speak on behalf of Hillary was an excellent opportunity as I feel it drew an open minded crowd.

Through this experience and leading the Dickinson Student for Hillary Group on campus, I have learned a great deal, not only about the logistics and politics of a campaign, but about how to communicate more effectively on many levels with peers and professionals. Some of Hillary’s young campaign workers have described being a “Clintonian” on a campus as if describing being a “punk rocker”! Senator Obama’s popularity permeates most college-aged youth, and I have been discovering better ways to engage the opposition in productive conversation about the seemingly slight differences between Obama and Clinton’s policies and the strengths and weaknesses of each.

For me, President Clinton’s visit was the opportunity of a lifetime to introduce the man Read more