Students Will Hold Hurricane Katrina Teach-In Friday

Kirby Government and Law Society invites the campus community to a teach-in focusing on issues related to Hurricane Katrina 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Friday in Colton Chapel.

“This teach-in is an opportunity for students and professors to learn about what happened in New Orleans, what’s going on now, and what will be done in the future,” according to the student organizers. “It is created and moderated by students. Students are encouraged to attend and professors are encouraged to bring their classes.”

The schedule of events:

• 8:30 a.m. — Welcoming remarks: President Dan Weiss and government and law major Katherine Okon ’07 (Monroe, Conn.), president of Kirby Government and Law Society
• 9-9:50 a.m. — Panel #1, Introduction, “Overview of New Orleans Crisis,” Dru Germanoski, Dr. Ervin R. VanArtsdalen ’35 Professor and head of geology and environmental geosciences
• 10-11:50 a.m. — Panel #2, “Government Approach to Crisis: State and Federal Responsibilities,” John Kincaid, Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Professor of Government & Public Service and director of the Meyner Center; Diane V. Elliott, director for public service of the Meyner Center; and Tom Barnowski, director of emergency service training, Northampton Community College
• 12 noon – Lunch break
• 1-1:50 p.m. — Panel #3, “Class and Race Issues,” Rexford Ahene, coordinator of Africana studies and professor of economics and business; Samuel Hay, visiting professor of government and law; Andrea Smith, assistant professor of anthropology; Bryan Washington, associate professor of English, and Michael Benitez, director for intercultural development
• 2-2:50 p.m. — Panel #4, “Louisiana Students’ Discussion and Story.” Hear the stories of the visiting Louisiana students displaced due to the hurricane.
• 3-3:50 p.m. — Panel #5, “Rebuilding and the Future of New Orleans,” Bruce Allen Murphy, Kirby Professor of Civil Rights; Curlee Holton, professor and head of art and director of the Experimental Printmaking Institute; James Lennertz, associate professor of government and law; and student discussion panel
• 4-5 p.m. — General discussion and wrap-up, reflection and discussion, Landis Community Outreach Center outreach, and donations

The organizing committee for the teach-in is comprised of Ahene, Kincaid, Dean of Studies Gladstone “Fluney”Hutchinson, and government and law majors Okon, Amy McMahon ’07 (Newtown Square, Pa.), Alex Hess ’07 (Allentown, Pa.), Jamie Schairer ’07 (Egg Harbor City, N.J.), Jen Ryan ’06 (East Meadow, N.Y.), and Page Allinson ’07 (Paoli, Pa.).