Socialist and Marxist Studies Lunch Series Scheduled at UMaine

Contact: Media contact: Joe Carr at (207) 581-3571; Michael Howard at (207) 581-3861

ORONO — The fall semester’s Socialist and Marxist Studies Luncheon Series at the University of Maine aims to encourage people to think about and discuss controversial topics such as war with Iraq the Patriot Act.         

Speakers do not necessarily present socialist or Marxist viewpoints but offer differing perspectives on a wide range of issues. This semester’s series, for example, will also include talks about the world economy, Cuba, poverty and globalization.

Discussions will take place on Thursdays from 12:30 — 1:45 p.m. in the Bangor Lounge in the Memorial Union. The public is invited to attend.       

The remaining schedule is as follows:

Sept. 18:  Back from Iraq: The War Zone Reported–Peter Davis, Nation correspondent, and Alicia Anstead, Bangor Daily News writer

Sept. 25:  Veterans for Peace and the Gulf Wars–Al Larson, Vietnam War veteran, Kim Hawkins, Gulf War veteran, and Mel Burke, Korean War veteran

Oct. 2:  Who Turned out the Lights in both Baghdad and New York on August 14?: A Look at the World Economy and Capitalist Contradictions–Wadi’h Halabi, author of “Where Have You Gone, American Depression,” and a longtime student of the world economy

Oct. 9:  Is UMS Giving Fair Contracts?: Employees’ Perspectives–Jane Crouch, ACSUM; Loraine Lowell, USM, ACSUM; Rick Winter and Jeff Dorman, UMPSA

Oct. 16:  Revolutionary Cuba: Back to the Future–Judy and Peter Robbins, Carolyn Coe, April Burke, all recently returned from Cuba

Oct. 23:  With Liberty and Justice for All?: The Patriot Act–Phil Worden, lawyer, and others

Oct. 30:  U.S. OUT OF MILKY WAY NOW!: The Politics of Poetry in the Era of NAFTA–Kevin Davies was born in Canada and has lived in New York City for nearly a decade; George Stanley was born in San Francisco, but has lived for the past thirty years in Canada. The two writers will read briefly from their work and discuss politics and poetry from both sides of the border.

Nov. 6:  The Globalization of Spirit vs. the Globalization of Selfishness: Critical Contradictions of Advanced Capitalist Societies in the 21st Century–Michael Lerner, editor of Tikkun, author of The Politics of Meaning and other books; Lerner will also present the Schonberger Lecture at 7:30 p.m., in D.P. Corbett: “Social Transformation and Psycho-Spiritual Healing: Strategies for Peace and Justice in the Era of George Bush and Ariel Sharon”

Nov. 13:  The Vermont Independence Manifesto–Thomas Naylor, Professor Emeritus, Economics, Duke University, author of The Vermont Manifesto, Affluenza, and other books

Nov. 20: The State Budget Crisis and National Politics–State Senators Mary Cathcart and Ethan Strimling, and Rep. Sean Faircloth

Sponsored by the Marxist-Socialist Studies Interdisciplinary minor.  Co-sponsored by the Maine Peace Action Committee (MPAC) and Memorial Union, and with generous support of the Memorial Union and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences.