U.S. foreign policy in the 21st century focus of WFU forum

With the country at war in Iraq, a group of concerned Wake Forest faculty members have organized a free, public panel discussion for 7 p.m. March 25 focused on answering questions like what should be the moral and strategic goals of continued U.S. involvement in the world community and how should patriotic Americans opposed to the war voice their objections. The event will take place in Annenburg auditorium in Carswell Hall.

The forum titled “Constructing an American Foreign Policy for the 21st Century” is the second event organized by several university faculty members who banded together in October to create the group “Faculty Raising Dialogue.” The first panel discussion, held Feb. 4 and organized around the topic of U.S. foreign policy towards Iraq, drew more than 300 faculty, students, staff and community members to the university’s Pugh Auditorium for a two-hour discussion.

During the upcoming forum, four panelists, two in favor of a U.S. war with Iraq and two opposed, will be given seven to nine minutes to discuss their thoughts on the major foreign policy challenges facing the United States in the future, the proper role for citizens in regards to U.S. foreign policy and the proper reaction to the ongoing war for American patriots opposed to the conflict.

Panelists for the event include Michael Hughes, professor and chair of the history department, and Tilden Bridges, a Winston-Salem resident and Vietnam veteran. The two are expected to argue in opposition to the war in Iraq.

In addition, Robert Utley, associate professor of humanities, and Venkata Challa, professor of pathology at the Wake Forest School of Medicine, are expected to participant on the panel and argue in favor of the war in Iraq.

There will be a question and answer session after each panelist speaks. William Fleeson, associate professor of psychology, will moderate the event.

Categories: Community, Events, Speakers