Congressman Boucher to highlight WFU technology event March 22

U.S. Rep. Rick Boucher from Virginia will deliver the event’s keynote address at 9 a.m. March 22 in Room 224 of the Information Systems Building. Boucher will discuss the current state of copyright legislation, the role that corporations play in defining copyright law, and the role of universities as advocates for the public domain. The keynote address, part of the university’s theme year, “Fostering Dialogue,” is free and members of the public not participating in the entire two-day consortium are invited to attend.

Boucher started the House Internet Caucus in 1996 and serves as co-chairman of the group. In that position, he has been a leading architect of federal policy for information technology and the Internet. He also serves on the Courts, the Internet and Intellectual Property Subcommittee of the House Judiciary Committee.

The Technology Consortium will feature several discussion sessions from which participants can choose, including online learning, hand-held computers, copyright compliance, wireless implementation and convergence. On the morning of March 23, several technology vendors will showcase their newest products for use in higher education. The vendor showcase is free and open to the public.

Cost for the two-day event is $100, which includes breakfast and lunch on both days. Registration and more information are available online at technologyconsortium.wfu.edu, or by calling 336-758-5152.

The university’s 2003-2004 theme, “Fostering Dialogue: Civil Discourse in an Academic Community” is designed to explore how free people with passionate interests and beliefs can communicate openly without turning dialogue into discord.