By Rebecca O’Halloran
Three weeks before the presidential election the University is scheduled to host a day of various discussions aimed at educating students on issues pertinent to voting.
The day-long conference, Hofstra Votes: Learning the Issues and Making a Difference, is scheduled to take place on Wednesday Oct. 13.
This event is part of the University’s Day of Dialogue, Discussion and Debate. There are some modifications from last year’s Day of Dialogue to this year’s conference, which will represent several political views. This conference revolves around the importance of presenting broad issues that would provide educational value for students.
“We’ve really tried, and in most cases succeeded, to make our sessions really balanced,” Professor Cynthia Bogard who is coordinating the conference’s logistics, said. “Our main goal [is] to have a somewhat bigger conference.”
The conference will present 28 events that range from panel discussions to student forums. It will also include 35 faculty members who will have speaking roles and many more who Bogard said, are involved in other capacities. President Stuart Rabinowitz will begin the conference with opening remarks at 9:05 a.m.
Approximately 24 outside experts will also be in attendance, including the day’s two most high-profile speakers, journalist and Iraq expert Dilip Hiro and senior research fellow for the Heritage Foundation, Dr. James Jay Carafano.
“[Hiro is] probably the top expert on the situation in Iraq,” Bogard said. “And Dr. Carafano is a frequent commentator on CNN and he represents the Bush position [regarding security matters].”
The two will be speaking at both morning sessions regarding the U.S.’ current relationship with Iraq and again at 6:20 p.m. on national security after 9/11.
The daylong conference will also feature two soldiers, both of whom are from the University’s community, contributing to a student-centered discussion.
Rhetoric and speech students are organizing one event, which will be addressing young adults and how politics relates to them.
“[This] is the most vitalized I’ve seen a community during an election,” Dr. Linda Longmire, an event facilitator and University faculty member, said. “There is an unprecedented multiplication of registered voters.”
Longmire is one of two facilitators who will be hosting an open forum on the nation’s future at 7:45 p.m. in the Axinn Library. The forum will allow students to offer their thoughts on the nation’s future.
The evening will end with the viewing of the final presidential debate, which will be aired in the Cultural Center Theater; this will be followed by a student-focused discussion.