January 2024

 


Greetings,


We are looking forward to an exciting Spring semester filled with excellent speakers and programs. Last semester featured exemplary programs that illustrate the diverse range of activities that the Center engages in.


In this newsletter, you will find information regarding some of our upcoming events. For more information on our programs or for information regarding the Center for the Study of Democracy, please visit our website or send us an email.


I also encourage you to follow the Center on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube.


Happy New Year!


Antonio Ugues Jr., PhD

Director, Center for the Study of Democracy

 
 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Jan. 19

Advisory Board Meeting

12:00-1:30 pm


Jan. 23

Dr. Jeremy C. Young

Public Lecture

Cole Cinema, 7:30-9:00 pm


Feb.1

Merchants of Doubt

Film Screening

Cole Cinema, 4:00-6:00 pm


Feb. 8

Dr. Simon Serfaty

Public Lecture

Cole Cinema, 7:30-9:00 pm


Feb. 12

Dr. Corey Basch

Public Lecture

Cole Cinema, 4:45-6:00 pm

 

Academic Freedom and

American Democracy


On January 23rd, the Center for the Study of Democracy, the St. Mary's College History Department, and the St. Mary's College History Club will host Dr. Jeremy C. Young (SMCM '06) of PEN America at St. Mary's College of Maryland.


In light of the recent efforts to undermine academic freedom throughout higher education, Dr. Young will explore the relevance of academic freedom in academic life as well as American democracy. Dr. Young's presentation will survey the national landscape of these efforts and explore the potential consequences to free expression, American democracy, and institutions of higher education. You can learn more about this talk at the following link. 

The Media Literacy, Civic Engagement

and Democracy (MLCED) Project Presents

Film Screening

The MLCED Project will host a screening of "Merchants of Doubt" (2014).


Inspired by the acclaimed book by Naomi Oreskes and Erik Conway, "Merchants of Doubt" takes audiences on a satirically comedic, yet illuminating ride into the heart of conjuring American spin. Filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the curtain on a secretive group of highly charismatic, silver-tongued pundits-for-hire who present themselves in the media as scientific authorities – yet have the contrary aim of spreading maximum confusion about well-studied public threats ranging from toxic chemicals to pharmaceuticals to climate change.


Learn more here.

Health information

on TikTok:

Friend or Foe?

The MLCED Project is pleased to welcome Dr. Corey Basch for a lecture on health science information and misinformation and TikTok.


Corey Hannah Basch, Ed.D., M.P.H., CHES, is Professor and Chair of the Public Health Department at William Paterson University. Dr. Basch also holds master’s degrees in nutrition education, communication and education, and cognition and learning as well as a doctorate all from Teachers College, Columbia University. In addition, she holds an MPH with an emphasis in public health practice from University of Massachusetts Amherst.


Learn more here.

RISING TIDE: DISTINGUISHED LECTURE IN INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

A World Astray: Is the U.S. Still

the Indispensable Power?


by Dr. Simon Serfaty


The Center is pleased to host the inaugural lecture of a new series titled Rising Tide: Distinguished Lecture in International Affairs. The inaugural lecture will be delivered by Dr. Simon Serfaty.


An established authority on political transitions, Dr. Serfaty contends that the past 30 years (1991-2021) have been years of failed transitions: the end of the Cold War and its unipolar moment of global preponderance; September 11 and its unwinnable wars; the great recession and its unevenly shared recovery; the Arab Spring and its still-born democratic surge; Brexit and its challenge to Europe’s ever closer union; and more. The consequences have been cumulative and the next 20 years have been unfolding as years of an unpredictable global mutation. America remains the indispensable power, but over the next 20 years we will have to do better than we did over the previous 30: if not the United States who; if not with allies and partners, with whom; if not now, when?  


Simon Serfaty is a professor and Eminent Scholar (emeritus since 2020) in U.S. foreign policy at Old Dominion University (ODU) in Norfolk, Virginia. He also holds the Zbigniew Brzezinski Chair in Global Security and Geostrategy (emeritus) at the Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS).


Learn more here.

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