Civil liberties in post-Sept. 11 America
Feb. 17, 2003
KALAMAZOO -- The balancing act the between the protection of personal liberty and national security will be the subject of Feb. 25 evening discussion for the community featuring Western Michigan University faculty members.
Part of the discussion series, "Learning OutLoud: A Guided Exploration of Contemporary Issues," the event is a chance for the public to take advantage of the opportunity to interact in a question-and-answer format with local experts on controversial issues.
The Tuesday, Feb 25, talk, "The Meaning of Freedom: Civil Liberties in America," will feature Dr. Thomas Kostrzewa, WMU instructor of political science. The free session will begin at 7 p.m. in the Portage Senior Center at the Portage District Library, 300 Library Lane, Portage, Mich.
"Do we error on the side of protecting our personal liberties, or empowering agencies of national security?" asks Kostrzewa. "That becomes the main question in this debate."
His talk will touch on the Homeland Security Act, the country's general emphasis on security since Sept. 11 and the Bush administration's decision to suspend due process for citizens identified as "enemy combatants."
Dr. Nicholas Andreadis, WMU associate professor of counselor education and counseling psychology, serves as moderator and coordinator of the series. Sessions are formatted with a series of questions posed by Andreadis before discussion is opened up to the audience. A list of relevant books will be provided at the end of the evening for those wanting additional information.
For more information, contact the Portage District Library at (269) 329-4542, ext. 600, or visit the Web at <www.portagelibrary.info>. Andreadis can be reached at (269) 387-3504.
Media contact: Matt Gerard, 269 387-8400, matthew.gerard@wmich.edu