Officials debate terrorism, security at political symposium
Natalie Costa
Issue date: 4/2/08 Section: News
The Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government held a discussion on America's future in a war environment on Monday.
The 11th annual symposium, titled "The Road to the White House: Tough Choices," included officials from both UCF and the nation discussing the future of the war on terror and America's place on the world stage.
"One of the themes is to look at challenges domestically and internationally that all of us are facing globally," said Robert Bledsoe, professor emeritus of political science and the symposium's moderator.
Political science associate professor Drew Lanier said the event was targeted at high school and college students.
"[The intent is to] educate our audience broadly about political issues," he said.
Speakers for the "Views from Both Sides of the Aisle: What SHOULD the President Do From Here?" session included Lewis M. Oliver III, chairman of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee, and Lou Frey, the founder of the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government.
Additional presenters included department of political science professor Stephen Sloan and former U.S. ambassador to Algeria Ulric Haynes Jr. as part of the national security and war on terror panels.
The keynote speaker for the event was SuChin Pak, who Lanier said could "reach a broad cross-section of the community, a more racially and ethnically diverse audience."
Regarding the national security and war on terror panels, Bledsoe noted the relevance of such discussions.
"Today, terrorism is probably a more central, prominent and permanent feature of life than it has been in the past," Bledsoe said. "We are looking at terrorism more as a systematic fact of life for us."
During the initial panel, Oliver spoke on behalf of the Republican Party, declaring that U.S. economic policies are substantially self-contained and Americans can no longer control their own futures.
"Understanding America's place in the world is going to be critical for the president of 2009," Oliver said.
The 11th annual symposium, titled "The Road to the White House: Tough Choices," included officials from both UCF and the nation discussing the future of the war on terror and America's place on the world stage.
"One of the themes is to look at challenges domestically and internationally that all of us are facing globally," said Robert Bledsoe, professor emeritus of political science and the symposium's moderator.
Political science associate professor Drew Lanier said the event was targeted at high school and college students.
"[The intent is to] educate our audience broadly about political issues," he said.
Speakers for the "Views from Both Sides of the Aisle: What SHOULD the President Do From Here?" session included Lewis M. Oliver III, chairman of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee, and Lou Frey, the founder of the Lou Frey Institute of Politics and Government.
Additional presenters included department of political science professor Stephen Sloan and former U.S. ambassador to Algeria Ulric Haynes Jr. as part of the national security and war on terror panels.
The keynote speaker for the event was SuChin Pak, who Lanier said could "reach a broad cross-section of the community, a more racially and ethnically diverse audience."
Regarding the national security and war on terror panels, Bledsoe noted the relevance of such discussions.
"Today, terrorism is probably a more central, prominent and permanent feature of life than it has been in the past," Bledsoe said. "We are looking at terrorism more as a systematic fact of life for us."
During the initial panel, Oliver spoke on behalf of the Republican Party, declaring that U.S. economic policies are substantially self-contained and Americans can no longer control their own futures.
"Understanding America's place in the world is going to be critical for the president of 2009," Oliver said.