ISSUED: 29 September 2014
MEDIA CONTACT: Valerie Owens
SHEPHERDSTOWN, WV — The Islamic State in Iraq and Syria will be the topic of a teach-in on Wednesday October 8, at 3:30 p.m. in the Robert C. Byrd Center for Legislative Studies. The teach-in is sponsored by Shepherd’s political science department and is free and open to the public.
Dr. Max Guirguis, an associate professor who teaches comparitive Middle East courses, will focus on ISIS from a regional and historical perspective; Dr. Aart Holtslag, assistant professor and international law expert, will talk about human rights and terrorism; Dr. Jacob Stump, assistant professor and terrorism and international law expert, will look at American Foreign Policy from theoretical perspective; and Riley Moore, vice president, Podesta Group, will discuss national security in the U.S. and Iraq. Department chair Dr. Stephanie Slocum-Schaffer will moderate.
Slocum-Schaffer said the events are meant to be a reference to the teach-ins that took place during the Vietnam War in the 1960s.
“A teach-in is similar to a general educational forum on any complicated issue, usually an issue involving current political affairs,” she said. “Teach-ins are meant to be practical, participatory, and oriented toward action. While they include experts lecturing on the area of their expertise, discussion and questions from the audience are welcome.”
“We hope audience members will come away with a better understanding of a very complex subject by being exposed to scholarly and unbiased information about ISIS/ISIL and by being able to ask questions about the topic,” Slocum-Schaffer said.
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