Date:
9/22/2005
Contact: Wendel Sloan at 505.562.2253
PORTALES—The Department of CommunicativeArts and Sciences and the Department of Political Science at EasternNew Mexico University in Portales are teaming up to present a "FirstAmendment Conference."
Theconference will be held Sept. 28 from 6–8 p.m. in the Becky SharpAuditorium in the College of Business Building. It is titled "What isthe Price of Freedom? Balancing Civil Liberties and First AmendmentRights." The purpose of the conference is to provoke critical thinkingand a broader knowledge of what is happening in our nation on bothsides of the First Amendment issue. Speakers and topics include: "USAPatriot Act: Balancing Protection" by Dr. Christopher Stasheff;"Security and Democracy in an Age of Terrorism" by Dr. DanielAcheson-Brown; "The Role of Free Press in This Time of Crisis" by Ms.Patti Dobson; and "Free Speech in an Era of Turmoil" by Dr. MargaretKirby.
"It is very important weunderstand where our rights come from; rights of free speech, assembly,religion and the right to research. It is important to know because thePatriot Act is restricting many of these rights," says Dr. AnthonySchroeder, a professor in the Department of Communicative Arts andSciences.
"Anyone interested incommunication issues is going to come away with a broader understandingof how both private citizens as well as members of the media are beingimpacted," says Kirby.
Schroeder says, "This is something we have done for several years in the past and would like to make this an annual event."
Admission is free and the general public is encouraged to attend.
"Among the topics I will address at the conference is that freedom of speech has never been absolute, says Stasheff.
For more information, e-mail Sherah Witt at sherah.witt@enmu.edu.