April is always a busy month on campus, and this year is no exception. Many of the upccoming lectures and discussions will focus on current events both near and far.
All events are free and open to the campus community and public.
April 4: The Crisis in Syria
Syrian trauma surgeon will deliver his address, 鈥淗umanitarian Crisis in Syria,鈥 at 2 p.m. in Dunn Conference Room A. Dr. Hirari is also currently the Scholar-At-Risk Fellow with Harvard University.
A resident of Aleppo, he is working during his time in the United States to provide web-based educational opportunities (including ESL training) to his medical students back home. Dr. Hiari will return to Syria after his fellowship year, during which he is working with faculty at Yale, Albany, and Harvard.
The event is organized by the Minnock Center for International Engagement, in collaboration with the Center for Middle East Studies, Global Religious Studies, and the Immigration Teach-in Week. For more information, contact Dr. Wing-kai To at wto@bridgew.edu.
April 5: Barney Frank on Dodd-Frank
Former Congressman Barney Frank, a leader in redefining Wall Street legislation after the 2008 recession, will discuss President Donald Trump鈥檚 efforts to dismantle the laws he fought to implement.
The Massachusetts Democrat will join Dr. Elmore Alexander, dean of BSU鈥檚 Ricciardi College of Business, at 1 p.m. in Boyden Hall鈥檚 Horace Mann Auditorium.
The Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, co-sponsored by former Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd, was signed into law in 2010 brought sweeping change to financial regulation in the U.S. Its stated aim is: 鈥渢o promote the financial stability of the United States by improving accountability and transparency in the financial system, to end 鈥榯oo big to fail,鈥 to protect the American taxpayer by ending bailouts, to protect consumers from abusive financial services practices 鈥︹
President Trump has called Dodd-Frank 鈥渁 disaster,鈥 saying it has prevented banks from making loans and last month ordered review of the law.
However, Congressman Frank said he doesn鈥檛 believe that the Republican Party has the will, nor the ability, to dismantle the legislation which was designed to prevent banks and financial services companies from repeating the mistakes that led to the 2008 recession.
On-campus parking for visitors is available at the parking garage at 451 Great Hill Drive. For more information, call 508.531.6151 or email stephanie.jesse@bridgew.edu.
April 12: Race and Policing
A panel of experts, community leaders and area police officials will discuss 鈥淩ace & Policing鈥 at 6 p.m. in the Moakley Auditorium. This forum is intended to create a space where well-intended individuals, who are motivated to foster and maintain efforts to increase mutual understanding of the stresses involved with policing and being policed, can come together and learn from one another.
The organizers see this as an important opportunity to serve communities and criminal justice professionals in the interests of forging a new appreciation of police-community relations. For more information, contact Dr. Mitch Librett at mlibrett@bridgew.edu.
April 18-27: The Trump Administration鈥檚 First 100 Days
Seven lectures will look at the first 100 days of the Trump Administration, examining a wide range of topics. From economic policy to immigration to healthcare, BSU faculty will discuss what鈥檚 been happening in Washington and the expected outcomes.
The lectures are sponsored by BSU鈥檚 Center for Democratic Governance and Leadership, a nonpartisan entity. Each event will be held in the Maxwell Library鈥檚 Heritage Room.
The schedule of lectures:
Tuesday, April 18
- Campaign Rhetoric versus Governing Rhetoric, Dr. Jason Edwards, 9:30 am - 10:45 am
Wednesday, April 19
- U.S. Foreign Policy, Dr. Inkyoung Kim, 11:15 am 鈥 12:05 pm
Thursday, April 20
- Presidential-Congressional Relations, Dr. Brian Frederick, 11:00 am - 12:15 pm
Monday, April 24
- 鈥.S. Supreme Court Appointment, Dr. Mark Kemper, 11:00 am 鈥 12:15 pm
Tuesday, April 25
- Immigration and National Security, Dr. Jordon Barkalow, 12:30 pm 鈥 1:45 pm
- Economic Policy, Dr. Madhavi Venkatesan, 2:00 pm 鈥 3:15 pm
Wednesday, April 26
- 鈥eteran Affairs, Dr. Melinda Tarsi, 1:50 pm 鈥 3:05 pm
Thursday, April 27
- Healthcare Policy, Dr. Kevin Donnelly, 9:30 am 鈥 10:45 am