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Humanities Seminar Series Explores 'Election 2008' on September 27

SALISBURY, MD---What do the election process, nature and Harry Potter have in common?  All three are topics in Salisbury University’s Humanities Seminar Series, which continues this fall.

Designed to replicate the experience of a college classroom without papers, grades or tests, the series encourages stimulating, intellectual discussion between faculty, alumni and community members.  All seminars are 10 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Saturdays in the Caroline Room of the SU Commons.

Harry BasehartOn September 27, “Election 2008:  Is This Any Way to Choose a President?” explores the process of nominating and electing a president—a process that has received almost as much attention as the issues and candidates during this election year.  Political Science Professor Emeritus Harry Basehart deciphers such terms as front-loading, caucus states, winner-take-all, momentum, super delegates and electoral votes, and then examines the impact on the politics of the 2008 presidential nominations and election.  Are there fundamental problems in how the United States chooses its president?

Upcoming seminars are:  “Nature Love and Loathing in America” with Dr. Michael Lewis of SU’s History and Environmental Studies departments on November 8, and “Literary Magic:  The Seven Harry Potter Novels” with Dr. John Wenke of the English Department on January 24.

“The seminars provided me a growth experience without having to travel a great distance and without the tension of formal course requirements,” said Howard Gordy of Salisbury, who attended the inaugural series last fall.  “I ended up taking more notes that I used to in college because I wanted to be able to reflect on what I learned.”

Sponsored by the Fulton School of Liberal Arts, the Alumni Association and the Whaley Family Foundation, the cost of each seminar is $50, which includes lunch.  All proceeds benefit Fulton School initiatives.  To register, visit http://alumni.salisbury.edu.  For more information call 410-543-6042 or e-mail alumni@salisbury.edu.