The Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences will welcome New York Times best-selling author Edwin Black for a lecture, question and answer session and book signing on Nov. 17 from 3 to 4:30 p.m. in Room 3018 of the Alvin Sherman Library.
Don Rosenblum, dean of the Farquhar College of Arts and Sciences, said attendees will create a new connection to the people and places in our world.
“We can’t always get every student out into the world, but we can bring parts of the world into the university,” Rosenblum said. “Every time you hear an inspirational speaker, like Black, you never let go of the experience.”
Black’s work focuses on corporate criminality and corruption, genocide and hate, governmental misconduct, human rights and academic fraud. His work has been published in the United States, Israel and Europe.
During his presentation, he will discuss the post-war creation of Israel and its role in today’s international law, the Fourth Geneva Convention, international criminal court, the peace process and his most recent book “Financing the Flames.”
Rosenblum said Black’s ideas are controversial, but a university is the best place for hearing ideas that the audience may not agree with.
“He pushes the margins of his research writing,” Rosenblum said. “Nobody is obligated to agree or disagree with him, but gaining a new insight into someone else’s ideas is an amazing experience.”
Ana Maria Barragan, senior biology major, said she is unfamiliar with the work of Black, but is aware of the topics the author will discuss and is mostly interested in hearing his view point on the political unrest in Venezuela.
“The situation in Venezuela was talked about for a while, but now no one talks about it anymore and the situation hasn’t been improving at all,” she said. “It affects my family and friends, so it’ll be good to hear what he has to say.”
Jason J. Campbell, assistant professor of conflict resolution and philosophy in the Graduate School of Humanities and Social Sciences, said the international events Black will be discussing impacts students in a great way and allows them to make change.
“We live in a globalized world, which means globalization is an economic reality of the 21st century,” Campbell said. “Students are able to expose their beliefs to a global audience through social media, but, our means of social media is both the greatest and worst vehicle for change. If we are constantly distracted, then there isn’t the opportunity to make change.”
Reading the book isn’t necessary to attend the event. However, Rosenblum said attendees should come eager to embracing challenging ideas.
“The audience will notice that as Black’s discussion unfolds, they will gain more information and the world will seem smaller,” he said.
Campbell encouraged attendees to have an open mind during the discussion, as well as the question and answer session.
“It’s more important to listen to the lecturer speak than constantly question his thinking,” Campbell said. “Attendees, who choose to ask questions, should be very concise with the way they ask them.”
Rosenblum said he has had the pleasure of meeting Black.
“Black realizes that many people may feel differently than he does about the topics he discusses, which is why he will definitely stick around and talk to anyone who wishes to ask him additional questions or are looking for a personal conversation at the end of the discussion,” he said.
The event is free and open to students, faculty and the public. For more information, contact Isabelle De Castro, graduate psychology program enrollment coordinator, at 954-262-8361.
