February 07, 2003

Renaissance Society designs series of forums

The Renaissance Society- a partnership between the retired community and California State University, Sacramento- has filled its spring semester with nearly a dozen informative forums designed for seniors. The forums are at 3 p.m. each Friday from Feb. 14 through May 2 in the University Union, Redwood Room. There is no forum April 18 because of spring break. All are free and open to the public.

On Friday, Feb. 14 Sacramento Bee columnist Dan Walters shares his opinions on politics and the state capitol. On Feb. 21, emeritus economics professor Marc Tool discusses ideas drawn from his new book Institutional Analysis and Economic Policy.

There's an afternoon of song and dance on Feb. 28 when cast members of Cabaret join theatre professor Ed Brazo. Brazo will talk about life in musical theater and the CSUS production of Cabaret opening on March 20. Then on March 7, Sacramento Bee editorial cartoonist Rex Babin will present his drawings and discuss his responsibilities to readers and the newspaper.

On March 14, professor Ayad Al-Qazzaz of the sociology department talks about the possibility of war in Iraq and its consequences. He is a specialist on the Middle East and North Africa, with an emphasis on American foreign policy. Kojo Yelpaala of McGeorge School of Law will examine international approaches to foreign corporate corruption when he visits the University on March 21. Yelpaala served as Ghana's state attorney before teaching at McGeorge.

CSUS history professor Kathy Cairns is sharing information from her forthcoming book on March 28. "Women in American Journalism 1920-1950" will be published this year. Cairns will discuss her experiences as a reporter and an
historian. On April 4, physician David Gibson will give his take on why healthcare
in the United States costs as much as it does. He will look at insurance premiums and entitlement programs such as Medicaid.

Art therapist Marybeth Webster will talk with the audience during a discussion titled "Energizing and Encouraging Peacemakers" on April 11. On April 25, former Sacramento mayor and assemblyman Phil Isenberg shares his stories about politics and his work as a lawyer.

The last forum is May 2, where humanities and religious studies professor Jeffrey Brodd discusses various religions and how they will shape the future of world peace.

For more information about the Renaissance Society call (916) 278-7834. Additional media assistance is available by contacting CSUS public affairs at (916) 278-6156.

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