Wednesday, September 10, 2008

UIS panel will discuss freedom of the press

As part of its observance of Constitution Day, the University of Illinois at Springfield will present a panel discussion of "Freedom of the Press in 2008" beginning at noon on Wednesday, September 17, in the lobby of the Public Affairs Center on the UIS campus. The presentation is free and open to the public.

Constitution Day was created by law in 2004 to honor the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Panelists Bill Wheelhouse, general manager of public radio station WUIS; Dana Heupel, executive editor of Illinois Issues magazine; and Don Craven, attorney for the Illinois Press Association, will examine issues surrounding the First Amendment. Those unable to attend in person can watch a live webcast by going to www.uis.edu/technology/uislive.html at the time of the event.

The discussion is co-sponsored by UIS' Center for State Policy and Leadership, the campus' policy center, and is also part of the ECCE Speakers Series at UIS – events that aim to exemplify engaged citizenship as part of the university's effort to foster appreciation for and practice of diversity and the active effort to make a difference in the world.

Upcoming ECCE programs include the documentary "Rethinking the Economics of Energy, Climate, and Food" with Dr. John Ickerd on September 29 and "99 Questions You’ve Always Wanted to Ask an African American" with actor/playwright Mark Cryer on October 1.

See the complete schedule of speakers and topics for the 2008 Fall Semester.

For more information about the panel discussion, contact Anthony Halter at 206-6576 or Dana Heupel at 206-6084.

For information about any ECCE event, contact Kimberly Craig, series coordinator, at 206-6245 or send an e-mail to speakerseries@uis.edu.