News Releases

Public Town Hall Meeting on Iraq War to be Held 4/21 at USM

April 20, 2006

Contact:  Bruce Gagnon, 729-0517

A coalition of more than 40 Maine peace groups, church committees, town political committees, and other organizations are sponsoring a town hall meeting on the Iraq War at 6:30 p.m., Friday, April 21.  The event will take place in USM’s Hannaford Lecture Hall in the Abromson Community Education Center on the Portland campus.  The event is free and open to the public. Anyone in the audience who wishes to speak, either for or against the war, will be given three minutes.

Senators Snowe and Collins, Representatives Allen and Michaud, and Governor Baldacci have been invited to attend and listen to the public’s views on the war.  Since none of the invited elected officials can attend, video tapes of the public’s comments will be sent to them. 

 “I see the purpose of the university in a democratic society to raise the toughest questions facing our society and to create a public space for deep discussion of those issues,” says USM Assistant Professor of Sociology John Eric Baugher.  “My hope is that this town hall meeting will involve a wide cross-section of folks from the region.”

>more news releases