SF State invites public to free lecture series on presidential election

Public may attend weekly lectures on campus or watch video online

SAN FRANCISCO, August 14, 2012 -- San Francisco State University invites members of the public to hear expert analysis on the presidential election at a series of free public lectures, which will also be available to watch online.

The lectures will feature panels of SF State faculty providing analysis of the presidential election, followed by group discussion. The 14-session series will explore how campaigns operate, including media coverage and campaign finance, and will discuss such issues as the economy, health care, immigration and foreign policy.

The first two sessions coincide with the Republican National Convention (Aug. 30) and the Democratic National Convention (Sept. 6), and participants will have the opportunity to watch the presidential nominees' acceptance speeches and hear expert analysis from faculty.

"In their acceptance speeches, the candidates share the script that their campaign will be based on so it should provide a fascinating starting point for our lectures," said Professor of Political Science Joel Kassiola. "Throughout the series our faculty will provide insightful analysis and will do so in a non-partisan way."

This is the tenth year the University has hosted a public lectures series to help the campus community and the public to better understand contemporary social and public policy issues. Students can attend the lecture series or watch it online for class credit (course PLSI 276). The lectures are free and open to the public on a drop-in basis.

WHAT: "The 2012 Presidential Election: Issues and Analysis" public lecture series

WHEN: Aug. 30 through Dec. 13. Lectures take place Thursdays, 4 p.m. to 5:40 p.m.

Note that the first two lectures (Aug. 30 and Sept. 6) take place 5 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

No lectures will be held on Nov. 8 and Nov. 22.

WHERE: Humanities Auditorium, room 133 of the Humanities Building, SF State campus, 1600 Holloway Ave., San Francisco

Video of the lectures can be watched at http://coursestream.sfsu.edu/plsi276.
Each week's lecture will be available on this website after 7:40 p.m. on the day of the lecture.

MORE INFORMATION: Check back on the following website to view the topic schedule for the lecture series: http://coursestream.sfsu.edu/plsi276

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