North Central profs to talk politics

North Central College's political science department will sponsor its first Topics in Politics lecture of the year from noon to 1 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25, in the theater at Meiley-Swallow Hall, 31 S. Ellsworth St.

Free and open to the public, the event celebrates Constitution Day, which commemorates the formation and signing of the U.S. Constitution on Sept. 17, 1787.

Modeled on the TED Talk concept, TIP Talks will feature three North Central College political science professors and others who will make brief presentations on current political topics. Given recent events, both domestic and international, all presentations will center on the theme of violence.

North Central College speakers for the Sept. 25 event include:

• Stephen Maynard Caliendo, Ph.D., professor of political science and chairman of the division of human thought and behavior, will discuss the attraction to violence in the context of the protests in Ferguson, Missouri.

• Riad Ismat, Ph.D., 2014-2015 Scholar-in-Residence to North Central College from Syria, will give a talk titled "Syria: Tolerance or Violence."

• William Muck, Ph.D., associate professor and chairman of political science/sociology and anthropology and coordinator of global studies, will reflect on the 100-year anniversary of World War I and its relevance for today.

• Suzanne Chod, Ph.D., assistant professor of political science, will explore the politics of violence against women.

• Cynthia Washburn, North Central's violence education and prevention coordinator, will speak briefly about her role on campus.