Coastal Carolina University's Department of History will present the first of its History Detectives Series, a public forum on historical topics, on Thursday, Aug. 27, at 4 p.m., in the James J. Johnson Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

The first forum will focus on the causes and consequences of South Carolina's decision to secede from the United States in 1860. Four panelists will offer comments on the secession crisis, and then invite questions and comments from members of the audience.

The panel will feature Eldred "Wink" Prince, CCU professor and director of the Waccamaw Center for Cultural and Historical Studies; Rod Gragg, director of CCU's Center for Military and Veterans Studies; John Navin, associate history professor at CCU and Johnny Sessions, commander of Litchfield Camp 132 of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.

On Dec. 20, 1860, South Carolina voted to dissolve its union with other U.S. states. Ten other states would eventually join South Carolina and form the Confederate States of America. Was secession a rash and senseless act or a prudent response to perceived threats?

The Johnson Auditorium is located in the E. Craig Wall Sr. College of Business Administration at 119 Chanticleer Drive in Conway. For more information, contact Navin at 843-349-2437.