Coastal Carolina University is hosting a panel discussion on immigration from American and global perspectives on Tuesday, Feb. 14, from 4:30 to 6 p.m. in The Coastal Theater in the Lib Jackson Student Union. The public is invited to attend.

"Panel Discussion on Immigration: U.S. and Global Perspectives," is designed to place the current political issues related to immigration in a broader context, offer perspective on the human consequences of actions related to immigration and relate immigration policies to the lived experiences of individuals.

Darla Domke-Damonte, associate provost for global initiatives at CCU, will serve as moderator for the event. Panel participants include Gary Schmidt, chair and professor of languages and intercultural studies; Tripthi Pillai, associate professor of English and coordinator of the Arts and Humanities Global Experiences Program; Nora Fisher Onar, assistant professor of international relations; Jose-Luis Mireles, senior instructor of languages and intercultural studies; Geoffrey Parsons, director of international programs; and Till Jens Joerg Hanebuth, associate professor of coastal and marine systems science.

The event is sponsored by CCU's Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies in cooperation with the Office of International Programs and Services and the Division of Campus Life and Engagement.

"Following President Trump's recent executive order banning travel to the U.S. from several countries in the Middle East and suspending the admission of Syrian refugees indefinitely, many universities have issued statements to reassure students, faculty, staff and the public of their support for international exchange and the appreciation of cultural diversity that it fosters," said Schmidt. "The faculty of CCU's Department of Languages and Intercultural Studies believe that we have a special role to play in cultivating diversity and creating a space where global perspectives can be expressed and appreciated."

The panel discussion is not intended to address policy issues directly, Schmidt says, but to give attendees access to personal and scholarly perspectives that they may not otherwise have the opportunity to encounter.

The Student Union is located at 106 Spadoni Park Circle on the Conway campus directly across Spadoni Park from Wheelwright Auditorium. For more information, contact Schmidt at 843-349-2741.