A "Teach-In" on the Iraqi situation will be held on Thursday, Oct. 10 at Coastal Carolina University. Two sessions are scheduled, one in the afternoon at 3:30 p.m. and an evening session at 7 p.m., in the Recital Hall in the Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts. Both sessions are free and open to the public.

The idea to host a teach-in involving students and the community in an open discussion about the looming Iraqi situation originated with faculty members in Coastal's Edwards College of Humanities and Fine Arts.

"The event is meant to emulate the 1960s-style, informal forum in which people from all walks of life can air their views and opinions," said Coastal politics professor James Henderson, one of the organizers of the event. "The growing hostility between the United States and the Republic of Iraq is a vitally important topic in the world today and, with the possibility of an armed conflict between the two countries on the horizon, it's important that people have an opportunity to express their opinion."

At each session a brief presentation of the basic international political background will be given. The afternoon speaker will be Coastal professor Richard Collin, international relations specialist in Coastal's Department of Politics and Geography who served with the Army and the Defense Intelligence Agency in Europe and the Middle East. The evening speaker will be Max Carter, director of the Friends Center at Guilford College and a Middle East specialist. Following their brief talks, the discussion will be opened to the audience in an open-mike format.

In addition to Collin and Carter, members of the panel will include:

Douglas Benson, a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Army who has served in airborne and special operations in the U.S., Korea, Saudi Arabia and other parts of the Middle East;

Lee Bollinger, assistant professor of Engish and journalism at Coastal;

James Henderson, professor of politics at Coastal and a specialist in contemporary history and international political economics;

Father Richard Labecque, pastor of Saint James Roman Catholic Church in Conway;

Preston McKever-Floyd, senior instructor of religion and philosophy at Coastal; and

Bridgit Moix, legislative secretary of the Friends Committee on National Legislation, a Quaker organization;

The event is co-sponsored by Coastal and the Horry Friends (Quaker) Monthly Meeting.