Collegiate Times

Speakers from the United States War Army College will visit Virginia Tech today as part of the first Virginia Tech Eisenhower Series College Program. Panelists will speak from 2:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. in Litton Reeves on topics including intelligence in the war on terrorism, NATO's role in the post-Cold War and post-9/11 era, and the transformation of the U.S. military to meet new security challenges.

Each year, the U.S. War Army College selects high-ranking military officers who are specialists on a subject of their interest, said Yannis Stivachtis, assistant professor and director of the international studies program at Virginia Tech. These officers become panel members.

The panel members are Lieutenant Colonel Philip Skuta, Carolyn Bryan, Colonel Michael Hoadley, Captain Daniel Smith, Colonel Daniel Baggio, Colonel Paul Wood, Colonel Gregg Gross, Colonel Joseph Frazier, Lieutenant Colonel Michael Jordan and Lieutenant Colonel David Stilwell.

?Part of the policy of the U.S. Army College is that once these people become specialized in their prospective field, they go out and speak to the community about these topics,? Stivachtis said.

The U.S. Army College asks different universities around the nation if they would be interested in hosting the program, said Marie Tan, outreach coordinator for the Eisenhower Series College Program.

?We thought it was a very good opportunity for students to become familiar with these issues,? Stivachtis said. ?I know that, from my own students, they are interested in United States national security strategy but also how this strategy applies to other areas of the world.?

One student said she's interested in foreign affairs because of recent events of war.

?I think national security is something that every citizen should be interested in,? said Aubrielle Smith, senior political science major. ?This event covers international relations, and I think more Americans have become interested in international relations because of the fallout from the war in Iraq.?

She also said these events will affect how politicians make decisions.

?We've suddenly become aware of our global image, and we all will have to decide how we feel and encourage our lawmakers to make the appropriate decisions,? she said.

This event is open not only to students but to anyone interested in these topics, Stivachtis said.

?The purpose is to enlighten the general public about issues and about their research,? he said.

Though a military presence exists at Tech, the event is not limited to those involved in the military, Tan said.

?It's an outreach program discussing public policy issues and the emphasis is on students and the academic faculty,? Tan said. The event is relevant for all members of these groups, she said.

According to its website, the Eisenhower Series College Program event includes a brief panel introduction and presentations by panelists, followed by a discussion with the audience.

The Eisenhower Series College Program has been held at many prominent colleges around the nation such as Yale and Harvard, Tan said. The program stopped at James Madison University on Tuesday.