(January 2007)

Media Contact: Dr. Chris Ciocchetti, Assistant Professor of Philosophy, 318-869-5246,
or Lynn Stewart, Centenary News Service, 318-869-5120

Libertarianism is Topic of Centenary's Forum 2007;
Libertarian-Liberalism Public Discussion is Jan. 29;
Students & Citizens Respond Feb. 5

SHREVEPORT, LA — The authors of Libertarianism: For and Against will present a public debate at Centenary College's Forum, an annual event that examines a social issue in open-to-the-public sessions.

Centenary's Philosophy Discussion Group has invited authors/philosophers Dr. Tibor Machan and Craig Duncan to discuss the issue of libertarianism on Jan. 29, followed by a group of students and citizens responding on Feb. 5. Both events are set for 7 p.m. in Kilpatrick Auditorium and are free and open to the public.

Machan and Duncan will discuss such questions as:

• "What is the proper role of government?"
• "Should the government just protect an individual's freedom from interference by others?"
• "Or should it strive to provide equal access to a life of dignity for all?"
• "Should government help people from natural threats, like hurricanes, poverty and illness?"
• "Or do such efforts require unjust confiscation of others' property and liberty in order to redistribute wealth?"

Machan holds the R.C. Hoiles Professorship in Business Ethics and Free Enterpise at Chapman University and is a research fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford University. Duncan is an assistant professor of philosophy at Ithaca College in New York. Their most recent book is published by the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group and is offered at a discount to Forum participants who mention code 4F6CENTY when ordering.

Dr. Chris Ciocchetti, assistant professor of philosophy, coordinates the annual event, which presents opposing points of view and then features responses from students and members of The (Shreveport) Times Citizen Editorial Board, as well as audience questions.

Student responders will be Chris DeGuerce, a philosophy and neuroscience student; Kiley Pulliam, a mathematics major; and Elizabeth Tomsula, philosophy major. Citizen responders will be Rebecca Thomas, art therapist; Gregory Hudson, minister; and Joe Cordill, lawyer. Columns written by each participant will also be printed in The Times.

Students
Chris DeGuerce	Kiley Pulliam	Elizabeth Tomsula
Citizens
Rebecca Thomas	Gregory Hudson	Joe Cordill

This year's Forum is a product of the efforts of Ciocchetti, the Philosophy Discussion Group, Rowman and Littlefield, and the Centenary Convocations Subcommittee.

Previous years' Forum topics have been "Marriage in the 21st Century," "The Death Penalty," "Race," and "Faith-based and Community Initiatives."

For further information, contact Ciocchetti at 318-869-5246 or email or see the Forum web page.