WSJ Columnist First in Skeptics Series
Encore by Alumni

Blair Academy’s renowned Society of Skeptics lecture series – directed by Dr. Marty Miller each week – kicked off its fall term season on September 16 with a program featuring Bret Stephens, Wall Street Journal Global View columnist. Stephens addressed the topic of “The War in Iraq: Support for the ‘Surge.’ ”

The School’s lecture series has been a staple at Blair for over 30 years. The fall/winter line-up includes a number of Blair alumni, some of whom have been Skeptics speakers in the past. All lectures are on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. in Cowan Auditorium unless otherwise noted.

Society of Skeptics 2008-2009

September 16
Bret Stephens
Wall Street Journal Global View columnist
“The War in Iraq: Support for the ‘Surge’

September 23
Gary McLain
Game MVP of 1985 Villanova NCAA basketball victory over Georgetown
“One Bad Trip”
Gary McLain was featured on the cover of the 1987 Sports Illustrated article entitled, “A Bad Trip” which detailed his problem with substance abuse during and after college.

September 30
Doug Bandow
Author of Foreign Follies: America’s New Global Empire
“Exit Iraq and leave bases behind”

October 7
Connie Simmons
Filmmaker/director
The Making of PBS film "Landscapes through Time”

October 13 (Monday)
Ishmael Beah
Sierra Leone – author of A Long Way Gone: Memoir of a Child Soldier
Location: Armstrong-Hipkins Center for the Arts

October 21
Prof. Peter Mandaville ’90
Co-Director, Center for Global Studies George Mason University
“US policy in the Middle East”

October 28
Robert Reed
Special Warfare Operations Chief (SEAL)
Discussing the situation in Iraq from a "boots on the ground" perspective.

November 4
Presidential election results

November 18
Sean Coffey
BLG&B Law Partner and parent of Kate ’10
“Accurate auditing of corporations, protecting shareholders”

December 2
Andrew Crane
United Nations Development Program
“Impact of climate change on poverty in the developing world”

December 9
Jeffrey Saunders ’88
Filmmaker
Screening and discussion of documentary “Who Killed Chea Vichea?”
Story of a political assassination in Cambodia

January 6
Lt. Chris Fussell ’92
US Navy SEAL
“The war in Afghanistan”

January 13
Young Alumni Forum

January 20
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Program

January 27
Professor Janbaz Almas
Former Afghan Consul to US
“US policy in Afghanistan”

February 10
Walter Carter
Author, No Greater Sacrifice, No Greater Love
Tells the story of the June 1944 Normandy invasion of WWII and his dad, a battalion surgeon in the 29th Division, killed by a German sniper as he administered first aid to a wounded soldier.

April 21
Jeff Lobach, Esq.
Barley Snyder LLC
“Insider’s Story of the Golden Venture Saga”
An overview of the battle with the Justice Department over its handling of the Golden Venture refugees – passengers aboard a smuggling vessel that ran aground off the coast of Queens, N.Y., on June 6, 1993 – involving 70 pro bono lawyers, including Mr. Lobach.

For inquiries about these or future Society of Skeptics speakers, please contact Marty Miller at (908) 362-8828 or millem@blair.edu.

Updated 10/21/08

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