Alumnus/Navy SEAL Kicks off Winter Skeptics

Blair’s renowned Society of Skeptics series evolved from the International Society begun in the 1950s. Today, under the direction of history teacher and former department chair Dr. Marty Miller, the Tuesday evening program thrives and is considered one of the finest of its kind in the country. The second semester of programs began in the New Year when U.S. Navy Seal Lt. Chris Fussell ’92 returned as a Skeptics speaker on January 6. He noted that his competitive drive, academic interests and desire to lead were supported during his time at Blair. He also explained that his current career allows him to pursue his leadership skills while benefitting from the camaraderie and bonds of trust formed with his fellow SEALS.

He spoke of the many fine intellectuals he counts among his military acquaintances, and explained that they could easily pursue careers in politics or teaching but have chosen to serve their county instead.

During the Q&A session of his program, Fussell said that rather than recommend any particular news media as sources for updates on current military conflicts, he advises faculty to encourage the reading of books about the history of the particular countries presently engaged in war. The Express-Times (Easton, Pa.) ran a January 7 article about Fussell and the Skeptics series in general:

Navy SEAL/Blair Academy graduate discusses Afghanistan war with students
Thursday, January 08, 2009
By STEPHEN J. NOVAK

BLAIRSTOWN TWP. | It’s not uncommon for civilians to try and draw a political opinion out of Lt. Cmdr. Chris Fussell.
     But as the Navy SEAL told Blair Academy students this week, the military is simply “an extension of the American will.
     “Our position is we work for the president, whoever that may be," Fussell told the students. "And you tell him what to do, so we go with that.”
A 1992 graduate of Blair Academy, Fussell returned to his alma mater Tuesday night to talk about the war in Afghanistan and field questions from students as part of a weekly lecture series.
     A SEAL is a member of a special Navy combat unit trained for sea, air or land commando operations.
     Fussell served three tours of duty in Iraq, two in Afghanistan and two with the United States European Command that covers all of Europe and parts of the Middle East. He also took philosophy classes at the University of Richmond in Virginia and is studying defense analysis at Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, Calif.
     Blair Academy history teacher Martin Miller, who has organized the “Society of Skeptics” lecture series since 1980, called Fussell’s talk timely with President-elect Barack Obama’s inauguration in less than two weeks. Obama has pledged to shift the nation’s military focus to Afghanistan.
     The series began as a forum for student debate, but Miller said he changed the format to avoid a thought process he feared was too narrow.
     “I felt students needed to hear from people from the outside," he said.
Lecture topics have taken on war focus
     Topics vary from arts and sports to science and politics. Guests in past years have included CNN pundit Lou Dobbs and ESPN sports analyst Tony Kornheiser.
More recently -- and this school year in particular -- speakers have brought to the private school divergent views on war and terrorism.
     In September, Bret Stephens, author of the Wall Street Journal’s “Global View” column, discussed his support for the troop surge in Iraq. Two weeks later, "Foreign Follies: America’s New Global Empire" author Doug Bandowtalked about why American troops should withdraw immediately from Iraq.
     Peter Mandaville, a George Mason University professor and co-director of the Center for Global Studies, visited in October to discuss U.S. policy in the Middle East.
     Over the next several weeks, a former Afghan consul to the United States is slated to speak on American policy in Afghanistan and a representative of Iraq Veterans Against the War is scheduled to discuss why the group feels the war was a mistake.
     The school year’s last scheduled lecture is on a related topic: a 26-year-old Afghan cinematographer discussing women’s rights in her country.
     “I think they’ve heard enough about Afghanistan, Iraq, fighting, terror," Miller said. "I think they’re ready to ask questions.”
SEAL came away with something, too
     Fussell’s appearance Tuesday allowed students to connect with an alumnus, someone they could relate to and who had actually experienced the conflicts firsthand.
The SEAL, who also spoke in fall 2001 following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, said he is often impressed by the students’ questions. Tuesday they ranged from the war’s handling, private contracting, the troop surge, media coverage and even humanitarian efforts in other parts of the world.
     “It’s great for me to get out, listen to younger thinkers and see what’s on their minds,” he said. “I can go back to my military bubble knowing what people on the outside think.”

Fussell’s appearance is followed on January 13 by the annual panel of young alumni whose chosen professions always run the gamut. This year’s panel is comprised of Taylor Jubanowsky ’02, manager, sponsorship & sales, for IMG Fashion; Gillian Sciaretta ’03, a sustainable building consultant at CodeGreen Solutions; Hyun Seok Hwang ’93, a senior analyst at Millennium Partners; Shakirah Miller ’91, principal at Miller Street School Academy in Newark, N.J.; and entrepreneur Marcos Rollan ’93, Ambiance by Rollan of New York City.

Please join us for another fine season of speakers; programs take place in Cowan Auditorium of Bogle Hall at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. We suggest you check the calendar as each event draws nearer, as they are subject to change.

January 6
Lt. Chris Fussell ’92
U.S. Navy SEAL
“The War in Afghanistan”

January 13
Young Alumni Forum

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

January 27
Prof. Janbaz Almas
Former Afghan Consul to U.S.
“U.S. Policy in Afghanistan”

February 10
Walter Carter
Author of 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.

February 17
Kris Goldsmith
Iraq Veterans Against the War (IVAG)
“Why the Iraq War was a Mistake”

March 31
Jeffrey Saunders ’88
Filmmaker
Screening and discussion of documentary “Who Killed Chea Vichea?”
Story of a political assassination in Cambodia.

April 7
Maria Ayubi
Cinematographer
“Women’s Rights in Afghanistan”
Ayubi is 26 years old and has always lived in Kabul. She traveled to Herat and Bamiyan for AFGHANISTAN UNVEILED and has just completed co-directing Shadows, AINA’s second documentary.

April 14
Hashim Garrett
“A Victim of Gang Violence”
Shot six times at the age of 15 and now a 30-year-old Rutgers University student, Garrett will speak about educating young people on violence, firearms, gangs, substance abuse and street life. He coaches them in conflict resolution, kindness, forgiveness, the value of education and other positive, productive life skills.

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 Lobach.

April 28
Marc Elliot
“Don’t Judge a Book by Its Noises”
Elliot has dealt with Tourette’s syndrome and an intestinal disorder which have taught him many lessons about tolerance.

A full listing of the Skeptics programs is available here.

Updated 1/7/09

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