Panel Discussion on US elections

There will be a panel discussion on the presidential elections in the USA on Wednesday 29th October at 12.30 p.m. in Lecture Theatre 2 at UOM.

The panellists will include:
- Craig White, First Secretary / Public Affairs Officer at the US Embassy
- Vijay Makhan, Former Diplomat

The moderator will be Roukaya Kasenally

This will be an interesting presentation / debate 6 days before the elections (American citizens will vote on 4th Nov) as well as a good follow-up to the series of Digital Video Conferences which were organised recently by the US Embassy.

To put you in the picture, the latest DVC which took place on the 22nd October addressed the following issues inter alia:
- the Electoral College system (there is no direct vote for the candidates; instead votes vote for Electors who pledge to vote for a ticket. Read this for a quick explanation)
- the coverage of the elections by the mainstream media and alternative media (with a regression in mainstream media coverage and, conversely, a lot of internet resources including former mainstream journalists publishing information on their websites)
- the sidelining of third party candidates (there are 4 other candidates running. Read this for some more info)
- surveys and the Bradley effect, campaign financing, advertising spots, first ladies, participation in comedy shows, minorities, etc.

C. Chan-Meetoo

Interviews of prospective Presidents of Student Union

The following are snapshots of the interviews of the leaders of the three groups who are eying the post of President of Student Union (University of Mauritius). You can read the full articles at yaveen.blogspot.com

Roland Babajee (Student Power)

Q- Recently there has been much debate about political financing on the campus. How did your group manage the costs and what are the different communication tools that you have used?

A- Iam happy that you asked this very important question…

Basant Lallah (Student Rights)

Q- What weaknesses do you think you have?

A- You must rather ask this question to students. If i had weaknesses, i would not have stood as candidate.

Avishkaar Jissury (Student Welfare)

Q- If Pere Gregoire sees your list of candidates, he might be frustrated because there are no Christians in your group, especially at a time when he is talking of discrimination vis a vis the creole community. Why is it the case?

A-Because our christian friends were not…

Yaveen

Yr3.

Public Lectures on Religion

The University of Mauritius in collaboration with The LSE Society Trust Fund cordially invite you to a series of Public Lectures on Religion by Prof. Eileen Barker, Emeritus Professor of Sociology from the London School of Economics and Political Science.

Professor Eileen Barker is an expert from the London School of Economics and Political Science. Her research interests include “New Religious Movements (‘cults’, ’sects’), especially in Eastern and Western Europe, and North America. Religious situation in former communist countries”.

As a joint initiative between the University of Mauritius and The LSE Society Trust Fund, she will be delivering three public lectures on the 14th and 15th of October 2008 as follows:

- Democracy and religious pluralism: a global perspective – Tuesday 14th October 2008 (14.00 – 15.00)

- New religious movements: a perspective for understanding society – Wednesday 15th October 2008 (11.00 – 12.00)

- Contribution of Religions towards peace and social stability – Wednesday 15th October 2008 (13.30 – 14.30)

Venue: Lecture Theatre II
Coordinator: Mrs R. Prayag-Beesoondial (UoM Representative on the LSE Society Trust Fund)