Honors College to Host Discussion on Russia and Ukraine on Tuesday

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Protesters hold the Ukrainian flag aloft in this Twitter photo.

Russia has boots on the ground in Ukraine. The world is watching and wondering: Why is Putin doing this? Will severe sanctions from the U.S., G-7 and EU countries work? Is peace in Europe coming to an end? The Honors College will present a panel of faculty experts who will discuss these questions and more from 5-6:30 p.m. next Tuesday, March 1, in the Honors Student Lounge. Pizza and drinks will be served.

Faculty members who will provide context and lead a question-and-answer session include:

• Nadja Berkovich, teaching assistant professor of Russian/Russian Literature and Yiddish, Department of World Languages, Literatures and Cultures
• Kelly Hammond, associate professor and historian of China and World War II, Department of History
• Ted Holland, assistant professor and political geographer, Ukraine and Russia/USSR, Department of Geosciences
• Trish Starks, professor and historian of the Soviet Union and Russia, Department of History

"As a historian I'm deeply disturbed by the developments in Ukraine," said Honors College Dean Lynda Coon. "The community and campus need to come together to discuss and debate the current crisis, and we've got faculty experts who can tackle this issue from many different angles."

This event is part of the Honors College Pulse discussion series, which began in 2016 following the presidential election, and was named in remembrance of victims of the Pulse nightclub shootings. Since then, it has featured conversations around the Dakota Access Pipeline Project, the legal ramifications and decisions related to hate crimes and ways to fight local hunger and poverty.