Monday, November 13, 2017

9:30 – 10:30 PUBLIC POLICY

Making the News or Faking the News? Freedom of the Press in a Time of Distrust

Speaker: Jane E. Kirtley, Silha Professor of Media Ethics and Law, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, University of Minnesota. Director, Silha Center for the Study of Media Ethics and Law

Public trust in the mainstream news media has plummeted after years of criticism from all parts of the political spectrum. The rise of “news” sites such as social media, blogs and other nontraditional sources not bound by ethical principles has led to an explosion of unfiltered “fake news.” What are the consequences for society if the dissemination of fabricated information becomes an integral part of political debate and governance?

10:45 – 11:45 EDUCATION

A Possible Answer for
the Achievement Gap in Minnesota

Speaker: Rep. Ron Kresha, Minnesota House Majority Whip, Former Teacher

Kresha has proposed a tax credit bill to incentivize individual and corporation donations in support of a K-12 scholarship that students could use to attend private or parochial schools. He states, “There are kids that, through no fault of their own, are born into a situation that they can’t control. When we eliminate their choices, we eliminate their paths out. Let’s open up possibilities.” Come with an open mind to hear about this education bill, which aims to help our low-achieving students become successful.

11:45 – 12:15 BUSINESS MEETING
12:15 – 1:15 LUNCHEON

1:15 – 2:15 WOMEN SPEAK

Women of NASA

Speaker: Duchess Harris, PhD, Professor of American Studies, Macalester College

The movie Hidden Figures revealed the number of women who worked behind the scenes to help make NASA successful. There were 11 African American women who worked as “human computers” without recognition or praise. Miriam D. Mann was one of the mathematicians and the grandmother of our speaker. Harris will tell us about her grandmother and the other women of NASA.