Wednesday, October 3, 2001

Former senator to speak about international conflict
By Kristin Campbell
Skiff Reporter

Former U.S. Senator George J. Mitchell will speak about international conflict and resolution at the TCU Fogelson Honors Forum at 8 p.m. tonight in Ed Landreth Auditorium.

The event is free and open to the public.

Kathryne McDorman, honors program director, said Mitchell was chosen because he is considered to be the premier peacemaker in the world.

McDorman said she could not see how Mitchell’s remarks would not be altered by the events of Sept. 11.

“He will have a great deal to say about the attacks on America,” she said.

Ralph Carter, a political science professor, said he expects Mitchell to address current American issues and tensions surrounding the attacks on the United States.

“I expect he will talk candidly about difficulties in dealing with deep-seeded animosities,” Carter said.

Three faculty, three students and three alumni are on the Fogelson advisory committee, which nominated Mitchell in spring 2001, she said.

McDorman said Mitchell was originally nominated because of his expertise on the ongoing conflict in Northern Ireland and on the hostilities between Israelis and Palestinians, since the outcomes of these conflicts directly affect American foreign policy.

“I think Mitchell can throw some light on reasons why we are hated,” she said. “He has tremendous sensitivity for both sides.”

Alison Trinkle, assistant to the honors program director, said the conflict in Ireland is important to many Americans because of the large Irish-American population and because the United States has close alliances with Great Britain.

Mitchell serves as Chairman of the Peace Negotiations in Northern Ireland and negotiated a peace accord.

He is also chairman of an international fact-finding committee that is investigating violence in the Middle East and recommending long-term resolutions.

He was appointed to the Senate in 1980 to complete the term of Sen. Edmund S. Muskie. He was elected to a full term in 1982 and eventually completed a 14-year career in the Senate. Mitchell was voted “the most respected member” of the Senate for six consecutive years.

Mitchell currently is an attorney at a Washington firm and serves on the board of directors of several companies.

The Fogelson Forum has been at TCU for five years. McDorman said the annual forum is funded by the $1 million Fogelson endowment. The money came as a gift from E. E. Fogelson’s estate and fortune he accumulated in the Texas oil industry, she said.

Kristin Campbell
k.a.campbell@student.tcu.edu