[338] FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR JIRES SPEAKS THREE TIMES AT MTSU MARCH 3

Release date: Feb. 27, 2009


News & Public Affairs contact: Randy Weiler, 615-898-2919
McNair Scholars Program contact: Dr. Charles Apigian, 615-898-2375


FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR JIRES SPEAKS THREE TIMES AT MTSU MARCH 3


(MURFREESBORO) — Jan Jires, a Fulbright Visiting Scholar at the Center for Transatlantic Relations, School of Advanced International Studies at Johns Hopkins University in Washington, D.C., will speak three times at MTSU on Tuesday, March 3.
In an event that will be open to the public, Jires, who is a Ph.D. candidate in political science at the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, will speak on his current research at 9:40 a.m. in the University Honors College Amphitheater (Room 106) in the Paul W. Martin Sr. Honors Building. In attendance will be students primarily from a course titled International and Comparative Politics in Theory and Practice.
From 4:30 until 6 p.m., Jires will speak to 20 McNair Scholars Program students during a dinner reception in the James Union Building. Jires is expected to share informally about his experiences trying to attain his doctorate.
Jires then will speak at 7 p.m. to an upper-division political science class in Peck Hall. These students are taking a course titled Eastern European Politics. His research again will be the topic of his talk with the class.
The McNair and political science class speaking engagements will not be open to the public.
From Jires’ Internet Web site (http://transatlantic.sis-jhu.edu/staff_bios/Jires_bio.htm), it says he believes that the clash between the strategic environment that the nations of Central Europe face and their post-Cold War identity largely shapes their security attitudes toward Russia.
“As long as the Central Europeans have legitimate reasons to believe that they are treated like third-class passengers by their Western fellow travelers, … they will tend to feel the need to affirm their Westerness by opposing Russia vigorously and pursuing identity-driven policies toward Moscow.”
“Jan (pronounced Yan) is excited about coming here,” said Dr. Charles Apigian, associate professor in computer information systems and McNair Scholars academic coordinator. “He will meet our McNair students. I’m sure he will give them motivation. Most of them will be pursuing their doctorate.”
Apigian added that Ihad Abdelhafiz, a visiting faculty member at MTSU, also is a Fulbright Scholar who will participate in events surrounding Jires’ visit.

For MTSU news and information, go to mtsunews.com.

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Media welcomed to 9:40 a.m. Tuesday, March 3, presentation