The series, called reTHINK, will include five free, one-hour lectures in Ekstrom Library’s Chao Auditorium. All of the talks will begin at 6 p.m.
The series starts Aug. 27 with “Rethinking the Gold Standard: Do the Benefits Exceed the Costs,” Brian Domitrovic, history department chair at Sam Houston State University.
Other topics, speakers and dates are:
- “Rethinking the 2012 Election: Is Obama Following the Harry Truman Model?,” author and historian David Pietrusza, Oct. 1 (book signing to follow)
- “Rethinking the Trail of Tears: Liberty, Constitutionalism and the Cherokee People,” Amy Sturgis, Native American studies scholar at Lenoir-Rhyne University, Oct. 25
- “Rethinking American Exceptionalism: What’s So Great About America?,” Richard Gamble, author and associate history professor at Hillsdale College, Nov. 5
- “Rethinking FDR, WWII and the Cold War: Herbert Hoover’s ‘Secret History’ Unveiled,” Hoover biographer and independent scholar George Nash, Nov. 27
“We hope to stir things up a bit and give people a fresh look at some of the key ideas and events that have shaped American history,” said Gary Gregg, McConnell Center director.
The non-partisan McConnell Center, created at UofL in 1991, prepares Kentucky’s top college undergraduate students to become future leaders and offers civic education programs for teachers, students and the general public.