Graham, Talent to discuss 'The World At Risk' at Graham Center

March 3, 2009

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — This Thursday, former Sens. Bob Graham, D-Fla., and Jim Talent, R-Mo., will discuss the findings of the Committee on the Prevention of Weapons of Mass Destruction, a special federal panel they co-chaired in 2008.

The program, “The World at Risk,” will take place at 7 p.m. in the Ocora at Pugh Hall. The event is presented by the Bob Graham Center for Public Service and is the second event in the 2009 Presidential Lecture Series “Transition to Power.” The event is free and open to the public. Tickets may be picked up in advance at the Graham Center office, Pugh Hall Room 220, or at the main entrance of Pugh Hall on the night of the event.

“Senator Graham and Senator Talent have produced a startling report on the threat of WMDs,” said Mike Bowen, assistant director of the Graham Center. “They co-chaired a fairly intensive fact-finding mission. As the Obama national security team comes into place, this report will provide them with a ready-made threat assessment and should help focus our prevention activities abroad.”

The 2009 Presidential Lecture Series is funded thanks to generous contributions from Ron Ansin and Kaplan Higher Education. The series continues April 1 with a discussion on “Media and the New Administration.” Guests will include Al Eisele, editor-at-large of The Hill, and Bill Adair, Washington bureau chief for the St. Petersburg Times.

The Graham Center for Public Service provides students with opportunities to train for future leadership positions, meet policymakers and take courses in critical thinking, language learning and studies of world cultures. Its mission is to foster public leadership and solve issues related to the Americas and homeland security. It also serves as a magnet to attract distinguished scholars and speakers to Florida.

For more information, please contact Mike Bowen at 352-273-1080 or at mbowen@ufl.edu.