For Immediate Release

Contact: Barbara K. Laskin or Doug Stone
October 4, 2004
(651) 696-6203

Macalester Students to Discuss 2004 Election at
National Periclean Program Conference;
"I Have a Dream Foundation" Founder to Receive Honorary Degree

St. Paul, Minn. - Students will get a chance to discuss their participation in the 2004 election at the annual national Project Pericles conference at Macalester College, Friday and Saturday, November 5 and 6. The conference will also explore increasing students' political commitment through civic engagement.

Between 80 -100 people will be representing the 19 colleges and universities from around the country, including Macalester, which are the core Periclean schools. Macalester College will be giving Project Pericles founder and philanthropist Eugene Lang an honorary degree Saturday evening. Former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke will be the keynote speaker.

Lang, a retired businessman, entrepreneur and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, was the founder of the "I Have a Dream" (IHAD) Foundation, which helps children from low-income areas reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring, and enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher education.

Some of the student workshops and discussions on Saturday, November 6 include:
9 - 10:30 am Committed Living: Civic Engagement after Graduation
12:15 - 1:15 pm Increasing the Political Engagement of Students
1:30 - 3:30 pm The 2004 Election: What Students Did; What Students Learned

Project Pericles is a not-for-profit organization that encourages and facilitates commitments by colleges and universities to include education for social responsibility and participatory citizenship as an essential part of their educational programs, in the classroom, on the campus, and in the community.

The following colleges and universities belong to Project Pericles: Allegheny College; Berea College; Bethune-Cookman College; Chatham College; Dillard University; Elon University; Hampshire College; Macalester College; New England College; New School University; Occidental College, Pace University; Pitzer College; Rhodes College; St. Mary's College of Maryland; Swarthmore College; Ursinus College; Wagner College and Widener University.

Macalester is a private, national liberal arts college with a full-time enrollment of 1,845 students. Macalester is nationally recognized for its long-standing commitment to academic excellence, internationalism, diversity and civic engagement.

###