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St. Olaf Hispanic Heritage Month lectures to focus on Latin American politics

By Catherine Grochala '06
October 6, 2005

Richard Hillman, author of seven books about Latin America, will present two lectures at St. Olaf College this week as part of Hispanic Heritage Month. The first lecture, "Hugo Chavez: U.S. and Venezuela Relations," will be presented Thursday, Oct. 6, at 7:15 p.m. The second lecture, "Post-revolutionary Cuba and Other Caribbean States: Socio-Economic Development and Human Rights," can be heard Friday, Oct. 7, at 3:15 p.m. Both lectures will take place in Viking Theater in Buntrock Commons. The college's Hispanic Studies Department and the Office of Community Life and Diversity are sponsoring the lectures, which are free and open to the public.

Hillman's first lecture will explore how Chavez was elected president of Venezuela and how his presidency has affected the dynamics of U.S.-Venezuelan relations. In his second lecture, Hillman will discuss his personal experiences in post-revolutionary Cuba and compare its development with surrounding Caribbean countries.

With increased national attention toward the relationship between the U.S. and Venezuela, says Associate Professor of Spanish Sylvia Carullo, director of the Department of Hispanic Studies at St. Olaf College, Hillman's "strong firsthand knowledge and experience" will give listeners "a better background of information on the dynamics of a topic of such strong current interest."

Hillman, a three-time Fulbright Scholar, is Distinguished Professor Emeritus in Political Science at St. John Fisher College in Rochester, N.Y. He is founder and director of the Institute for the Study of Democracy and Human Rights. He specializes in comparative politics, democratic development and international relations.

Contact David Gonnerman at 507-786-3315 or gonnermd@stolaf.edu.