March 20, 2018 — The Marist Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) is holding a free four-part speakers’ series this spring focused on the 50th anniversary of one of the most tumultuous years in American politics: 1968. The series ties into a course taught on campus this semester, “1968: The Year that Rocked American Politics.”

"Marist College welcomes these four thought leaders to meet with students about the critical period 50 years ago and its importance to understanding American Politics today. Events like these fulfill the educational mission of Marist Institute for Public Opinion," said President David Yellen.

“Pivotal moments from the Civil Rights Movement, the Vietnam War, the presidential campaign, and the cultural revolution will be examined in this dynamic series of talks. Each speaker brings a unique perspective to these topics,” said MIPO Director Lee M. Miringoff.

The series kicks off on Thursday, March 22, 5:00pm, with Washington Post columnist E.J. Dionne, Jr.  Dionne, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, is the author of many books, including One Nation After Trump: A Guide for the Perplexed, the Disillusioned, the Desperate, and the Not-Yet-Deported.

Former New York Times columnist and NBC correspondent Bob Herbert will speak on April 5. Herbert is the writer and producer of the film Against All Odds: The Fight for a Black Middle Class. As a columnist he wrote frequently about issues of race.

Documentarian Lynn Novick will be the speaker on April 19. Novick co-produced and co-directed the PBS documentary The Vietnam War with Ken Burns.

The series concludes on April 26 with television journalist Jeff Greenfield. Greenfield served a speechwriter to Robert F. Kennedy and is the author of If Kennedy Lived: The First and Second Terms of President John F. Kennedy: An Alternate History. He is the former senior political correspondent for CBS, former senior analyst for CNN, and former political and media analyst for ABC News.

All events will be held on Thursdays in the Hancock Center, room 2023, 5:00pm. The events are free and open to the public, but registration is required and seating is limited.   

About the Marist Institute for Public Opinion

Founded in 1978, The Marist College Institute for Public Opinion (MIPO) is a survey research center at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York. The Institute was the first college-based research center to include undergraduates in conducting survey research. Over its nearly 40 year history, more than 5,000 Marist College students have participated in polling, workshops, courses and seminars, field trips, and internships. The Marist Poll has conducted independent research on public priorities, elections, and a wide variety of social issues. The Marist Poll regularly partners with NBC News and The Wall Street Journal to conduct scientific public opinion polls in key electoral battleground states. It joins with NPR and PBS NewsHour to take the pulse of the country.

About Marist

Located on the banks of the historic Hudson River and at its Florence, Italy campus, Marist College is a comprehensive, independent institution grounded in the liberal arts. Its mission is to “help students develop the intellect, character, and skills required for enlightened, ethical, and productive lives in the global community of the 21st century.” Marist is consistently recognized for excellence by The Princeton Review (Colleges That Create Futures and The Best 381 Colleges), U.S. News & World Report (9th Best Regional University/North), Kiplinger’s Personal Finance (“Best College Values”), and others. Though now independent, Marist remains committed to the ideals handed down from its founders, the Marist Brothers: excellence in education, a sense of community, and a commitment to service. Marist educates approximately 5,000 traditional-age undergraduate students and 1,400 adult and graduate students in 47 undergraduate majors and 15 graduate programs, including fully online MBA, MPA, MS, and MA degrees.