2012 Table Topics and Conversationalists

Aesop for Grown-ups Andy Achenbaum, History and Social Work

The Arab Spring: Flowers and Weapons Dina Al-Sowayel, Women’s Studies

The Crisis of Public Higher Education in Texas John Antel, Provost and Senior Vice President

Volunteerism and Civic Activism John Bernard, Professor Emeritus, English

Asia and America: Paradigm Shift in Higher Education in the New Century Paul Chu, Temple Chair of Science

Little Pink Houses and White Picket Fences: Is This Still the Land of Opportunity? Jeffrey Church, Political Theory

Fairness and the Occupy Movement Susan Collins, Director, Phronesis Program in Politics and Ethics

Sailing Ships and Sealing Wax, and Whiskey Blends and Malts Glenn Cordúa y Cruz, Director, Wine and Spirits Management Institute

Think Global, Drink Local: Cougar Brews Aaron Corsi, Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

Downton Abbey: About Then or About Now? Robert Cremins, Novelist

The Complicated 50s: Elvis Presley, Leave it to Beaver, and Seeds of Change Lawrence Curry, Professor Emeritus, History

Háry János and the Promise of Personalized Medicine Clifford Dacso, Director, The Abramson Family Center for the Future of Health

Cruising the River Spey: Speyside Scotland and its Single Malts Andrew Davis, Director, Graduate Studies; Moores School of Music

Turning Life into Poems and Stories Ted and Sybil Estess, Founding Dean, The Honors College/Author and Poet

My Kid Could Make That Karen Farber, Director, Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts

Does the Devil Wear Prada?: The Philosophy of Fashion Cynthia Freeland, Philosophy

Where All the Students Are Above Average: College Grades and the American Dream Terry Hallmark, Political Theory

Sleeping, Smoking, Drinking Scotch: What Does An Artist-in-Residence Do, Anyway? John Harvey, Artist-in-Residence; Center for Creative Work

A Table Tour of India Renu and Suresh Khator, Chancellor and President/Associate Dean, Cullen College of Engineering

A Night at the Museum: Cultural Stewardship 2.0 Rex Koontz, Director, School of Art

Rick Perry: Texas on the National Stage Alison Leland, Politics and Law

Got Hope? How About Change? Christine LeVeaux-Haley, Political Science

Courage in the Liberal Political Order: Plato, Hobbes, and Hollywood Andy Little, Political Theory

Tree of Life: The Films of Terrence Malick William Monroe, O'Connor Abendshein Professor; Dean, The Honors College

Are All Habits Bad? Iain Morrisson, Philosophy

Will Obama Be a One-Term President? Richard Murray, Political Analyst

The Wests of Cormac McCarthy Alex Parsons, Novelist

“Life, Friends, is Boring”: Do the Humanities Lead to Despair? Dan Price, Science & Humanities

Will the 99% Save Capitalism? Latha Ramchand, Dean, Bauer College of Business

Big Opportunities in the Big East Mack Rhoades, Director of Athletics

Table for 10 Billion?: How and Where to House a Growing Population Shafik Rifaat, Architect and Urban Planner

Passing Yards and Passing Grades: Academics and Athletics Dave Shattuck and Stuart Long, Director, Honors Engineering Program/Associate Dean, Undergraduate Research

(A Taste of) Bubbles! Bubbles! Bubbles! Kevin Simon, Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management

24/7 Media Coverage: The Latest Threat to Democracy Steve Smith, Broadcast Journalist and Media Consultant

Pressing Charges: Should Victims Influence Criminal Sentencing? Tamler Sommers, Philosophy

Code Blue: The Nursing Shortage Helen Valier, History of Medicine

Springtime for (Books on) Hitler: The Endless Fascination of the Third Reich Robert Zaretsky, History and Culture