High Noon Lecture Series

It all depends on who you are. Different people will be affected in different ways. Dr. Caterisano will take a broad look at the rules and regulations of the Affordable Care Act and talk about how it will impact various sub-populations of Americans.

John Broadus Watson, known as the “Father of Behavioral Psychology,” was born in Travelers Rest in 1878 and earned a master’s degree from Furman in 1899. Watson’s notoriety emerged not just for his influential views on psychology and social science research, but for his tempestuous personal life. Learn about his work, his legacy and his antics from Dr. Brewer, Furman’s award-winning psychology professor.

Since 2010 several Arab nations have successfully overthrown long-lasting dictatorships in the hope that such revolutions would lead to democratic forms of governance. Yet many complications indicate that the process might be more agonizing than the initial enthusiasm suggested. Dr. Yildirim will examine the current state of the democratic transitions in these Arab countries and look at how the new constitutions cater to the supporters of democracy. He will also discuss how Islamists fit into the larger picture.

2013 marks the 50th anniversary of the Supreme Court case "Peterson v. Greenville," which deemed Greenville's segregation ordinances unconstitutional and effectively desegregated lunch counters throughout the country. Dr. Tollison talks about the landmark case and the leading role Greenville played during the Civil Rights Movement.

To say that Martin Luther King's oratory is electric means that it exerted a force on the environment around it. This force led to transformations in the will of citizens needing, praying and calling for social change. Dr. Cynthia King (no relation) discusses the characteristics of King's oratory that electrified a movement and changed the consciousness of a nation.

Scholars and commentators around the world have been sorrowfully (or gleefully) proclaiming the end of the American era in global politics. Are they correct? Is America in steep decline? If so, what will a world without a strong United States look like in 50 years? If not, how long will America be able to manage an increasingly complex global community?

Although American voters decided between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney only hours before the lecture begins, Dr. Guth boldly agreed to analyze what happened on election day and talks about what the outcome might mean for the future of American politics.

More than any other issue, the current election hinges on the state of the economy and the government's role in it. Since the Great Depression, the public has grown accustomed to the government taking an active role in combating recessions through its spending and taxing powers. Professor Jones explores how current economic thought and research evaluate the effectiveness of such fiscal policy.

Dr. Vinson says that nobody knows for sure, but she looks at everything that has transpired in the presidential race thus far, and talks about the key factors in this election.

Whether it's Bush v. Gore to decide who becomes president or the Citizens United decision involving corporate political participation, the U.S. Supreme Court often intersects with the political process. Furman president Rod Smolla, one of the nation's top constitutional scholars, looks at how important arenas of constitutional law, from health care reform to abortion to affirmative action in education, can become central debate issues in a presidential election.

Dr. Tollison discusses the history of the Cuban Missile Crisis, with a focus on the life and death of Major Rudolph Anderson of Greenville, the sole fatality of that international crisis. Her talk also details the efforts to further memorialize Major Anderson in Greenville's Cleveland Park.

This fall marks the 150th anniversary of Antietam, one of the deadliest battles in American history, and the Preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. How did Americans respond to the horrific Civil War casualties and the promise of freedom for more than three million slaves? Professor Benson examines the country's mood by looking at how voters cast their ballots int he 1862 election that took place during the middle of Abraham Lincoln's first term.

On March 23, 2010, President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law. Some health insurance reforms have already taken place and others are to come, with most changes taking place by 2014. But will the law ever be fully implemented? Professor Halva-Neubauer takes a broad look at the political implications of the ACA, including how the recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling affected the law and whether a Romney win in November might change its fate.