5-day series to address Iranian-U.S. conflicts

One day of the series will be devoted to Muslim women.
AKRON -- "Understanding Iranian-U.S. Conflicts," a five-day speaker series designed to help students and the community understand the conflicts in the Middle East, will be presented at the University of Akron next week.
The programs are free and open to the public.
Among the keynote speakers for this series is Dr. Paul E. Schroeder, political scientist at Case Western Reserve University and founder of the nonprofit organization Families of the Fallen for Change, who will speak at 7 p.m. Monday on "Understanding Iranian Support for Iraqi Militias" in Room 307 in Leigh Hall.
"There is evidence that Iran is supporting Iraqi Shiite militias with money, material and perhaps, men," says Shroeder. "In regards to any discussion on Iran's nuclear program, the United States will likely have to negotiate with Iran first on finding a way out of the Iraq War."
Dr. Malek Abisaab, a former Akron history professor and current assistant professor at the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University in Canada, will discuss "Empire, Technology, and Nationalism: The Iranian Nuclear Program" at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Room 307 of Leigh Hall. He will discuss the debate on the nuclear program in Iran within the complex historical context of the relationship between this Middle Eastern country and the United States.
Dr. Rula Abisaab, also a former Akron history professor and current assistant professor at the Institute of Islamic Studies at McGill University, will provide historical context for understanding the current Iranian-U.S. tension at 7 p.m. Wednesday in Room 307 of Leigh Hall with her topic, "Reconfiguring the Nation-state, Shi' ite Socialists and Jihadist Clerics in Lebanon, from 1940 to 1990."
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Other events include:
Monday
Dr. Debra Johanyak, Akron professor of English, will discuss her book, "Behind the Veil: An American Woman's Memoir of the 1979 Iran Hostage Crisis," 2 to 5 p.m., Leigh Hall Room 408.
"Sweet Treats from Iran," 6 to 7 p.m., Leigh Hall Room 307, presented by the university's hospitality management program and Department of Business Technology.
Tuesday
"Iran: The Most Dangerous Nation," 2 to 5 p.m., Zook Hall Room 110. Discovery Channel Special narrated by Ted Koppel.
Wednesday
"Muslim Women," 2 to 5 p.m., Leigh Hall Room 408, presented by Dr. Lena Boustani Darwich, Akron College of Education.
Thursday
"Reading ... Reading Lolita in Tehran ... in Akron," 2 to 5 p.m., Student Union Room 312, presented by Sevin Gallo and Ozgun Basmaz of Akron's history department.
"Navigating Internet Resources to Better Understand Iranian-U.S. Conflict," 7 to 10 p.m., Leigh Hall Room 307, presented by Eihab Abousena, Akron instructor of politics in the Middle East and Arabic language classes.
"Invoking Human Rights and Transparent Justice in Iranian-U.S. Relations," 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Leigh Hall Room 307, presented by Dr. Derya Honca, a research assistant from the Kennedy School of Government.
"The Politicization of Islam," 2 to 5 p.m., Leigh Hall Room 307, presented by Hajj Riad Nachef, an engineer and entrepreneur.
"Dialogue on Iranian-U.S. Conflicts," 7 to 10 p.m., Leigh Hall Room 307, presented by Dr. David Louscher and Dr. Karl Kaltenthaler of Akron's Department of Political Science.