NEWS

Documentary, distinguished speaker to highlight Middle East

Apr 15, 2011 | General News, Liberal Arts

Upcoming events for Louisiana Tech’s Shaping the 21st Century: Focus on the Middle East series include a brownbag lunch video and a distinguished speaker.
First, on Tuesday, April 19, FRONTLINE’s “House of Saud” documentary will be shown at 12:15 p.m. in the International Student Office located in Tolliver Hall. The documentary, which focuses on the history of Saudi Arabia and its relationship with America, will be introduced by Bill Willoughby, associate dean of the College of Liberal Arts.
The documentary focuses on the house of Saud, which has controlled every aspect of Saudi life and politics since the kingdom was established in 1932. Members of the family, government officials and other Saudi Arabia and U.S. experts are interviewed in the film, and America’s relations with the Saudi royal family from the 1930s through today are discussed.
The following day, April 20, Dr. Rebecca Williams, an assistant professor of history from the University of South Alabama, will discuss “The Supernatural in Islam:  Medieval Texts and Modern Views.” She will focus on how modern Muslims must deal with the contradictions between rationalist ideas and traditional beliefs. Her talk will begin at 10 a.m. in Wyly Tower Auditorium.
As with all the Shaping the 21st Century events, all events are free and open to the public.