The forum, which was constructed like a town hall meeting, focused on discussing what change Americans have seen sice Obama's election. 

The event began with a video montage of President Obama giving speeches and other political figures, such as former Vice President Cheney, commenting on the President's progress. Professor David Jesuit opened discussion and encouraged students to voice their opinions about the change that has taken place since Obama took office, or ask questions of the panelists who lead the conversation, including: Dr. Sterling Johnson, Dr. Won Paik, Dr. Moataz Fattah, and political science students Shannon Salk and John Porter.

The Speak Up, Speak Out panelists, from left are Dr. Sterling Johnson, Dr. Won Paik, Ms. Shannon Salk, Mr. John Porter, and Dr. Moataz Fattah.

The discussion covered a wide range of topics connecting to the central theme of change in US foreign policy, including the treatment of the Underwear Bomber in Dec, the war overseas and how it is being handled, environmental issues, Cuban and US relations, the failing economy, and the US involvement in Israeli/Palestinian relations.

Many Obama voters expressed their disappointment with his progress, having promised so much change in his candidacy with no substantial changes thus far. Panelists discussed fears of a vacuum of power forming should we pull out too quickly and how the vacuum would give way to generations of civil war in the Middle East. 

On the issue of the Underwear Bomber and his treatment by officials, the audience and panelists were split.  Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab smuggled a bomb powerful enough to plow up an airplane onto Northwest Airlines Flight 253 Christmas day 2009.  When the attempt to detonate the bomb failed, Abdulmutallab was arrested and receive his Miranda rights shortly thereafter. 

Many in the audience were in the firm belief that Miranda rights are for US citizens and not for terrorists, that he should have been treated as an enemy combatant and interrogated for information.  John Porter agreed with this position and would have liked to see officials take better advantage of the situation. 

Discussing the war on terror Tuesday evening at the Speak Up, Speak Out event is Political Science Major Shannon Salk (center). "I believe it was necessary to go to Afghanistan, but not Iraq," Salk said.

Dr. Paik used the analogy of pizza toppings to explain the current situation in US foreign policy, saying, "You can't have 20 toppings on a pizza... pick one and keep some for the next pizza."

Dr. Johnson said that the President has little power over some of the major issues, like the economy, and "can only do so much."  He explained that our government was designed to change slowly, reminding the audience that the President has to negotiate with all other member of Congress, who must all vote on the issues with a majority, before any changes can be made, and even then, Dr. Johnson says, "we don't make radical changes in foreign policy, we make small changes."

The overall consensus from the forum was that although outcomes have yet to change, progress is still being made. We need to remember that, as Dr. Paik says, "he's a work in progress."

Some of the questions discussed included "Has U.S. foreign policy changed under Obama" and "Is the U.S. safer from foreign threats today?"

Speak Up, Speak Out also announced an essay contest in honor of their 10^th anniversary of the series.  All CMU students are welcome to submit an essay concerning selected themes of the series. 

Up to four undergraduate and two graduate students will be awarded prizes of $250, be recognized in the series this coming fall, and will have their essays published in CM Life in the 2010-2011 school year.  For more information, visit http://www.chsbs.cmich.edu/SUSO/.

GCM photos by Derek Stonebraker

By Brittany Smith