October 07, 2004

Libertarian candidate to speak on campus

by Pete Rosenbery

CARBONDALE, Ill. - - Libertarian Party presidential nominee Michael Badnarik will speak at Southern Illinois University Carbondale on Saturday, Oct. 9.

Badnarik's speech begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Old Main Room at the Student Center. The speech is free and open to the public. A dinner, also in the Old Main Room, precedes Badnarik's appearance at 5 p.m. Tickets for the dinner are $25 apiece, $40 per couple, and $10 for SIUC students.


Media Advisory

Libertarian Party presidential nominee Michael Badnarik will be available to speak with reporters at a news conference at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, in the Mississippi Room at the Student Center.

In his speech, Badnarik will outline his positions on several topics including the war in Iraq, the potential for reinstatement of the draft, and the "proper role of the federal government in health care," said Jim A. Syler, vice president of Students for a Libertarian Society.

Syler, a junior in philosophy from Carbondale, worked since the party's nominating convention in May in Atlanta for Badnarik to come to SIUC.

"I think this is very important; I think this is a very significant event for the area," said Syler.

Students for a Libertarian Society is a registered student organization at SIUC.

"Michael Badnarik's upcoming appearance is a grand event in civics: a presidential candidate stumping the old-style way by hitting the road, including oft-overlooked towns such as Carbondale," said SIUC history professor and faculty advisor Jonathan J. Bean.

Badnarik and vice presidential candidate Richard Campagna appear on the ballot in 48 states, including Illinois, and the District of Columbia.

For more information on the event, contact Syler at 618/303-0019. For tickets, call 618/681-1681.

Creating citizen-leaders with global perspectives is among the goals of Southern at 150: Building Excellence Through Commitment, the blueprint for the development of the University by the time it celebrates its 150th anniversary in 2019.