Making Great Decisions

By: Amanda Bloomer
Contributing Writer

Great Decisions is a nationally-sponsored program that encourages the public to take an informed interest in current events. It was conceived by the United States’ Foreign Policy Association (FPA) in 1954.

The FPA website claims for itself the distinction of the “longest-running civic education program devoted to U.S. foreign policy and global affairs.” Every year since its inception, the FPA has published an annual “briefing book” that includes eight topics of national significance that have been selected for that year’s program. People can then get together with others in their area to engage in a dialogue about the issues.

Monmouth College recognizes the value of such a program, and is now in its 27th year of participation. As always, the program is open to the public and any interested members of the college community. The guidebook, though optional, is for sale in the campus bookstore.

The first session of this year’s Great Decisions was held at 7:30 this Wednesday in the Tartan Room. Members from the surrounding community, faculty, and student body all crowded together for a discussion about the Middle-East (topics for the following weeks will include, in order: climate change, Mexico, migration, South Africa, war crimes, Central Asia, and children).

Professor Ira Smolensky of the Political Science department and Professor Amy de Farias of the History department are serving as co-leaders of this year’s program. Professor Smolensky introduced the evening’s topic and also moderated the discussion that followed. He has participated in the Great Decisions program since his arrival at the college twenty-two years ago. He attributes his continued involvement with Great Decisions to the program’s ability to “bring some wonderful people together for vibrant discussion of important issues facing the U.S. and the world.” This in mind, Wednesday’s gathering included many people who talked, many who just listened, but everybody contributed to the kind of healthy and respectful atmosphere which lends itself to productive conversation.

Professors Smolensky and de Farias both commented on the great showing of people and the quality of that evening’s discourse. Although, as Professor Smolenskey notes, “we may have to figure out how to get more chairs in the Tartan Room for future sessions.”