‘The Constitution Now’ to be presented in libraries

What are our rights and obligations as American citizens in the aftermath of Sept. 11? How well do we really understand the Constitution and the protections it affords us in times of crisis?

UW–Madison-Madison faculty will address these and other questions in the free public Center for the Humanities forums, “The Constitution Now,” a series of five lectures at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, Jan. 29-Feb. 26, in public libraries throughout Dane County.

The forums are presented by UW–Madison’s Center for the Humanities in conjunction with the Dane County Library Service. For more information, call the center, (608) 263-3409, or Dane County Library Service, (608) 266-6388.

The talks, all starting at 7 p.m. Tuesdays, will take place:

• Jan. 29, Middleton Public Library, 7425 Hubbard Ave., (608) 831-5564. Susan Zaeske, communication arts “The Rhetoric of a World Crisis.”
• Feb. 5, Deerfield Public Library, 12 W. Nelson St., Deerfield, (608) 764-8102. Andrew Wolpert, classics, “Freedom and Democracy: Lessons from Antiquity.”
• Feb. 12, Sun Prairie Public Library, 1350 Linnerud Drive, Sun Prairie, (608) 825-7323. John Cooper, history, “The Role of Civil Liberties in War Time.”
• Feb. 19, McFarland Public Library, 5114 Farwell St., (608) 838-4590. Howard Schweber, political science, “The First Amendment After September 11.”
• Feb. 26, Oregon Public Library, 256 Brook St., Oregon, (608) 835-3656.
  Lester Hunt, philosophy, “Military Tribunals: National Security Versus the Constitution?”