Spring Break
Former Foreign Service officer to highlight human rights
Stephanie Patton
Issue date: 11/10/06 Section: Campus
In an attempt to understand the complexities of human rights issues in the post-September 11 political climate, Miami University students are invited to attend a speech by retired U.S. Foreign Service officer, Michael Houlahan.
Houlahan, who has more than 28 years experience in foreign service, will present a lecture, "Human Rights in the Age of Terrorism," Nov. 13, in which he will discuss the blurred line of human rights legislation in light of the current political situation.
Since September 11, the question of human rights specifically for detainees has been the topic of numerous pieces of legislation, most recently the Military Commissions Act (MCA). This law explicitly defines that habeas corpus rights are denied to non-U.S. citizens in U.S. courts, meaning that foreign individuals can be detained for a limitless period of time.
"Houlahan will be speaking about the controversy over whether we can protect human rights, and especially defendants' rights, in this post-September 11 world," said Jeanne Hey, director of the international studies program.Jennifer Schuett, a senior
international studies major and a member of Students for Peace and Justice (SPJ), organized the lecture. Schuett hopes to raise awareness about global issues such as human rights.
"As a part of the American Foreign Service Association, Houlahan has an experienced and informed view on U.S. foreign policy and will discuss this topic, which has been in the news recently relating to Guantanamo (Bay) and Iraq," Schuett said.
Hey said the lecture centers on a major debate in global politics. According to Hey, the Bush administration is on one side of the debate, advocating the need for the use of extreme measures and tactics to capture terrorists. On the other side of the debate are human right activists, who say you cannot give up basic rights and due process no matter what.
Charles Stevens, faculty member in both the international studies program and department of American studies, said the debate is over how to stop terrorism.
Houlahan, who has more than 28 years experience in foreign service, will present a lecture, "Human Rights in the Age of Terrorism," Nov. 13, in which he will discuss the blurred line of human rights legislation in light of the current political situation.
Since September 11, the question of human rights specifically for detainees has been the topic of numerous pieces of legislation, most recently the Military Commissions Act (MCA). This law explicitly defines that habeas corpus rights are denied to non-U.S. citizens in U.S. courts, meaning that foreign individuals can be detained for a limitless period of time.
"Houlahan will be speaking about the controversy over whether we can protect human rights, and especially defendants' rights, in this post-September 11 world," said Jeanne Hey, director of the international studies program.Jennifer Schuett, a senior
international studies major and a member of Students for Peace and Justice (SPJ), organized the lecture. Schuett hopes to raise awareness about global issues such as human rights.
"As a part of the American Foreign Service Association, Houlahan has an experienced and informed view on U.S. foreign policy and will discuss this topic, which has been in the news recently relating to Guantanamo (Bay) and Iraq," Schuett said.
Hey said the lecture centers on a major debate in global politics. According to Hey, the Bush administration is on one side of the debate, advocating the need for the use of extreme measures and tactics to capture terrorists. On the other side of the debate are human right activists, who say you cannot give up basic rights and due process no matter what.
Charles Stevens, faculty member in both the international studies program and department of American studies, said the debate is over how to stop terrorism.
