MEDIA RELEASE

UCLA Professor to Visit CSUN for Lecture on Middle East

(NORTHRIDGE, Calif., March 10, 2008) &mdas; Officials with Cal State Northridge’s Office of the Provost will host noted UCLA professor Judea Pearl for a lecture on the conflicts plaguing the Middle East.

Pearl will examine contrasting views of the turmoil in an effort to help the audience better understand the Middle East on Thursday, March 13, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the Presentation Room of the Oviatt Library located at 18111 Nordhoff St., in Northridge.

"Sometimes people think that the Jewish community is of one mind on policy issues. It is not," said CSUN Provost Harry Hellenbrand, vice president of academic affairs. "Dr. Pearl has a point of view quite different from Dr. Finkelstein’s, and as the audience will learn, current events have involved his family in unspeakable tragedy as well."

Pearl is a professor at UCLA and one of the foremost experts in artificial intelligence and the science of reasoning. He also is president of the Daniel Pearl Foundation, named after his son, which promotes East-West understanding through journalism, music and dialogue. He lectures and writes extensively on Western values, Jewish identity, Muslim-Jewish dialogue and the Middle East conflict.

Copies of Pearl’s book, "I am Jewish," will be available for sale and signing after the lecture.

While the event is free and open to the public, reservations are required due to limited seating. Seats can be reserved online at academic.affairs@csun.edu or call (818) 677-2957. Parking is $5 and is available in lot G4.