'On Topic with Ken Starr' To Feature Conversation with Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell April 16 at Waco Hall

April 9, 2013
Sen. George J. Mitchell

Sen. George J. Mitchell

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Contact: Lori Fogleman, (254) 710-6275

Distinguished public servant, Special Envoy for Peace to discuss important issues facing nation, world

WACO, Texas (April 9, 2013) - Baylor University President Ken Starr will welcome former U.S. Senator and Senate Majority Leader George J. Mitchell - distinguished Statesman, Special Envoy for Peace, nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize and recipient of the Presidential Medal of Freedom - for "On Topic," a series of compelling conversations on contemporary issues, at 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 16, in Waco Hall on the Baylor campus.

Sen. Mitchell will join President Starr in an engaging conversation about important issues facing the nation and world. Admission to the event is free, but a ticket is required. Tickets are available in person at the Bill Daniel Student Center ticket office from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Depending on availability, tickets may be obtained at Waco Hall on April 16. Doors will open at 6 p.m.

"We have been blessed to welcome to the Baylor campus some of our country's outstanding public servants and scholars for 'On Topic' conversations," President Starr said. "Sen. Mitchell's remarkably distinguished career includes 15 years in the Senate, Chairmanship of the International Commission on Disarmament in Northern Ireland, and Chairmanship of the International Fact-Finding Committee focused on the Middle East crisis between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In 2007, Sen. Mitchell was author of 'The Mitchell Report,' an investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. We anticipate a compelling conversation with one of the leading public servants of our time."

Jan. 30, 2013, CNN "Starting Point" interview with Sen. Mitchell who raises concerns on new allegations of doping in Major League Baseball.

Dec. 6, 2012, CNN interview with Sen. George Mitchell as he draws on his experience as U.S. Senate Majority Leader to advise how Congress can break free of gridlock.

ABOUT U.S. SENATOR GEORGE J. MITCHELL

Sen. Mitchell received his undergraduate degree from Bowdoin College and a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. In 1977, he was appointed U.S. attorney for Maine, a position he held until 1979, when he was appointed U.S. District Judge for Maine. He resigned that position in 1980 to accept appointment to the U.S. Senate, where his distinguished career in public service spanned 15 years, including six years as Senate Majority Leader.

In 1995, he served as a Special Advisor to President William J. Clinton on Ireland, and from 1996 to 2000 he served as the Independent Chairman of the Northern Ireland Peace Talks. Under his leadership, the governments of Ireland and the United Kingdom and the political parties of Northern Ireland agreed to the historic Good Friday peace accord. For his service in Northern Ireland, Sen. Mitchell received numerous awards and honors, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom - the highest civilian honor given by the U.S. government - as well as the Philadelphia Liberty Medal, the Truman Institute Peace Prize and the United Nations (UNESCO) Peace Prize. He also was nominated for the 1998 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts.

In 2000 and 2001, at the request of President Clinton, Prime Minister Ehud Barak, and Chairman Yasser Arafat, Sen. Mitchell served as Chairman of an International Fact-Finding Committee on violence in the Middle East. In 2006 and 2007 he led the investigation into the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball. He also served as Chairman of the Special Commission Investigating Allegations of Impropriety in the Bidding Process for the Olympic Games and was the Independent Overseer of the American Red Cross Liberty Fund, which provided relief for September 11 attack victims and their families.

In 2008, TIME magazine named Sen. Mitchell one of the 100 most influential persons in the world. He is the author of four books, Men of Zeal with Sen. Bill Cohen, World on Fire, Not For America Alone: The Triumph of Democracy and the Fall of Communism and Making Peace, an account of his experience in Northern Ireland.

ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY

Baylor University is a private Christian university and a nationally ranked research institution, characterized as having "high research activity" by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university provides a vibrant campus community for approximately 15,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating university in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 11 nationally recognized academic divisions. Baylor sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams and is a founding member of the Big 12 Conference.