Baylor's Department of Political Science to Host Distinguished Scholar for Robert T. Miller Lecture Series

November 2, 2007

by Katie Brooks, student newswriter, (254) 710-6805

Baylor University's department of political science will hold its annual Robert T. Miller Lecture Series featuring Dr. Gary Jacobsohn who will present, "The Disharmonic Constitution," from 7 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5, in Bennett Auditorium on the Baylor campus.

Jacobsohn, the Malcolm Macdonald Professor in Constitutional and Comparative Law and the Patterson-Banister Professor of Government, teaches at the University of Texas at Austin. His interests lie in constitutional theory and comparative constitutionalism. He is the author of several books and is currently working on a book exploring the idea of constitutional identity through the examination of its expressions in India, Ireland, Israel and the United States.

Jacobsohn's lecture is expected to focus on how the American Constitution provides for harmony despite the religious diversity of the country, and will examine how the American Constitution handles religious issues compared to the way they are dealt with in Israel and Iraq, said Dr. Jerold L. Waltman, professor of political science.

"We are especially pleased to have Dr. Jacobsohn here this year, as he is one of America's most distinguished scholars of American constitutional law. His emphasis on religious liberty is especially appropriate for Baylor," Waltman said.

The endowed lecture series in the department of political science is named after former faculty member and chair of the department, Robert T. Miller. He devoted his life to Baylor University and the teaching of political science. He authored several books and articles and made significant contributions to the study of constitutional law.

Waltman said the lecture series has brought many distinguished scholars of public law to campus through the years.

"Students would benefit by hearing an expert on how the U.S. compares to other countries. He has often quoted [Alexis de] Tocqueville about how much one country can learn from other," he said.

The lecture is free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Waltman at Jerod_Waltman@baylor.edu.