Physicist Turned Activist To Speak On Iraq Occupation

PASADENA, Calif. Rahul Mahajan, a Caltech alum who holds a Ph.D. in physics, will present the first keynote address in the 2003-2004 season of the Social Activism Speaker Series at the California Institute of Technology. A strong critic of US policy in Iraq, Mahajan's talk is entitled, "The Bush Doctrine at Home and Abroad: Militarism meets Globalization". This event will take place on Thursday, October 23rd at 8pm in Baxter Lecture Hall on the Caltech campus and is free and open to the public.

Rahul Mahajan graduated from Caltech with a BA in Mathematics in 1992 and received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of Texas, Austin, in 2002. An activist since 1994, he has worked on social and political issues ranging from corporate globalization to the Israel-Palestine conflict. In the process, he has become both an effective organizer and a well-respected critic of foreign policy.

Mahajan has served in leadership positions in a number of national organizations including Peace Action, the nation's largest grassroots peace group, and the National Network to End the War on Iraq. He has written over fifty articles and op-ed pieces for publications such as USA Today, the Houston Chronicle, and the online magazine, Znet. His most recent book is "Full Spectrum Dominance: U.S. Power in Iraq and Beyond." His previous book, "The New Crusade: America's War on Terrorism," has been called "mandatory reading for anyone who wants to get a handle on the war on terrorism."

This is the fifth year for the Social Activism Speaker Series, which focuses attention on current social and political issues by inviting prominent activists to speak to the Caltech community and the public, and to share their experiences and perspectives. This series is coordinated with the help of the Caltech Y, and is made possible by contributions from Student Affairs, the Diversity Initiative Fund, the Graduate Student Council, Jack and Edith Roberts, and the Associated Students of Caltech.

Baxter Hall is located one floor above Ramo Auditorium at the center of the Caltech campus. Parking is available in the lots south of Del Mar Boulevard between Wilson and Chester Avenues, and in the Wilson Avenue parking structures between San Pasqual Street and Del Mar Boulevard.

For more information, visit http://sass.caltech.edu or contact Greg Fletcher, Caltech Y, (626) 395-6163.

Media Contact: Deborah Williams-Hedges
(626) 395-3227
debwms@caltech.edu

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