Rice University panel discussion to focus on Haitian earthquake

CONTACT: Franz Brotzen
PHONE: 713-348-6775
E-MAIL: franz.brotzen@rice.edu

Rice University panel discussion to focus on Haitian earthquake

When the earthquake struck Port-au-Prince Jan. 12, it reduced the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere to a state of utter destitution. A Feb. 25 panel discussion at Rice University will place this cataclysmic event in its historical context and look at what it means for the Haitian people.

Titled “Haiti: Past, Present and Future,” the discussion will be held at 7 p.m. in Room 100 at Herring Hall on the Rice campus, 6100 Main St. Paid parking is available in the Central Campus Garage. For directions, go to http://www.rice.edu/maps/maps.html.

The four panelists are Edward Cox, associate professor of history at Rice; Luis Duno-Gottberg, associate professor of Caribbean studies and film at Rice; Art Rascon, an Emmy award-winning reporter and anchor for KTRK-TV’s Eyewitness News; and Jean-Marc Tribié, a Rice alumnus, who grew up in Port-Au-Prince.

Cox’s research includes Caribbean and African-American history. He is currently teaching a course on how natural disasters in the Caribbean affect the region’s economy, political systems and social structure from colonial times to the present.

Duno-Gottberg is completing a translation and annotated edition of the first Haitian novel, ”Estela.” He is also teaching a course on Caribbean literature this semester and is preparing an anthology of documents from the Haitian revolution.

Rascon has covered major national and international events and natural disasters throughout the world and was the only Houston journalist to cover the January earthquake in Haiti.

Tribié obtained a Bachelor of Arts in architecture and art history in 2006 and a Bachelor of Architecture from Rice in 2008. He served as president of the Caribbean Students Society and co-president of the International Undergraduate Society.

Immediately after the panel discussion, Rice students will sponsor a bake sale to raise funds for Haitian earthquake victims.

The event is organized by Rice University Public Affairs’ Office of Multicultural Community Relations.

For more information, contact Jan West at jan.f.west@rice.edu or 713-348-6759.

Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Franz Brotzen at franz.brotzen@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.