Furman forum focuses on women in politics

e-mail this story More details Inforail: For more information, contact Furman's News and Media Relations office, (864) 294-3107. McAlister Auditorium is located at Furman, entering the front gate off Poinsett Highway. Daniel Recital Hall is located in the Daniel Music Building, next to McAlister Auditorium. Parking is available in the lots around McAlister.

The conference, "Women and Politics: Transforming Public Leadership" will begin Monday with a program featuring Clinton, the former first lady, and Stahl, co-editor and correspondent for the CBS News program "60 Minutes."

The program, "A Conversation with Hillary Clinton and Lesley Stahl," will begin at 8 p.m. at the Peace Center in downtown Greenville. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased at the Peace Center.

The conference will continue Tuesday with four daylong roundtable discussions and a closing address by Edelman. She will speak on "Women and Politics at the Grass Roots: A View from the Inside" at 8 p.m. in McAlister Auditorium on the Furman campus. That lecture is free, as are all of the other Tuesday programs at Daniel Recital Hall.

The roundtable discussions will address such subjects as "Women, Politics and the Media," "Women and Politics in South Carolina" and "The Future of Women in Politics."

Women scheduled to participate Tuesday include Carol Rasco, former White House Domestic Policy Council Chair; Jenna Dorn, Federal Transportation administrator; Liz Patterson, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives; Jenny Sanford, campaign manager for and wife of Gov. Mark Sanford; Gilda Cobb-Hunter, a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives; and Inez Tenenbaum, South Carolina State Supt. of Education and candidate for the U.S. Senate.

"Women and Politics: Transforming Public Leadership" is the second annual national conference sponsored by the university's Richard W. Riley Institute of Government, Politics and Public Leadership.

Mon., Oct. 6

8 p.m. — "A Conversation with Hillary Clinton and Lesley Stahl.

Peace Center

Tues. Oct. 7

10-11:30 a.m. — "Women, Politics and the Media." The impact of the media on politics is significant. This panel will investigate that and how it affects women who are running for public office or are currently elected officials.

Daniel Recital Hall, Furman University

Roundtable Leader: Danielle Vinson, associate professor of political science, Furman University.

1:30-2:30 p.m. — "Women and Politics in South Carolina." South Carolina ranks last among all the American states in the number of women elected to political office. Through the eyes of those females who helped pave the way for women in South Carolina, this panel will discuss and analyze the obstacles and realities of women entering a world of politics almost completely dominated by men.

Daniel Recital Hall, Furman University.

Roundtable Leader: Marian Strobel, professor history, Furman University.

2:45-3:45 p.m. — "South Carolina Today." As women move into the 21st century in South Carolina, they continue to find themselves distinctly in the minority in elected office in this state and last in the country in that area. Is it really still harder for women to enter into politics and be successful in South Carolina?

Daniel Recital Hall, Furman University

Roundtable Leader: Beth Traxler, ETV Host

4-5:30 p.m. — "The Future of Women in Politics." Moving from South Carolina to the national arena where women occupy larger numbers of state and national political and government administrative offices, panelists will discuss whether women are actually reshaping American politics. Are there differences in the issues and policies that women push or are interested in? If there are women's issues, what are they? What should be done to increase the number of women in public office?

Daniel Recital Hall, Furman University

Roundtable Leader: Linda Lader, founder, Renaissance Weekend.

8-9 p.m. — "Women and Politics at the Grass Roots: A View from the Inside."

McAlister Auditorium, Furman University

Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president, Children's Defense Fund.