April 11, 1997

Former Soviet president and Nobel Peace Prize recipient lectures at Loyola

Former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev will present "A Dialogue with Mikhail Gorbachev" on Thursday, April 17, from 7 ­ 8 p.m. in Roussel Hall. In order to facilitate seating, the lecture is open only to Loyola faculty, staff, and students who must obtain an admittance pass from the Music Ticket Office in the Music/Communications Complex on Tuesday, April 15 between 11:30 a.m. ­ 4:30 p.m. Faculty, staff, and students must show current Loyola identification cards. Students may obtain one ticket per ID card; faculty and staff will be given two tickets per ID card.

On April 17, everyone with a ticket should enter through the St. Charles Avenue entrance of the building.

Gorbachev is largely credited with promoting "Perestroika," the reformist ideology which earned him a Nobel Peace Prize in 1990. After the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, the former Soviet leader established the Gorbachev Foundation, an organization dedicated to socio-economic studies and research. He spends his time writing and lecturing on issues of global concerns.

Gorbachev and his wife, Raisa, are in the city to tour the industrial and shipping corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. His visit will underscore trade and investment opportunities which will be available to Louisiana in the 21st century in the emerging Eastern European democracies of the post-Communist world, a press announcement reported. "The breakup of the Soviet Union and the resulting economic opportunities will give Louisiana a distinct advantage for international trade and transportation because of the state's unique combination of deep-draft ports, agricultural production, oil field, and other sectors in which Louisiana is globally competitive," the statement continued.

School of Law Dean John Makdisi and Professor James Klebba were instrumental in securing Gorbachev's visit to the university. Klebba has been the director of the law school's summer program in Russia for four years.

In addition to his lecture at Loyola, Gorbachev will discuss enhanced prospects for world peace and trade in an address to Louisiana's business leaders on April 18 at the World Trade Center. Later that evening, U.S. Senator John Breaux and his wife will host a reception to introduce Gorbachev to community leaders across the state.

Gorbachev's primary purpose for coming to America is to receive the prestigious King David Award in New York on Sunday. During their week-long U.S. visit, the Gorbachevs also will visit Washington, D.C., and Boston.