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Downtown campus hosts New York Times Café


November 07, 2011

An iconic newspaper is hoping to create dialogue, spur critical thinking and create local and global awareness among students at ASU’s Downtown Phoenix campus.

The New York Times in College, ASU’s School of Letters and Sciences and the Undergraduate Student Government will host the New York Times Café at 12:30 p.m., Nov. 9, at Fair Trade Café in Civic Space Park, 424 N. Central Ave., Phoenix. Lunch and coffee will be served and is free to all ASU Sun Card holders. This is the first of a series of cafés at the Downtown campus.

“This partnership arose out of the need to bring vital current issues influencing our world and shaping our future to our students and community," said Mirna Lattouf, who is organizing the series on behalf of ASU’s School of Letters and Sciences. "In the process, we hope to connect business, education, media and people to strengthen dialogue and awareness.”

Panelists Souad Ali and Abdullahi Gallab, both ASU professors, will lead a discussion on the impact of “The Arab Spring.” The two will provide background historical information as well as the importance of today’s social media that has led to a revolutionary wave of demonstrations, protests and change occurring in the Arab World, commencing Dec. 18, 2010.

Andres Cano, chief of staff for the Undergraduate Student Government Downtown, said the New York Times Café allows students another opportunity to engage outside of the classroom.

“Downtown students benefit from our partnership with the New York Times every single day,” Cano said. “These cafes, a first of its kind for this campus, are part of another unique opportunity for students to be informed about global and domestic issues.”

The New York Times Café was first hosted by Fort Hays University in 2004 to foster a more engaged citizenry, stimulate class discussion and debate and initiate a habit of lifelong learning. Two more discussions will take place at the Downtown Phoenix campus in February and April 2012.