Western’s Border Policy Research Institute to Host Colloquium Series on Cross-Border Issues May 11, 18

Heather Nicol, professor at Trent University and Victor Clark Alfaro, director of the Binational Center for Human Rights and adjunct professor at San Diego State University, will discuss their experience in border security on Wednesday, May 11 and Wednesday, May 18, on the WWU campus.

Both talks are free and open to the public.

From 1-2 p.m. on Wednesday, May 11 in Academic Instructional Center West Room 406, Nicol will present “The Fence & the Bridge: Geopolitics and Identity Along the Canada – U.S. Border,” discussing her recent book on the historical development of the Canada – U.S. border security relationship. Nicol argues that prominent security motifs, such as themes of free trade, illegal immigration, cross-border crime and terrorism, are not new nor are they limited to the post-9/11 era. Nicol will also be speaking at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, at Village Books.

From noon to 1:20 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18 in Western’s Fairhaven College auditorium, Alfaro will present “Human Rights at the Mexico – U.S. Border: A Personal Experience,” about his experiences over the past 30 years working along this highly volatile border.

For more information, contact Courtney Baxter, administrative assistant at Western Washington University’s Border Policy Research Institute, at Courtney.baxter@wwu.edu or (360) 650-7248.