Thornberry to Speak on National Security at MSU's Prof Edwards Series

U.S. Rep. Mac Thornberry, R-Clarendon, will address the state of America's national security on Thursday, Oct. 30, as part of the Midwestern State University Prof Edwards Discussions in Politics Series. The discussion will begin at 9:30 a.m. in Clark Student Center Shawnee Theater and is open to the public.

"Some argue that we have not had this many serious national security concerns all at once since at least the late 1970s and perhaps since the end of World War II," Thornberry said. "From the growing terrorism in Iraq, Syria, and Africa to the dangers of an insecure border, Ebola, and our military facing massive defense cuts, America's security and safety are at risk."

Thornberry was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994 and represents the 13th Congressional District, a large district of more than 40 counties including the Panhandle and North Texas west to a portion of Cooke County. He currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and as a member the House Intelligence Committee.

This is the sixth year for the Prof Edwards Discussions in Politics Series. The event was named in memory of former MSU Political Science Professor (1923-1958) and Board of Regents member (1993) Atticus F. "Prof" Edwards. The discussions were begun to build on Edwards' desire to promote collegial discussions in politics between faculty, students, and the community in an informal setting, and to spark interest in the important issues facing the campus, city, state, country, and world. Past topics of the Prof Edwards Series include voting, the role of armed services and U.S. Defense Policy in a changing world, Asian policies, and the Constitution 10 years after Sept. 11, 2011.

A question-and-answer session will follow Thornberry's speech. For more information, contact Dr. Steve Garrison, chair of the Department of Political Science, at (940) 397-6282 or steve.garrison@msutexas.edu.