Barrett Lecture Series presents Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon


Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon will discuss immigration reform at the first Barrett Lecture Series event to take place on the Downtown Phoenix campus.

Open to the public, Gordon’s presentation, “Making the Case for Reasonable Debate on Immigration Reform,” starts at 3 p.m. Sept. 24 in the First Amendment Forum at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, 555 N. Central Ave.

Initially implemented in 2004, the Barrett Honors Lecture Series brings a wide variety of intellectually stimulating scholarly work and issues to Barrett students and the ASU community. The series highlights both the faculty at ASU and scholars in all fields from across the nation.

“Through this series we want to create an exciting conversation about hot topics,” said Laura Peck, associate dean for Barrett, The Honors College, at the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus, and Public Affairs associate professor. 

Gordon is a proponent of comprehensive reform that would strengthen border controls while providing illegal immigrants with a path to legalization. He also advocates establishing a guest worker program.

“When this nation was founded no one ever conceived or imagined that immigration enforcement was an issue that would ever fall to mayors and local police departments,” Gordon said. “But because of federal neglect – here we are. We’ve studied this enough and now it’s time for action.”

Gordon has been named by the U.S. Conference of Mayors to make immigration reform recommendations to the next congress and president.

Gordon graduated cum laude from Arizona State University’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law. He also studied education at the University of Arizona. He was elected from the Phoenix City Council to the office of the mayor in 2004.

In his first term, Gordon partnered with ASU to build the Downtown Phoenix campus, secured a new light-rail system and helped expand the city’s convention center. This year, Gordon was shortlisted for the 2008 World Mayor Award.

 

What: Barrett, The Honors College at ASU Honors Lecture Series

Where: Cronkite School, 555 N. Central Ave., First Amendment Forum

When: 3 p.m. Sept. 24

Admission: Free

Information: http://honors.asu.edu

Parking: http://uabf.asu.edu/parking_visitor

 

Contact:

Jill Johnson

Program Coordinator

Barrett, The Honors College (602) 496-0557

Jill.Johnson@asu.edu