Edward Snowden Video Chat Sept. 28 at Ohio Wesleyan
Free Event Part of Sagan National Colloquium’s Look at ‘Data in Our Lives’
DELAWARE, Ohio – Members of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee say Edward Snowden “perpetrated the largest and most damaging public disclosure of classified information in our nation’s history” when he “stole 1.5 million classified documents” from National Security Agency networks and revealed data-gathering practices in 2013.
When Snowden announced his actions, from a hotel room in Hong Kong, he told the media he could not remain silent. “I’m willing to sacrifice [my former life],” he said, “because I can’t in good conscience allow the U.S. government to destroy privacy, internet freedom, and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine they’re secretly building.”
Today, Snowden is living in asylum in Russia, seeking to be pardoned for his actions, and still unwilling to remain silent. He is the focus of a new movie, “Snowden,” directed by Oliver Stone, and he will speak via video conference this week at Ohio Wesleyan University.
Snowden will discuss his actions, their purpose, and their consequence at 7 p.m. Sept. 28 as part of Ohio Wesleyan’s 2016-2017 Sagan National Colloquium, which is exploring the growing importance of “Data in Our Lives.” The video discussion will be held in Gray Chapel inside University Hall, 61 Sandusky St., Delaware. Learn more about Snowden, now a member of the Freedom of the Press Foundation, at https://freedom.press/about/board/edward-snowden.
Other upcoming Sagan National Colloquium “Data in Our Life” events at Ohio Wesleyan include the following. Unless otherwise noted, all following events will be held in the Benes Rooms on the first floor of Hamilton-Williams Campus Center, 40 Rowland Ave., Delaware.
7 p.m. Oct. 5 –Anna Flagg discusses her role as a data journalist and interactive reporter. She currently works for the Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization focusing on the American criminal justice system. During her career, Flagg has covered NSA surveillance, campaign finance, military spending, and the environment for organizations including Al Jazeera, ProPublica, and the Center for Responsive Politics. Learn more at www.annaflagg.com.
7 p.m. Oct. 10 – Cyber security expert Paco Hope, principal consultant in security, risk, and compliance for Amazon Web Services, discusses data security. Hope is an expert on security testing, privacy, electronic voting, and penetration testing. He also is the co-author of “Web Security Testing Cookbook” and “Mastering FreeBSD and OpenBSD Security,” as well as a member of the European Advisory Council for the International Information Systems Security Certification Consortium, the world’s largest IT security organization. Learn more at www.cigital.com/blog/author/paco.
7 p.m. Oct. 19 –Nathalie Miebach discusses her art, which focuses on the intersection of art and science and the visual articulation of scientific observations. Using the methodologies and processes of both disciplines, Miebach translates scientific data related to astronomy, ecology, and meteorology into complex woven sculptures. Learn more at http://nathaliemiebach.com.
7 p.m. Oct. 27 –Hamid Khan, founder and lead organizer for the grassroots Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, discusses data and surveillance. Khan also is the founder and former executive director of South Asian Network, a grassroots community-based organization committed to empowering South Asians in Southern California to act as agents of change in eliminating biases, discrimination, and injustices. Learn more at http://stoplapdspying.org.
7 p.m. Nov. 3 –Travis Ridout, Ph.D., co-author of “Political Advertising in the United States” and co-director of the Wesleyan Media Project, discusses data and elections. The Wesleyan Media Project analyzes all broadcast advertisements for federal and state election candidates in every U.S. media market. Ridout also is a political science professor at Washington State University. Learn more at http://public.wsu.edu/~tnridout.
7 p.m. Nov. 7 –Tristan Perich, an artist and composer, discusses his work, which explores the boundary between data and its physical realization. Perich is particularly interested in the intersection of the physical world and the abstract world of computation and electronics. His “1-Bit Symphony” is an electronic composition in five movements on a single microchip that “performs” its music live when turned on. Learn more at www.tristanperich.com.
7 p.m. Nov. 8 – Pianist Vicky Chow performs composer Tristan Perich’s “Surface Image,” in Jemison Auditorium inside Ohio Wesleyan’s Sanborn Hall, 23 Elizabeth St., Delaware. “Surface Image” is a piece for solo piano and 40 channel 1-bit electronics. Chow performs with the New York-based sextet Bang on a Can All-Stars and is a founding member of DUO X88 and six keyboard ensemble GRANDBAND. Learn more at www.vickychow.com.
4 p.m. Nov. 9 – Opening reception for “Machine Wall Drawing, an installation of three drawing machines designed and built by artist Tristan Perich, at the Richard M. Ross Art Museum, 60 S. Sandusky St., Delaware. Perich’s machines, which will be on exhibit through Dec. 15, create drawings using the precision of computer code coupled with the randomness of the physical environment, such as the ripple of the string attaching the pen to the machine’s motor. Learn more at www.tristanperich.com. Visit www.owu.edu/ross for more information about the museum, including its hours and future exhibitions.
Each year, Ohio Wesleyan’s Sagan National Colloquium takes an in-depth look at an issue of global importance, such “Data in our Lives.” Learn more about the colloquium at www.owu.edu/snc.
Founded in 1842, Ohio Wesleyan University is one of the nation’s premier liberal arts universities. Located in Delaware, Ohio, the private university offers nearly 90 undergraduate majors and competes in 23 NCAA Division III varsity sports. Through Ohio Wesleyan’s signature OWU Connection program, students integrate knowledge across disciplines, build a diverse and global perspective, and apply their knowledge in real-world settings. Ohio Wesleyan is featured in the book “Colleges That Change Lives,” listed on the latest President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll with Distinction, and included in the U.S. News & World Report and Princeton Review “best colleges” lists. Learn more at www.owu.edu.