Political, Hispanic voices coming soon to SEMO campus

We are in the homestretch of a long, bitter and dispiriting presidential election cycle.

On Monday, Oct. 17, the virtues and flaws of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton will be explored at the local level when two CNN political correspondents debate the merits of the candidates.

Van Jones, a liberal civil rights leader, White House adviser and philanthropist, will debate Kayleigh McEnany, a conservative pundit for CNN and formerly a regular contributor to Fox News and Fox Business programs. Both are Ivy League graduates, McEnany having graduated from Harvard Law School with a Juris Doctor and Georgetown University School of Foreign Service with a BSFS in International Politics. According to her bio, she also studied politics and international relations at Oxford University, St. Edmund Hall.

Jones is a Yale-educated attorney and author. He was formerly President Obama's environmental adviser.

Next Monday's debate is part of the Southeast Missouri State University Speakers Series. Tickets for the event are $10 for the general public and can be purchased at the Show Me Center Box Office.

Hispanic heritage

Tomorrow, another Speakers Series event will be held to celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month.

At 6 p.m. at the University Center ballroom, Mandalit del Barco, an arts correspondent with NPR West, will speak. Del Barco has covered topics and issues from street gangs, immigration, race relations and urban street culture, including dance, music and art, according to bio information provided by the university.

Part of the role of the university is to bring different perspectives and voices to students. In this case, the speaker series is available to the public. The university is providing a good service in bringing these voices to Cape Girardeau.

We encourage you to check out what they have to say.