RICHARDSON, Texas (Oct. 22, 2003) - The Center for the Study of Texas Politics at The University of Texas at Dallas (UTD) will host its first two political forums of the academic year beginning this week. Both lectures will offer a unique glimpse into the nuances of Texas politics.

The first forum, scheduled for Friday, Oct. 24, will examine the changing role of women in the Texas House of Representatives and will feature State Reps. Jodie Laubenberg, R–Wylie/Rockwall, Lois Kolkhorst, R–Brenham, Helen Giddings, D–De Soto, and Terri Hodge, D–Dallas. The event will take place from 2–3:30 p.m. in Room 1.112 of the UTD Conference Center.

The second forum will be held Wednesday, Oct. 29, and will feature Speaker of the Texas House Tom Craddick, R–Midland. Craddick will discuss the current state of Texas politics. His lecture will take place from 8:30 to 9:45 p.m. in Room 1.112 of the UTD Conference Center.

The non-partisan Center for the Study of Texas Politics is housed in the university’s School of Social Sciences and is headed by Dr. Greg Thielemann, a political scientist and professor of government, politics and political economy at UTD. A main goal of the center is to provide opportunities for students and citizens to interact with Texas’ leading policymakers.

Both lectures are free and open to the public, but tickets are required. To obtain tickets or to obtain more information about the center or its forums, please call (972) 883-4929 or e-mail texascenter@utdallas.edu.

About UTD
The University of Texas at Dallas, located at the convergence of Richardson, Plano and Dallas in the heart of the complex of major multinational technology corporations known as the Telecom Corridor, enrolls about 13,700 students. The school's freshman class traditionally stands at the forefront of Texas state universities in terms of average SAT scores. The university offers a broad assortment of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs. For additional information about UTD, please visit the university's web site at www.utdallas.edu.