Lecture Series at TAMU-T With Health Food Advocate

Food production and consumption can be very controversial issues. A leading health food advocate will be tackling these topics at a lecture in Texarkana.

Texas A&M University-Texarkana invites the public to a lecture by the author and prominent health food advocate Wenonah Hauter.  The lecture will be on Tuesday, February 24, from 7 p.m. to8:30 p.m. in Eagle Hall in the University Center at the campus. Hauter will have a “Meet and Greet” event in Eagle Hall at 6:30 p.m. just before the lecture, and will sign books outside of Eagle Hall afterward.

Hauter, who is the Executive Director of Food & Water Watch, will talk about her book Foodopoly: The Battle Over the Future of Food and Farming in America. The book examines whether corporate consolidation and control of food production prevents farmers from cultivating healthy crops and limits consumers’ food choices.

Tackling controversial topics such as the corporate structure of the nation’s poultry industry, Hauter contends that ineffectual antitrust laws have led to the consolidation of food and agricultural-related companies to the detriment of both farmers and consumers.  She also argues that the corporate dominance of our food industries, along with the prevalence of big-box stores and the marketing of junk food, has negatively affected the quality of food in America.

Texas A&M-Texarkana’s Committee for the Annual Thematic Program and Lecture Series, which is focusing on environmental issues for the 2014-2015 academic year, is sponsoring Hauter’s lecture.  Other lectures in the series include:

• Mark Hertsgaard, journalist and author of Hot: Living through the Next Fifty Years on Earth, March 6 at 7 p.m. to8:30 p.m. in Eagle Hall in the University Center.
• Dr. Kati Stoddard, A&M-Texarkana Assistant Professor of Environmental Science will present “‘Pick Your Poison’: Environmental Health and Toxicology,” March 26 in University Center 217.
• David Owen, staff writer for The New Yorker and author of The Conundrum: How Scientific Innovation, Increased Efficiency, and Good Intentions Can Make Our Energy and Climate Problems Worse, April 9 at 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in Eagle Hall in the University Center.
• Dr. Richard Parsons, Texas A&M-Texarkana Assistant Professor of Economics will present “National Resource Economics, ‘How Technology and Population Growth Changes Have Thwarted Malthusian Theory,’” April 16 at 1 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. in Science & Technology 101.
• Dr. Tom Jordan, Texas A&M-Texarkana Associate Professor of Criminal Justice will present “Conservation Law” April 29 at 3 p.m. to 4:15 p.m. in University Center 217.

Texas A&M University-Texarkana is also sponsoring a dinner-play titled Once Upon a Wood on April 23 and 24. This kid-friendly play will feature a set and costumes made entirely of recyclables.

The goal of the lecture series and the other events is to create a community of learners by bringing students, faculty and community together to discuss and debate a common theme.  In this spirit, Texas A&M University-Texarkana enthusiastically invites the public to all the program’s lectures and events.

For more information, contact Dr. Corrine Hinton at 903-223-3124 or Dr. Michael Perri at 903-223-3194.