Robert Novak: Headlines first Chicago Sun-Times/University of Illinois at Chicago lecture forum. April 19 at UIC. Public invited.

And blogger Sweet is part of the panel…

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak launches the Chicago Sun-Times/University of Illinois at Chicago Lecture Forum at an April 19 panel analyzing Washington policies and politics.

“We are pleased to embark on our inaugural panel series with UIC. Our long-term commitment will be to address topics that reflect the diverse communities and cultures that both the university and the Sun-Times serve,” said John Cruickshank, Chicago Sun-Times Publisher.

“We welcome the opportunity to join with one of the nation’s major newspapers in hosting a forum that will give the public the opportunity to hear from, and question, leading experts from academia and journalism on vital issues of the day,” said UIC Chancellor Sylvia Manning.

Chicago Sun-Times columnist Robert Novak launches the Chicago Sun-Times/University of Illinois at Chicago Lecture Forum at an April 19 panel analyzing Washington policies and politics.

“We are pleased to embark on our inaugural panel series with UIC. Our long-term commitment will be to address topics that reflect the diverse

communities and cultures that both the university and the Sun-Times serve,” said John Cruickshank, Chicago Sun-Times Publisher.

“We welcome the opportunity to join with one of the nation’s major newspapers in hosting a forum that will give the public the opportunity

to hear from, and question, leading experts from academia and journalism on vital issues of the day,” said UIC Chancellor Sylvia Manning.

Novak, a native of Joliet who writes one of the nations premier Washington columns, will be part of a panel on “Inside Washington: Where Red States and Blue States Collide moderated by Chicago Sun-Times political columnist Carol Marin.

Other panelists include Lori B. Andrews, a professor at the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Chicago-Kent College of Law; Lyn Ragsdale, professor and head of political science at UIC; Lynn Sweet Sun-Times Washington Bureau Chief and Maria de los Angeles Torres, professor and director of Latin

American and Latino Studies at UIC.

The forum will be held from 1-2:30 p.m. at UIC’s Student Center East, 750 S. Halsted St., Room 302.

The program is free and open to the public,

but space is limited and registration is required. To register, call (312) 413-0151 or e-mail karenj@uic.edu.