Times of crisis, during wars, economic depressions, famines, natural disasters, epidemics and other public emergencies, redefine citizenship and what it means to belong to a community, state, or nation in a social, economic, cultural, political or legal sense. Times of crisis may alter the rights and liberties of citizens as governments and citizens depart from constitutional and cultural traditions to cope with the crisis.

The Center\'s second Distinguished Scholar-in-Residence, Peter H. Irons, Professor Emeritus of Political Science at the University of California at San Diego and Director of the Earl Warren Bill of Rights Project, will serve as a keynote speaker and commentator at the Citizenship Studies Conference.

"Peter Irons contributed extensively to the fields of human rights, political science, civil liberties and constitutional law," said Marc Kruman, director of the CSC. "His six books on the Supreme Court and constitutional litigation have improved the public\'s understanding of the American legal system. In addition to his academic work, Professor Irons is an active civil rights lawyer and has served two terms on the national board of the American Civil Liberties Union."

The Conference is free and open to the public. Parking is available on campus, on Anthony Wayne Drive, north of Warren Avenue, in structures two and five, for $3.50.

To attend, please RSVP to Kris Yurgin Cummings at 313.577.8270 or ap0606@wayne.edu by Feb. 21, 2005. For more information, please contact the Center for the Study of Citizenship at 313.577.2593 or visit www.citizenship.wayne.edu.

The Center for the Study of Citizenship promotes research and intellectual exchange about citizenship among a global community of scholars, students, practitioners and the public.

Wayne State University is a premier institution offering more than 350 academic programs through 12 schools and colleges to more than 33,000 students.