Turkey: Past, Present and Why It Matters

Scholars, professors and public school teachers will offer their perspectives on the country of Turkey at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the South Dakota Art Museum auditorium through a program sponsored by the South Dakota World Affairs Council. The Middle East country, often called the "cradle of civilization," is prominent daily news as it tries to balance tensions in a part of the world torn by religious and political strife.

Rory Dickson, an instructor of religion at South Dakota State University, will offer his research on Sufism and Islam, both historical and contemporary belief systems in Turkey.

SDSU political science assistant professor Evren Celik Wiltse will describe the political scene in her native country, which remains a secular nation constitutionally set to offer room for expression of varied points of view.

April Brooks, head of SDSU's Department of History, Political Science, Religion and Philosophy, will moderate their presentations. Brooks and Wiltse will teach an upcoming course on Turkey that will be followed by a student study-abroad trip after the second semester.

Madison middle school teacher Karen Rahn was one of three South Dakota teachers who traveled to Turkey in July 2013 on a Turkish Cultural Foundation trip to learn about the country's historical and contemporary rich contributions. Rahn will share her impressions of the country and the lessons it contributes to her teaching sixth-graders.

SDWAC has facilitated sending nearly 30 South Dakota public teachers to Turkey in the last seven years.

Provided by South Dakota State University