2020 - Nov. 12 webinar examines the ethical impact of COVID-19 on existing global issues

Elgin Community College will host a Bill Pelz Global Speaker Series event titled "Under Pressure: An Ethical, Historical, and Sociological Discussion on COVID-19's Impact Upon Pre-Existing Human Catastrophe" on Thursday, Nov. 12, at 2 p.m. Part of ECC's International Week activities, this event is free and open to the public. Those interested may join via Zoom at bit.ly/BillPelzSpeakerSeries.

This series is sponsored by the ECC Global/International Studies Team (GIST) and the Multicultural and Global Initiatives Committee (MAGIC).

"This webinar will consider the ethical implications of the ways the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted pre-existing challenges by looking at four global issues: food insecurity, human trafficking, global conflicts, and climate change. These challenges disproportionately affect women, children, and people of color, globally," said Christina Marrocco, Ph.D., ECC professor of English and GIST co-chair. "We will examine 'What's happening?' and 'What are the ethical implications?' of the pandemic in a roundtable format."

Featured panelists for the event include ECC President David Sam, Ph.D., JD, LLM, and ECC professors Irina Del Genio, Ph.D., Mia Hardy, Ph.D., and Geoff Pym, Ph.D.

The Bill Pelz Global Speaker Series is named in memory of the late William Pelz, Ph.D., who taught history and political science at ECC for more than 19 years. GIST co-chairs, ECC professor Dr. Christina Marrocco, and Lauren Nehlsen, Ph.D., director of international education and programs, will moderate the event.

"The Bill Pelz Global Speaker Series is committed to highlighting issues of global importance by incorporating the voices of ECC scholars," said Dr. Lauren Nehlsen. "We are pleased to offer this virtual event to the ECC and District 509 community to engage and discuss the impact of COVID-19 from a humanitarian angle."