The Southeast Asia Seminar is pleased to announce that it will meet on Thursday, April 6, 2017 for a presentation entitled: “Is Malaysia Falling Apart? A Pre-election Stocktaking.” Our speaker will be Meredith L. Weiss, Professor of Political Science at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Dr. Weiss has published widely on political mobilization and contention, the politics of identity and development, and electoral politics in Southeast Asia. Her books include Student Activism in Malaysia: Crucible, Mirror, Sideshow (2011) and Protest and Possibilities: Civil Society and Coalitions for Political Change in Malaysia (2006), as well as eight edited volumes, most recently, Electoral Dynamics in Sarawak: Contesting Developmentalism and Rights (with Arnold Puyok, 2017) and Political Participation in Asia: Defining and Deploying Political Space (with Eva Hansson, forthcoming). Dr. Weiss is one of the foremost authorities on Malaysian politics and we are delighted that she will address the seminar.

The seminar will begin at 5:00 p.m. in the Columbia University Faculty House. We will conclude the formal presentation at approximately 6:30 p.m. and continue with informal discussion over dinner and dessert.  As announced last year, the seminar has begun a new dinner policy under which those members who wish to stay for dinner will cover the cost of the meal, which Faculty House has recently raised to $30.00. Faculty House requires payment by check, so please bring one with you.  This change will enable us to recruit speakers more strategically and expand the membership, both of which will ultimately strengthen the seminar. Please respond to Rattana Bounsouaysana at rb2846@columbia.edu.

Columbia University encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. University Seminar participants with disabilities who anticipate needing accommodations or who have questions about physical access may contact the Office of Disability Services at 212-854-2388 or disability@columbia.edu. Disability accommodations, including sign-language interpreters, are available on request.  Requests for accommodations must be made as soon as possible. On campus, Seminar participants with disabilities should alert a Public Safety Officer that they need assistance accessing campus.