WHAT: The Black Mountain Institute (BMI) at UNLV will host a panel discussion titled "Race, Gender and the Transformation of American Politics" with National Public Radio and CNN commentator Farai Chideya, Pulitzer-Prize winning journalist and author Susan Faludi and Katha Pollitt, a journalist and columnist with The Nation. Newly elected Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada will moderate the panel which will focus on this year's historic presidential election.

WHEN: Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2008, at 7 p.m. Free and open to the public.

WHERE: Beam Music Center inside Doc Rando Hall at UNLV

DETAILS: Founded in 2006 and now part of UNLV's College of Liberal Arts, the BMI is an international center dedicated to advancing literary and cross-cultural dialogue. Through public programs, residential fellowships, and publishing initiatives, the BMI provides a cultural lens through which today's most pressing issues can be addressed and evaluated. This is the last BMI event scheduled for the year. A schedule of spring 2009 lectures and events will be announced soon. For more information, please call (702) 895-5542 or visit http://blackmountain.unlv.edu/news_and_events.htm.

MEDIA: Media is invited to the event. The speakers will be available for interviews after the talk.