Story by Paige Effinger, Staff Writer

The 41st annual Harry Lee Waterfield Distinguished Lecture in Public Affairs will be delivered Thursday, Apr. 12.

James E. Campbell, distinguished professor of political science at the State University of New York at Buffalo, will be speaking at the event. Campbell will hold a lecture entitled “Political Polarization in America: Why Does Everyone Want to Pick a Fight About Everything?”

The Waterfield Lecture series was the first established lecture series at the university since the first lecture in 1977. Its purpose is to bring scholars and professionals to the university to speak about a timely topic of historical and political importance that not only students would be interested in, but also faculty and the general public.

Winfield Rose, professor in the political science and sociology department, is coordinating the event. Rose has spent 39 years at Murray State, and is in his 50th year of teaching.

Along with the speaker, the event will also announce the new recipient of the Harry Lee Waterfield Scholarship. Rose said the scholarship is one of the largest scholarship programs on campus, and it is awarded to a student in the criminal justice, political science or public administration tracks.

This is Rose’s last year at Murray State, and he plans to retire after this year.

“I’ve been able to do what I love to do and get paid for it for 50 years,” Rose said. “I’ve been richly blessed.”

The event is free of charge for anyone interested in attending. No tickets or reservations are necessary for attending. The event will take place Thursday, Apr. 12 at 7 p.m. in the Curris Center ballroom.