LEWISTON – A Bates College panel will discuss the president’s proposed Social Security reform at 4:15 p.m. Wednesday in the Keck Classroom (G52) of Pettengill Hall. The event, free and open to the public, is co-sponsored by Amandla!, the Bates College Republicans, the Bates College Democrats and the Economics Society.

On the panel, Michael Murray and James Hughes, professors of economics at Bates, will join first-year student and vice president of College Republicans Nathaniel Walton. The College Democrats will also provide a student participant for the panel.

A comparison of the proposed and current Social Security systems will be made, and panelists will discuss a variety of issues and encourage questions from the audience.

They intend to look at whether a Social Security crisis really is looming and, if so, whether measures less costly than the privatization proposed by President Bush could address the issue. They also will consider what effect privatization might have on the U.S. economy, and who would be the plan’s potential winners and losers.

More information may be obtained by contacting Lois St. Brice at [email protected].