FARMINGTON – The countries of the Middle East will be featured during a week of activities at the University of Maine at Farmington.

This first week of April, planned by the University of Maine College Democrats, the Political Science club and other campus groups, offers lectures and discussions, a movie and fundraising activities for troops serving in the Middle East.

On top of a long and complicated history with many of the countries of the Middle East, the U.S. has had strained relations with these countries since September 2001 and the war in Iraq. With troops in Iraq and Afghanistan, the U.S. military and social role is being contemplated, said Christine Baldwin, a College Democrat member.

“We feel that the college campus should have a better understanding (of the Middle East) than they do,” Baldwin said. So the campus groups have organized a week of activities to help raise awareness. The public is invited to participate in the events, she said.

A film, “The Rise of the Taliban,” will be shown at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 3, in C23 of Roberts Learning Center. The film was chosen, she said, because they wanted a film that was nonfiction and would display recent events accurately.

Associate history Professor Kenneth Orosz will give an historical overview of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday on Latte Landing in Olsen Student Center. This is a dessert lecture and all are welcome.

A panel discussion on Iran will be held at 11:30 a.m. Thursday in C23 of Roberts Learning Center. The Political Science Club has invited three professors, James Melcher, Linda Beck and Scott Erb, to discuss the domestic, foreign and international policies of Iran.

The students will also hold a raffle Monday through Friday in Olsen Student Center to raise money and collect goods for troops overseas and especially for those in the Middle East. An iPod Nano will be raffled.

The week will culminate in an overnight “shut-in” Friday in Thomas Auditorium hosted by the College Democrats when each member or non-member who attends will solicit pledges to see how long they can stay up, Baldwin said. Along with money, the Democrats are looking for items to send to the troops. A knitting group on campus will donate knit items, she said, and some of the money raised will then be used for postage.