BRADFORD, Pa. - The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford's Behavioral and Social Sciences Symposium Series will hold a discussion about gun control from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 13, in Room 107 of Fisher Hall.

Speakers for the panel discussion are Barry Gan, professor of philosophy and director of the Center for Nonviolence at St. Bonaventure University in Allegany, N.Y.; Dr. Tony Gaskew, associate professor and director of the criminal justice program at Pitt-Bradford; and Dr. Michael Klausner, associate professor of sociology at Pitt-Bradford.

The symposium is free and open to the public. Participants will address various viewpoints in a reasoned, empirically grounded discussion, noted Klausner, who organized the event. Questions from the audience will also be entertained.

The Center for Nonviolence at St. Bonaventure is one of the longest-standing peace studies programs in the world, offering more courses in nonviolence than any other program in the United States.

In addition to serving as director of the center, Gan is the editor of "The Acorn: Journal of the Gandhi-King Society. He has taught at St. Bonaventure for the past 27 years and holds both a Master of Arts and doctoral degrees from the University of Rochester. He is or has been a volunteer with the Olean (N.Y.) Area Coalition for Peace and Justice, the Fellowship of Reconciliation and the Olean General Hospital ethics committee.

Gaskew holds a doctorate in conflict analysis and criminal justice from Nova Southeastern University. He has an extensive background in the field of criminal justice, is actively involved in community outreach and serves as a research team member on the FBI-sponsored Global Hostage-Taking and Analysis Project. As a Fulbright-Hays fellow, Gaskew has conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Egypt and Israel examining the Muslim Brotherhood, structural and political violence. His articles have appeared in various journals and edited books, including Encyclopedia of School Crime and Violence.

Klausner is the director of the social sciences program and holds a doctoral degree in sociology from the University of Illinois. He teaches a variety of classes, including Socialization, Organizational Behavior, Small Groups, Sociological Theory, Deviance and Social Control, and Criminology. A native of New York City, he frequently returns and volunteers with various agencies, including New York Cares, for which he tutored homeless children.

For more information on the symposium, contact Klausner at (814)362-7627 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

For disability-related needs, contact the Office of Disability Resources and services at (814)362-7609 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it