Lugar visits IU

Sen. Richard Lugar, R-Ind., visited IU on Thursday to discuss topics ranging from immigration and the budget to the energy crisis and the situation in Libya.

Lugar’s visit was comprised of two different lectures to two different audiences.

His first talk was at a luncheon in the IU Auditorium Grand Foyer, sponsored by banks, realtors and corporations. It was a formal environment with a business professional dress code. The audience of about 150 consisted mostly of supporters.

This differed starkly with the second talk he gave in the auditorium of the Union Street Center to mostly students, where the dress code was casual.

 This lecture was sponsored by the Union Board. The atmosphere was more relaxed and the subject matter differed based on students’ interests.

At both lectures he discussed the hot button issue of energy, saying, “The energy problems worldwide have become more intense each year.”

At the luncheon he discussed energy as it relates to energy independence, foreign policy and fiscal implications. For the students, though, he focused more on clean energy and sustainability.

He said talks about diverse sources of resources should be more diligent, but is skeptical about nuclear energy, citing the situation in Japan and the “abnormal expense” of nuclear facilities as concerns. One alternative energy he supports strongly is solar power, saying, “I believe solar energy is incredibly important.”

In addition to the energy crisis, he raised concerns about the world food supply.

The prices of corn, soybeans and wheat have doubled in the last eight or nine months, Lugar said. Food shortages were a main cause of recent uprisings in the Middle East.
From there he transitioned into U.S. foreign policy and involvement in the Middle East.

He called the U.S. invasion of Iraq “a 10-year experiment in nation-building.”
In regard to Libya and other U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, he said, “The question is: How many civil wars is the U.S. willing to get involved with, and do we know who we are supporting?”

“(The situation in Libya) is a serious predicament because, as the press points out, we have already spent over a billion dollars,” he said, relating back to the budget.

There will be significant reductions in the budget, he said, including the military. He added that Obama is “hiding in the wings when it comes to the budget.”

The conversation with the group of students differed most noticeably from his earlier lecture when the students were given the opportunity to ask questions and voice concerns. They were interested in clean energy and immigration issues.

A group of concerned Hispanic students asked Lugar about his thoughts of the DREAM Act and the proposed legislation in Indiana that mirrored Arizona’s strict immigration laws.

Lugar said he has been a close sponsor of the DREAM Act for the past six years and hopes it will be more successful this year if it is reintroduced.

Lugar was well-received at both lectures, receiving a standing ovation at the luncheon and a hearty applause from students.

“I think we had a great audience. Everyone was here because they were motivated, and that’s what we like to see,” said Riley Voss, the debates and issues director of the Union Board.

Students had positive reviews of the lecture.

“I was pleased with the questions asked and how (Lugar) answered them,” said freshman Adrian Hepfer.