For Immediate Release
November 18, 2002
Contacts: David Ottalini, 301 405 4076 or dottalin@umd.edu

Sen. John Edwards, D-N.C. To Make Major Education Policy Address at the UM

WHAT:

North Carolina Senator John Edwards, a long-time advocate of education reform, comes to the University of Maryland campus this Thursday. He will deliver what is being termed a "major policy speech" on education. It's the last in a series of three policy speeches the senator has given this fall. Sen. Edwards is expected to introduce specific proposals to improve teacher quality in struggling schools and make college more affordable for American families. Senator Edwards will be available for one-on-one interviews following his speech.

WHO:

Sen. Edwards has been mentioned prominently as a possible Democratic presidential candidate in 2004. He won his first term in office in 1998 and with the departure of Sen. Jesse Helms, will become the senior senator from North Carolina in January 2003.

Edwards is a member of the Senate Health, Education. Labor and Pensions Committee. He was a sponsor of the "No Child Left Behind Act" passed by Congress earlier this year.

Sen. Edwards was the first person in his family to go to college. He has a B.A. degree in textiles from North Carolina State and a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is married with four children.

WHEN:

Thursday, Nov. 21st from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE:

The Grand Ballroom in the Stamp Student Union. An audio mult box and risers will be available. There is parking across the street.

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