The Cal State San Bernardino community is invited to a powerful talk by war journalist Haider Newmani as part of CSUSB’s Conversations on Diversity series, presented by the University Diversity Committee, on Tuesday, May 8.

The event, “Humanizing War: The Experiences of Soldiers and Civilians During Conflict,” will be held in the Performing Arts Auditorium, PA-102, from noon to 1:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Parking at CSUSB is $6.

Newmani, who was born under the rule of Saddam Hussein, lived through four major wars, including the Iran/Iraq War, the Gulf War and the U.S. invasion of Iraq. And as a journalist, he witnessed several other conflicts throughout the Middle East and North Africa region.

During his coverage of the U.S. “War on Terror,” he spent two years with U.S. military units covering combat operations, where he witnessed the war from the perspectives of soldiers, civilians, rebel fighters and journalists — all while he was an undergraduate student.

Despite being arrested, injured and kidnapped, Newmani still managed to graduate from Baghdad University, and was awarded a Fulbright scholarship to move to the United States, where he finished graduate school, majoring in global security and conflict resolution.

As a journalist, civilian, activist and family man, Newmani has gained a unique perspective about war. His presentation will highlight everyday life in a war zone and explore the sufferings, challenges, bonds, ironies and human behavior of both Iraqi civilians and U.S. soldiers caught in war.

The University Diversity Committee began its Conversations on Diversity series in spring 2005 and strives to bring three renowned speakers to campus on a specific topic of diversity each fall, winter and spring quarter. Topics include, but are not limited to, race, ethnicity, religion, women's issues, gender and sexual orientation.

For more information or accommodations, contact Twillea Evans-Carthen at (909) 537-5138 or diversity@csusb.edu.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Strategic Communication at (909) 537-5007 and visit inside.csusb.edu.