The Department of Communication Studies presents the Eighteenth Annual Spring Speech Festival. The competition topic is "The United States: Thrust into a New Economic Landscape. Can it Survive? "

Student speakers include:

Rashad Anderson - The Cyclical Nature of the Stock Market So Jung Han - Erosion of the Middle Class Francesco Tribuzio - Retail: The Answer to the Economic Crisis? Sara Landy - Real Estate and the American Dream Doug Reynolds - America Needs Change Jonathan Batista - The Rise of the Rest Caroline Vinar - The American Household: The Impact of the Current Economy Christopher Catalano - Regaining our Economic Independence Joseph Roberts - The Green New Deal Sean Rose - The Steps We Have Not Taken

The Chief Judge, Professor Denise Patrick, Department of Communication Studies announces the winners of the competition: Joseph Roberts, Sean Rose, and Francesco Tribuzio.

Professor Susan B. Goldstein, Department of Communication Studies, makes the closing remarks.

The event takes place on May 14, 2009, at the Newman Conference Center, Room 750, moderated by Michael Ventsel.