Hancock Symposium Opens with Talk on Cyber Security by U.S. Senator Roy Blunt
U.S. Senator from Missouri Roy Blunt will open the 2015 Hancock Symposium at Westminster College Monday, September 14, with a free public presentation on the ‘United States and Cyber Security.”
Senator Blunt, who will speak at 7 p.m. in the Coulter Science Center on the Fulton campus, is a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
This year he co-sponsored the Data Security Act of 2015 to better protect consumers from identity theft and account fraud by establishing a set of national standards to help prevent and respond to data breaches.
“As the role of the Internet in Americans’ daily lives is constant and evolving, so is the job of protecting and security private citizens’ personal information,” says Senator Blunt. “This bipartisan effort would provide better protection for consumers and more clarity for businesses through consistent national standards for data security and breach notification.”
Senator Blunt has served in the U.S. Senate since 2011 and is currently Vice Chairman of the Senate Republican Conference.
He also serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. He is Chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies.
From 1997 to 2011, he was the United States Representative from the 7th Congressional District. During his tenure in the U.S. House he served as House Majority Whip (2003-2007), House Minority Whip (2007-2009) and Acting House Majority Leader (2005-2006).
Before serving in Congress, Senator Blunt was a history teacher, a county official and Missouri Secretary of State (1985-1993). He also led the administration of his alma mater, Southwest Baptist University, as its President (1993-1996).
His son Matt was Missouri’s 54th Governor (2005-2009).
The topic of this year’s upcoming Hancock Symposium is “Security vs. Liberty: Balancing the Scales of Freedom.” Presenters and discussion will center on how America maintains a balance between championing liberty and preserving security. Ever since 9/11, the demand for security has compelled America to take a serious look at how increased security affects individual freedoms.
Westminster recently announced the establishment of a security studies major beginning this fall.
The Hancock Symposium is a yearly event at Westminster College. Classes are suspended for two days so the entire Westminster community can attend lectures, panel discussions and presentations by noted experts on one particular subject of global interest. The public and media are also invited to attend.
For more information on the Hancock Symposium, go to https://www.wcmo.edu/symposium/.
