Wednesday, Nov. 19 veteran reporter and Middle East correspondent Reese Erlich will come to the University of Oregon.

Erlich has been traveling to the Middle East since the eighties and Syria since 2002. He is coming to campus as part of a tour to promote his new book, “Inside Syria: The Backstory of their Civil War and What the World can Expect,” and speak about issues in Syria.

His talk is titled “A Reporters Firsthand Report: Assad, Obama and US Middle East Policy.”

Erlich’s book tour has taken him to a number of universities in the states. Erlich finds universities audiences more receptive and said they grant him more of a chance to see how his writing is perceived.

He has spoken at the UO before.

“I enjoy meeting with the students in Eugene…the students and faculty are more down to earth,” Erlich said.

In the sixties, Erlich attended Berkley and with six other students coordinate an “Anti-Draft Week” in protest of the Vietnam war. They became known as the Oakland Seven and were tried and acquitted for conspiracy to trespass, to commit a public nuisance, to resist, delay and obstruct police officers.

“In the sixties, we were formed by the conditions that existed,” said Erlich. “The civil rights movement was in full swing. When I arrived, it was like being thrown into a boiling cauldron of political ideas.”

Erlich will speak at the UO Law School in room 175  at 12:30 p.m. and again at the Tsunami Bookstore on 2585 Willamette at 7 p.m.