SF State faculty experts will discuss a wide range of issues relating to the past, present and future of California -- including the state's upcoming elections for governor and U.S. congress -- on Wednesday evenings this fall, in front of an audience of about 100 students and other community members.

Topics include: the Republican and Democratic visions, recent California history, infrastructure and transportation, education, social movements, California in the global economy, demographics and migration, and the state prison system.

Students, faculty, staff and any members of the general public are welcome to attend any of the sessions.

The class will be held 7:15 to 8:55 p.m. Wednesdays from Aug. 30 to Dec. 6 in the Humanities Auditorium, room 133 of the Humanities building.

On Election Night -- Tuesday, Nov. 7 -- the class will meet in Jack Adams Hall of the Cesar Chavez Student Center for a special session in which the class will watch election returns on television, and faculty will provide real-time analysis.

This is the fourth consecutive year that Joel Kassiola, dean of SF State's College of Behavioral and Social Sciences, has offered a lecture-style class to students and the general public. Last fall's course focused on "Social Justice and Social Change: Race, Class, Gender, Disability, and Sexuality at Home and Abroad." In fall 2004 the course focused on the U.S. presidential race.

Graded on a credit/no-credit basis, the course can also be taken by non-SF State students through the College of Extended Learning at a reduced price of $150. For details, visit the College of Behavioral and Social Sciences Web site.

-- Matt Itelson