Alan Wertheimer, John G. McCullough Professor of Political Science, will retire in May after 37 years on the UVM faculty. To honor his distinguished career, the Department of Political Science, the President's Speakers Program, and the Mark Rosen Memorial Lecture Series sponsored a day-long symposium on Friday, April 15. This event featured prominent scholars and focused on issues relevant to ethics and public life—the thrust of Wertheimer's research.

Following a welcome and reception, Arthur Applbaum gave the opening talk, "Can Political Legitimacy be Coerced? The Case of Iraq." Applbaum is Professor of Ethics and Public Policy at Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government. After lunch, Vermont Supreme Court Associate Justice John Dooley spoke about "Gay Relationships and Judicial Activism: The View from the Bench." Dennis Thompson, Alfred North Whitehead Professor of Political Philosophy and Director of the Center for Ethics and the Professions at Harvard, delivered the final address: "Campaign Ethics: The 2004 Presidential Race and Beyond." A reception honoring Professor Wertheimer concluded the symposium.

Wertheimer joined the Department of Political Science in 1968 as an assistant professor. He received tenure and promotion to associate professor in 1973 and was promoted to full professor in 1977. A scholar of national reputation, Wertheimer was appointed John G. McCullough Professor of Political Science in 1992. He was named a University Scholar in 1995 and received the College of Arts and Sciences Dean's Lecture Award in 2003. Wertheimer is the author of the books, Coercion (1987), Exploitation (1996), and Consent to Sexual Relations (2003), all important resources for political theorists and legal scholars.

In addition to his eminent scholarly career, Wertheimer is a respected teacher and a talented administrator, having served as Assistant Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences from 1970 to 1972, Chair of the Department of Political Science from 1981 to 1989, and Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Department since 1994.