To explore how diversity issues in a democratic societyimpact higher education, UC Davis has launched a new speakerseries.Called the Provost's Conversations on Community, Diversityand Higher Education, the program will feature threeprominent scholars and recognized facilitators as guestspeakers during the year.Carlos Cortes, professor emeritus of history at UC Riverside,will be the first speaker 3:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, inthe University Club Lounge. His subject is "BeyondAffirmative Action."Cortes has lectured throughout the world on such topics asrace and ethnicity, multiculturalism, Latin American andChicano history, and the implications of ethnic and globaldiversity for education, government and private business.He has written film and television documentaries, hasappeared as guest host on the PBS series "Why in the World"and is the featured presenter on the Video Journal ofEducation's 1994 training video "Diversity in the Classroom."In February, the speaker will be Darlene Clark Hine, the JohnA. Hannah Distinguished Professor of American History atMichigan State University. In May, the final speaker will beDaryl G. Smith, professor of education and psychology at theClaremont College Graduate University.