Mitchell keynote Thursday at Bates College

LEWISTON — Former U.S. Sen. George Mitchell will give the keynote speech Thursday at Bates College as the college holds a week-long event, “Open to the World: Bates Celebrates Unbounded Learning.”

Mitchell will talk at 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the Bates College Chapel, 275 College St., following the rededication of the 1890’s Hedge and Roger Williams halls, important and historic buildings that have been expanded and renovated.

The “Open to the World” week “celebrates the important work of liberal arts and science education, which Bates is regarded as a leader,” said college spokesman Roland Adams.

That kind of learning involves a wide range of fields, making connections with different fields, and local, national and global involvement in a variety of endeavors to make improvements in the world, Adams said.

The completed renovation and expansion of the two buildings, turning them from dorms to state-of-the-art classrooms and academic programs, will contribute heavily to Bates liberal arts work, Adams said.

The college is thrilled to have Mitchell as the keynote, Adams said. “He exemplifies everything we’re celebrating. He’s a Mainer with an outstanding liberal arts education.” Mitchell has provided Maine, the country and the world with “tremendous leadership in a variety of roles. He’s a major figure on the world stage.”

Mitchell recently served as President Obama’s special envoy for Middle East peace, has served as a peace broker in Northern Ireland, and chaired a fact-finding committee on violence in the Middle East.

Other events happening during “Open to the World” week will include:

* Monday, United Nations Day.

* Tuesday, international poetry festival.

* Wednesday, 6 p.m. screening of “Food Inc.,” the Academy Award-nominated documentary exposing corporate-controlled American food production, followed at 7:30 p.m. with remarks by Gary Hirshberg, CEO of Stonyfield Farms in his participation in “Food Inc.”

* Thursday, rededication of Hedge and Roger Williams halls at 4:30 p.m., Mitchell’s speech at 5:15 p.m.

* Friday, five Bates alums talk about their experiences in a panel discussion titled “Global Possibilities.”