(Burbank, CA ­ April 9, 2002) With the battle in Iraq serving as a backdrop, the relationship between war and economics will be explored during a Sunday, April 27 program at Woodbury University.

"Capitalism and Military Spending: Are They Interdependent?" is free and open to the public. Economics professors James Devine, Ph.D., of Loyola Marymount University and Nake Kamrany, Ph.D., of USC will be the featured speakers. Both men are experts in political economy and will discuss the impact of mobilizing for defense and war on free market systems.

The evening will begin with a light buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m., with the program and question-and-answer session at 6 p.m. The event will be held at The New Woody's on the Woodbury campus, 7500 Glenoaks Blvd., Burbank.

The event is the first lecture in the Jo Hellwig Memorial Series, "Economics of War and Peace." The program is made possible through the generous support of Dr. Bill Roskam, a Burbank resident who has taught economics and insurance at the university level.

To attend, please RSVP by April 24 by calling 818.767.0888, ext. 215, or e-mailing siranoush.tokatlian@woodbury.edu. An RSVP is required for the dinner buffet, but walk-ins are welcome for the lecture on a space-available basis.

Founded in 1884, Woodbury University is one of the oldest institutions of higher education in Southern California. An accredited, nonprofit university, Woodbury is located on a 22-acre residential campus in Burbank and offers bachelor's degrees from the School of Architecture and Design, Business and Management, and Arts and Sciences. Woodbury also offers a master of business administration as well as weekend and evening study for working adults. A San Diego campus was established in 1998 to offer bachelor of architecture degrees.