Gorbachev reflects on Cold War at Eureka College

3/27/2009 5:42:00 PM
By: Stephanie Pawlowski

The last time Eureka College had a state visit of this size was 1992, when President Ronald Reagan visited his alma mater. Today, former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev spoke candidly about his relationship with Reagan and what it means to be on the college campus where he once studied.

   
Senior Class President Jennifer Dama, who was one of seven students to ask a question of Gorbachev, says his visit was a special moment for the whole college.

   
Gorbachev talked mostly about what happened during his tenure to end the Cold War. He addressed Perestroika, which were his Russian political reforms, and his partnership with President Reagan. Gorbachev says it's hard to evaluate what happened more than 20 years ago.

   
Secretary of the Student Senate Sarah Little says students spent a lot of time preparing for Gorbachev's visit, learning the history behind the Cold War.

   
Eureka College presented Gorbachev with several gifts, including a President Reagan collage and memory box. Gorbachev also got an honorary doctorate of humane letters.

Gorbachev visited Eureka College to help promote the school's new Reagan Society to support the college's existing Reagan-related programs and develop new ones.

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