A panel discussion on The Wall Street collapse, bailout and worldwide repercussions is free and open to the public. It  will be held at the College of William and Mary  in an attempt to put the current worldwide economic crisis into context. Tonight Oct 15th at 6pm. Moderated by Professor Dick Ash in the auditorium in the William and Mary Office of Admission. 

Parking is available in the big lot (known as the "plant lot") behind the Campus Center.

The fiscal rescue plan passed by Congress in recent weeks has, thus far, failed to calm jittery financial markets. William and Mary Law Professor Eric Kades says the bailout might not be the only option.

"The legal system may have failed us here," Kades said in a recent interview. "One of the best ways to maintain incentives and deal with these financial difficulties is to run these companies through bankruptcy quite quickly."

Kades will take part in a panel discussion of the crisis Wed., Oct. 15 on the William and Mary campus. Other panelist will include John Merrick, Richard S. Reynolds associate professor of business and John Boschen, Brinkley-Mason professor, Mason School of Business; and Till Schreiber, assistant  professor of economics, College of William and Mary. Dick Ash, clinical professor of entrepreneurship and private equity at the Mason School of Business at the College of William and Mary will serve as moderator.

The forum will feature a discussion about the current financial situation and thoughts for the future. The event will begin at 6 p.m. in the auditorium in the William and Mary Office of Admission. It is free and open to the public.

A former venture capitalist, Professor Ash serves on boards of companies that are trying to deal with the fallout from the credit crunch and stock collapse.

He says it's important for people to try to understand why the "crisis of confidence" happened in the first place.

"Everybody wants to know what happened, how's it going to affect me, my children and my grandchildren," Ash says. "We're trying to give people as much information as we can, so people can plan their futures."

Ash says the problems on Wall Street became a self-fulfilling prophesy, because many people had no idea such a large credit headache was looming and panicked when the news became public. "One of the problems that Wall Street has had is a lack of communication about what's been happening."

Ash says that's one of the reasons for the panel. He says citizens need to ask questions, and companies need to be eager to provide answers.

The panel will include John Merrick, Richard Reynolds and John Boschen from the Mason School of Business; Eric Kades, vice dean of the School of Law; and Till Schreiber of the College's department of economics.

Ash says the goal of the forum is for attendees to take away a non-partisan analysis of the crisis, and specific facts about why it happened, and how things might improve.

You can also see a live feed of the forum here