NEWS RELEASE

JEFFERSON PARISH, LOUISIANA

May 11, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CYRIL LAGVANEC DISCUSSES SITUATION IN SUDAN AT THE EAST BANK REGIONAL LIBRARY

JEFFERSON, LA – Cyril M. Lagvanec, PhD, the curator of the American-Italian Research Library located on the second floor of the East Bank Regional Library, will give a lecture on the conflict in Sudan at 7 p.m., Tuesday, May 16.

This presentation is free of charge and open to the public.

In October 2021, the Sudanese military took over the transitional government. Since then, widespread demonstrations denouncing military rule and violent clashes between demonstrators and security forces have been taking place almost every week, especially in Khartoum and Omdurman cities. These demonstrations often result in casualties and damage to basic infrastructure.

The general insecurity, road blockages, and communication blackouts that come with the demonstrations affect humanitarian access across the country. The military takeover has led to the suspension of international financial aid to the country, aggravating its deteriorating economy and contributing to high inflation rates.

There are more than 1.1 million refugees in Sudan. Most of them are from South Sudan and Eritrea and live in camps, out-of-camp settlements, or urban areas across the country. Khartoum and White Nile states host the largest numbers of refugees. They need assistance across all sectors.

Cyril Lagvanec earned his undergraduate degree in history from Baylor University, his master’s degree in British and European History from Tulane University, and his doctoral degree in American History from Texas A&M University. Through his long career, Dr. Lagvanec has taught at Jesuit High School, Tulane, Loyola, Delgado, Southeastern Louisiana University in Hammond, East Carolina University, and Texas A&M.

For more information regarding this event, contact Chris Smith, Manager of Adult Programming for the library, at 504-889-8143 or wcsmith@jefferson.lib.la.us.

The Jefferson Parish Library system consists of 16 locations that stretch from the Lakeshore Branch on the edge of Lake Pontchartrain to the Grand Isle Branch just steps away from the Gulf of Mexico. The library system consists of two large regional libraries and seven branches on each side of the Mississippi River. The East Bank Regional Library (4747 West Napoleon Avenue, Metairie) serves as library headquarters. The Jefferson Parish Library is the second largest system in the state of Louisiana. More than 200 employees work for the Jefferson Parish Library including librarians, administration and support staff. For more information, contact the library at (504) 838-1100 or www.jefferson.lib.la.us

For more information about Jefferson Parish, visit www.JeffParish.net Residents can also receive regular updates by following the Parish on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram (@JeffParishGov) or by texting JPALERT or JPNOTICIAS to 888-777.

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Jefferson Parish Public Information Office 1221 Elmwood Park Boulevard, Suite 1002 Jefferson, LA 70123

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Gretchen Hirt Gendron, PIO