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Gorbachev talked about the transition from totalitarianism to democracy during his address at the Fourth Annual Scholarship Banquet.

So said former Soviet Union leader Mikhail Gorbachev to an auditorium of nearly 2000 Jackson and West Tennessee residents who attended Union University's Fourth Annual Scholarship Banquet held Tuesday evening, Oct. 10.

The sold-out Jackson Civic Center was filled with Union students, faculty, and members of the community, all anxious to hear from the man representative of so much history. Together, the Scholarship Banquet and the Germantown banquet featuring William Bennett which was held in September raised more than $1.3 million benefiting the Germantown campus and student scholarships.

Gorbachev made a brief visit to the campus to meet with some students and Union President David S. Dockery shortly before speaking at the Civic Center. During his speech which was more than an hour long, Gorbachev spoke of the work he did between 1985 and 1991 and his attempt to move the nation toward a free society. He said he was proud of the laws that were adopted as he worked with leaders of all different denominations in Russia in order to increase religious freedom.

Ann Livingstone, an associate professor of political science at Union who specializes in international relations, said she was thrilled to have Gorbachev visit Jackson.

"Gorbachev came into his leadership role during a time when the economic system of Russia and the Soviet Union was on the verge of major change," explained Livingstone.

Gorbachev visits with Union SGA president Joshua Trent and Russian student Tatatia Nugmenova before the Scholarship Banquet.

"The economic system at the time was spending more than 24% on its military forces, but wars were becoming less frequent, and the illusion of remaining a huge world power was becoming more difficult to continue," said Livingstone. "Gorbachev introduced two new ideas to the world - glasnost,
which means political openness, and perestroika, governmental restructuring. He told his cabinet that the
economic system was going to be a more open one, and his military generals told him, 'we will tear you apart.'"

Livingstone said that anytime a shifting of paradigms occurs, a convulsing of society will follow.

"Here was a man who believed in convulsing the society enough to take the risk - and do it," said Livingstone, who added that people need to appreciate the fact that "in the face of confronting his entire world, he stands there. Could we as individuals have as much passion for an idea or a people that we
would put our own lives on the line?"

At the end of the program, Gorbachev was presented with a Russian Bible as a memory of his visit to Union and Jackson. Dockery publicly expressed his wish and prayer that Gorbachev would find the gift of salvation.

Though Gorbachev does not profess to be a Christian, Dockery said he still believes that he was used by God in bringing an end to communism and the Soviet Union.

"Cyrus allowed the Israelites freedom to return to the Land after the Babylonian captivity and Artaxerxes provided resources to enable Nehemiah to rebuild the Jerusalem Wall, so in the providence of God, it seems to me that Mr. Gorbachev was an instrument for good in opening Russian doors for the gospel, and we are looking forward to hearing what he has to say."

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