Kansas University faculty and students already have questions ready for Madeleine Albright’s upcoming visit.

“Speaking on 9/11, the most important question is: What is the nature of America’s place in the world today as opposed to 10 years ago or five years ago?” KU political science professor Burdett Loomis said. “That’s a very serious question.”

KU’s Dole Institute of Politics on Monday announced “An Evening with Madeleine Albright,” a program featuring the former Clinton administration official, set for 8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 27 at the Lied Center.

Albright, secretary of state for eight years under President Bill Clinton, now is a faculty member at Georgetown University.

She will take to the stage for a question-and-answer session with Dole Institute Senior Fellow Steven Jacques before fielding questions from the audience.

Albright also will sign copies of her latest book “The Mighty and the Almighty: Reflections on America, God, and World Affairs.”Bill Walberg, a KU student and member of KU’s College Republicans, said he would like to know Albright’s thoughts about the ABC docudrama “The Path to 9/11,” which aired Sunday and Monday.

The film suggests Albright gave advance notice to Pakistan about an impending airstrike on Afghanistan.

Walberg said though he has questions about what is fact and fiction in the movie, “it’s nice to see that the blame is shifted towards the Clinton administration.”

Renee Klinges, president of KU College Republicans, cited Albright’s critiques of the Bush administration’s foreign policy regarding Iraq and said the student group would like to know how Albright would have handled the conflict differently.

Klinges said she also would like to ask Albright for her advice for female students interested in careers in politics.

Phil Schrodt, KU political science professor who focuses on international conflict, said obvious questions on everyone’s mind are: How would Albright assess the Bush administration’s diplomatic efforts in response to 9/11, and what does she think the U.S. should do about Iraq?

“I don’t expect her to dodge any issues,” Dole Institute Director Bill Lacy said. “I think it’ll be a wide-ranging discussion.”

Tickets are free and available at the Lied Center box office, Murphy Hall, or at Student Union Activities in the Kansas Union. Tickets can be ordered by phone, with a $5 charge, at 864-2787.