LEWISTON, Maine -- The provocative question "Is There Peace on Campus Today?" will be discussed in a lecture at Bates College on (Thursday,) Oct. 3 by Ephraim Isaac, director of the Institute of Semitic Studies in Princeton, N.J.

Isaac, born in Ethiopia and known for his work in healing rifts between blacks and Jews, will speak at 7:30 p.m. in Room 204 of Carnegie Science Hall. The public is invited to attend at no charge.

The Ethiopian Review called Isaac "Scholar, philosopher, peace activist" and praised his efforts to restore peace to his war-torn native land.

He was the first professor of Afro-American Studies at Harvard University and also taught at Princeton University, Howard University and Hebrew University in Jerusalem. His biblical scholarship has resulted in such books as "The Book of Enoch" and "An Ethiopic History of Joseph."

Isaac translated Handel's "Messiah" into the Ethiopian language Amharic, one of 17 tongues in which he is fluent. He led a campaign which helped millions of Ethiopians attain literacy.

His visit to Bates is sponsored by the college's Multicultural Center.