October 8th, 2002 - The Rector of the State Institute of Islamic Studies of Northern Sumatra, Indonesia and the Rector of the State Institute of Islamic Studies of Banda Aceh, Indonesia visited The Graduate School of Islamic and Social Sciences. The scholars are sponsored by the International Visitor Program of the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, U.S. Department of State. Dr. Taha Jabir Alalwani, the President of introduced them to the School and to the subject of Islam and democracy. Dr. Louis Cantori, a Board member of the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy and a faculty member at GSISS introduced them to religion in America: the separation of church and state. Ahmed Alwani, the Executive Dean at GSISS discussed Universities in the United States: Discussion of Admissions, Accreditation and Financial Procedures. Both scholars expressed particular interest in the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy, as they would like to incorporate a segment on Islam and democracy into the curriculum of their respective institutions.