University Forum at Southern Miss Begins 50th鈥痀ear
Wed, 08/28/2024 - 08:46am | By: Dr. David Tisdale
Kurt Vonnegut. Stephen J. Gould. Gloria Steinem. James Baldwin. Sir Harold Wilson. Lilly Ledbetter. Susan Sontag. G. Gordon Liddy. Tom Wolfe. Barbara Ehrenreich. E.O. Wilson. Art Spiegelman. Antonin Scalia. Carl Bernstein. Sebastian Junger.鈥疪alph Nader.
That list, a who鈥檚 who of some of the most respected and talented thought leaders, scientists, historians, educators, artists, and activists, is also a roll call of past presenters for 91少女集中营鈥檚 (USM) University Forum, which marks its 50th鈥痽ear in 2024-25.
Since 1974, the University Forum has been the premier speaker series at the University. Sponsored by the Southern Miss Honors College with support from the Office of the President, this year鈥檚 lineup follows that half-century tradition with compelling speakers scheduled to share their wisdom and talent with Forum audiences. Admission is free and members of the university and general public are invited; all University Forum events are held at historic Bennett Auditorium on the Hattiesburg campus, unless otherwise noted.鈥�
鈥淲hen the first University Forums were held in fall 1974, Nixon had just resigned the presidency, pocket calculators were the hot new technology, and Peter Benchley鈥檚 novel about a shark,鈥�Jaws, had been on the bestseller list for 28 weeks,鈥� said University Forum Director Dr. Andrew Haley. 鈥淵et it was clear from those first couple of Forums - originally called the 鈥楳an, Science, and Society鈥� series - that Forum鈥檚 influence would not be as fleeting as presidencies, tech innovations, or bestsellers.鈥�
Dr. Haley notes that the first two University Forums looked at the place of populism in American politics, past and present, and believes those two talks could easily be reprised today.
鈥淯niversity Forum has provided Southern Miss students and the greater south Mississippi community with a magnifying glass to examine their times and a crystal ball to see into the future,鈥� Dr. Haley continued. 鈥淚ts legacy is not that it has survived 50 years, but that the words spoken at Forum鈥檚 podium have had a lasting impact on the lives of so many and continue to shape our world view.鈥�
Dr. Joyce Inman, Dean of the USM Honors College, says it鈥檚 an honor to celebrate 50 years of the University鈥檚 commitment to ensuring 鈥渙ur community has the opportunity to hear from the most notable voices of our time and participate in meaningful conversations as a community of engaged citizens through University Forum.鈥�
B. Twilbeck, a senior in the USM Honors College from Ocean Springs, Miss., says University Forum has been a vital part of her experience as a student at the university, and is grateful to the program for hosting a broad range of topical perspectives presented by prominent expert speakers she may have not otherwise encountered.
鈥淯niversity Forum has broadened my horizons and been a pillar of enlightened engagement on a variety of issues,鈥� Twilbeck continued. 鈥淚t鈥檚 an incredibly vital facet of this institution, encouraging lifelong learning for the entirety of the Hattiesburg community and beyond.鈥�
USM President Emeritus Dr. Aubrey Lucas lauded University Forum for being a program that 鈥渉as helped USM be what it should be鈥� as a place that fosters learning and helps the communities it serves better understand their world.
鈥淯niversity Forum brings in people who are particularly informed on a wide array of subjects that are of vital interest not only to members of the Southern Miss community, but to people across our state and region,鈥� Dr. Lucas said.
University Distinguished Professor of History Dr. Andrew Weist echoed Dr. Lucas鈥檚 sentiments, praising Forum for the exceptional speakers it has brought to the university for the last five decades, including during his days as a student at USM.
鈥淚 love University Forum 鈥� it has consistently brought in a steady stream of top speakers from across the spectrum of potential interests, from politicians, to authors, to business leaders, to writers,鈥� Dr. Wiest continued. 鈥淚t is exactly what a university should do 鈥� expose students and other members of our university and local communities to the best and brightest in a massive variety of fields.
鈥淢y favorite memory of Forum is from when I was a student when it brought in an ex-British Prime Minister 鈥� Sir Harold Wilson.鈥� As someone who was studying British History at the time, it was a dream come true.鈥� Not only did I get to hear this pivotal figure of Modern Britain speak, I got to meet him and talk with him for a good long while.鈥� It was life changing for me.鈥�
This year鈥檚 fall schedule begins Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 6:30 p.m. with Ed Yong, a Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist who explores complex scientific concepts in accessible ways. The former staff writer for鈥�The Atlantic鈥痠s the author of鈥�An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us鈥�(2022), which won the Andrew Carnegie Medal.
Veteran television journalist Kathleen Koch, a Southern Miss alumna and former Honors College student, will speak on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Koch is author of鈥�Rising From Katrina: How My Mississippi Hometown Lost It All and Found What Mattered,鈥�in which she recounts her coverage of the worst natural disaster in modern American history and its effects on her native Mississippi Gulf Coast and hometown of Bay St. Louis, Miss.鈥�Koch鈥檚 Forum presentation will be immediately followed by an official celebration of University Forum鈥檚 golden anniversary.
The fall University Forum schedule concludes Tuesday, Nov. 12 with famed environmental justice activist Erin Brockovich, author of鈥�Superman鈥檚 Not Coming: Our National Water Crisis and What We the People Can Do About It, who was portrayed by actress Julia Roberts in the 2000 movie鈥�Erin Brockovich. Brockovich will discuss America and Mississippi鈥檚 water crisis in her Forum presentation.
The spring 2025 University Forum schedule includes:
- Feb. 11: Ada Lim贸n, Poet Laureate of the United States and author of鈥�Bright Dead Things; she is the first Latina to be named Poet Laureate.鈥�
- March 18:鈥� Armstrong- Branch Distinguished Lecture Series, honoring the first two African American students to enroll at USM, Elaine Armstrong and Raylawni Branch. This event is a collaboration with the USM Dean of Students Office; a speaker for the event will be announced in November.
- April 8: Internationally recognized musician Lachi, famed for her soulful voice and distinctive blend of pop and dance music, will perform. The visually impaired performer will also discuss disability rights during her presentation at the鈥�Mannoni Performing Arts Center鈥痮n the USM Hattiesburg campus.鈥�
Although they鈥檙e not students, Hattiesburg area residents Margaret and Bob Ciraldo鈥檚 favorite part of the Southern Miss academic year is University Forum, which the couple rarely misses.
鈥淲e appreciate and need University Forum at USM,鈥� Margaret Ciraldo said. 鈥淭he speakers are famous people in their respective fields, and the topics are enlightening and enjoyable. You always walk away having learned more than you did before the lecture, and the program has shown me that the best way to learn is firsthand from an authority in their respective field.鈥�
Learn more about University Forum.