USU and ASUSU to Present New Speaker Series
Thursday, Sep. 06, 2012
Spencer West is the first 'Common Hour' speaker. He speaks Wednesday, Sept. 12, 11:30 a.m., Taggart Student Center Ballroom, USU Logan campus.
Utah State University and the Associated Students of Utah State University present Common Hour, a series of speakers and events held every Wednesday from 11:30 a.m.-12:45 p.m. The purpose of Common Hour is to provide an opportunity for intellectual engagement among students, faculty and the community.
Common Hour will kick off Sept. 12 at the USU Taggart Student Center Ballroom with Spencer West, a motivational speaker who, despite having lost his legs at the age of five, recently summited the 19,341 ft. high Mt. Kilimanjaro. West will speak about overcoming stereotyping and bullying, finding meaning and happiness in a material world and how he never lost the hope or courage needed to surmount personal obstacles.
The Center for Persons with Disabilities is a co-sponsor of the first event.
Jordan Olsen, recruitment specialist for admissions and originator of the Common Hour idea, is excited to see his vision come to fruition.
“The purpose of common hour is to provide students, faculty and staff an opportunity to engage outside of the classroom,” said Olsen. “It creates a forum for the campus and community to come together and learn from each other.”
ASUSU student arts and lecturer director Luke Ensign, also believes that the series will open up
students’ minds, expose them to new ideas and challenge them to see the world differently.
“Common Hour is meant to create opportunities for our students that stretch their view of the world and their place in it,” said Ensign. “All it takes is one interaction or conversation to have a profound impact on someone and potentially shape their future.”
The university will sponsor two focal events each semester that will be broadcast to regional campuses while the other weeks will be filled with events across campus conducted by individual colleges, departments and organizations. Common Hour is targeted toward students and faculty but is also open to the public.
Information will be posted at the Common Hour website.
Contact: Kevin Webb, 435-797-3124, kevin.webb@usu.edu
Writer: Paige Pagnucco, 435-797-1429, paige.pagnucco@usu.edu
