Purdue Graduate Student Government to host Karith Foster as part of Graduate Student Appreciation Week

Purdue Graduate Student Government will celebrate Graduate Student Appreciation Week with a series of events April 2-6. The events include a lecture, a panel discussion, a dance and silent auction and more.

Karith Foster, a humorist, speaker and author will present the keynote lecture at 6 p.m. Monday (April 2) in the Graduate Student Center. Foster’s presentation, “Can We Speak Freely?,” uses humor, storytelling, visual media and interactive exercises to give clarity to the idea of and importance of free speech and its role in freedom of expression and open exchange of ideas. The lecture is free and open to the public.

For each of the five days, a breakfast for graduate students will be provided 9-11 a.m. by a local vendor, and graduate students who wear their PGSG buttons will receive free breakfast. Buttons can be picked up at the Graduate Student Center. A schedule including breakfast vendors, planned locations and rain locations -- as well as details of other events -- can be found here.

Other events planned for the week:

* Monday: 6 p.m., Graduate Student Center. Karith Foster talk.

* Tuesday: 5:30-7 p.m., Graduate Student Center. Panel discussion on academic integrity: "Which Hat Are You Wearing?" Panelists: Thomas Atkinson, associate dean of the Graduate School; Marcela Martinez, Josh Weirick and Ben Rachunok, PGSG officers. Refreshments will be provided.

* Wednesday: 5:30-8 p.m., Graduate Student Center. Graduate Race of Amazing Departments (teams of three or four persons). RSVP required.

* Thursday: 6-8 p.m., Graduate Student Center. Kids Night. RSVP required.

* Friday: 8 p.m., Rat Pak Venue, 102 N. Third St., Lafayette. Mental health awareness benefit dance and silent auction (auction begins at 7 p.m.); open to all. Tickets are $15 for public, $5 for students if purchased in advance at the Graduate Student Center. At the door, the cost is $20 and $10. Benefiting the National Alliance on Mental Health.

Writer: Kelsey Schnieders Lefever, kschnied@purdue.edu
Source: Tricia Olinger, Purdue Graduate Student Center secretary, olinger@purdue.edu