The Forum: We Bring the World to You
77 seasons strong
President W.R. Davies was the prime mover in establishing The Forum within the first year of his administration, to bring to life his vision of the college as a cultural center. He transformed Eau Claire's after-dinner speakers club into a college-community partnership that selected an average of five speakers a year. The Forum is committed to the concept of non-discrimination as related to race, creed, sexual orientation, age and physical disability.
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Meet the 2019-20 season speakers
She aimed high: Air Force veteran pilot
Forum speaker Olga Custodio was the first ever Latina to complete Air Force pilot training, the first to serve as a military fighter jet pilot, and the first Latina commercial pilot, first office and captain for American Airlines.
Thursday, Sept. 19
Taking aim at Ivy League system
Once an Ivy League professor himself, Bill Deresiewicz has spent the last decade writing and speaking about what he sees as the disadvantages, dysfunctions and disservice to society of an elite education in the United States.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
19-year-old activist
At a mere 19 years of age, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez, youth director of Earth Guardians, already has more experience educating and building a movement to battle climate change than many scientists or elected officials. He's been an activist since he was 6.
Tuesday, Dec. 10
Educating about sexual assault
Educator, author and global educator Jackson Katz will address the controversial topic he calls "toxic masculinity" and his efforts to educate about and end gender violence. His TED talk "Violence against women is a men's issue" has 4M views.
Tuesday, March 10Last season's guests
The Rise of Hoaxes and Fake News
Author Kevin Young has gathered a unique collection of "fake news," and has complied a book that exposes it as a long-standing tradition in the U.S., explaining how it has come to dominate the jargon of the current landscape.
Thurs. Oct 18, 2018
Forum Guest Barry Burden to discuss gerrymandering in WI and beyond
Election law in the U.S. is complicated, perhaps more than it should be, and the maps that decide voter districts are part of that tangled web. UW-Madison political science professor is equipped to help make sense of the rules, the history and the future.
Wed. Feb 13, 2019
Girls & sex: Navigating a complicated new landscape
New York Times best-selling author Peggy Orenstein discusses the current and complicated landscape for sexually active young women — a landscape of conflicting messages, imposed beliefs, and increasingly low levels of meaningful and useful communication.
Tues. March 5, 2019
Forecasting Our Future: Climate change and extreme weather
Texas Tech professor Dr. Katharine Hayhoe is a prolific publisher, speaker and expert in the areas of climate change and the environment. She also happens to be an Evangelical Christian, dispelling the notion that these states are mutually exclusive.
Wed. April 10, 2019TICKETS
All seats are general admission
Tickets available at the Service Center and at the door
- Visit the Service Center in Davies Center’s east lobby
- Call 715-836-INFO [4636] or 800-949-UWEC [8932]
- PURCHASE ONLINE
$8 General Public
$6 UW System Faculty/Staff • Age 62 & Over
$4 UW System Student • Age 17 & Under
Student tickets are $2 until the day of the show
*Programs and dates subject to change as necessary