Speeches and More Speeches

Well, this week there is no shortage of presentations on campus to attend. I feel as if my brain is swollen already, but a good swollen, where you've learned a lot and are proud of yourself for getting off your butt to go hear what people have to say... and it's only the middle of the week!
Yesterday was the Liberal Arts Symposium, where a panel of speakers prepared presentations from their major's lens on the topic of illness. Students could see how the same issue can mean very different things depending on how you approach it,for example, from a Communication major, Biology major, and Religion major's points of view.
Today we hosted a Youth Forum, a program designed by senior Communication majors to engage and inform high school students on a particular piece of discourse in history. This year's piece was Elizabeth Cady Stanton's "Solitude of Self." Not only is it beneficial for high school students to hear how pieces of history are applicable today and what you can do and explore with a liberal arts education, it was also interesting for current students to enlighten their minds and catch up on what our peers have been working on.
The rest of the week is sprinkled (perhaps "packed" is a better word) with speakers for the Ethics in Medicine forum. Tomorrow night will be a showing of Michael Moore's film "Sicko" with a panel to facilitate discussion and answer questions afterwards. Friday and Saturday are filled with speeches and panel discussions on such topics as health care costs, health care in diverse communities, and end of life issues. Just a few of the many speakers include Nick Turkal, the President and CEO of Aurora Health Care, Joia Mukherjee, medical director of Partners in Health, and Tommy Thompson, former U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
Although attending ALL of the speakers available this week might be a little tedious, students always have the OPTION of listening to the insite of renowned experts in a variety of areas. One of the best things about Ripon College is the OPPORTUNITIES it presents; you can take them if you want.