The University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa speech department welcomes a monthlong series of inspirational speakers starting this afternoon.
The speaker series, “Rhetoric for Social Justice,” is in its third semester. Professor Robert Boller said he brings in keynote speakers to his Speech 251: Principles of Effective Public Speaking class each semester to help bridge academia and civic life.
“The response to the series has been overwhelmingly positive,” Boller said.
The series opens today with a panel discussion by the UH Debate and Forensics Society (DFS) about whether Hawai‘i will be a leader in sustainability. DFS recently participated in the Pan-Pacific Debate Championship.
On Nov. 16, Hawai‘i slam poetry master Kealoha will be speaking. On Nov. 23, Stuart Coleman, author of “Eddie Would Go” and “Fierce Heart,” will visit the class. According to The Honolulu Advertiser, Coleman assembled “Eddie Would Go” with testimonies from over 40 of surfing legend Eddie Aikau’s closest friends, family and colleagues. Coleman is the only author to publish a biography about Aikau.
Grammy-nominated slack key guitarist Makana will visit the class on Nov. 13. To end the speaker series, Democrat Rep. Neil Abercrombie will be speaking on Dec. 7. Abercrombie, who has been a congressman for 10 terms, will be running for governor in 2010.
All speeches will be held from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. in Bilger Hall, room 152.
Previous keynote speakers include local comedian Frank De Lima, Miss Hawai‘i 2008 Nicole Fox, and Vietnam prisoner of war Capt. Jerry Coffee.
Boller said the idea to host keynote speakers was inspired by a course at University of California, Santa Barbara, called “Voices of a Stranger.” The course was taught by Dr. Walter Capps, who was the first professor to offer a class on the Vietnam War. This course, which was regularly attended by 900 undergraduate students, offered the opportunity for many Vietnam veterans to tell their stories for the first time, according to the UCSB Web site.
“Many students enter public speaking classes with reticence and are generally limited in exposure to student presentations,” Boller said. “The series illustrates how disparate professional voices, from musicians to politicians, journalists to poets, are a variation on a theme; rhetoric is the impetus for change in our society.”
Seating is limited. For those who wish to attend a speech, e-mail Boller at boller@hawaii.edu to RSVP.
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