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President Al Goldfarb, 2007 John Hallwas Liberal Arts Lecturer
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Hallwas Liberal Arts Lecture September 25 at WIU-Macomb, September 26 at WIU-Quad Cities

August 29, 2007

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MACOMB/MOLINE, IL - - Western Illinois University President Al Goldfarb, who is the College of Arts and Sciences 2007 John Hallwas Liberal Arts Lecturer, will share his thoughts about the value of a liberal arts education at the fifth annual Hallwas Lecture, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 25 in the University Union Grand Ballroom on the WIU-Macomb campus.

"My presentation will focus on how I believe the liberal arts impacts my philosophy of leadership, as well as how my career as a university administrator and theatre professor have been impacted by the lessons of a strong liberal arts education," Goldfarb said.

Goldfarb will also present the inaugural John Hallwas Liberal Arts Lecture at the WIU-Quad Cities campus at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 26 in Room 102.

"The Liberal Arts Lecture focuses on educational challenges that face WIU and our country, as seen through the lens of personal experience," said Hallwas, who presented the inaugural lecture in September 2003. "It reminds us, at the outset of every academic year, that real education is not merely acquired skills or useful information but an open-ended process of inner growth, which is indispensable in our time of rapid change, cultural complexity, social conflict and spiritual anxiety.

"President Goldfarb is a great choice as the 2007 Liberal Arts Lecturer because he is a nationally noted scholar, a compelling speaker and an excellent teacher, as well as an academic leader – hence, an ideal figure to express our WIU commitment to a broadly focused, life-shaping educational experience," Hallwas added.

"A theatre professor, Goldfarb will be the first Liberal Arts Lecturer from outside the College of Arts and Sciences," Hallwas said. "As the annual lecture series continues, I'm sure that outstanding figures from other colleges will also be selected."

The John Hallwas Liberal Arts Lecture, which was established through an initial gift by John and Garnette Hallwas and continues with their support and leadership, is the signature event for the College of Arts and Sciences, according to Inessa Levi, college dean.

"The lecture is a wonderful celebration of Western's commitment to outstanding educational experiences for our students," Levi said.

Past lecturers in the series have included John Hallwas, English professor and University archivist (2003); Charles Helm, political science chair and professor (2004); Karen Mann, English professor (2005); and Tracy Knight, associate psychology professor (2006).

The John Hallwas Liberal Arts Lecture is open free to the public and is designated as a First Year Experience (FYE) event for Western Illinois University students.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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