The Rev. Al Sharpton
To Visit WKU Next Week

February 19, 2003

Bowling Green, Ky. - The Rev. Al Sharpton, civil rights activist and a Democratic candidate for president, will visit Western Kentucky University next week.

Sharpton will speak at 7 p.m. Tuesday (Feb. 25) at the Downing University Center Theater. On Wednesday, he will attend a breakfast with community leaders, meet with students and attend lunch with African American students, faculty and NAACP members.

"Rev. Al Sharpton does a lot with African American youth focusing on academic excellence," said Dr. Saundra Ardrey, head of WKU's Department of Government. "He is very instrumental in New York City in empowering our youth."

Dr. Ardrey ran into Sharpton during a Thanksgiving visit to New York City and invited him to visit Bowling Green.

"While we might not agree with every opinion that we have on campus, we should bring these ideas to campus so we can have an open forum and open discussion," Dr. Ardrey said. "I believe that's the way be build tolerance and understanding. I think that's what the university is all about."

Tuesday's lecture is open to the public, but Wednesday's breakfast and lunch are by invitation only.

For more information, contact Saundra Ardrey at (270) 745-4558. More WKU news is available on the World Wide Web at www.wku.edu. If you'd like to receive WKU news via E-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

-WKU-