September 10, 2002

The public may obtain free tickets at the Student Union and Pavilion ticket offices. Tickets will also be available for a small service charge at all other Select-a-Seat outlets, online at www.idahotickets.com or by calling 426-1494.

Seats for Walesa’s lecture will be held until 6:45 p.m. for ticketed guests. After 6:45 p.m. guests with or without tickets will be admitted for the remaining seats.

"We’ve already had many inquiries from the public about Mr. Walesa’s upcoming lecture, and we’re anticipating a large crowd," said Chris Loucks, an economics professor who is chair of the committee that is organizing the event. "We encourage everyone to get a ticket so they can be assured of being seated."

Walesa will speak on "Solidarity: The New Millennium" as part of Boise State’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The 1983 Nobel Peace Prize laureate will speak through a translator.

Trained as an electrician, Walesa assumed leadership of the 10 million-member Solidarity labor movement in 1980 and negotiated with the communist government in Poland to legally

recognize Solidarity and labor unions. The next year the Polish government declared martial law, suspended the activities of labor unions and arrested thousands of leaders including Walesa.

After his release in 1982, Walesa continued to plant seeds of democracy by leading Solidarity as an underground movement. For his heroic efforts Walesa was awarded the Nobel

Peace Prize. After years of labor unrest, the government eventually invited Solidarity to

participate in a coalition government.

Walesa became the first democratically elected president in 1990 and set Poland firmly on the path to a free market economy. He was defeated in a 1995 election. Walesa now heads the Lech Walesa Institute, which champions democracy and free market reform in Eastern Europe and throughout the developing world.

Walesa has received many honors, including being named person of the year by Time magazine, The Financial Times, The London Observer, Die Welt, Die Zeit, L’Express and Le Soir.

For more information about Walesa visit www.apbspeakers.com.

Boise State’s Distinguished Lecture Series brings speakers to campus twice each year who have had an impact on social, scientific, humanitarian or other fields on a national or international level. Previous speakers in the series include Nobel laureate in physics Horst L. Stormer, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Jose Ramos-Horta and hostage negotiator Terry Waite.

The series is funded through a small student fee supported by the Student Senate with additional support from the Boise State Foundation and local corporate sponsors. For more information call 426-2700.

Chris Loucks
Chair, Distinguished Lecture Series
(208) 426-1468

Janelle Brown
communications and marketing
(208) 426-1790