October 4, 2002

SECURITY PROCEDURES IN PLACE FOR WALESA LECTURE ON WEDNESDAY

Security checkpoints and restrictions on bags and other hand-carried items will be in place for a lecture at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9, at The Pavilion by former president of Poland Lech Walesa.

According to Bob Seibolt, director of security at Boise State University, audience members will pass through security checkpoints to enter The Pavilion. No cameras, food or drink items, backpacks or bags other than purses and diaper bags will be allowed inside. Purses and diapers bags will be subject to search.

"We want to make sure the public is aware of these security procedures ahead of time and that they leave adequate time to arrive at their seats," said Seibolt.

Walesa will speak on "Solidarity: The New Millennium" as part of the university’s Distinguished Lecture Series. The 1983 Nobel Peace Prize laureate will speak through an interpreter.

It’s not too late to get free tickets for the lecture. They’re available at The Pavilion and Student Union ticket offices. Tickets are also 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.

Trained as an electrician, Walesa assumed leadership of the 10 million-member Solidarity labor movement in 1980 and negotiated with the communist government 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 in 1983. 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.

For more information about Walesa visit news.boisestate.edu or 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.

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Chris Loucks

Distinguished Lecture Series Chair

426-1468

Janelle Brown

communications and marketing

426-1790