The Purdue University North Central Hyde Park Forum Public Speaking Contest will be Wednesday, April 21, from 6 to 8 p.m. on campus.
The 27th annual Hyde Park Forum is expected to attract 50 to 70 speakers presenting their thoughts on a variety of subjects. Many of the speakers will be students in the PNC Communication 114 class. Admission is free and open to the public. The speech topics, presentation times and rooms will be posted in Library-Student-Faculty (LSF) Building Assembly Hall, Room 02 and the southeast entrance of Schwarz Hall.
Visitors to the Hyde Park Forum are welcome to move from room to room to listen to the student speakers. There will be several speakers presenting in each room, with judges evaluating the presentations. The speeches are thought-provoking, insightful and often present new or differing points of view to the listeners.
Following the presentation of the speeches, participants and guests may go to Assembly Hall for refreshments and a 15-minute award ceremony in which all speakers are recognized.
Hyde Park Forum winners will compete in a "Speak-Off" on Friday, April 23, from noon to 1 p.m. in LSF Assembly Hall. One overall winner will be named, with several runners up. The Hyde Park Forum and Speak-Off are sponsored by the PNC Department of Communication. Additional sponsors are still being sought.
The concept for the Hyde Park Forum is loosely based on London's Hyde Park, a public park known as a gathering place for speakers who wish to state their minds on any issue. Hyde Park has gained prominence as a reference to freedom of speech and intriguing speaking. Speech topics range from commentary on current news, observations of the social or cultural climate or remarks on subjects of interest to the speaker.
Further information about the Hyde Park Forum, can be obtained by contacting Dr. Daniel Wilbur, assistant professor of Communication at 219.785.5200 ext. 5472 or by visiting the PNC Web site at www.pnc.edu/com/hydepark.html. Persons with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact Wilbur.