Newswise — Mikhail Gorbachev, the leader of the Soviet Union who ended Communist rule in Eastern Europe and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, will deliver a major address on Wednesday, October 19, at Lafayette College in Easton, Pa. The address, titled “Perspectives on Global Change,” will be followed by a question-and-answer session.
Gorbachev’s visit to Lafayette celebrates the creation of the college’s new Oechsle Center for Global Education, made possible by the support of Walter Oechsle ’57 and his wife, Christa.
“Connecting the classroom to the world outside our walls is at the core of the College’s mission,” says Lafayette President Daniel H. Weiss. “This initiative reflects our commitment to a curriculum that meets the needs of our students and graduates in a complex, rapidly changing world,” Weiss adds. “We are honored that Mikhail Gorbachev, a towering international figure who played a courageous and pivotal role in transforming our world, will play a role as we launch our new center at Lafayette.” The Oechsle Center for Global Education will be housed in a new academic building with faculty offices, seminar rooms, and state-of-the-art classrooms with international connectivity, in addition to space for public lectures and common areas to encourage dialogue about global issues. Building on the College’s historic strengths, a significantly revised major in international affairs will be the core of the global education program. The curriculum also will include new study-abroad courses, a capstone experience, community-based learning, and area studies programs. Wendy L. Hill, provost and dean of the faculty, says, “Having the Center for Community-based Learning, Research, and Service as a component of the Oechsle Center also helps to underscore our view that Lafayette graduates of tomorrow must not only learn about the world but also how to engage with communities.” “How fitting it is that Mikhail Gorbachev will denote the beginning of the Oechsle Center for Global Education,” Hill says. “He epitomizes the changing landscape of the global international experience, and his visit signals our changing approach to global education. It is not for the benefit of a few or of a particular major, but rather an integrative experience for all our students.” Gorbachev’s visit to Lafayette coincides with the 20th anniversary of the collapse of the Soviet Union, later this year. He will deliver his address to the college community at 8:00 p.m. on October 19, at the college’s Allan P. Kirby Sports Center.
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