Gift to Create UWT Lecture Series (24. July 2006, 15:37 by Derek Young) ~ Supporting Our Local Schools
Received via email:
TACOMA, Wash. – Beginning in 2008, UW Tacoma will host a lecture series featuring prominent speakers on the UW Tacoma campus, thanks to a $1 million pledge by Arthur R. Paulsen, a native Tacoman and University of Washington alumnus.
The gift will create an endowed fund, called the Arthur R. and Anna Mae Paulsen Visiting Chair in Public Affairs, to support bringing well-known public figures to campus each year to enhance the intellectual life of UW Tacoma students and the South Sound community. Visiting lecturers will address a range of political and social issues.
“This generous donation will help us bring distinguished lecturers to our campus and expand what we can offer to our students and the community,”Chancellor Pat Spakes said. “We were surprised and delighted when Mr. Paulsen came to us with this offer. UW Tacoma has wanted to launch a lecture series for a long time, but we have lacked the resources to make it happen.”
Paulsen, who graduated from the University of Washington in 1940 and received his juris doctor degree from the UW School of Law in 1946, has fond memories of hearing British Labour Party Leader Harold Laske speak at the UW in 1939 as part of the Walker Ames Lecture Series. He wants students to benefit from a balanced presentation of viewpoints on world affairs through this series. Anna Mae Paulsen passed away in 2000.
The first lecture in the series will coincide with the opening of the new Assembly Hall in 2008. Currently in the design phase, the $12 million, 500-seat Assembly Hall will replace the old “Dawg Shed” building on Pacific Avenue and serve as a theater, large classroom and study space for UW Tacoma students, staff, faculty and the community. The project is partially funded by a $7.5 million appropriation from the Legislature. UW Tacoma is just beginning a public campaign to raise an additional $4.75 million to complete the building.
UWT is getting stronger every day. I look forward to the beginning of this series.
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I look forward to the beginning of this series.
Me too. UWT is continuing to take steps to make it look like and substantively be a “real” university.
The speaker series is an important step.
They are expanding their campus and the number of students here. Soon there will be student housing so that it is not just a communter school.
Freshman are going to be added this year so that there will more more of an identity with the school.
1 | Posted by Erik | Jul 24, 04:23 PM
”...more of an identity with the school.”
And more of a 24/7 human presence downtown. Full-time students may just be the spark needed to get a grocery and other needs downtown before all those condos have a chance to fill up. Which, I believe, won’t fill up unless there’s more ways to live life downtown. But, I digress.
Speakers of various kinds would really rock—especially if admission to those events is a) open to the public and b) not too expensive.
2 | Posted by KevinFreitas | Jul 24, 04:44 PM
it will also be great to get rid of that ugly blank white facade on pac ave. what an eyesore!
3 | Posted by craigA | Jul 24, 09:42 PM
the store front between subway and indochine that is vacant. its my understanding that this is where the new auditorium is going to be built.
5 | Posted by craigA | Jul 25, 11:52 AM
That would be nice to see something there.
That would be one of the last pieces to complete the south part of Pacific Avenue.
6 | Posted by Erik | Jul 25, 07:09 PM
“That would be one of the last pieces to complete the south part of Pacific Avenue.”
Except for that OTHER vacant building UWT owns to the left of Grassis – I can’t wait to see that restored!
7 | Posted by morgan | Jul 27, 09:45 AM
...but to get back on topic:
I hope that in addition to the speaker series that Tacoma (someone? anyone!?) can create a Town Hall series to help spur some dialog in this town. I mean exit133 is great (really, Derek, it is!) – but it would be nice to see some serious, real debate happening in one central (non-exclusive) forum.
8 | Posted by morgan | Jul 27, 09:49 AM
Let’s see…town hall series…
Hey! Seattle has something called Town Hall in an old church building. A big building with great acoustics and a domed ceiling. Great for both community forums and concerts. What a cool idea…
Hmm, do we have any old church buildings around here that the church is interested in selling but people don’t want to see destroyed? Perhaps ones known for their wonderful acoustics and domed ceilings? Thinking…
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