University Park

Ventura next in Distinguished Speakers Series

University Park, Pa. -- Jesse Ventura, former Minnesota governor and former professional wrestler, is the next speaker in Penn State's 2003-04 Distinguished Speakers Series at 8 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 6, in Eisenhower Auditorium on the University Park campus. The event is free and open to the public, but tickets are required.

Tickets were made available to students attending the University Park campus Oct. 29; and to faculty, staff and students from other Penn State campuses Oct. 30. Remaining tickets are available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Eisenhower box office is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Limited tickets might also be available the night of the speech.

Ventura was elected the 38th governor of Minnesota in 1998, the first-ever Reform Party candidate to win statewide office. He also was a Navy SEAL and served for six years during the Vietnam era. After his honorable discharge in 1973, Ventura attended North Hennepin Community College.

He wrestled professionally for 11 years when he retired in 1984 and turned to acting, appearing in several films including "Predator" with Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was prompted to run for mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minn., in 1990 and served in that position until 1995.

The Distinguished Speakers Series is sponsored by the University Park Allocation Committee, coordinated by the Distinguished Speakers Series Committee and the Office of Student Activities, and funded by student activity fees. For more information, contact the Office of Student Activities at (814) 863-3786. For more on the Distinguished Speakers Series lineup, visit
http://live.psu.edu/story/3823

Last Updated March 20, 2009

Contact