ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University will kick off its Fall 2025 Noon Forum series on Wednesday, Sept. 17, in the Williams Library Round Room.

Dr. Jon Schaff, professor of political science at Northern and director of the NSU Center for Public History and Civic Engagement, will be the featured speaker at the first forum. His session is titled Fahrenheit 451 and the Educated Citizen.Schaff’s talk, part of Northern’s Constitution Day celebration, will focus on First Amendment freedoms.

The second Noon Forum of the semester will be Wednesday, Oct. 1. Featured speakers will be Northern students Jorja Whempner and Walker Larson. Their forum, Wolves in Washington—and Pierre! will highlight their experiences as interns with the South Dakota Legislature, and Whempner will also share about her work as an intern in Washington, D.C.

For detailed descriptions of future forums, visit the NSU website.

Noon Forums, which are free and open to the public, will continue most Wednesdays at noon throughout the semester in the Williams Library Rotunda. Free public parking is available on Washington Street west of the library.

Scheduled topics are as follows:

• Sept. 17 – Fahrenheit 451 and the Educated Citizen (Constitution Day Forum – Jon Schaff)
• Sept. 24 – Cramer Center Meetings: No Forum
• Oct. 1 – Wolves in Washington—and Pierre! (Jorja Whempner and Walker Larson)
• Oct. 8 – Howl Worldwide: Stories from the Peace Corps and Paths to Global Studies and Service (Peggy Veith, Larry Veith and Steven Usitalo)
• Oct. 15 – Trump as Classical Hero (Ken Blanchard)
• Oct. 22 – Over Here: Immigration 2.0 (Abiah George and Lucas Wiscons)
• Oct. 29 – Travel That Changes You: Cambodia, Genocide, and the Power of Being There (Wolf Talk with Erin Fouberg and Steven Usitalo)
• Nov. 5 – First-Generation Panel (Kirsten Ackmann and TRIO)
• Nov. 12 – What Are They Learning? How Do We Know? (Kristi Brownfield and panel)
• Nov. 19 – Strong Roots, New Routes: Advocating for Native Students in Higher Education (Native American Month presentation with Lara Nelson and Pam Monaghan-Geernaert)
• Nov. 26 – Thanksgiving: No Forum
• Dec. 3 – Speech and Debate Spotlight (Gus Foote and students)
• Dec. 10 –From Professor to Fiction Writer (Ginny Lewis)

For more information, contact Dr. Art Marmorstein at art.marmorstein@northern.edu or 605-626-2608.