ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University’s spring 2023 Noon Forums will begin Wednesday, Feb. 8, at noon in the Beulah Williams Library Round Room.

The featured speaker will be Dr. Jon Schaff, NSU professor of government, who will present the topic, “Against Critical Thinking.”

Schaff, director of Northern’s Center for Public History and Civic Engagement, specializes in the study of American political thought and institutions. He has published on the presidency and political thought of Abraham Lincoln, politics and literature, and politics and popular culture.

NSU Noon Forums, which are free and open to the public, are sponsored by NSU Faculty Senate, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, and the Center for Public History and Civic Engagement. Remaining topics for the spring semester are as follows:

•    Feb. 15: “Student Presentations in the Classroom” (Gus Foote and students)
•    Feb. 22: “It’s There, but Where is it?” (Brenda Mammenga)
•    March 1: “What is your Umwelt? What Animals Teach us about Perspective” (Chris Puglisi and Shalini Matthews)
•    March 8: “Five Hidden but Essential Women Composers” (Marla Fogderud—Forum in LIB 117)
•    March 29: “Northern Innovation and Startup Center” (Josh Latterell) 
•    April 5: “Five Essential Things to Know about Ukraine” (Steven Usitalo)
•    April 12: “Chat GPT: You Ain’t ready for AI, but AI is Ready for You” (Grant Manhart)
•    April 19: “Bullying in the Ivory Tower: What Happens in Higher Education” (Bixi Qiao)
•    April 26: “The Good Country: A History of the Midwest” (Jon Lauck)

About Northern State University  

Northern State University is a student-centered institution that provides an outstanding educational experience, preparing students through the liberal arts and professional education for their future endeavors. A regional university, Northern offers rigorous academics; diverse civic, social and cultural opportunities; and a commitment to building an inclusive environment for all points of view. Northern also offers a broad-based athletics program, sponsoring 15 NCAA Division II intercollegiate varsity sports that compete in the Northern Sun Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (NSIC). The university strives to enrich the community through partnerships such as its Educational Impact Campaign, which opened a new South Dakota School for the Blind and Visually Impaired; new athletic and recreation fields; and an on-campus regional sports complex. With the $55 million campaign, NSU has been the recipient of more than $150 million in privately funded building projects and scholarships within a decade. To learn more, visit NSU Admissions.