U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan is scheduled to deliver a speech about the importance of investing in education to enrich American society and the nation’s economy at 4 p.m. Wednesday, April 20, in Richardson Auditorium, Alexander Hall. The talk is free and open to the public, but tickets are required for entry. The event is sponsored by Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs.
Duncan has served as President Barack Obama's secretary of education since Jan. 20, 2009. He has said in the past that education is "the most pressing issue facing America." Prior to becoming education secretary, Duncan served as the chief executive officer of the Chicago Public Schools from June 2001 through December 2008.
Tickets for the lecture will be available to all Princeton students, faculty and staff on a first-come, first-serve basis beginning at noon Monday, April 11, at the Frist Campus Center Ticket Office. Ticketing will continue from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday while supplies last. The ticket office will issue one ticket per Princeton University TigerCard ID, and individuals may bring up to two TigerCard IDs.
Tickets for the general public will be available from 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, April 12, at the Richardson Auditorium Ticket Office while supplies last. After April 12, any additional public tickets will be available at the Frist Campus Center Ticket Office from noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday while supplies last. A government-issued photo ID is required to obtain a ticket, with a maximum of two tickets per person.
Ticketholders must be seated at the event by 3:45 p.m., at which point seating will be opened to individuals in a wait line. For security reasons, no umbrellas or backpacks will be allowed inside the venue. Following the address, Hugh Price, a lecturer in public affairs and the John L. Weinberg/Goldman Sachs & Co. Visiting Professor in the Woodrow Wilson School, will moderate a question-and-answer session with Duncan.
The event will be webcast live and archived online for later viewing on the University's WebMedia site.
**Media interested in attending this event must contact Princeton University Spokesperson Emily Aronson by noon Friday, April 15, by e-mailing earonson@princeton.edu. Media who do not register in advance will not be able to access the event. Please note that due to limited space inside the auditorium, only one broadcast camera will be permitted. Broadcast media interested in providing the pool camera for this event should e-mail Emily Aronson as soon as possible.