Franklin College will host the final event in its 2022-23 Convocation Lecture Series on Thursday, March 2 at 7 p.m. in the Branigin Room in the Napolitan Student Center.

Pam Fessler, a former correspondent for NPR News, will present a lecture titled “Fighting for Justice, From Leprosy to the Ballot Box.”

Fessler covered voting and civic engagement for more than 20 years at NPR News. She is also author of “Carville’s Cure: Leprosy, Stigma and the Fight for Justice,” which tells the story of the only leprosy colony run by the U.S. government and her own family’s tragic involvement. Fessler recounts how leprosy patients were torn from their families, confined against their will and abandoned by society, but also how they eventually fought to regain their freedom and rights, including the right to vote. The patients’ crusade shows the power of individual perseverance and the importance of the vote in helping to shape our lives — an example that is just as relevant today as Americans work to protect democracy from erosion.

Franklin College tradition includes hosting an annual Convocation Lecture Series that promotes the ideals of the institution. The college upholds a common set of values that enhances the community and sustains personal, spiritual and professional growth for a lifetime. The college values people of integrity, a commitment to inclusivity, a culture of intellectual curiosity, the drive for innovation and creativity and the spirit of community.

This event is free and open to the public. Those interested in attending are asked to register at www.FranklinCollege.edu/convocation.

For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.

POSTED Feb 8, 2023