By Una Tingvik-Haave, A&E Writer
Students will soon have the opportunity to share their ideas with the community through LUTE Talks. Inspired by TED Talks, Mercy Daramola, a residence director, came up with the idea to organize the talks.
TED Talks are short, powerful talks, where world leading thinkers and doers share their thoughts and ideas with the global community.
LUTE Talks will be similar to TED Talks. Speakers will have five minutes each to share their stories on the topic “exploring passions.”
Daramola chose the topic, and she said she is exploring her own passions by organizing this event.
“I am passionate about LUTE Talks, and about sharing a story,” Daramola said. “Through that passion I have been able to reach out to so many people and students, and I really want to hear what they’re passionate about.”
Daramola is not the only one who has expressed interest in LUTE Talks. Plenty of other organizations and people across campus have helped organize LUTE Talks, including the Center for Community Engagement and Service, members of the Marketing Communication Department and other members of Residential Life.
Daramola said she is hoping the Pacific Lutheran University community will get the chance to hear stories not just from students themselves, but also from the community that students connect with through TED Talks.
“I’m hoping that this can be something that will spark a desire across campus and the community to connect Parkland and Tacoma and PLU together,” Daramola said.
She also said it will be an opportunity for those at the university to share, explore and celebrate the stories within the community and highlight how they are all connected.
This program was made possible through the Carol Shefflels Quigg Award for Excellence and Innovation, a fund that honors faculty, staff and students who advance the mission of PLU through a creative approach. Quigg, a regent of PLU, provided an endowment for the establishment of the award.
The event is open to PLU students, staff, faculty, alumni and community members.
Darmola said LUTE Talks is a reflection of the ongoing conversation and desire to maintain a strong connection with PLU’s surrounding communities.
Six speakers have signed up to talk about their passions, and so far, both students and faculty are represented.
