Last March saw the debut of WheaTalks, an open speaking event for all members of the Wheaton community where students could come together and share an innovative or intriguing idea about any subject.
Initiated by the Wheaton College chapter of The Roosevelt Institute, a nationwide, student-run policy think tank, the event brought students together to talk about what really matters to them using the engaging and direct TEDTalks format. The event was a huge success, with ten speakers delivering 10-minute speeches ranging from comic books to copyright issues — the last of which was presented by Associate Professor of English Josh Stenger.
Thanks to the collaborative efforts of The Roosevelt Institute, The Wheaton Institute for Interdisciplinary Humanities (WIIH), and TriBeta, Wheaton will be hosting another WheaTalks this year, tentatively set for March 25. The event will once again feature ten talks on subjects that chosen individuals feel strongly about.
Interested students who would like to speak about an issue that they feel passionate about can apply to “share their ideas with the community,” says Sarah Estrela ’15, Roosevelt Institute Vice President. “This is meant to be the start of a greater conversation for our community.”
Subject ideas for those who wish to apply are not restricted to Wheaton. This is a great opportunity for everyone to learn something new and diffuse ideas. If you have a great idea but become timid with public speaking, WheaTalks has collaborated with WIIH this year, and will be giving tips and training on public speaking to presenters to build confidence and ensure that your 10 minutes can be efficiently utilized.
Further information, such as the application form, can be found at WheaTalks.com. Videos of last year’s speakers are also available to provide a better sense of what the speeches entail. The deadline for application submissions is February 28.
If you are not planning on submitting an idea, The Roosevelt Institute still encourages attendance at the event on March 25. With last year as a precedent, there are high hopes for inspiring discussion that spans across several topics, revealing the passions and interests of Wheaton’s student body.