The Institute for Governance and Civics (IGC) at Florida State University will organize a North Korean escapee and the president and CEO of the National Constitution Center for two presentations in February.  

These discussions form part of a vibrant array of guest speakers that the recently established IGC will feature this spring. Founded in 2023 by the Florida Legislature, the IGC intends to promote civic knowledge and involvement through thorough research, education, and public discussion regarding America’s foundational principles. 

Yeonmi Park, a North Korean escapee, will present her lecture at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 19, at Club Downunder in the Student Union. Originally from North Korea, Park was raised in a repressive environment dedicated to the veneration of Kim Jong-Il. At 13 years old, she and her family undertook a perilous flight to China in search of liberation. Park and her mother faced tremendous challenges, including human trafficking. In 2009, they traversed the Gobi Desert to Mongolia, eventually achieving freedom in South Korea. Park narrates her experiences in her memoir, In Order to Live: A North Korean Girl’s Journey to Freedom. 

Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of the National Constitution Center, will share his insights at 6 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 24 at Club Downunder in the Student Union. Rosen hosts “We the People,” a weekly podcast focused on constitutional discussions. He is also a law professor at George Washington University and a contributing editor for The Atlantic. Rosen’s latest publication, “The Pursuit of Happiness,” investigates how classical scholars on virtue influenced the lives of the Founding Fathers and shaped America. 

Both gatherings are complimentary and available to the public; however, attendees are encouraged to confirm their attendance at igc.fsu.edu/upcoming-events. 

This spring’s lecture series additionally features Charles C.W. Cook, senior writer at the National Review, and FSU’s Professor of Constitutional Law Alexander Tsesis, who will address the conflict between free speech and attempts to combat “misinformation;” alongside Beth Akers from the American Enterprise Institute, who will analyze “The Economics of Higher Education.” For a complete schedule, please visit igc.fsu.edu/upcoming-events.

For further details, please get in touch with Lila Seagle at [email protected]. 

The article Florida State University’s Institute for Governance and Civics to host guest speakers Feb. 19, 24 first appeared on Florida State University News.