David Hogg is postponing college to push gun control by Associated Press. May 7, 2018. (Getty Images)
Student activist and “March for our Lives” co-founder David Hogg will be speaking at the University of Connecticut’s Jorgensen Theatre on Monday, March 4, at 7 p.m.
Hogg’s visit is part of this spring’s “Youth for Change” Metanoia, according to an email from UConn President Susan Herbst.
“(The spring Metanoia) will be a discussion of the most pressing issues facing young people today, as well as a set of workshops on how youth can effectively act to change the world,” Herbst said in her email. “It will be a conversation on the issues themselves and a set of dialogues on nuts-and-bolts strategy. ‘Youth for Change’ will be for young and old, and for everyone from the political novice to the seasoned activist.”
Metanoia Student Chair Wawa Gatheru said the decision to invite Hogg was made by the Metanoia Steering Committee and came organically out of a conversation that began last October, when the committee began discussing people to invite.
“Our state is obviously one that is very ingrained in gun reform, given our history with Sandy Hook and just in general,” Gatheru said. “He fit so perfectly within our objectives so it was kind of a no-brainer.”
Hogg will make a speech and participate in a Q&A session, Gatheru said. UConn students, faculty and staff can obtain one ticket each for free.
In addition to Hogg’s speech, there will be an opportunity for students to sit down and talk with both him and other individuals who will be speaking at UConn’s regional campuses on March 5, Gatheru said.
“Details (are) coming soon from SUBOG, ConnPIRG and USG social media accounts,” Gatheru said.
Gatheru said she is hoping students come to see Hogg because he is a great example of what youth activism looks like and can look like, and because his work connecting grassroots movements to institutions of power can be transferred and used to progress many different movements.
“If there are students who are interested in climate advocacy, gender equality, they can use the methods he’s talked about with March for Our Lives to further their own movements,” Gatheru said. “His mission of gun reform is intersectional, and I think when we’re talking about youth activism in this day and age, it’s important that we focus on who we engage and making sure we bring all voices to the table, and I think he is able to do that.”
Gabriella DeBenedictis is a senior staff writer for The Daily Campus. She can be reached via email at gabriella.debenedictis@uconn.edu.
