Every year, Bishop’s University offers the chance for students, staff, and community members to hear from successful speakers through the Donald Lecture Series. Donald Lectures, supported by Bishop’s alumnus John Donald, provide an excellent opportunity for anyone interested in learning more about different fields and hearing from speakers with pertinent perspectives. The most recent lecture was given on Oct. 5 by Elisapie, an Inuk singer-songwriter, actress, activist, producer, and director. These lectures, held in Centennial Theatre, are free to all attendees and are open to the general public.

 When choosing speakers, Bishop’s accepts nominations from students, staff, and community members to be reviewed by the Donald Lecture Series Advisory Committee during the selection process, which is composed of select students and staff. Anyone interested in submitting nominations for a Donald Lecture speaker, during the selection process, can contact Denise Lauzière, Chief of Staff, Office of the Principal and Vice-Chancellor at denise.lauziere@ubishops.ca, or 819-822-9600, ext. 2201.

Despite the uniqueness of these opportunities, the school seems to be struggling with attendance at some lectures. To promote attendance, many professors were asked to provide grade boosts to their attending students, regardless of lecture content. The school has also been using Instagram to inform students of the lectures and provide some information about the speakers, but often, these Instagram posts have limited information aside from location and time. If anyone wants to learn more about the speakers beyond what the Instagram posts provide, they must go to the Donald Lecture Series web page under Bishop’s website or look up the speaker on their own.

Given the significant number of students present at the Oct. 5 lecture, the combination of grade boosts and advertising worked to boost attendance. I believe it is fair for professors who deem it appropriate to provide a boost to final grades for students who attend the Donald Lectures. They should not be forced or incited to do so by the administration.

The lectures span a vast array of domains with qualified speakers and poignant messages. For example, having Elisapie discuss her experiences as an Inuk artist was far more genuine than having a white professor discuss Indigenous culture. This provides a more accurate and genuine educational experience for attendees. While many lectures appear narrow at first, they carry wisdom that can illuminate people in all walks of life. The speakers bring new perspectives and broaden views by sharing their unique experiences. I would encourage all students and anyone else interested to attend the next Donald Lecture offered, whether or not professors are offering grades for attendance.