Former foreign leaders set to speak at TCU forum

The two former leaders of America’s neighboring countries will be on campus Wednesday to discuss leadership and give students a new perspective on the U.S., Canada and Mexico’s foreign relations and the nations’ futures.

The former Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chrétien will join former Mexican President Vicente Fox as the next speaker of the Forum of World Leaders, which began in November 2011. Fox established the forum with TCU graduate Juan Hernandez, and after speaking at the inauguration, Fox is now the mediator of the forum, which will take place several times this year.

“The forum is a wonderful opportunity for students to witness a pragmatic wisdom in practice,” Provost Nowell Donovan said.

Donovan said one of his main goals as provost at TCU is to equip students to succeed and take responsible roles in the modern world, and the forum’s speakers embodied his hopes for TCU students.

Chrétien served as Canada’s prime minister from 1993-2003. According to information provided by TCU, he is credited with improving the Canadian economy and ratifying the Kyoto Protocol during his time in office.

The Executive Director of Community Projects Margaret Kelly said Fox asked Chrétien to speak at TCU after forming a strong diplomatic relationship by working closely together on the North American Free Trade Agreement.

Donovan said he hoped the two leaders would talk about their relationship with the U.S. and expose students to a different world view on topics such as the U.S.’ role in Mexico’s drug war, and the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico.

TCU students won’t be the only ones attending the forum on Wednesday. Kelly said there were approximately 300 Fort Worth Independent School District students attending, and more will RSVP closer to the date of the forum.

Kelly said the next speaker for the forum is the former president of Columbia Alvaro Uribe Velez, who will speak on April 25.

When: Feb. 15, 1:30-3 p.m.
Where: Brown-Lupton University Union Ballroom
Who: Free and open to the public
Additional Info: Reservations are required and may be made via phone to Nancy Styles at 817-257-7808 or e-mail at n.styles@tcu.edu.