Former President of Poland Visits CSB/SJU

The College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University hosted Lech Walesa, the former president of Poland, on Wednesday, November 30. Walesa, who is also the founder of the Solidarity organization and a Nobel Prize winner, spoke to more than 1,200 people at Saint John’s Abbey Church.

Walesa is widely credited with helping to end communism is Europe. He came to CSB/SJU to share his experiences and the lessons he’s learned.

During his talk, Walesa challenged the United States to use its superpower status to help reform democratic principles to ensure everyone has an equal voice. He pointed to the growing economic power of China as an example of the changes ahead and emphasized that a change in democratic principles is needed to bring everyone in the United States and Europe an equal voice with communist China and its large population.

Walesa’s visit was sponsored by the University Chair in Critical Thinking at SJU.

Nick Hayes
University Chair in Critical Thinking
Quad 451B, SJU
(320) 363-2623

Kathryn Holt
Research Assistant

Norma Koetter
Administrative Assistant, University Chair in Critical Thinking
(320) 363-2770
nkoetter@csbsju.edu