Following Dr. Elder’s departure from Elon in 1973 and the Forum’s 20th Anniversary Symposium in 1978, the Liberal Arts Forum entered a period of transition, gaining its own Committee as part of the Student Government Association and organizing a series of independent lectures and events instead of an annual Spring Symposium. Even in its new form, however, the Forum continued to deliver high-quality humanities events to the Elon community.
A 1978 article in the Elon Student Newspaper, the Pendulum, commemorating the Forum’s 20th Anniversary.
Beginning in the late 1970s, the length and scope of the Forum’s flagship Spring Symposium gradually decreased, with the event now sometimes lasting just two days instead of four and the number of guest lecturers contracting as well. Instead, the Forum increasingly hosted individual speakers or organized stand-alone symposiums throughout the year. Scroll down to view a series of brochures for the Forum’s 1977-1983 Spring Symposiums.
Brochure for the 1977 Spring Symposium. Guest Lecturers included Dr. Sehdev G. Gupta and Frederick Franck.
Brochure for the 1978 Spring Symposium. Guest Lecturers included Dr. Evelyn Helmick and Carlyle Marney.
Brochure for the 1979 Spring Symposium. Guest Lecturers included Dr. John C. Gibbs and John A. Kromkowski.
Brochure for the 1980 Spring Symposium, a multi-day film exhibition.
Brochure for the 1981 Spring Symposium. Guest Lecturers included Dr. Joseph Himes and Elizabeth Douvan.
Brochure for the 1983 Spring Symposium. Guest Lecturers included Sanford Gottlieb and Wells Edelman.
The last recorded Spring Symposium took place in 1983. After this, the Forum focused on organizing stand-alone events and lecture series. Nevertheless, the Forum continued to attract high-profile guest speakers to Elon, including former President Gerald Ford and former Congresswoman Shirley Chisholm.
A Pendulum article on President Ford and Shirley Chisholm’s 1986 visit to Elon.
