Campus and Community

Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart to speak at OU

Smart, a leading advocate for change related to child abduction, will speak at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, in the Oakland Center Founders Ballrooms.

icon of a calendarFebruary 19, 2019

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Kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart to speak at OU
Elizabeth Smart
Elizabeth Smart, who was held captive from June 2002 to March 2003, will share her story of strength and courage on March 21 at OU.

Elizabeth Smart, who captured the nation’s attention when she was abducted from her home in 2002, will speak at Oakland University at 7 p.m. on Thursday, March 21, in the Oakland Center Founders Ballrooms. A book signing will take place immediately following her talk.  

Smart’s story drew national headlines, from when she was taken at knifepoint on June 5, 2002, to when police safely returned her to her family on March 12, 2003. Held prisoner for nine grueling months, Smart emerged a symbol of perseverance and strength when she triumphantly testified before her captor and the world about her private nightmare.

Through this traumatic experience, Smart has become a leading advocate for change related to child abduction, recovery programs and national legislation. She is founder of the Elizabeth Smart Foundation, which is dedicated to preventing crimes against children.

She has also helped promote The National AMBER Alert, The Adam Walsh Child Protection & Safety Act and other similar efforts. Her abduction and recovery continues to encourage broad vigilance and motivate parents, law enforcement and leaders worldwide to focus on children’s safety.

Smart chronicled her experiences in the New York Times bestseller, My Story. She also worked with other abduction survivors and the U.S. Department of Justice to create You're Not Alone: The Journey From Abduction to Empowerment, a survivors guide intended to encourage and help children who have gone through similar experiences. Smart released her latest book, Where There's Hope, in spring 2018.

Ticket Information

This event is open to the OU community and the general public. It is free, but tickets are required. Tickets will be available starting at 9 a.m. on Monday, February 25, at the Office for Student Involvement (OSI) Service Window, room 49 on the lower level of the Oakland Center.

From February 25-March 1, OU students, faculty, and staff can pick up their tickets and two additional tickets for their guests. The general public can pick up tickets at the OSI Service Window or call (248) 370-4407 for tickets starting Monday, March 4.

The lecture is sponsored by the Student Life Lecture Board and Oakland University Credit Union.

 

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