Brazile to provide 2024 perspective during Omnibus presentation on Thursday

Though America’s focus on political discourse seems to change by the hour, Donna Brazile has a solid idea for how she will frame her Omnibus Speaker Series presentation on Thursday in Auer Performance Hall at Purdue University Fort Wayne. She will stress three principles: the importance of civic engagement, compromise is not a dirty word, and the need for community.

“Washington is still a dynamic place,” said Brazile, who teaches a weekly course at Georgetown University. “The problem is, of course, that polarization runs deep in the waters, but I still believe the American people should have some hope and optimism.”

Brazile, a veteran Democratic political strategist, will present “Political Outlook: A Comprehensive Picture of What’s Going on in Washington” starting at 7:30 p.m.

“A divided government should not be dysfunctional because political differences are ultimately just different ways of accomplishing the same goals,” Brazile said. “We can have different views and opinions, and they can be in opposition without being in competition. I often tell my students at Georgetown that the left eye and the right eye don’t see things from the same angle. When they see together, their different viewpoints give us a look at the world with a different perspective.”

While saying she has lectured at over 260 colleges and universities, Brazile said her true calling is teaching, and she’s taught at Georgetown for more than 22 years. She also taught at the University of Maryland and Harvard University and has written two books while contributing chapters to several collections. The latest is “Wake up America, Black Women and the Future of Democracy," which was published earlier this month. Brazile said she’s deciding between three ideas for her next subject.

Tickets to the event are free and available on a first-come, first-served basis through the Schatzlein Box Office or PFW’s online ticketing platform. A $1.50 convenience charge is assessed per ticket for online orders, with a limit of four tickets per person.

For anyone wanting to get tickets to the show in person, box office hours are 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., Tuesday-Friday.

Reserved online tickets can be sent to patrons via text message or email. These digital options are helpful to avoid standing at the box office the night of the show. Tickets can also be picked up in person beginning one hour before the presentation.

The Omnibus Speaker Series at Purdue Fort Wayne is made possible in part due to the support of the English-Bonter-Mitchell Foundation, which has sponsored every season since the series launched in 1995. 

For more information on the final two speakers of the 2023-24 season—and the series itself—visit pfw.edu/omnibus,