USM's first of three Spring Forums

Hattiesburg, Miss. - It's almost time for Southern Miss's Spring Forum.

The forum is the university’s premier speaker series.

The first of three will begin on Feb. 16 and will feature award-winning journalist, Jerry Mitchell.

Dr. Andrew Haley, professor of history and director of University Forum said, "We want the forums to take the kind of conversations that are happening throughout the country, throughout the globe, and bring them to Mississippi. Jerry Mitchell is an investigative reporter for the Clarion Ledger. Over the course of his career, he's done probably more than anyone to bring former Ku-Klux-Klan's men to justice for civil rights era crimes and so he helped bring to justice the people who fire-bombed Vernon Dahmer's home here in Hattiesburg."

The forum is free and open to the public. The event will be held at Bennett Auditorium.