Around 1,300 students ask for tickets to Michael J. Fox presentation

Whether they be a fan or feel a personal connection, students at Southeast Missouri State University are anticipating the appearance of actor and activist Michael J. Fox.

Fox will appear Wednesday night at the Show Me Center in the second part of the university's annual speaker series with a presentation titled "Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist." The name comes from his 2009 New York Times best-seller book about his life, career and battle with Parkinson's disease and a resulting Emmy-winning prime time TV special.

According to Joanna Shaver, the university's coordinator of campus programs, around 1,300 students asked for tickets as of midday Monday. Tickets to the event are free for students, faculty and staff and $10 for the public.

"We've been handing them out like crazy," she said. "We've given out probably over 100 today."

Shaver said she thinks many students want to see Fox because they have grown up watching him perform, but also because someone they know may be dealing with a long-term illness and believe his message will be a source of inspiration.

While she will attend as the event's coordinator, she said she also looks forward to the presentation.

"I think there are many times we look down on our own lives and don't realize how things could be so much worse," she said. Fox is a great example of someone who is optimistic while constantly trying to overcome a difficult situation due to his illness, she said.

Linda Epley, a freshman from St. Louis, won a meet-and-greet contest through the university's portal system. The contest asked students to answer one of three questions creatively.

Epley answered the question "Where will you be in 2020?" by making a mock display of cupcakes using materials from a hardware store and turned it in to the Student Activities Council. She hopes that by 2020 she will own a bakery. The council also asked Epley to make 100 real cupcakes to sell at the event. Proceeds will benefit The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, Epley said.

Epley wants to meet Fox because she identifies with his situation. One of her family members has Parkinson's disease.

"Just seeing everything that has happened with her, I think it will be great to talk to Michael J. Fox about it because we look up to him and his foundation for the work they've done researching Parkinson's," she said.

Fox was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson's disease in 1991 but did not share his story publicly until 1998. Since then, he has toured extensively, giving inspirational presentations on the college circuit and to fundraise for his foundation.

The speaker series is funded by a student fee increase established in 2005. Proceeds from public ticket sales go to the university foundation to fund scholarships.

The Student Activities council selects the speakers with input from students, faculty and staff each year. Fox is one of the most well-known speakers to visit the university to date. Past years have featured a variety of speakers, such as Howard Dean and Newt Gingrich in 2009, the Discovery Channel's host of "Dirty Jobs," Mike Rowe in 2010 and most recently in September journalist Lisa Ling. Appearances scheduled in the 2011-2012 series include two-time NFL MVP Kurt Warner and Bill Nye, host of multiple science-related TV shows. A full schedule is available at www.semo.edu.

Doors open for the Fox event at 6:30 p.m. and the presentation begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Show Me Center.

According to Greg Talbut, assistant director of the Show Me Center, around 300 general admission tickets were sold as of Monday afternoon and tickets are still available.

eragan@semissourian.com

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