Friends of the UW-Madison Libraries lecture focuses on civility

MADISON — Johns Hopkins University Professor Pier Massimo Forni will give the Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries‘ annual lecture on Wednesday, April 19, at the Pyle Center, 702 Langdon St.

Forni’s lecture, “Choosing Civility: Why Today?”, will discuss the connections among civility, ethics and quality of life.

Forni has written extensively on the works of Giovanni Boccaccio (1313-1375) and was the co-founder and co-director of the Johns Hopkins Civility Project. In 2002, he wrote “Choosing Civility: The Twenty-Five Rules of Considerate Conduct,” and he continues to publish on the topic of civility.

Forni graduated from the University of Pavia in 1974 and received his Ph.D. in Italian literature at UCLA in 1981. A faculty member at Johns Hopkins since 1985, Forni received the Johns Hopkins Alumni Association’s Excellence in Teaching Award and the Outstanding Faculty Award (for undergraduate teaching).

The Friends’ annual banquet and business meeting will be held in the Pyle Center’s Alumni Lounge following Forni’s presentation, which begins at 5:30 p.m. For more information on the lecture or other Friends of the UW–Madison Libraries programs and events, call the Friends at (608) 265-2505 or e-mail friends@library.wisc.edu.