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Costa Rican human rights leader Quince Duncan to receive St. Olaf honorary degree Sept. 28

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September 14, 2001

NORTHFIELD, Minn. ? Costa Rican writer, professor and internationally known human rights leader Quince Duncan will be awarded an honorary doctor of humane letters degree by St. Olaf College on Friday, Sept. 28. He also will give a public address at the college on Thursday, Sept. 27.

Duncan will receive the honorary degree at 10:10 a.m. Sept. 28 during the daily chapel service in Boe Memorial Chapel. He will speak at 3:30 p.m. Sept. 27 in Urness Recital Hall, Christiansen Hall of Music, discussing "?Sir, Why Are You Chocolate?? A Reflection on Race and Culture." Both the honorary degree convocation and the talk are free and open to the public.

Considered one of the finest authors in Costa Rica, Duncan writes fiction that conveys black African contributions to and experience in Spanish-American culture. Some of his work is required reading in many Costa Rican high schools, and is the subject of dissertations. In addition to his fiction, Duncan has written works of historical, sociological and autobiographical value.

Duncan is professor emeritus at the National University of Costa Rica, an institution he helped found. He has been a visiting professor at a number of U.S. universities, and he organized two new high schools in Costa Rica, serving as principal and academic advisor at both.

Internationally recognized as a human rights leader, he has spoken out against racism and social injustice based on race, gender or religion. He has contributed to international human rights workshops and conferences sponsored by religious and academic institutions.

For more than a decade Duncan has been a teacher to St. Olaf students who participate in international studies programs in Costa Rica. Students return to St. Olaf brimming with enthusiasm about his humor, his generous spirit and his vivid personal stories.

St. Olaf College prepares students to become responsible citizens of the world, fostering development of mind, body and spirit. A four-year, coeducational liberal arts college of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), St. Olaf has a student enrollment of 2,950 and a full-time faculty complement of approximately 300. It is one of Money Guide?s top 100 "elite values in college education today," and it leads the nation?s colleges in percentage of students who study abroad.

Contact Michael Cooper at 507-786-3315 or cooperm@stolaf.edu.