Jesse Ventura to speak at Virginia Tech Tuesday

Former Minnesota Gov. Jesse Ventura will speak at Virginia Tech at 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 15, in Burruss Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public made possible by the Student Affairs Parents Fund, Virginia Tech Union, and Student Activities.

In Ventura's speech, "Tell It Like It Is," he will share anecdotes from his ascension to the Governor's mansion and insights into pressing events of the day.

Ventura was elected the 38th governor of Minnesota in 1998, the first-ever Reform Party candidate to win statewide office. Born in Minneapolis, Ventura joined the Navy immediately after high school and was trained as a SEAL. He served in the Navy for six years during the Vietnam era — four on active duty, two in the Reserves. After his honorable discharge in 1973, Ventura attended North Hennepin Community College with the assistance of the GI Bill.

He went on to be a professional wrestler for 11 years, known then as Jesse "The Body" Ventura. When he retired from wrestling in 1984, he became an actor, appearing in several films including Predator with Arnold Schwarzenegger and later became a radio talk show host. In 1990, Ventura was prompted to run for mayor of Brooklyn Park, Minnesota's sixth largest city, which he won and served as until 1995.

Following his term as governor, Ventura taught at Harvard's elite John F. Kennedy School of Government as a visiting fellow. The Institute of Politics study run by the former governor focused on the way third party politics influences American government and the future of independent political movements in America.

The Parents Fund, a Virginia Tech gift-giving program for parents of current and previous students, also has allocated money to endow the Hokie Speakers Fund – seed money to a fund that will ultimately grow and provide resources to financially support a lecture series for student-chosen, notable speakers.

"We're happy that we are bringing in speakers that really excite the students," said Nicki Cantrell, director of student activities. "It should be an exciting evening."