List of Soapbox Debaters

This year's soapbox debate topics include:

Enhanced rights for immigrants (Jorge Mújica);
Drivers’ education fee scam (Rob Sherman);
The Chicago Parking Meters (“The Parking Meter Geek”);
Chicago’s Olympic Bid (Tom Tresser);
Free Burma (Nora Rowley);
“The Resurrection of Jesus: Why All Historians Should Agree He Rose From the Dead”;
DuSable: An Under appreciated Chicago Figure (Haroon Rashid);
TBD, Michael Mackaplow; and
"Artificial Turf is Poison - Chicago's Park District is Responsible - The Victim is You" (Herbert Caplan, Protect our Parks)

Schedule of Events for Saturday, July 25

9 am – Complimentary yoga presented in Washington Square Park by lululemon athletica

10 am – Book Fair opens

10:30 am –Complimentary kids’ yoga presented in Washington Square Park by Get Healthy Chicago

12 pm - Meet the Author: Alex Kotlowitz (book signing)

12:50 pm – Live Music by Black Bear Combo

1 pm – Rick Kogan Welcome

1:15 pm – Presentation of the Altgeld award to Barb Thill

1:35 pm – Main debate (Lincoln vs. Douglas)

2:15 pm –Memorial tributes to Studs Terkel, Leon Despres, Franklin Rosemont and Judith Krug.

2:30 pm – Soapbox Debates

3:45 pm – Dil Pickle award presented

6 pm – Book Fair closes for the day

Bughouse 2009

Exercise your First Amendment rights and relive the exciting public debates that immortalized Washington Square Park. Join the Freedom Museum, the Newberry Library, and the Poetry Foundation, for music and lively debates on current issues, and engage in some good-natured heckling with the crowd. This year, relive the Lincoln-Douglas debates in honor of the Lincoln Bicentennial, and get your photo taken with Lincoln and Douglas. Author Alex Kotlowitz will sign his books before the debates, from 12-1pm, and Rick Kogan will MC this exciting day of activities and speakers.

Make a day of it for your family at the park! Before the debates, Get Healthy Chicago's Chris Nassivera will be teaching a complimentary Kid's Yoga class outside the Newberry Library from 10:30-11:30am on Saturday, July 25th. An adult yoga class will be held at 9 am.

Rick Kogan MC

Rick Kogan, author, Chicago Tribune columnist and radio personality, is this year's MC.

2009

Planning for the 2009 Festival is underway. Stay tuned for more details.

Bughouse Media Coverage

Relive the day by listening to Chicago Amplified's recording of the Bughouse Square Debates. Go to http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=27206.

The Wall Street Journal's online story of the event is also available. Go to www.wsj.com, scroll down and click on "see all video offerings" in the Video Center Section. Choose "Chicagoans Get on Their Soapbox".

Bughouse Schedule Updates

Scott Speegle, Operations Director of Illinois, Obama Campaign, will be speaking opposite Pat Brady or Julie Brady for the McCain Campaign at 1:00 pm on Saturday, July 26.