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The Center for Participant Education (CPE) is a
Florida State University (FSU) student government
agency established in 1970 to provide an alternative
to the traditional curriculum taught at FSU. Its
founding philosophy was, and still is, that students
should have a participatory role in their education.
CPE was created as a result of the student activism
of the time, and is now one of the largest "free
universities" in the nation. It has provided
progressive and alternative views on education, the
arts, politics, and social concerns by offering a
wide range of classes, workshops, films, and guest
speakers, all free of charge and open to the
public.
CPE's non-traditional approach to education is
reflected in its catalog. Published every semester,
the CPE catalog features a wide variety of free
classes, which range from beer-making to dance,
juggling, meditation and self-defense. CPE volunteer
teachers have complete freedom over what they
teach.
Subsidized by student appropriations, CPE has also
brought a wide selection of speakers to the Florida
State University campus every year since it began
1970. It has sponsored programs on issues such as
abortion, AIDS, apartheid, Central America, Gay and
Lesbian students, human rights, the Middle East,
Native Americans, Nicaragua, South Africa, and
women's issues. Past speakers have included Philip
Agee, Maya Angelou, Julian Bond, Cesar Chavez, Angela
Davis, Allen Ginsberg, Abbie Hoffman, Jesse Jackson,
Kate Millett, Ralph Nader, Madalyn Murray O'Hare,
Jerry Rubin, and Gloria Steinem.
In addressing important social issues that affect
people locally, nationally, and internationally,
CPE's history has also been marked by controversy,
and has been investigated by the Florida Legislature,
suspended by the Florida Board of Regents, and
challenged by the Florida State University
administration.
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