Frequently Asked Questions

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You can learn more about the Sinai Forum here and more about our generous sponsors here!

The Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum is a speakers’ series marking its 70th year in 2023. The Sinai Forum hosts four to six speakers per season in the fall. The mission of the forum is to provide affordable, exceptional programming on important issues of the day in a town-hall setting.

Purdue University Northwest Sinai Forum has brought world-renowned scholars, leaders, dignitaries, artists and personalities to Northwest Indiana since 1953.

Browse the Impressive List of Speakers

The Sinai Forum was founded by Sylvia Bankoff and her husband, Dr. Milton Bankoff, Rabbi Karl Richter and a small group of inspired citizens from Michigan City, IN.

The Sinai Forum is appropriate for children 14 years and up. College and HS students free of charge with valid student ID. Reservation required, limited seating available and varies by program. Visit our website for more information.

In most cases, speakers for the fall series are announced in late June each year.

To be among the first to know about our line-up each year and to receive other updates, add your name to our email list here.

The public can sign up to receive an email notice when tickets go on sale.

You must be on our email list to receive our flyer. Sign up for our email list here.

Tickets are no longer sold at off-site ticket outlets or on either campus of PNW. All tickets must be purchased online.

You will show your e-ticket(s) when you arrive at the venue for each program.

You can show your e-ticket on your phone, in the Hometown Fan App, which can be downloaded from the app store on your mobile device, or you can print your ticket for scanning from the email you receive prior to each program.

Guests using a student reservation will also need to show a valid student ID card.

If you purchased multiple tickets and included the names and email addresses of each additional guest, their e-tickets and links to our virtual platform will be emailed directly to them and no further action is needed on your part.

If you purchased multiple tickets but did not have their contact information available for additional guests, you can:

Transfer their e-ticket in the HomeTown Fan app. Instructions on how to complete ticket transfers can be found on the Hometown Fan app and will be included when you receive your e-tickets for live events on the dates noted above.

If you choose not to transfer tickets to other guests through the app, you can:

• Print the ticket and give it to them.
• Forward the email associated with the additional e-ticket(s).
• Share a screenshot of the additional e-ticket(s) purchased.

Please note: Each program’s e-ticket for our live events is specific to its program and can only be scanned once.

With your series purchase, you receive access to our virtual platform and can watch our programs on the platform in real-time or for 30 days on demand, post program.

You will receive links to the virtual platform on the Monday and Friday before each program. You can bookmark the link to access the platform easily throughout the season. Each ticket link is email specific and can’t be transferred to another person

If you are unable to attend a live program, you can share your ticket with another person.

You can transfer an e-ticket in the HomeTown Fan app. Instructions on how to complete ticket transfers can be found on the Hometown Fan app and will be included when you receive your e-tickets for live events on the dates noted above.

If you choose not to transfer tickets to other guests through the app, you can:

• Print the ticket and give it to them.
• Forward the email associated with the additional e-ticket(s).
• Share a screenshot of the e-ticket(s) purchased.

Refund requests for full series tickets must be made in writing and received by the Executive Director of the Sinai Forum three weeks prior to the start of the season. Approved refunds will be processed within three weeks of receiving returned tickets. The credit card used to purchase tickets will be credited directly.

Please note once the season begins there are no exchanges, refunds, or cancelations.

Please contact Leslie Plesac – Executive Director at (219) 785-5377 for assistance.

On event days, a support technician will be available to chat live. Just click the “Help Desk” bar on the left hand side of any page on the portal.

Access the Virtual Portal

Before and after the event, your message will be sent to event staff who will respond via email within 48 hours.

Please note: The platform does not support Internet Explorer or Safari. Google Chrome and Firefox are the preferred browsers for this platform.

We do not recommend accessing the platform on a Virtual Private Network (VPN) or on devices with strict firewall settings. Please turn off your VPN or firewall if it is not required or contact your IT department for assistance.

VISIT THE MVP PLATFORM FOR MORE INFORMATION

All programs begin at 4 p.m. CT; doors open at 3 p.m. CT.

Patron Season Ticket holders are invited to pre-program receptions with speakers beginning at 2:30 p.m. CT.

Programs last approximately 90 minutes, with a brief reception and book signing following most programs.

In circumstances of bad weather, notices about rescheduling or canceling a program will be posted on the PNW Sinai Forum website and Facebook page, as well as emailed to subscribers.

Weather-related cancellations will also be announced on local radio stations throughout the region: WGN (720 AM), WBBM (780 AM), WLTH (1370 AM), WLJE (105.5 FM), WJOB (1230 AM/104.7 FM), WLPR (89.1 FM), WIMS (1420 AM), WEFM (95.9 FM), WLOI (1540 AM), WCOE (96.7 FM), WSBT (96.1 FM), WKVI (99.3 FM/1520 AM).

Yes, we do have wheelchair accessible seats available. To request a disability-related accommodation for this event, please contact the Office of Institutional Equity at oie@pnw.edu or (219) 989-2163 for the Hammond Campus or (219) 785-5545 for the Westville Campus.

No, hearing assistance devices are not available for programs.

There are many ways to become a support of PNW Sinai Forum.

1. Join our email list. Learn about upcoming speakers and be the first to purchase season tickets.
2. Become a season ticket holder. Provides admittance to all programs for the entire season.
3. Make a donation. Help us continue to bring world-renowned speakers to Northwest Indiana.
4. Become a program sponsor. Contact Executive Director Leslie Plesac at (219) 785-5377.

If you are interested in becoming a sponsor of the PNW Sinai Forum, please contact Executive Director Leslie Plesac at (219) 785-5377.