Jon to speak at Pen State U

Jon minus Kate, eight to visit PSU
If you go
What: Jon Gosselin from Jon and Kate Plus 8
When: 6:30 to 9 p.m. Saturday
Where: 100 Thomas
Details: Must present student I.D. at the door


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Collegian Staff Writer
In 2004, Kate Gosselin used a fertility treatment, heard six beating hearts on an ultra-sound machine and months later gave birth to sextuplets at Penn State's Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey.

Her husband, Jon Gosselin, is coming to Penn State Saturday to talk about his journey since his family went from two to 10 and his experience on TLC's Jon and Kate Plus 8.

Gosselin will speak from 6:30 to 9 p.m on Saturday in 100 Thomas about his family and life as a Korean-American as a featured guest of the Asian Pacific American Caucus.

Chen Zhou, treasurer for the Asian Pacific American Caucus, said the club tries to bring Asian-American speakers to Penn State each year to highlight Asian-American culture in a different way.

"The majority of the audience will be there for the TV show, so Jon will spend half the time talking about the show," Zhou (junior-premedicine) said. "And then I hope he'll spend the other half talking about his past, childhood and being Asian-American."

In May 2004, the sextuplets were born in Hershey and were hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit at the Hershey Medical Center. The Gosselins' twins -- Mady and Kara -- were only a few years old when the sextuplets -- Collin, Leah, Joel, Hannah, Aaden and Alexis -- were born.

Dana Pidliskey (junior-advertising) said she enjoys watching the kids grow up on the TV show.

"It is so interesting that they have so many kids and their personalities are enjoyable. I can relate to them," Pidliskey said. "They have religious values and are family-oriented. It's like almost watching my own family."

In conjunction with the speech, there will be a closed question-and-answer session in which Gosselin will answer questions submitted by students.

Students planning to attend the event have submitted their questions on Facebook.

"I want to see how the TV show has changed their lives and if it stops, what will their lives return to -- because they are semi-famous now," Karen Marietta (senior-music education) said.

Pidliskey said she wants to hear any advice Gosselin has for college students.

"I want to hear how his life is changing from popularity. And you don't hear him talk about his culture on the show," she said. "I want to learn more about him."