Old ties were strengthened when Buffalo native Tim Russert delivered a charismatic and timely speech to a packed audience Wednesday night in Alumni Arena.
Russert, senior vice president of NBC News, was the final guest of this year's Distinguished Speaker Series.
Russert's face was familiar to many from his famous Sunday morning news show "Meet the Press," which he produces and moderates. The comprehensive interview program has become one of the most influential news shows in the nation.
"It's great to be home. Go Bills! Go Bulls! Go Canisius Crusaders!" he cheered.
The audience listened intently, laughing at the occasional wisecrack or reference to Yogi Berra or a strict Canisius High School priest.
"He parlays his lower-middle class upbringing and being an Everyman well into his speech. He doesn't come across as a stuffy journalist," said Sam Cloud, a resident in the School of Medicine. "He's one of the best speakers I've seen yet."
Joking aside, Russert covered a lot of ground. He delved into issues including the upcoming presidential election, the War in Iraq, and future concerns in America that he said any president-elect should address.
"I truly believe that this presidential election is going to be a very big election about very big differences on very big issues," he said. "There are profound differences between the political parties and the independent parties over the situation in Iraq."
Russert said the extreme contrast in the views of the political parties has also caused a rift in American society.
"We on this issue, like so many others, have become a 50-50 nation. People are deeply divided about the war in Iraq," he said. "I don't know what is going to happen in Iraq. I don't even think anyone in Washington knows what is going to happen. It is a dangerous and difficult time."
According to Russert, the fate of the election depends on America's feelings of security regarding issues such as jobs, tax rates and the ultimate motives for involvement in Iraq.
"The American psyche is at work here. How do we feel about our nation and our standing in the world?" Russert asked the audience.
Russert also focused on other elements that may play a role in the presidential election campaigns. He said as a journalist and news reporter to the nation, he has to put concerns of the people ahead of the political agenda of the candidates.
"It is our job, as the press, to put other issues before the candidates, to function as surrogates for the voters," he said. "I have the luxury of reading newspapers and books and magazines and getting the best input I possibly can, so that hard-working people can turn on their television Sunday morning, and I can hopefully function as their surrogate."
According to Russert, the baby boom generation's increasing need for medical care and social security will be a problem in the near future.
"In 2004, both of these men have to be asked about Iraq, and tax cuts, and gasoline prices, but also about security, health insurance, Medicare," he said. "The number of people on social security is going to skyrocket from 40 million to 80 million.
Russert posed the question even further down the line.
"You have to ask yourself, what are you going to do for the next generation without going bankrupt?" he said.
The speaker also addressed the issue of poverty. He stressed the importance of students staying in school and keeping a sense of motivation as a solution.
"We need a highly-educated, highly motivated workforce coming out of schools," he said. "How do you get into the hearts and minds of kids and encourage them to finish school, get married and then have a baby?"
Economic discussion hit home when Stan Zionts, an industrial engineering professor at UB, asked Russert what he would do to bolster the collapsing economy of Buffalo.
"You have to keep pushing employment," Russert said. "We have an intelligent workforce here - that's what this city is about. I wish people could see and feel what I do about this city, but employers look for places where they will make a profit and keep stable business."
"Still, UB is here as the biggest source of employment," Russert said. "Fisher Price is here. I have faith and confidence that we'll be able to pull our city together so that our children will want to stay where the heart is, and that's Western New York."
