A pair of literal and figurative giants will speak at UB this year as part of the UB's Distinguished Speakers Series. Political heavyweight Colin Powell and fiery comedian Conan O'Brien - both pushing well beyond six feet - headline in the series' 19th year. This year's speakers push the political and academic extremes, representing civil rights and even scientific pioneers.
"This year's series is very diverse with people from many different angles," said SA President Dela Yador.
Powell served as President Bush's Secretary of State, a professional soldier with a rank of four-star General, and served as the 12th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Powell speaks on October 19 at 8 p.m. at Alumni Arena.
Late Night with Conan O'Brien is the home of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, Masturbating Bear, and the Max Weinberg 7. O'Brien has hosted Late Night for twelve years on NBC, winning several Writer's Guild Awards and nominated for four Emmys. He was recently tabbed to replace Jay Leno when he retires in 2009. O'Brien speaks on April 22 at 8 p.m. at Alumni Arena.
"This year will be more mature and more modern than past years," Yador said. "Colin Powell is a huge figure and both headliners will be entertaining and informative at the same time."
Bill Regan, Director of the Office of Special Events, said high profile figures like Powell and O'Brien represent people UB students want to emulate.
"We strive to present headline speakers. We filled in with people considered to be at the top of their field," he said.
Students are excited about O'Brien, whose show captures the highest percentage of the college demographic among network late night shows.
"I try to catch Conan as often as I can so that's awesome that he's coming here. He's pretty hiliarious," said Matthew Rowe, a junior exercise science major.
Kicking off the Distinguished Speaker Series is a bestselling novelist, Alex Kotlowitz. His most recent novel "The Other Side of the River" concentrates on a community that gets torn apart by racism. Kotlowitz will be presenting at the Alumni Arena at 8 p.m. on Sept. 29.
One of the world's leading physicists on the String Theory, Brian Greene is also the author of the bestselling book, "The Elegant Universe." String Theory is a relatively new development in physics that rethinks the way scientists perceive matter, thinking of it as the vibration of strings instead of merely particles. Greene is currently a professor of Physics and Mathematics at Columbia and presenting on Nov. 16 in the Alumni Arena at 8 p.m.
Tavis Smiley, an infamous political commentator, is the late night talk show host of the Tavis Smiley Show on PBS. The Tavis Smiley Show, known for its newsmaker, politician, celebrity and real people interviews, won the 2005 NAACP Award after its first season. Smiley is also the author of "Keeping the Faith: Stories of Love, Courage, Healing and Hope from Black America. Smiley will speak at the CFA on Feb. 3 at 8 p.m.
Science and health journalist Laurie Garrett has won countless awards for her work on National Public Radio. Garrett is the author of several works of nonfiction such as "Betrayal of Trust," about the collapse of global public health, and "The Coming Plague" which aired on TBS as a four-part documentary. Garrett will speak at the CFA on April 6 at 8 p.m.
Students appreciate the diversity of speakers, however a higher profile female speaker is a wish some students are holding out for.
Crysten Rushmore, a junior Speech and Hearing Science major said, "I love when UB has women speakers in the series. But I think they should have a woman from a TV show or in the fashion business, maybe the editor from a magazine."
Tickets are free of charge to UB students like in previous years.
"We tried for a variety of speakers this year so hopefully every student finds a speaker they think will be interesting," Regan said.
Photo: Courtesy of SUNY
