A wide range of high profile icons, from Donald Trump to Salman Rushdie, will speak at UB this year as part of the 18th annual Distinguished Speakers Series.
The Office of Special Events acquired a record eight speakers this year to come to UB. The other speakers are NASA official Steven Squyres, renowned author Barbara Ehrenreich, journalist Bob Woodward, former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, political pundit Ann Coulter, scholar Michael Dyson, and award-winning author Salman Rushdie.
Bill Regan, director for conferences and special events, said he is glad all the lectures but one will be held in Alumni Arena. Michael Dyson will speak at the Center for the Arts.
"Alumni Arena is the ideal place for the lectures because it can hold between three to four thousand (people)," he said.
According to Regan, cost of admission to the Donald Trump lecture will be $10 for UB students with a valid ID. Approximately 3,000 tickets will be available, he said. All the other lectures are free of charge to students. Trump kicks off the series on September 30.
SA President Anthony Burgio said although students might be surprised to see a Distinguished Speakers lecture cost $10, a ticket to a Trump lecture would normally cost over $50.
Despite the cost of tickets, students seem willing to pay to see Trump, this year's Student Choice Speaker.
"It's a great opportunity for students of all majors to hear about such an accomplished man's avenue towards success, and hopefully will inspire students towards greater personal and communal achievements," said Heather Barry, a junior biology major.
Many students said they were interested in attending the lecture because of Trump's hit television show The Apprentice.
"I watched that show every week," said Alexis Cameron, a senior political science major. "I think Trump is an extremely hard working man. You can definitely tell he is money hungry. He wanted to copyright the words 'You're fired!' which is ridiculous."
Regan said he, too, was excited that the real estate and media mogul is coming to UB. "Donald Trump is the number one pop icon," Regan said. "I am very excited to see him. Trump can be looked at in many different ways. He is very special and we can all learn a lot from him."
According to Regan, the budget for this year's Distinguished Series was approximately $500,000.
When the Office of Special Events began to put the schedule together, Regan was hoping to land filmmaker Michael Moore, the creator of "Fahrenheit 9/11," a documentary film about the Bush administration that broke box office records this summer.
"Michael Moore was a close candidate in coming to UB but it just couldn't happen", Regan said.
Following Trump in the series will be Steven Squyres, a professor of astronomy at Cornell University. Squyres, currently a project leader in the Mars Exploration Rover Project for NASA, had a key role in developing the agency's theories over the existence of water on Mars.
"Many students may not know who Steven Squyres is," Regan said. "Knowing that he is a part of the Mars exploration I think students will be very interested in this lecture and should take advantage of it. I think the Steven Squyres lecture will be fabulous."
The critically acclaimed author and journalist Barbara Ehrenreich, whose latest book, "Nickel and Dimed: On Not Getting By In America," was used this year in the UB 101 curriculum, will speak on October 27.
"I've read many of Barbara Ehrenreich's books in my Women's Studies classes and I look forward to hearing her lecture," said Victoria Lammerhirt, a senior psychology major and women's studies minor. "She is a very renowned social commentator."
Next in the series comes Bob Woodward, who broke the Watergate scandal with Carl Bernstein while writing for The Washington Post. Regan said Woodward will bring a great "international flavor" to the lecture series as this year's International Education Lecturer.
Two speakers will go head-to-head in a debate on March 10 -- Janet Reno, President Clinton's attorney general, and right-wing pundit Ann Coulter. "The (debate) topics may include women's issues or minority topics but that is still to be decided," Regan said.
"It will be interesting to see Janet Reno because she is an extremely distinguished woman who helped pave a path for women in the future who want to become involved with politics," said Caitlin Mahon, a senior environmental engineer.
The speaker sponsored this year by the UB Minority Faculty and Staff Association will be Michael Dyson, a scholar and author that Essence magazine named one of the "50 Most Inspiring African-Americans."
Internationally acclaimed novelist and intellectual Salman Rushdie will speak at Alumni Arena on April 28, concluding the Distinguished Speakers Series. Rushdie is the author of the books "Midnight's Children" and "The Satanic Verses."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
