2008 Woodie Awards
Candidates down to six for Speaker Series
By: Frank Eslinger
Issue date: 1/9/08 Section: News
The Speaker Series committee has narrowed its list of speakers to bring to CMU to five or six possible candidates.
Officials would not release the candidates' names, but did say what they were looking for.
"We want the candidates to have an overall appeal to both students and faculty," said John Fierst, Clarke Historical Library assistant professor and Speaker Series committee chair. "We want somebody current and likely to generate discussion, even controversy. Cost is also a factor."
The committee has up to $20,000 to spend. That money came last semester when University President Michael Rao allocated the money to the Speaker Series budget.
Fierst said he wants to make sure the final candidate canengage staff and students.
"We want the candidate to be willing to meet with students and faculty," he said. "Our concern is to bring out someone with a wide spectrum of views. The candidate obviously won't meet all of our criteria, but we hope to find someone that meets as many as possible."
Fierst said the committee was trying to listen to what students want.
"We try to be responsive," Fierst said. "We want to respond to what we hear from students on who they want to see speak on campus."
Funding for the series has been a struggle for the past few years, even though Fierst said there is a lot of support.
"We don't know what the future holds," he said. "We just go year to year attempting to get this established in the annual budget. We get a lot of support."
The Speaker Series used to be a part of the school budget, but had to be dropped because of state funding problems. Now the series is struggling to get the required funds to have an annual speaker.
"Rao allocated $20,000 directly out of his budget," said Steve Smith, director of media relations. "With the current state funding issue, Rao wanted to support the program."
University Events Director Robert Ebner said the speaker most likely would present in either late March or early April.
Ebner said he thinks the series is important for students and that they deserve to hear from the speakers.
"The committee really works hard in selecting speakers," he said. "This series has been around for at least 40 years, maybe even 50. It deserves to be part of the annual budget."
news@cm-life.com
Officials would not release the candidates' names, but did say what they were looking for.
"We want the candidates to have an overall appeal to both students and faculty," said John Fierst, Clarke Historical Library assistant professor and Speaker Series committee chair. "We want somebody current and likely to generate discussion, even controversy. Cost is also a factor."
The committee has up to $20,000 to spend. That money came last semester when University President Michael Rao allocated the money to the Speaker Series budget.
Fierst said he wants to make sure the final candidate canengage staff and students.
"We want the candidate to be willing to meet with students and faculty," he said. "Our concern is to bring out someone with a wide spectrum of views. The candidate obviously won't meet all of our criteria, but we hope to find someone that meets as many as possible."
Fierst said the committee was trying to listen to what students want.
"We try to be responsive," Fierst said. "We want to respond to what we hear from students on who they want to see speak on campus."
Funding for the series has been a struggle for the past few years, even though Fierst said there is a lot of support.
"We don't know what the future holds," he said. "We just go year to year attempting to get this established in the annual budget. We get a lot of support."
The Speaker Series used to be a part of the school budget, but had to be dropped because of state funding problems. Now the series is struggling to get the required funds to have an annual speaker.
"Rao allocated $20,000 directly out of his budget," said Steve Smith, director of media relations. "With the current state funding issue, Rao wanted to support the program."
University Events Director Robert Ebner said the speaker most likely would present in either late March or early April.
Ebner said he thinks the series is important for students and that they deserve to hear from the speakers.
"The committee really works hard in selecting speakers," he said. "This series has been around for at least 40 years, maybe even 50. It deserves to be part of the annual budget."
news@cm-life.com
