| INSIDE MTSU: Writer turns ‘fangirl’ with O’Connor visit |
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By: GINA FANN, MTSU News & PR
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Posted: Sunday, January 29, 2012 3:36 am
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Folks who know where I work often tease me about the latest speaker announcements we send out to the surrounding community. “Who is it this week?” they joke. “The president? The pope? Taylor Swift … oh, wait, my kids want to hear her.”
Those three haven’t stopped by MTSU – yet – but the diversity, distinction and depth of knowledge of the guest lecturers who’ve graced our university podiums is a huge mark of pride for us and a fabulous opportunity for our students, staff and neighbors.
In the last couple of years alone, we’ve heard from James “Jim” Leach, chair of the National Endowment for the Humanities; Grammy- and Emmy-nominated film composer and alumnus George S. Clinton; former FBI behaviorist Joe Navarro; Nancy Holliday, general manager for U.S. Services sales at Microsoft Corp.; online music mogul Ian Rogers; Brian Bordainick, New Orleans high school teacher and founder of the 9th Ward Field of Dreams project; entrepreneur Steve Saint; respected Egyptologist Donald B. Redford; bestselling author Dave Isay; renowned civil rights attorney Fred Gray; award-winning film director Miraz Bezar; veteran journalists Sandy Johnson, John Seigenthaler and John Seigenthaler Jr.; famed forensic pathologist Dr. Jan “Dr. G” Garavaglia; acclaimed anti-human-trafficking activist Somaly Mam; social justice advocate Angela Davis; U.S. Sen. Bob Corker; anti-bullying advocate Dr. Gary Namie; and genre-bending musician Béla Fleck.
And yes, I’m as impressed, and exhausted, reading that by-no-means comprehensive list as you are.
I’d love to listen to every one of the special speakers who come to MTSU, but unfortunately, that just is not possible, unless I decide to make it my full-time job, which it easily could become.
Our Feb. 8 guest, however, will see my shining face in the amen corner of Hinton Music Hall in our Wright Music Building. Retired U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is helping us celebrate the university’s centennial year during a special visit as part of MTSU’s renowned Windham Lecture Series.
O’Connor will present her free public lecture at 6:30 p.m. As I and my exceptionally patient and kind colleague in the College of Liberal Arts, Connie Huddleston, have been telling the many people who’ve called and e-mailed: You don’t need tickets; just get to Hinton Hall early for a good seat.
Can you believe it?
Justice Sandra Day O’Connor!
The first woman to serve on the U.S. Supreme Court!
A respected attorney and longtime jurist whose common sense, moderating views and careful case-by-case consideration earned her a hard-won reputation as the critical “swing vote” in many of the high court’s 5:4 decisions.
(I’ll calm down now.)
She retired from the court in 2006 after almost 25 years of service there and still fills in as an appellate judge, when she’s not writing bestselling books, lecturing and traveling.
If that’s not enough, she put her longtime interest in civics education into action by launching iCivics (formerly OurCourts), a web-based education project designed to teach students civics and inspire them to be active participants in democracy. (Check it out at www.icivics.org.)
If you haven’t yet heard about O’Connor’s visit, go to mtsunews.com to learn more.
I’ll be trying to quell my lifelong-legal-junkie fangirlish-ness until then. See you there!
Gina E. Fann works in the MTSU Office of News and Media Relations and manages content for the university’s news website, MTSUnews.com. |
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