Edwards and Rove, Jon Stewart and Khaled Hosseini Highlight UB's Distinguished Speakers Series

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- A much-anticipated debate Sept. 26 between John Edwards, former Democratic presidential candidate and U.S. senator, and Karl Rove, former deputy chief of staff and senior advisor to President George W. Bush, will kick off a high-powered lineup of speakers for the University at Buffalo Distinguished Speaker Series.

The 2008-09 series, now in its 22nd season, also will feature lectures by novelist Khaled Hosseini, satirist and TV host Jon Stewart, Democratic political strategist Donna Brazile, Newsweek columnist Anna Quindlen and pop scientist Bill Nye.

All lectures in the series begin at 8 p.m. Edwards/Rove, Hosseini, Stewart and Nye will appear in the Alumni Arena on UB's North (Amherst) Campus. Brazile and Quindlen will appear at the Center for the Arts, also on UB's North (Amherst) Campus.

"Looking ahead to what might be one of the most talked-about election years in decades, the forecast for the coming months promises a great deal of excitement, debate and conversation -- on the national stage as well as in the global arena," said UB President John B. Simpson.

"Our timely lineup for this year's Distinguished Speakers Series taps into this excitement. Our speakers represent a wide array of voices and perspectives commenting on the key issues shaping public life across the nation and around the world.

"We expect that our university and our community will be talking about this lineup of speakers and their ideas throughout the year, and for a long time to come," said Simpson.

Hosseini, author of the UB Reads 2008 book selection -- The Kite Runner, will speak Oct. 16. Hosseini's international bestseller reminds readers in this post-9/11 world that we all share a common humanity through similar emotions and experiences that transcend cultural differences and stereotypes. Hosseini was named 2006 Humanitarian of the Year by the U.S. Office of the United Nations' High Commissioner for Refugees. Join the UB community in reading Hosseini's highly acclaimed book.

Stewart, host of Comedy Central's Emmy-winning The Daily Show will speak Nov. 15. Stewart was selected by the UB Undergraduate Student Association as its guest speaker. Named one of the 100 most influential people by Time magazine, Stewart is especially popular among young people, many of whom choose The Daily Show over conventional news outlets to keep informed of current events.

The Television Critics Association has recognized the show for Outstanding Achievement in News and Information and Stewart for Individual Achievement in Comedy. The Daily Show also received the Peabody Award for excellence in journalism for its coverage of the 2000 and 2004 presidential election campaigns.

Brazile on Feb. 12 will give the keynote address for UB's 33rd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., Commemoration Event. Named one of Washington, D.C.'s 100 most powerful women by Washingtonian Magazine, Brazile is a long-time political strategist whose work on Democratic campaigns dates back to Carter-Mondale (1976). After acting as a key adviser in Bill Clinton's 1992 and 1996 presidential campaigns, Brazile was appointed Al Gore's campaign manager in the 2000 general election, making her the first African-American woman in history to manage a presidential campaign.

After the controversy over votes following the 2000 general election, Brazile was selected chair of the Democratic National Committee's Voting Rights Institute (VRI), an organization dedicated to upholding the right of all Americans to participate in the political process.

Columnist and social critic Quindlen will speak March 4. Quindlen's Newsweek column, The Last Word, is read by millions who value her perspective on current events and issues of family, work, education and social justice. A journalist since 1974, Quindlen wrote an op-ed column, Public and Private, for The New York Times in the early 1990s and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 1992. Quindlen also is a best-selling author whose work includes novels and non-fiction.

The series will conclude April 22 with a lecture by Bill Nye the Science Guy. Dedicated to making science fun and accessible for all, Nye rose to fame as the host of Bill Nye the Science Guy, an educational television program that won 28 Emmy awards. Nye's other television ventures include the Science Channel's 100 Greatest Discoveries and The Eyes of Nye. A passionate voice for the environment, Nye currently hosts Stuff Happens on Discovery's Planet Green Channel.

UB plans to provide free tickets for this lecture to area high schools. More information about this offer will be posted on the Office of Special Events Web site in the spring.

"This year's line-up truly presents the best in thought leadership," said UB's Vice President for Student Affairs Dennis R. Black. "Each lecturer will come to UB as a recognized leader in his or her field."

"Issues centering on politics, satire, human strife and relations, social commentary and science will all make for another exciting year of dialogue."

For more information on these upcoming speakers, go to http://www.specialevents.buffalo.edu.

The Distinguished Speakers Series continues to benefit from the vital support of the program's Presenting Sponsor, the Don Davis Auto World Lectureship Fund, as well as UB's undergraduate Student Association (SA), the exclusive Series Sponsor for the 13th consecutive year.

Affiliate Series Sponsors include WBFO 88.7 FM, WGRZ-TV Channel 2, Hodgson Russ, the University Bookstore and the Graduate Student Association. Contributing Sponsors include the UUP Health Sciences Chapter, the Buffalo Niagara Marriott, ModPac, Flynn & Friends Inc. Marketing & Communications, UB Athletics, the UB Center for the Arts and UB's Alumni Association.

This year's lecture sponsors include Time Warner Cable Business Class (Edwards/Rove), UB Student Affairs (Hosseini) and the UB Minority Faculty and Staff Association (Brazile).

Individual lecture tickets will go on sale on Aug. 25. Order forms for the subscriptions may be downloaded by visiting http://www.specialevents.buffalo.edu. Patrons also may purchase tickets at the UB Alumni Arena Box office, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, or call Special Events at 645-3662 to request a faxed or mailed order form.

Series Subscription orders are being accepted now. Non-discounted tickets for Edwards/Rove, Hosseini, Stewart and Nye will be available directly through Tickets.com and all Tops Friendly Markets. Non-discounted tickets for the Brazile and Quindlen lectures will be available through TicketMaster and the UB Center for the Arts box office.

The University at Buffalo is a premier research-intensive public university, a flagship institution in the State University of New York system and its largest and most comprehensive campus. UB's more than 28,000 students pursue their academic interests through more than 300 undergraduate, graduate and professional degree programs. Founded in 1846, the University at Buffalo is a member of the Association of American Universities.