Media Advisory: Racial Justice Champion Cornel West to Speak at UB

Cornel West, the noted intellectual, essayist, public speaker and social activist, will present the keynote address for the University at Buffalo's 34th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration Event at 8 p.m. today (Friday, Feb. 5, 2010) in the Center for the Arts on the UB North Campus.

West, professor of religion and African American studies at Princeton University, is widely considered one of America's most important public intellectuals. He burst onto the national scene in 1993 with his bestselling book, "Race Matters." West has written 12 books of nonfiction, for which he has won numerous awards, including the American Book Award.

His lecture, part of UB's 23rd annual Distinguished Speakers Series, is sponsored by the UB Minority Faculty and Staff Association.

During West's lecture, audio and/or visual photography, as well as still photography, will be limited to the first five minutes of the program.

Working media may reserve tickets for the program by contacting Christine Vidal in the Office of University Communication, at 645-4607 no later than noon today (Friday, Feb. 5, 2010). Reserved tickets may be picked up at the will-call window in the Center for the Arts prior to the lecture. Media may be required to show press credentials in order to be admitted to the lecture.

Press arrangements: Ellen Goldbaum onsite at 771-9255.