Page 12 / Wednesday, September 19, 2007
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
A&E
The Pendulum
Pixlitzer Prize wiimer Will visits Elon
Meredith Larkin
Reporter
Although George Will loves base
ball enough to write a book about it,
he plays a different type of hardball:
political journalism.
He will offer his commentary on
the current U.S. political situation and
provide a look at future political and
social endeavors for the United States
in his lecture entitled “The Political
Argument Today” at 6:30 p.m. on
Sept. 20 in McCrary Theatre.
This event is sold out, but a limited
number of holding tickets will be
made available approximately an
hour before Will’s speech.
Those with holding tickets will
be admitted to Yeager Recital Hall
where they will view Will’s lecture as
a closed-circuit broadcast on a large
projection screen.
There is also a question and an
swer session before his speech. This
is only open for students and faculty
members from 4 to 5 p.m. in Whitley
Auditorium.
Will has served as a Newsweek
contributing editor since 1976, a
member of The Washington Post
Writers Group since 1974, a founding
member of ABC’s Sunday morning
show, This Week, since 1981 and a
syndicated columnist who appears in
more than 450 newspapers.
“The greatest benefit a journal
ism student can learn from George
Will is the importance of ideas,” said
Michael Skube, assistant professor of
communications and fellow Pulitzer
Prize winner.
“I’m afraid we tend to get so
caught up in being ‘with it, in being
in touch with the newest technology,
that we forget they are only tools,
and sometimes nothing more than
toys. What is immeasurably more
consequential is knowing something
about the real world and knowing
the driving force of ideas - that and
being able to write well,” said Skube.
“At the same time, it’s important to
note that good journalism begins
with good reporting, and George Will
has never been a reporter or, for that
matter, an editor. His has been the
charmed life of a commentator.”
Someone of Will’s stature does
not come without a bit of contro
versy, especially when combining the
conflict of politics with the spotlight
of journalism. During the 1980
elections. Will, despite his career in
journalism, decided to openly support
Ronald Reagan.
Will acknowledges aiding Rea
gan in his preparation for his de
bate against Jimmy Carter, but the
controversy was set mostly around
an accusation that Will stole Carter’s
briefing book, thus giving Reagan an
advantage. He admits his involvement
in the debate was inappropriate, but
he has repeatedly denied the accusa
tion surrounding the briefing book.
He has won numerous awards
including the National Headliners
Award and Silurian Award, declared
the “best writer on any subject” by
The Washington Journal
ism Review, and named in
the top 25 most influential
Washington journalists by
the National Journal.
He was honored with
a Pulitzer Prize in 1977
for Commentary. Will’s
journalistic career is very
remarkable because he
maintained a very tradi
tional education, receiving
his Ph.D. from Princeton in
politics.
Will’s visit is made pos
sible by the Baird Pulitzer
Prize Endowment, which
funds “Pulitzer Prize win
ners who represent dif
ferent fields in which the
Pulitzer Prize is awarded
and individuals representing
a range of political persua
sions and views,” said George
Troxler, dean of Cultural and
Special Programs.
Past speakers have
included Frank McCourt, Ed
mund Morris, Anna Quindlen,
Thomas Friedman, David
Halberstam and David Mc
Cullough.
You can find more in
formation on George Will,
including links to his recent
articles published in The
Washington Post, on Elon’s
Cultural Calendar at www.
elon.edu/e-net/cultural.
Google Images
George Will will speak to students tomorrow
Event Information:
September 20 at 6:30 p.m.
McCrary Theatre
A limited number of holding tickets will be
distributed to students, faculty and staff
beginning one hour before the lecture
Q&A Session:
4 p.m. in Whitley for
students, faculty and staff
ALLURE
#
LINGERIE
w
d
Re
You
Ar«
n
I
purchis® Your Haltoween Costumes
Discount
229-3401
, Mon • College Students Day*
Tues • Men’s Day
Wed • “Hump* Day
Thurs • Ladies’ Day
OtlHin(Y(riiivi0\9ny other
2044 Chapel Hill Road, Burlington
Mon Fn llam'8pm
Sal 11dm* 5prn '