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News Wednesday, October 3, 2012 • page 6 Angelou embodies themes of common reading program Melissa Kansky News Editor The Fall Convocation speaker traditionally encap sulates the vision of the insti tution. Maya Angelou, this year’s speaker, emphasizes Elon University’s commit ment to diversity, analysis of the treatment of minorities and the value of writing. The 20th century Renais sance woman establishes a connection between students and American history. “Angelou has experienced the issues practically all Af rican Americans had to deal with in the 20th century, and she has been a spokesperson for thinking about difference and thinking about diversity and how people relate to one another,” said Jeffrey Coker, chairman of the common reading committee and di rector df general studies. AngMou rgrew Up in Stamps, Ark. with her grandmother and brother and witnessed racial dis crimination. “She’s living history,” said Jeff Clark, executive di rector'of cultural and special programs. Angelou’s experience relates to the 2012 com mon reading selection and the themes demonstrated in Datre Eggers’ “Zeitoun” prominent in cultural pro gramming this year, accord ing to Coker. Angelou’s observations transcend sig nificant moments in her own life, especially in regards to relations with minorities and multiculturalism. “I think it enhances the liberal arts education to be able to hear first-hand from people who experienced im portant things and to hear from people who many hold in such high regard,” Clark said. Although Coker said these issues are important to discuss each year, the diver sity initiative has provoked increased conversation about these topics. “Diversity has been a central theme of the com- riion reading program and the general studies program since both of those things were created in 1994,” he said. While the diversity focus is not unique this year, Cok er still noted the exceptional qualities and experiences of Angelou. At the age of seven, she was sexually abused by her mother’s boyfriend and, as a result, became mute for five years. She authored and read Beer IVirte flSGfZ. Wine Beer Wine Wine mnt ^eer The largest selection of quality wines and craft beers in town... period! West Buriington Wine Compony & Burllngtoii Otift Beer Emporium 1149 St Marbs Church Rd, Btviington > Nextto l^edntMit Ale House (330)538-1715 www.wesii>w8ngtonwine.cmi Lihe us on Foceboob 9 Utest Buriingtwi IMne Componqs a poem at President Bill Cli- ton’s inauguration ceremo ny. She has taught in North Carolina, as well as abroad. She represents various elements of American life. Since the age of 17, she has held the title of mother, pimp, prostitute, night club dancer, performer, cast member, journalist, author and educator. “I think the biggest at traction is her books,” Clark said in reference to her pop ularity. Senior staff and students discussed possible speakers for Fall Convocation, and students mentioned Ange lou’s name most frequently, Clark said. He attributes her re nowned writing for the Elon community’s excitement re garding her presence at Fall Convocation. The ticket dis tribution has exceeded pre vious convocation events in terms of numbers and time, he said. Students, faculty and staff constitute 60 percent of ticket sales. An additional 395 tickets were sold to the general public and local groups, such as Elon Acad emy and book clubs, collec tively purchased 595 tickets. The administration de cided to hold the event in the evening, rather than the afternoon, so the speech would be more accessible to a larger population, provided fewer students are in class and fewer community mem bers work at night, Clark said. “We wanted to try some thing kind of different be cause our attendance has been up and down at con vocation, so we wanted to do tbis in the evening to in crease attendance,” he said. Coker said he expects Angelou to challenge the audience. “There aren’t many who can speak elegantly about FILE PHOTO BY AL DRAGO Selected convocation speakers traditionally represent Elon University’s values. This year ticket sales have exceeded that of previous years. big ideas the way she can,” he said. “You can kind of get caught up in the beauty of the language and you have to fight to appreciate the scope of what she is saying.” While he described her presentation as an intellec tual challenge, her stories encourage those in atten dance to view life through her eyes and develop greater empathy, he said. “There is a challenging perspective in that her life experiences are just so di verse compared to the vast majority of the rest of us,” Coker said. Angelou will speak at “An Evening with Maya Angelou,” 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 in Alumni Gym. Tickets are free for students with a Phoenix Card and available for $12 to the general public. CONVOCATION TICKET SALES as of noon Friday Sept. 28 Students: 951 (Bon students only) 4Q percent Faculty/Staff: 492 20 percent General Public: 395 16 percent Groups: 595 (mcluding University 24 percent Advancement, book clubs, ABSS student groups and Bon Academy) ■ndet sales have been higher compared to previous years
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