Southeast Missouri State unveils star-studded speaker lineup

This year's University Speakers Series, presented by Southeast Missouri State University, will feature everyone from New York City's top firefighter to legendary Cardinals shortstop Ozzie Smith and famous broadcaster Anderson Cooper. Tickets go on sale Monday.

FDNY Fire Chief Richard Picciotto starts the series Sept. 10 with a patriotic event commemorating the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. His presentation will be at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 10 in Academic Hall. It is free and open to the public, Southeast Missouri State coordinator for campus programming Joanna Shaver said.

"I'm so pleased with the subject matter that each speaker can bring this year," Shaver said. "It's a good variety, a diverse variety, with many different experiences. I think our students will learn a lot from these speakers this year."

Anderson Cooper

Picciotto is the highest-ranking firefighter to survive that day, Shaver said, and he recently wrote "Last Man Down," also the title of his speech.

On Sept. 11, the university plans to honor the heroes of 9/11.

"We just feel like it's important to honor the memory of the people that were killed on that day, and also the heroes of that day," Shaver said.

That morning, the university will have a ceremony at the time the first plane hit the World Trade Center -- 7:46 a.m. -- at Academic Hall.

At 7:30 p.m., there will be a ceremony where the national anthem and taps will be played. Small flags will be placed on the Academic Hall grounds to represent all the victims, Shaver said.

Cooper, a broadcast journalist, author and host of "Anderson Cooper 360" on CNN, will speak at 3 p.m. Sept. 21 at the Show Me Center.

Hill Harper

"We're calling the presentation a 360-degree look at world events," Shaver said. "We're tying it in with our university's family weekend."

General admission is $10, but the event is free for university faculty, students and staff.

National Public Radio correspondent Mara Liasson will present "Let's Talk Politics" at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 28 at the Show Me Center. Tickets are $10 each, but free to university faculty, students and staff.

Ozzie Smith

The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration Dinner keynote speaker is broadcast journalist Soledad O'Brien. The program begins with dinner at 6 p.m. Jan. 21 at the Show Me Center. Shaver said O'Brien has been part of the speaker series before.

In the past, she's talked about current events. A theme and ticket cost haven't been decided yet.

Actor, health and wellness ambassador, author and philanthropist Hill Harper will present the Michael Davis Lecture titled "Manifest Your Destiny" at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 25 in the Academic Hall auditorium. His talk is free and open to the public.

Soledad O'Brien

Shaver said Harper appears on "Covert Affairs," but was on "CSI: NY."

The Michael Davis Lecture recognizes the contributions of African-Americans in the media. It also honors the late Michael Davis, a mass communications student at Southeast who died as a result of a hazing incident. He was a journalism student at Southeast at the time of his death.

Smith is the closing speaker at 7:30 p.m. April 20 at the Show Me Center. During "An Evening with Ozzie Smith," he's expected to offer a motivational speech and take questions from the audience.

Mara Liasson

University tickets are free with a Redhawks ID in the University Center-Center for Student Involvement (UC 204) and the Show Me Center box office. General-public tickets are available at www.showmecenter.biz and the Show Me Center box office.

rcampbell@semissourian.com

388-3639

Richard Picciotto

Pertinent address: One University Plaza