Radio personality to give lecture

Tavis Smiley, a well-known radio personality, author, political commentator and public speaker is scheduled to visit IU next week as part of the Neal-Marshall School of Public and Environmental Affairs Public Policy lecture series. Smiley will speak at 4 p.m. Nov. 21 in the Willkie Auditorium. \nThe Neal-Marshall Public Policy lecture series is co-sponsored by SPEA and the Neal-Marshall Alumni Center. The lecture is free and open to the public.\nSmiley, originally from Kokomo, Ind., graduated from IU with a bachelor's degree in public affairs. He is the first black person to host his own show on National Public Radio. He also has hosted his own television show, "BET Tonight," and frequently appears on "The Tom Joyner Morning Show." Author of six books, his most recent is entitled, "Keeping the Faith: Stories of Love, Courage, Healing and Hope from Black America," Smiley is the founder of the Tavis Smiley Foundation, a nonprofit organization which works to "encourage, empower and enlighten black youth."\nSmiley recently accepted a nomination from SPEA's Board of Visitors and has agreed to speak for the Neal-Marshall Public Policy lecture series. His lecture topic will be "The Diversity Imperative." The series of lectures is named after Marcellus Neal and Frances Marshall, the first male and female African-American IU graduates.\nSPEA has welcomed speakers through this series since 1989, mostly in February during Black History Month. Speakers are generally African American and past lecturers have included former Gary mayor Richard G. Hatcher; NPR News correspondent Juan Williams; Ohio Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell; U.S. Representative from Michigan, John Conyers and Jackson, Miss. mayor Harvey Johnson Jr.\n"The lecture series is intended to highlight policy issues from the perspective of, or of special interest to, minority populations," said Cassandra Howard, director of marketing and communications for SPEA.\nWilliam H. Wiggins Jr., professor emeritus of Afro-American Studies and African Diaspora Studies and Folklore, has attended many of the past Neal-Marshall lectures.\n"I attend them because of their timeliness and they tend to make real of the whole concept of intellectual diversity," Wiggins said. "The main reason to go is for cultural and intellectual enrichment."\nWiggins said it gives students and the public the chance to realize there are people out there with different view points, but it is beneficial to learn why they have those perspectives.\n"Students will be given the opportunity to learn that there's a big wide world out there and more than one way to skin a cat," Wiggins said. "Truth is not exclusive to any one group, class, race or culture. At least you have empathy of understanding why others have that point of view." \nWiggins said it is good for students to realize that Smiley is an IU Alum and an Indiana native. \n"It is good for IU students to see that he is one of our own," Wiggins said. "He has flowered and matured and grown. Students can think to themselves that if it is possible for him, then it is possible for me."\nFreshman Marisa Alexander said it is very exciting to hear about an IU alumnus who has progressed so far in his career.\n"I think that it is really nice to hear about Smiley being so successful in his field. I'm sure that his lecture will be incredibly stimulating and educational," Alexander said. "It sounds like it would definitely be worthwhile to attend."\nWiggins said he will definitely be attending Smiley's lecture and encourages people to come and listen to him speak.\n"Get there and get a seat," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Dana Sands at dsands@indiana.edu.