Former CNN correspondent to speak today

As part of the IU School of Journalism’s spring Speaker Series, Andrea Koppel, an award-winning, internationally-renowned journalist, will be speaking at 7 p.m. today at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater.\n“Her international experience ... that’s what’s going to inspire our students,” said Beth Moellers, director of communications for the IU School of Journalism.\nMoellers said Koppel spoke with Libyan leader Muammar al-Gaddafi directly after he announced he was prepared to dismantle his country’s nuclear weapons. Her depth of experience is inspirational, according to an IU press release.\nKoppel has held plenty of other exclusive interviews with world leaders such as China’s former President Jiang Zemin, Taiwan’s President Lee Teng-hui, as well as extensive reports on the Arab-Israeli peace talks, according to the press release.\nDuring her lecture, Koppel plans to talk about her different experiences in journalism, Moellers said.\nJunior Winta Gebremichael said she remembered reading an article in which they called Koppel an “Israeli basher.” \n“I want to know if she was misquoted or did she really say things that would make people lead to that conclusion,” she said.\nMoellers said because Koppel has a lot of latitude, she hopes Koppel will inspire students with her career.\n“It will broaden student’s horizon because sometimes when you are in a small town in Indiana, it’s hard to think about international journalism or issues,” Moellers said. “She will bring that to this campus.”