University Lectures

February 9, 2015 - 12:27pm
Dr. Umar Johnson, a school psychologist, said that the educational testing system is America's new Jim Crow.

Psychologist Umar Johnson said that test culture, underrepresentation of black teachers in schools and the political issues involved in the educational reform have left African Americans behind in his speech Thursday night at Gifford Auditorium.

November 12, 2014 - 2:16pm
Scheck's presentation was the final lecture of the fall 2014 University Lectures series.

On Tuesday evening, attorney and DNA expert Barry Scheck hosted the final installment in the fall 2014 University Lectures series. He spoke about the Innocence Project, an organization he co-founded that aims to reform the criminal justice system and prevent wrongful convictions by using DNA testing as evidence in cases.

October 29, 2014 - 8:21pm
Weems is the third speaker in the annual University Lectures series of Fall 2014.

Artist Carrie Mae Weems recently celebrated her 60th birthday.  With this milestone, she is working to constantly keep her work relevant. 

October 16, 2014 - 11:59am
The activist has promoted change and education in more than 140 countries.

World-renowned performer, activist and playwright Eve Ensler continued the University Lecture series on Wednesday, lecturing a Hendricks Chapel audience on global violence against women.

“Stand up for your rights. Stand up for what you believe in,” Ensler said to the audience, in a message she emphasized throughout her passionate lecture.

October 1, 2014 - 10:39pm
The environmental activist and CNN talk show co-host commends students supporting Divest SU ESF for their rally before his lecture.

In his lecture at Hendricks Chapel on Tuesday evening, civil rights and environmental advocate Van Jones called for young people on college campuses to take action.

“There is a new generation — the biggest, most diverse in world history — taking the stage,” Jones said. “When they look at the future we’re giving them, they don’t want it.” The audience gave him a standing ovation after he called for young people to “build a new civilization.”

March 7, 2014 - 10:04am
The New Yorker cartoonist lit up Hendricks Chapel Wednesday night with her humor as part of the University Lectures series.

Syracuse University community members filed into Hendricks Chapel Wednesday night to hear the words of Roz Chast, a cartoonist for The New Yorker.

The second guest of the University Lectures series this semester, Chast talked about the “Theories of Everything, and Much, Much More.” The event was in collaboration with the Visual and Performing Arts program.

February 26, 2014 - 1:27am
The talk show host discussed America's meritocratic system and how it has led to elitism in his University Lectures Series speech.

At the beginning of his lecture Tuesday night, political journalist Chris Hayes asked the audience to participate in a thought experiment. He asked everyone to create an alternate universe consisting of sociopaths with no moral conscience.

“If you have a sense of superiority, that the laws don't apply to you, and combine it with a sense of precariousness, you would get something potent. You would get subjects that would be willing to do anything,” Hayes said. “This accurately describes the characteristics among groups that lead to dominance and success in America.”

November 12, 2013 - 10:54pm
Sen. George Mitchell led a discussion focusing on worldwide issues and the need for communication between different countries in the final installment of the University Lectures series this semester.

On a snowy Tuesday night, hinting at the winter season to come, former Sen. George Mitchell closed the semester’s University Lectures series with a discussion on foreign policy.

October 31, 2013 - 12:20am
Notable poet Billy Collins spoke in Hendricks Chapel Wednesday as part of the 2013 University Lectures.

In a packed Hendricks Chapel on a clear autumn night, Billy Collins graced an intent audience with his artistry, warm presence and sense of humor.

As part of the 2013 University Lectures, the community was not only privileged to hear Collins speak, but was also able to share a moment of joy with him, as he found out that his book of poetry entitled Aimless Love, reached No. 15 on The New York Times Bestseller List just minutes before he stood in front of the audience.

April 8, 2013 - 10:42am
The award-winning playwright best known as the author of 'M. Butterfly,' spoke to The NewsHouse before his talk at Syracuse University.

David Henry Hwang is best known as the author of M. Butterfly, which ran for two years on Broadway, won a number of awards including a Tony, and was a finalist for the 1989 Pulitzer Prize. He is also author of the award-winning plays Golden Child and Yellow Face as well as several books for award-winning musicals.