Category Archives: Speakers

Prothero to Discuss the Importance of Religious Literacy

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Author of American Jesus: How the Son of God Became a National Icon and The New York Times bestseller Religious Literacy: What Every American Needs to Know—And Doesn’t, Stephen Prothero will speak at Illinois Wesleyan University on Tuesday, May 27 at 7 p.m. in the Hansen Student Center (300 E. Beecher St., Bloomington).

The event is free and open to the public.

Prothero, chair of Boston University’s Department of Religion, will discuss the issue of religious illiteracy in America. He will also examine society’s perspective of religion based on its concepts of the embodiment of Jesus Christ throughout various time periods.

Drawing from his latest book, Prothero argues that public schools should reinstate the study of the Bible as well as various world religions. He contends that without a thorough education of the principles of religion, Americans cannot understand essential aspects of the Iraqi war, current social concerns, or political debate and conduct.

Fortune 500 Company Chairman Urges Adaptability

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Fortune 500 company chairman Norm Wesley said tomorrow’s leaders will have to have more than business savvy, they will have to have an ability to adapt to changing times.

“The one thing that is certain is that these are uncertain times,” said Wesley, addressing the annual Illinois Wesleyan Associates’ Luncheon on Thursday, May 8, at the Shirk Center on the campus of Illinois Wesleyan University.

Today’s leaders must find a way to maintain their vision for a company. “You must focus on the long-term, even when on Wall Street you are only as good as your last business quarter,” said Wesley. “It’s important today to really balance the short-run with the long-run.”

As the leader of a company doing business around the globe, Wesley understands what it takes to succeed. As chairman of the board of Fortune Brands, Inc., he oversees an $8 billion consumer products company that includes premier brands including Jim Beam, Sauza, Courvoisier, Titleist, Moen and Master Lock.

Speaking to a crowd of more than 360 business leaders in McLean County, Wesley encouraged present and future business leaders to look for people who can handle a variety of situations, and help carry out a company vision. “Everyone has constrains of what they can and cannot do,” said Wesley, who noted people are a company’s number one resource. “In a business, you must be conscious of what you want to do.”

For younger members of the audience, Wesley advised them to maintain realistic expectations. “No one starts out in management. Get the broadest perspective you can,” he said, adding that students should take advantage of internships. “Not only do they give real life experience, but they show you what you don’t want to do as much as what you do want to do in life.” Wesley also urged students to stick with ethical business practices. “I don’t know how to run a business if you don’t start with integrity,” said Wesley.

Speaker Sees Hope for Graduates Facing Challenging Times

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Cloaked in green robes that matched the beauty of the Eckley Quad on a spring afternoon, 472 students attended ceremonies for the 158th Commencement at Illinois Wesleyan University on Sunday, May 4.

Actor Kevin Dunn, a 1977 Illinois Wesleyan alumnus who has appeared in more than 80 movies and television roles, delivered the Commencement speech after being conferred an honorary doctor of humane letters degree. For the class of 2008, Dunn offered both his recollections of the past, and words of hope for the uncertain future today’s graduates face in his speech titled “Into Your Waiting Hands.”

Watch the address, see a Commencement photo album or read Commencement remarks.

“I have memories, vivid memories of freedom, of camaraderie, of invulnerability, and an endless stream of pranks, impromptu parties and cramming for exams,” said Dunn, who was a theatre major at Illinois Wesleyan. “There were late nights at the theatre, building sets, rigging flies and focusing lights. Performing in plays on the McPherson stage, wildly cheering on [Illinois Wesleyan basketball player] Jack Sikma and the rest of Dennie Bridges’ Titans as they barnstormed through the league.”

Dunn revealed that he almost did not return to Illinois Wesleyan for his senior year after his father was laid off. Recalling a meeting with Professor Emeritus of Theatre John Ficca, Dunn said, “Dr. Ficca listened, intently, with an occasional nod, as I told my story, and after what seemed to be an eternity he told me, ‘If you leave school now, sport, you won’t come back. And years from now you’ll look back on your decision and wonder if you could have succeeded in becoming an actor.’”

Student Senate Hosts Gender Issues Week

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Judy Shepard, mother of hate crime victim Matthew Shepard, will give the keynote speech on the acceptance of gay rights and equality on March 5 at 8 p.m. in the Hansen Student Center (300 E. Beecher Street).

This event is part of Illinois Wesleyan University’s annual Gender Issues Week which sets out to inform, educate and provide programs dealing with issues pertinent to women and men, and it is free and open to the public.

On October 8, 1998, Matthew Shepard, an openly gay man from Wyoming, was murdered in his college town of Laramie, Wyo. His death was the result of a hate crime and his mother, Judy Shepard, has since then committed her life to fighting for gay rights. His death was also the inspiration for the HBO movie turned play, The Laramie Project.

In May of 1999 Shepard testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in support of the Hate Crimes Prevention Act where she said, “I can assure opponents of this legislation firsthand, it was not words or thoughts, but violent acts that killed my son.”

Speaker to Address Academic Freedom in a Post 9/11 World

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The pressures of patriotism are taking their toll on freedom, says writer John K. Wilson.

Wilson, author of the book Patriotic Correctness: Academic Freedom and Its Enemies (Paradigm Publishers, 2007), will speak at Illinois Wesleyan University about the issues facing academic freedom after the September 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center. His talk is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Wednesday, March 5, in room C101 of the Center for Natural Sciences (201 Beecher St., Bloomington) and is sponsored by the Illinois Wesleyan University chapter of the American Association of University Professors. The event is free and open to the public.

Author of five books, Wilson compares “patriotic correctness” to political correctness. He charges that journalists and professors are coming under fire for questioning the government’s decisions or discussing military operations in an unfavorable light. “Today’s wave of repression in the name of patriotic correctness has only begun,” wrote Wilson.

Wilson is the founder of the Institute for College Freedom and coordinator of the Independent Press Association’s Campus Journalism Project. His works are often quoted in blogs and Web sites such as the Independent Media Center. He has also written Barack Obama: The Improbable Quest and Newt Gingrich: Capitol Crimes and Misdemeanors.

Now living in Chicago, Wilson is also the founder of the Indy, an independent newspaper for Bloomington-Normal.

Global Warming An Immediate Threat, Says Founders’ Day Speaker

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – The moment is coming. The Earth is reaching a point of danger from which it cannot be rescued.

This was the message of James E. Hansen, an expert on climate change and the Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Goddard Institute for Space Studies, at the address for Illinois Wesleyan University’s annual Founders’ Day Convocation Tuesday in Westbrook Auditorium.

“Change is essential if we are going to keep the planet that looks like the one we live on now,” said Hansen, who has been studying global warming for more than 20 years. An author of numerous articles and scientific studies on climate change, Hansen has testified his finding before Congress. His speech, titled “Climate Tipping Points: The Threat to the Planet,” called upon young people in the audience to slow the devastating damage being done to the planet through the use of fossil fuels.

“Fossil fuel interests think it is a God-given fact that we will burn all the fossil fuels in the next few decades,” said Hansen, “but we have free will. Young people can say, ‘Hey, not so fast, nice planet you are leaving us,’” said Hansen.

Hansen encouraged the audience, dominated by students, to advocate changes, such greater use of renewable fuels, the implementation of no-till agricultural practices and the building of coal-burning facilities that capture carbon. “The future is inherited by young people. They can influence elections and impact global change.”

Journalist Roland S. Martin to Speak at Soul Food Dinner

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Journalist and author Roland S. Martin will present the keynote speech at Illinois Wesleyan University’s annual Soul Food Dinner on Sunday Feb. 24 in the Hansen Student Center (300 E. Beecher St., Bloomington). The event, sponsored by Student Senate, is in celebration of Black History Month.

Dinner will be catered by Sodexho Campus Services and served at 5:30 p.m. Following dinner Martin will address the audience.

Tickets for the Soul Food Dinner will go on sale January 29 and sell through February 9. For the general public tickets are $12. For Illinois Wesleyan faculty, staff, and students tickets are $5. Illinois Wesleyan students with meals plans can charge the dinner to their ID.

Martin graduated from Texas A&M in 1991 with a bachelor’s of science degree in journalism and is currently studying for his master’s degree in Christian Communication at Louisiana Baptist University.

As a journalist, Martin has won more than 20 professional awards including a regional Edward R. Murrow Award from the Radio Television News Directors, two citations from the National Associated Press-Managing Editors Conference, and several first place awards from the Dallas-Fort Worth Association of Black Communicators.

Founders’ Day Speaker Vocal on Global Warming Threat

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – Climate expert James E. Hansen is calling on today’s youth to reign in global warming.

Director of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration Goddard Institute for Space Studies, Hansen will deliver the address for Illinois Wesleyan University’s annual Founders’ Day Convocation at 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 19 in Westbrook Auditorium (1210 N. Park St., Bloomington). The evening event will cap a day of Founders’ Day activities, honoring the University’s founding in 1850, and is free and open to the public.

Hansen’s speech, titled “Climate Tipping Points: The Threat to the Planet,” will address the nature of the global warming problem that he sees as a potential “perfect storm” – an accelerated disaster out of humanity’s control. Hansen believes young people may provide a “tipping point” to draw needed attention to global warming.

One of the nation’s foremost researchers on climate change, Hansen has been called upon to testify before Congress on global warming and has published more than 50 articles in scientific journals and reviews on the subject. For decades, he has advocated an open dialogue on global warming, and been critical of both the Clinton and Bush administrations’ stances on climate changes.

A member of the National Academy of Sciences, Hansen has twice received the NASA Presidential Rank for Meritorious Executive Award. He has been awarded the John Heinz Environment Award in 2001, the Roger Revelle Medal from the American Geophysical Union in 2002, the Duke of Edinburgh Conservation Medal from the World Wildlife Fund in 2006 and the Leo Szilard Lectureship Award from the American Physical Society in 2007.

Ken Burns Talks About The War

BLOOMINGTON, Ill.— Documentary filmmaker Ken Burns never thought he would be associated with history. The Academy Award-winning producer and director, known for his beloved series on baseball, the Civil War and jazz, simply wanted to create films.

“If you would have asked me in high school if people would think of me as preserving history, I never would have believed them,” Burns said to a packed audience at the Hansen Student Center at Illinois Wesleyan University Thursday afternoon. Listen to his talk (mp3 file)

It is the people that interest Burns, and discovering their place in history. “You have to remember that at the base of the word history is the word story,” said Burns, whose appearance, on the heels of his latest series on World War II titled The War, came as part of the Adlai E. Stevenson Lecture Series, a joint effort by IWU and Illinois State University.

Making films since 1974, Burns rose to national attention with his multiple-part documentary The Civil War in 1990, watched by 40 million people on PBS, which introduced many to his famed panning of still photographs that has become known as “Burns effect.” “It’s always fun to have an effect named after you,” Burns said with a light laugh. Burns’ true calling card, however, is his combination of extensive research and emphasis on telling the story of people from all levels of society.

“We try to understand events from the bottom up. Instead of looking at just the generals, we look at everyone. You go on the belief that there are no ordinary people, and you will find you are right,” said Burns.

Filmmaker Ken Burns To Speak On World War II Documentary

Acclaimed documentary filmmaker Ken Burns will discuss his new historical series on World War II during “An Evening with Ken Burns” on Thursday, Nov. 1 at Illinois State University. The event will take place at 7 p.m. in the Bone Student Center Braden Auditorium.

Burns will also speak at 2 p.m. that afternoon in Illinois Wesleyan University’s Hansen Student Center, 300 Beecher St., Bloomington. Both events are free and open to the public. Burns’ appearance is part of the Stevenson Lecture Series and a highlight of Illinois State University’s 150th Celebration.

Burns’ latest documentary production, The War, recently premiered on PBS. The seven-part series focused on how World War II impacted the lives of American families. Burns has been making films for more than 30 years and has produced some of the most outstanding documentaries in American history. His films include Jazz, Baseball and the highly-acclaimed series The Civil War.

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