Aug. 27, 2009

Kick off fall semester with a laugh. Wyatt Cenac, a reporter on Comedy Central's The Daily Show, will perform at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 28, at Stephens. Admission is free. Cenac honed his comedic talents performing stand-up, improv and sketch comedy. He spent three seasons writing and doing voice-over work for Fox TV's King of the Hill, and also starred in the movie Medicine for Melancholy. Contributed photo.

Low down on fall lectures

by Paula Van Brocklin

When planning your extracurricular activities this fall, be sure to put lectures on your list. The Committee on Lectures plans and coordinates about 150 lectures each year, and here are some you'll want to check out this fall. For a complete list of upcoming lectures, go to the lectures web site or visit the online calendar. Lectures are free and open to the public.

"The Battle for Whiteclay: A Documentary and Panel Discussion"

Tuesday, Sept. 15, 7 p.m.
Pioneer Room, Memorial Union
The state of Nebraska's role in allowing alcohol sales in the town of Whiteclay to residents of nearby Pine Ridge Indian Reservation -- a dry community -- is the focus of this presentation. The Battle for Whiteclay chronicles the efforts of three Indian activists as they work to end alcohol sales to the Oglala Sioux Tribe, in which alcohol abuse affects four out of five families. Following the film, attendees can participate in a panel discussion with Mark Vasina, the film's director-producer, and Frank LaMere, one of the activists.

"Failure is Not an Option"

Saturday, Sept. 19, 7 p.m.
Stephens Auditorium
Astronaut Fred Haise knows a thing or two about adversity. He piloted the lunar module during the ill-fated Apollo 13 space mission in 1970, and a plane crash in 1973 during the filming of "Tora! Tora! Tora!" resulted in burns over 65 percent of his body. Haise recovered and became one of the first astronauts to pilot the space shuttle in test missions. He was inducted into the U.S. Astronaut Hall of Fame in 1997. Haise's presentation will include footage from the Apollo 13 flight.

"Taking Control of Your Financial Future"

Tuesday, Sept. 22, 8 p.m.
Sun Room, Memorial Union
Jeanne Hogarth, the 2009-10 Helen LeBaron Hilton Chair in Human Sciences, is a program manager for the Federal Reserve Board in consumer education and research. In her presentation, she will address how people can increase their financial literacy in today's markets, with a focus on the access and affordability of higher education as well as student debt.

Hogarth also will speak Wednesday, Sept. 23 (3:30-5:30 p.m., 2019 Morrill), when she discusses her research on electronic banking, financial behaviors and consumer information disclosure. A short reception will follow in the Christian Petersen Art Museum.

"Following the Money: From Enron to Hedge Fund"

Thursday, Oct. 8, 8 p.m.
Sun Room, Memorial Union
A contributing editor for Vanity Fair and a former Fortune editor-at-large, Bethany McLean was one of the first to raise questions about Enron's profitability in March 2001. Her article "Is Enron Overpriced?" was the first in a national publication to raise questions about the company's dealings. In 2003, she co-wrote the book The Smartest Guys in the Room: The Amazing Rise and Scandalous Fall of Enron, which was made into a documentary in 2005.

"U.S. Leadership in the Global Fight Against Slavery"

Thursday, Oct. 15, 8 p.m.
Sun Room, Memorial Union
Ambassador Luis CdeBaca, an Iowa State alum, has worked to combat human trafficking and modern-day slavery under three presidential administrations. President Barack Obama recently appointed him to direct the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons at the Department of State. This office asks foreign governments to free people forced to work for little or no pay. CdeBaca also served under presidents Bush and Clinton.