New Lecture Series to Begin This Fall

A new lecture series will focus on bringing controversial speakers to campus starting this fall.

Richard E. Snyder (LA'55), former Chairman and CEO of Simon & Schuster, made the Richard E. Snyder President's Lecture Series possible through a substantial gift to the University.

Tufts officials refused to reveal the exact amount of the donation.

President Larry Bacow announced the lecture in a letter to the faculty. "The lecture series created by Mr. Snyder's gift will bring prominent public figures to campus to present provocative and perhaps controversial points of view... with the intention of stimulating thought and discussion that lead to deeper understanding," he said.

The lecture will be yearly and held during the fall semester.

According to Dean of Undergraduate Education James Glaser, the goal of lectures will be to spark increased scholarly discourse on campus.

Snyder's donation and the planned lecture series respond directly to a proposal from the Task Force on the Undergraduate Experience for an enhanced intellectual environment on campus.

"It's an important step forward in implementing the recommendations of the [Task Force]. It's going to provide a great opportunity for the Tufts community to dig further into complicated issues," said Judy Olson, Chief of Staff of the Office of the President.

Glaser is hopeful the controversy will spark discussion. "The lectures should create buzz and excitement on campus both before and after they are given," he said.

According to Glaser, the Snyder Lecturers will be selected for their original ideas and innovative achievements. However the exact process by which the speaker will be selected has not yet been determined.

"The lecture series will bring to campus notable individuals who have achieved recognition for taking on sacred cows, for defying conventional wisdom, and for thinking out of the box," Glaser said. "Such individuals could come from politics, art, literature, business, medicine, philanthropy, or even film [sectors]."

In light of the upcoming United States presidential election, some students see the lecture as an opportunity to enliven political debate.

"[The website] Moveon.org is gaining momentum," senior Eric Adler said. "The creators of the site are using the internet creatively to mobilize people and inform them of issues that are ignored by the mainstream media. Even if you don't agree with their politics, it would still be interesting to hear them speak about their innovative strategies."

Other students see the lecture series as an opportunity to discuss foreign relations.

"I think Mikhail Gorbachev would be a perfect candidate," senior Diego Corral said. "I realize it might not be feasible, but he experienced the fall of the Soviet Union. I'd be interested to hear him discuss U.S foreign policy today," Corral said.

The planned inaugural lecture will take place the same semester as the annual Issam M. Fares lecture, which was postponed from the spring.