First Posted: 1/15/2009
PEMBROKE - The University of North Carolina at Pembroke's bar for its Distinguished Speaker Series gets higher each year, but it looks like clear sailing again.
Next year's lineup includes political commentator and past presidential candidate Pat Buchanan, fiery CNN talk show host Nancy Grace and sports commentator James Brown. Since 1999, the likes of director Spike Lee, actor Henry Winkler and poet Maya Angelou have packed the Givens Performing Arts Center.
“I'm excited,” Abdul Ghaffar, UNCP student affairs director. “I think we've got a very diverse group who will be well received.”
Grace kicks off the series on Sept. 12. Mo Rocca, former correspondent on “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart” will speak on Nov. 2, followed by poet Nikki Giovanni on Feb. 15, 2007. Buchanan is coming March 20, 2007, and James Brown, a sports commentator with CBS, will wrap up the series on April 19, 2007.
Ghaffar, who is leaving UNCP on May 19 to focus on his family business, said he will miss meeting personalities like James Earl Jones, Bruce Jenner and Deborah Norville. He said the series has brought a lot of positive attention to the university.
“Of all the things I've done here, this is one of the most exciting programs to have the opportunity to work with,” he said. “Meeting people like Maya Angelou, Henry Winkler and Spike Lee … it's been a real blessing.”
Nancy Grace
Grace is host of the “Nancy Grace” show seen on CNN. She is considered one of television's most respected legal analysts. Grace comes from Court TV, where she hosted the live daily trial coverage program “Closing Arguments.” She also has ap-peared as a legal commentator on CNN’s “Larry King Live,” ABC’s “The View,” “The Oprah Winfrey Show” and numerous other televison programs.
“Nancy is very passionate,” Ghaffar said. “She is very popular among the college circuit. What you see on TV will be what you will see at the GPAC.”
Mo Rocca
Mo Rocca, a contributor to NBC’s “Tonight Show” with Jay Leno, is known for his wacky, tongue-in-cheek news reports and hilarious commentary. He is regularly seen on VH1's “I Love …” series.
At the podium, Rocca delivers his unique commentary on current news events and the coverage of them by the mainstream media and takes audiences behind the scenes of America’s most popular news satire program with never-before-seen clips from “The Daily Show” and his other television appearances.
“We chose Mo Rocca because he will have a connection with the students,” Ghaffar said. “He is a young, hip political insider … somebody that can expose our students to some political views they may not have been aware of.”
Nikki Giovanni
Giovanni is a world-renowned poet, commentator, activist, and educator. She prides herself on being “a back American, a daughter, a mother and a professor of English.”
Giovanni has written more than two dozen books, including volumes of poetry, illustrated children's books, and three collections of essays. Her book, “Racism 101,” includes essays about the situation of Americans on all sides of race issues. She has received 21 honorary doctorates and a host of other awards, including Woman of the Year awards from three magazines and Governors' Awards in the Arts from Tennessee and Virginia.
Pat Buchanan
Perhaps one of the country's most outspoken and leading conservatives, Buchanan is a political analyst and regular contributor to MSNBC. A presidential candidate 1992, 1996 and 2000 campaigns, Buchanan served as co-host of CNN’s “Crossfire” for almost 20 years and remains a panelist on The McLaughlin Group. A former White House speechwriter, he analyzes the day's top headlines, examining the politics of the 21st century.
“We heard a lot of positive things about Buchanan,” Ghaffar said. “He will generate a lot of interest in this area.”
James Brown
One of the most widely recognized and admired sports commentators in the country, Brown was a co-host of “FOX NFL Sunday,” along with Chris Collinsworth, Howie Long and Terry Bradshaw.
Brown was recently hired by CBS Sports as host for the NFL pre-game show, “THE NFL TODAY,” along with analysts Dan Marino, Shannon Sharpe and Boomer Esiason.
Brown has won two Sports Emmy Awards as Best Studio host for his work on “FOX NFL Sunday.” In 1999, the American Sportscasters’ Association honored him the National Sportscaster of the Year Award.
“Certainly a sleeper would be James Brown,' Ghaffar said. “Most people think of him as a sports figure, but he is a philanthropist and does a lot of charity and hosts programs like the American Black Forum.”
