2008 Woodie Awards
Bring on the bowtie: Carlson to speak on campus in March
Caitlin Sarver
Issue date: 2/15/08 Section: Front Page
In light of the upcoming presidential election, Miami University's Lecture Board is bringing famed writer, reporter, political debater and bowtie wearer, Tucker Carlson, to Millett Hall March 12.
"The members of lecture board have consistently heard that students want a political speaker to come to campus," said Hayley Midford, a Miami senior and chair of the board. "We felt Carlson was a great choice because he is well known and appeals to a younger, more college geared crowd."
Carlson is the host of MSNBC's Tucker, which was described by the Washington Speakers Bureau as "a fast paced, no-holds-barred conversation about the developments in news, politics, world issues and pop culture."
According to the Washington Speakers Bureau, Carlson has also hosted political debate programs such as CNN's Crossfire and PBS's Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.
He currently writes for Esquire, The Weekly Standard and The New York Times Magazine. In 2006 he competed on ABC's Dancing with the Stars and airing this fall on CBS, Carlson will host his own game show, Do You Trust Me?
According to Midford, Carlson will address the current political climate and how it will influence the upcoming election in his lecture, titled "Politics and Partisans: Election 2008."
"I think his overall goal of the speech is to allow the crowd to become more informed on how to make the right democratic choices when politics are concerned," Midford said.
Young voters have come under fire for their lackluster voting turnout-but many, including visiting assistant professor of political science Chris Kelley, see this stereotype changing this election cycle.
"The students, at least in my classes, are more engaged this election cycle than any election cycle since I have been teaching (for 18 years)," Kelley said.
Others share Kelley's opinion about the potential for young voters.
"There has been a huge increase in the percentage of younger voters … I hope that people will walk out of Tucker's speech feeling like more informed voters and that they really can make an impact in this upcoming election," Midford said.
But Carlson's impact on the media and politics has been a topic of debate itself. Fans of The Daily Show might remember Jon Stewart's guest appearance on Crossfire Oct. 15, 2004. In the show Stewart said Carlson and the structure of Crossfire was "hurting America."
Kelley could not say what impact he thought Carlson's lecture would have on the audience.
"I am assuming that most of the students going to see him are already predisposed toward his view of politics, so his talk will serve to support their previously held beliefs rather than to challenge them," Kelley said.
Midford said the lecture board is expecting a large crowd for Carlson's lecture and in preparation will block off about 2,000 seats in Millet Hall.
The event is free, open to the public and no tickets are required.
"The members of lecture board have consistently heard that students want a political speaker to come to campus," said Hayley Midford, a Miami senior and chair of the board. "We felt Carlson was a great choice because he is well known and appeals to a younger, more college geared crowd."
Carlson is the host of MSNBC's Tucker, which was described by the Washington Speakers Bureau as "a fast paced, no-holds-barred conversation about the developments in news, politics, world issues and pop culture."
According to the Washington Speakers Bureau, Carlson has also hosted political debate programs such as CNN's Crossfire and PBS's Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.
He currently writes for Esquire, The Weekly Standard and The New York Times Magazine. In 2006 he competed on ABC's Dancing with the Stars and airing this fall on CBS, Carlson will host his own game show, Do You Trust Me?
According to Midford, Carlson will address the current political climate and how it will influence the upcoming election in his lecture, titled "Politics and Partisans: Election 2008."
"I think his overall goal of the speech is to allow the crowd to become more informed on how to make the right democratic choices when politics are concerned," Midford said.
Young voters have come under fire for their lackluster voting turnout-but many, including visiting assistant professor of political science Chris Kelley, see this stereotype changing this election cycle.
"The students, at least in my classes, are more engaged this election cycle than any election cycle since I have been teaching (for 18 years)," Kelley said.
Others share Kelley's opinion about the potential for young voters.
"There has been a huge increase in the percentage of younger voters … I hope that people will walk out of Tucker's speech feeling like more informed voters and that they really can make an impact in this upcoming election," Midford said.
But Carlson's impact on the media and politics has been a topic of debate itself. Fans of The Daily Show might remember Jon Stewart's guest appearance on Crossfire Oct. 15, 2004. In the show Stewart said Carlson and the structure of Crossfire was "hurting America."
Kelley could not say what impact he thought Carlson's lecture would have on the audience.
"I am assuming that most of the students going to see him are already predisposed toward his view of politics, so his talk will serve to support their previously held beliefs rather than to challenge them," Kelley said.
Midford said the lecture board is expecting a large crowd for Carlson's lecture and in preparation will block off about 2,000 seats in Millet Hall.
The event is free, open to the public and no tickets are required.
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