Being Part of the Conversation

Imagine being at a party and listening to people talk about events in the news and not being able to add to the conversation because you know absolutely nothing about what they're discussing. 

Depressing?  Enough to make you feel like the dullest bulb in the box (or at the very least, like you've missed something important in your education)? 

If so, now's your chance to get informed.  Throughout March and continuing into April, all sorts of people--some famous, some not so--will visit NCC to talk about issues that matter to us all. Most will be speaking during the day (times when you're probably on campus).  Admission to all talks is free.

Next Monday (March 10 - 2 p.m.), for example, Tracy Martin--Trayvon's father--will be speaking in the College Center about the need for everyone to be involved in eradicating racism and violence.  Before his son's death, Martin was an ordinary citizen.  But in the months following Trayvon's shooting and the acquittal of George Zimmerman, he's become an advocate for change.  He'll speak his mind about what needs to be done to make America better.

Piper Kerman is another figure who, until recently, was not widely known.  But after serving a fifteen-month prison sentence for money laundering, she published "Orange is the New Black," an insightful book about her experiences, both good and bad, in the Danbury State Correctional Facility.  Kerman will be speaking in the College Center on March 17 (11 a.m.) about prison life and the hit Netflix series based on her book.

Harvard law professor Randall Kennedy may be best known for writing books with provocative titles and thoughtful perspectives: "NIgger: The Strange Case of a Troublesome Word" and "Sellout: The Politics of Racial Betrayal."  His views on race and prejudice, which he'll present on March 24 (12:30 p.m; Tower, 11th floor), are guaranteed to give everyone plenty to think about (as well as some lighthearted moments along the way).

The impact of mobile technology on the quality of life isn't exactly a new topic, but to David Pogue, former tech columnist for the New York Times, it's something we all need to be aware of.  Pogue, author of "Macs for Dummies," will share his views on the subject, focusing on the big question of whether mobile technology is "killing us" (his words), on April 7 (12:30 p.m.) in the College Center.

Attending these talks won't fill in all of your knowledge gaps (there's a LOT to learn, after all), but it will definitely make you feel more at home next time the conversation turns to what's happening around the planet.  Being in the know will also enrich your life, making you a more interesting person and increasing your understanding and appreciation of the big picture.  If this isn't the ultimate goal of college, I don't know what is.