The Distinguished Speakers Series will be returning to Colorado State University-Pueblo for the 2013-14 academic year.
Painter David Garibaldi, former congressional intern Daniel Hernandez, author Asma Hasan, Medal of Honor recipient Roger Donlan and socio-political comedian W. Kamau Bell will all be coming to CSU-Pueblo.
David Garibaldi will speak on Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. in the Hoag Recital Hall. Tickets for Garibaldi’s lecture will cost $8 for non-CSU-Pueblo students.
The Student Fee Board decided that due to budget cuts there would be an $8 ticket charge for community members, according to Gena Alfonso, the program assistant in the Office of Student Engagement and Leadership. This ticket charge will go towards helping pay the speakers who come to CSU-Pueblo, according to Alfonso.
All events of the Distinguished Speakers Series are free to students, as the cost is already covered in their regular fees, according to Pueblo Chieftain reporter Jeff Tucker in his article “Distinguished speakers announced: university will charge admission for first time.”
Garibaldi is an American performance painter who placed fourth on the television show “America’s Got Talent,” according to a CSU-Pueblo press release.
Garibaldi is known for his stage act called “Rhythm and Hue,” which focuses on Garibaldi’s painting of rock musicians using body movements and brushes while he communicated through music.
Garibaldi works with charities such as the Special Olympics, Echoes of Hope, Sacramento Children’s Home and World Vision. He has raised more than $1 million dollars for non-profits and charities throughout the country, according to the press release.
On Sep. 25 Daniel Hernandez will speak in the Occhiato University Center Ballroom at 7 p.m. Tickets for Hernandez’s presentation will also cost $8 for non-students. Hernandez is a political science graduate of the University of Arizona and a former congressional intern to the former congresswoman Gabrielle Gifford.
Hernandez was credited with saving congresswoman Gifford’s life after a gunman shot her and 18 other people on Jan. 8, 2011, according to the press release. Hernandez, as a Hispanic homosexual, speaks about his experiences overcoming “discrimination in language, ethnicity, poverty and sexual orientation,” according to the release.
Asma Hasan, an author, lecturer and respected American Muslim community expert, will be speaking in the OUC Ballroom on Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. This event will be free to all attendees.
Hasan is an author of two books “American Muslims: the Generation” and “Why I am a Muslim” which addresses the stereotypes of Muslims, according to the release.
Hasan is a magna cum laude graduate from Wellesley College and Groton School and she earned her Juris Doctor from New York University School of Law. She is also the Chief Legal Counsel and Senior Vice President of HealthTrio, LLC, according to the press release.
Roger Donlan was the first in the Vietnam War and also the first Special Forces to receive the Medal of Honor, according to the press release.
Donlan received this honor because on July 6, 1964 he led a Special Forces camp defense at Nam Dong against a reinforced Viet Cong Battalion, according to the release. Donlan will be speaking on Dec. 4, at 7 p.m. in the OUC Ballroom for no charge.
On Jan. 22, 2014, W. Kamau Bell will speak in the Hoag Recital Hall at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $8. Bell is a socio-political comedian, community activist, and late night TV host. His television show, “Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell,” premiered at the beginning of 2013, according to the release.
Antonio “Tony” Mendez is the former CIA technical operations officer who managed the “Canadian Caper” during the Iran hostage crisis. He rescued six American diplomats who were held hostage in Iran in 1979, according to the press release. This event was the inspiration for the movie “Argo” that was directed by Ben Affleck.
Mendez will speak on February 26, 2014 in the OUC Ballroom at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased for $8 for non-CSU-Pueblo students.
