Potsdam’s Video Conference

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CNN's Anderson Cooper to Speak at Potsdam's Campus Festival

Written by Contributor
Friday, 09 April 2010 -- 14:41

POTSDAM, NY— The State University of New York at Potsdam’s 2010 Campus Festival will feature a discussion with Anderson Cooper in a live video conference from CNN studios in New York City. The broadcast journalist will take a break from reporting around the globe to speak to a SUNY Potsdam audience in a videoconference taped from his New York City studio.

Cooper, the anchor of CNN’s “Anderson Cooper 360°,” will participate in an interactive discussion in a live video conference hosted in Helen M. Hosmer Concert Hall at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 22. The Emmy-winning news anchor will take questions from a panel of students in a discussion about the aftermath of the earthquake that devastated Haiti in January as well as the challenges of covering world events and the importance of staying informed and connected on a global level.

SUNY Potsdam President Dr. John F. Schwaller will moderate the discussion and Anderson Cooper will speak live via satellite feed. “This is a wonderful opportunity for our students to learn from a world-class journalist about disaster response and how they need to stay aware of current events to participate in today’s society,” Dr. Schwaller said.

SUNY Potsdam Alumna Kathleen Friery ’94, the executive producer of “Anderson Cooper 360°,” arranged the event. A limited number of free tickets are available to the public at the Community Performance Series box office, located in the Sarah M. Snell Music Theater Lobby.

In addition to Anderson Cooper, SUNY Potsdam is hosting several other well known speakers and artists as part of “Footprints in the North Country: Pathways on the Planet” Campus Festival, held from April 20 to 25.

Saxophonist Paul Winter, a six-time Grammy winner, will present a concert at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21 in Hosmer Hall. Entitled “A Celebration of the Earth,” the concert will be a journey into the world of “living music,” and will feature Winter’s soprano saxophone sounds as well as the voices of the wolf, whale, bull elk, whooping crane and wood thrush. He will be accompanied by the Paul Winter Consort, in a mixture of elements of classical, jazz and world music.

Winter will also lead an “Adventures in Sound Play” workshop from 9 to 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, in Marie A. Schuette Hall Room A323. Open to the public, the workshop is aimed at opening up new avenues of expression for each participant, regardless of musical ability.

Sustainability expert Jim Merkel will give the keynote speech to open the 2010 Campus Festival at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, April 21, in Kellas Hall Room 106. The author of “Radical Simplicity” will discuss practical ways to make monumental reductions in our spending and ecological footprints, while realigning our values with a greater sense of purpose. His speech, “A Radical Stimulus Package: Home and Campus Sustainability,” will offer creative suggestions to integrate greener practices into both College and home life.

Jim Merkel will also lead a workshop at 9 a.m. on Thursday, April 22, in the Knowles Hall Multi-Purpose Room. In an event entitled “Sustainable Campuses and Careers: Working Solutions from the Inside Out,” Merkel will show students, faculty and community members how to incorporate environmental activism into any career path.

Dr. Mary Louise Pratt, Professor at New York University, will present the keynote address for a discussion on “Footprints in Cultural Studies” at 11 a.m. on Thursday, April 22 in Kellas Hall Room 106. The author of “Imperial Eyes,” a groundbreaking study of the workings of imperialism, will speak about her research.

To see the entire 2010 Campus Festival schedule of events, visit http://www.potsdam.edu/academics/specialprograms/campusfestival/