Like other universities, N.C. State features highly politicized lecturers. Long-time radical Angela Davis spoke in September and Tucker Max, author of “I Hope There’s Beer in Hell,” gave a predictably vulgar rant in August.
But there are other speeches, too—and two new lecture series are worth emulating by other colleges. They are the “Fabulous Faculty” series and the “Student All-Star” series, both sponsored by the N. C. State libraries (including the Friends of the Libraries).
The two series aim “to give everybody in the community a chance to hear and see some of the best ideas that are being thought and said at N.C .State,” says David Hiscoe, director of community strategy and external relations for the libraries. Speakers are expected to “leave the jargon and specialty languages at the door and talk about important subjects in a way that non-specialists can follow.”
“Since the time of Benjamin Franklin, libraries have been social and intellectual centers of the community,” Hiscoe explained at the inaugural lecture of the Student All-Star Series on December 8. These lectures restore that role to the library. “The lectures allow students, faculty and other members of the university community to step out of their own circle of daily work and to see and hear some of the best thinking, writing, and multimedia being done by members of the university community.”
The Student All-Star Lecture Series highlights the work of some of N.C. State’s most promising student scholars. The lecturers are chosen by students themselves, who nominate “colleagues that they recognize as inspirational,” says Hiscoe. The lectures will be held two to three times a semester in the D. H. Hill Library. All lectures in both series are free and open to the public.
I attended the inaugural student lecture, given by Matt Robbins. A graduate student in the College of Design, Robbins initiated the current campaign to put bells in the school’s Bell Tower, which was never finished due to financial constraints during the Great Depression. Robbins has become an authority on largely forgotten changes to the architecture on campus. He spoke on “State College Then and Now: Saving the History of Our Buildings.” Robbins’ talk drew more than 100 students and faculty members—a sizable crowd for a specialized topic.
Robbins’ talk was an excellent example of a multi-disciplinary approach to learning, as he combined his formal training in architecture with a love of history to present N.C. State’s evolution from “State College” in 1887 to the university that exists today. As a State graduate, I was excited to hear about the school’s long history and traditions, including the mystery of State’s moving (and missing) fountains.
The Fabulous Faculty Series showcases the most interesting and relevant works in progress by N.C. State teachers and researchers. Sponsored by a grant from the Tom Russell Foundation, Inc., it started in 2008. Some of the past speakers in the series have been Joseph DeSimone, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, speaking about his Lemelson-MIT Prize for invention and innovation; Professor John Kessel, professor of English, on his book The Baum Plan for Financial Independence and Other Stories; and Ann Ross, professor of sociology and anthropology, on CSI and Human Rights.
Mike Walden, professor of agricultural and resource economics, who spoke last February about his new book North Carolina in the Connected Age, found the interaction with the university community to be a “valuable experience,” as many attendees participated with thoughtful questions and comments.
Hiscoe has high hopes for the future of both series: “We’re just gearing up the Student All-Stars series, but our goal for both is the same: to highlight the work of some the N.C. State’s most interesting teachers and student scholars.”
Too often, scholars become lost in their own disciplines. In constant pursuit of the next scientific breakthrough—or the next opportunity to land a big grant—professors leave little time to explore other corners of learning. Students are doing the same thing when they complain about the distribution requirements that prevent them from diving exclusively into their own disciplines.
The Student All-Stars and Fabulous Faculty series break from that trend, as well as offering a change from the onslaught of leftwing political speakers. They offer sound scholarship and opportunities for thoughtful collaboration between faculty and students across disciplines. N.C. State should focus more of its efforts on this type of outreach