Guest speakers are one of the best yet most underused resource the University offers. Last year’s panel “Diversity 2016: Race and Gender on the Campaign Trail,” hosted by the Manship School of Mass Communication, was an integral part of my first semester studying mass communication. Speakers like Thomas Aiello enlightened me on lingering Jim Crow laws in Louisiana’s legal system, and a conversation with author and guest speaker Helen Thorpe was a highlight of my last semester.
Along with enriching the education of students in corresponding majors, guest speakers and University-hosted panels offer students the opportunity to dip their toes in unfamiliar fields. Many students choose majors based on future economic stability rather than passion, so attending an hour-long speech may be the only chance they have to learn about other subjects.
I’d advise all students to seek out and make time for speakers and panels that pique their interest. It’s a relaxing and engaging break from studying and gives students interesting concepts to mull over. Guest speakers are more than an opportunity to score bonus points.
Unfortunately, several barriers prevent students from attending these talks and panels. I would have missed a majority of the guest lectures I attended if my professors had not announced them directly to my class. I have also found interesting events only to realize they already occurred or I scheduled something else at the time. I have had instructors not disclose the location and time of a guest speaker until the day before, making it too late to work the event into my schedule.
Other instructors have relied on students to hand out flyers for colleagues that were arranged to visit. Instructors have always been enthusiastic about speakers who can supplement their lectures, but there are better methods to attract a larger audience.
Colleges at the University, like the Roger Hadfield Ogden Honors College and the Manship School, do a good job of advertising their largest speakers. However, those events can be hard to attend when they’re scheduled at a time most students are still in class, such as the early afternoon. I understand speakers travelling from all over the country have tight schedules, but dates should be set at a time when more students are out of class. Alternatively, teachers could permit students’ absence from class to listen in on various speakers. A short written response submitted to teachers afterwards would ensure students’ attendance at the event and their engagement.
A central database where all faculty could submit events and speakers to that is well advertised by the University, relevant colleges and organizations like student media well ahead of their scheduled date would benefit students and teachers both.
Currently, students are gleaning information from posters displayed in a few select buildings and what speakers their teachers have directly arranged. Outside of a student’s class routine, apprehending speakers and events is a detective game.
I was contacted by the Manship School about a luncheon with and talk by Dr. Melissa Michelson on her book “Listen: We Need to Talk – How to Change Attitudes about LGBT Rights,” occurring on Feb. 16. The email listed me as someone faculty and staff indicated would be interested in attending and encouraged me to RSVP for the event. I regretfully declined because of a class at the same time, but thankfully the actual talk by Michelson is at 3 p.m., which I will be able to attend. After the email I also noticed posters in several buildings.
This is a perfect example of how more speakers should be presented at the University with ample publicity. Unfortunately, few get such treatment. It’s understandable: not all speakers are hosted by the Honors College and the Manship School. I can only hope students in STEM and other majors unrelated to the event who might be interested see a poster.
Ryan Thaxton is a 20-year-old journalism sophomore from Monroe, Louisiana.