Over the past few years, Connaissance has had some trouble bringing speakers to campus that are able to captivate their audience.
But this year, the group has landed a speaker fit for a president.
Maya Angelou, bestselling author, winner of the National Book Award and a Grammy, professor of African Studies at Wake Forest University and only the second poet to address a presidential inaugural -- Bill Clinton's in 1993 -- will speak at Irvine Auditorium on March 26.
It also marks another great success for the Social Planning and Events Committee's Connaissance program, which works to bring a high-profile speaker to campus every semester. Angelou's speech follows the fall semester's widely praised appearances by comedian Ben Stein and musician Billy Joel, and last spring's lecture by former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright.
The most eminent poet of her generation, Angelou will bring to her speech the wealth of life experience and insight that have made her one of the most respected writers alive today. It promises to be a memorable evening.
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