'96 Class forms list for Symposium: Gingrich, Mandela, Turner on invite list for speakers
Although the 1996 Senior Symposium is about a year away, the 1996 Class Council already has a list of potential speakers for the event, which will be titled "They Said It Couldn't Be Done." Leslie Jennings '96, a member of the Class Council, said it will invite prominent figures from entertainment, politics, sports and numerous other fields to speak about their extraordinary achievements that were once thought impossible. She said the 1996 Class Council will mail letters to about 20 "first-round" speaker choices on June 1. The crew from the Apollo 11 moon landing, Roger Bannister, the first person to run a four-minute mile, Speaker of the House of Representatives Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., South African President Nelson Mandela and Cable News Network founder Ted Turner are among the council's top choices, Jennings said. Class of 1996 Vice President Tom Caputo acknowledged it is not likely that many of these speakers will actually come to the College, but said the symposium will still be successful with less famous speakers. "The beauty of the topic is that there are a lot of lesser known names that have great stories," he said. Caputo said the council will meet Fall term to review the responses and determine if more speakers need to be invited. Jennings said the council is also hoping to expand the symposium. "We'd like to make the symposium an event and not just a speakers series," she said. Despite the difficulties inherent in attracting well-known achievers, Caputo said the council decided to avoid giving money to the speakers, although it will pay for travel expenses and lodging.