By: Jaycie Dodd
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark – The University of Arkansas Distinguished Lectures Committee found a new focus during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chair of the DLC, Sally Gairhan, said this semester the committee focused on recruiting leaders of the Northwest Arkansas community to give lectures.
Before UofA students were sent home mid-March, the typical format of a DLC lecture would be a lecture followed by an open Q&A and a photo opportunity with the speaker. But with the pandemic things have changed.
“We decided to postpone some lectures.” Gairhan said, “We are having Bob Goff this semester, because we figured his virtual honorarium was reasonable. “
Lawyer, speaker and author, Bob Goff, was scheduled to speak last spring. Gairhan said the committee rescheduled his lecture to Nov. 5.
However, for the Aly Raisman lecture, which was originally scheduled for spring 2020, Gairhan said she wanted to push it back to spring 2021 so they can have it in person.
“I grew up idolizing her on the U.S. Olympics gymnastics team.” Gairhan said, “We chose to bring speakers that can talk about heavy topics, which could still happen on zoom, but in my eyes, I think that is an experience that needs to be in person.”
For now, the DLC will continue to focus their programs on the Fayetteville community. In September, the CEO of the Fayetteville A&P Commission, Molly Rawn, gave a virtual lecture. Gairhan said they had about 30 students attend the zoom.
The DLC plans to host a lecture with Olivia Trimble Oct. 22. Trimble is a local artist known for painting murals around the Northwest Arkansas area. Most notably, a recent mural on Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. that was vandalized in September.
For more information on how to attend the lectures visit the DLC Instagram @uarklectures.