McDermott lecture: an inside look
TC Fleming
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
There comes a time on every tour given to prospective students where the guide opts inevitably for a bit of name-dropping. Those coming in for 2005 were informed Maya Lin, designer of the Vietnam War Memorial, had just been in to give a talk. Students this year will surely be informed that former leader of the USSR Mikhail Gorbachev came to campus to speak. These persons of note come from varied backgrounds but generally have one thing in common: they were brought to campus by way of the Eugene McDermott Lectureship Series.
Established by Eugene and his wife Margaret in 1974, the series seeks to bring academic luminaries to campus to interact with the students. How and at what depth the lecturers interact has been shifting in recent years, but the goal has essentially remained intact.
"One of the problems for the University of Dallas is that it's not very well known, even in its area," said Dr. David Sweet, the dean of the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts and a man heavily involved with the lectureship. "[The McDermotts] wanted us to have an influence in the city for the good."
In the past, the series has included much more than lectures. British essayist Erich Heller, for example, was the speaker in 1980, and in addition to public lectures, his talks were integrated as parts of classes that year. More recently, Sir Jonathan Miller visited in 2005 and held informal chats as well as public lectures. Miller, who is the man behind the BBC's Shakespeare series and a renowned opera director gave lectures as part of a history of art class and held a chat with drama students in addition to a speaking appearance in the Maher Athletic Center.
Most recently the lectureship opted to forgo length and depth while obtaining a bigger name, that of Gorbachev. Gorbachev gave a talk at the athletic center and another that same day at the Belo Mansion in Dallas but was not around for anything else.
"[The way we did it before] is a good model, but it's an expensive one because you have to keep them here for a couple weeks," Sweet said. "People of such eminence do not have that kind of time, especially if they have responsibilities in politics or the arts. They can't get away for that long."
Established by Eugene and his wife Margaret in 1974, the series seeks to bring academic luminaries to campus to interact with the students. How and at what depth the lecturers interact has been shifting in recent years, but the goal has essentially remained intact.
"One of the problems for the University of Dallas is that it's not very well known, even in its area," said Dr. David Sweet, the dean of the Braniff Graduate School of Liberal Arts and a man heavily involved with the lectureship. "[The McDermotts] wanted us to have an influence in the city for the good."
In the past, the series has included much more than lectures. British essayist Erich Heller, for example, was the speaker in 1980, and in addition to public lectures, his talks were integrated as parts of classes that year. More recently, Sir Jonathan Miller visited in 2005 and held informal chats as well as public lectures. Miller, who is the man behind the BBC's Shakespeare series and a renowned opera director gave lectures as part of a history of art class and held a chat with drama students in addition to a speaking appearance in the Maher Athletic Center.
Most recently the lectureship opted to forgo length and depth while obtaining a bigger name, that of Gorbachev. Gorbachev gave a talk at the athletic center and another that same day at the Belo Mansion in Dallas but was not around for anything else.
"[The way we did it before] is a good model, but it's an expensive one because you have to keep them here for a couple weeks," Sweet said. "People of such eminence do not have that kind of time, especially if they have responsibilities in politics or the arts. They can't get away for that long."
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