Northwestern’s got game.
Spike Lee, maker of race-conscious and provocative films including “Do the Right Thing,” “Malcolm X” and “He Got Game,” will speak at 7:30 p.m. May 4 in Ryan Family Auditorium.
Organizers said they don’t know yet if the event will be free, but if they do sell tickets, admission will be $3 to $5.
Lee is the third speaker for COLORS, a series of race-related lectures sponsored by the Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Association and National Pan-Hellenic Council.
“He’s made a lot of films about racial issues and we want to represent all different viewpoints,” said Erin Schilling, Panhel’s vice president for education. “As far as name recognition goes, he’s definitely a big-name filmmaker whom a lot of people will want to hear speak.”
First slated for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the speech was switched to Spring Quarter due to miscommunication with Lee’s agents, organizers said.
Associated Student Government provided $16,784 in spring funding to help foot the bill for Lee’s $24,000 speaking fee and airfare, said Schilling, a Speech junior. The rest of the funding came from the three Greek groups sponsoring the speech.
Funding for the speech was secured even though IFC was demoted to B-status by ASG last quarter. B-status groups do not receive funding from student activity fees.
IFC regained its A-level status last week after petitioning ASG to consider its leadership and plans, said IFC President Dustin Cook, a McCormick junior. The money ASG awarded in spring funding last year would have been available even if IFC hadn’t regained A-status.
Some students said they would attend the speech to hear about both sides of Lee: the man who films unflinching views of race relations and the passionate fan of the New York Knicks.
“He represents the vocal black community,” said Weinberg junior Jae Oh. “He speaks for what he believes in and he’s not afraid to express himself.”
The Atlanta-born director, actor, producer and screenwriter tends to focus on urban race relations, often setting films in Brooklyn, where he grew up.
His other films include “Crooklyn,” “She’s Gotta Have It,” “Mo’ Better Blues” and “Summer of Sam.” He has helped establish black filmmakers and furthered the careers of black actors like Wesley Snipes, Samuel L. Jackson, Denzel Washington and Angela Bassett.
COLORS organizers will petition ASG this month to fund next year’s appearances. Speakers are Kweisi Mfume, executive director of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People; Elaine Chao, president of United Way; and Tavis Smiley, a Black Entertainment Television Network show host.
Actor Edward James Olmos and educator Joe Clark spoke in the COLORS series earlier this year.
