A master of horror and one of the most prominent newswomen will both speak in Hendricks Chapel over the next two weeks in what University Union is calling its Sunday Speaker Series.

UU Speakers will bring Soledad O’Brien, anchor of CNN’s ‘American Morning’ to Hendricks this Sunday, April 10, at 5 p.m. The following Sunday, April 17, Wes Craven, who redefined the horror film with movies like ‘Nightmare on Elm Street’ and the ‘Scream’ trilogy will also speak at 5 p.m. in Hendricks.

Tickets for both events are on sale in the Schine Box Office and are $3 each for students and faculty and $5 each for community members.

Despite canceling several appearances at other colleges and universities this week due to traveling to cover the death and funeral of Pope John Paul II, O’Brien expressed an interest in still coming to SU this week, said Chad Bender, UU Speakers co-chair. O’Brien will return from Rome Saturday and appear on Sunday.

‘She’s such an intelligent, bright anchor,’ Bender said.

O’Brien’s speech will encompass many of her professional experiences, including what it has been like to cover a papal death, as well as December’s tsunami, Bender said. She will also discuss what it takes to become a news anchor and diversity.

‘Soledad O’Brien is very diverse,’ said Elliot Roberts, another co-chair for UU Speakers. ‘We hope she appeals to the diversity on this campus.’

O’Brien is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Association of Hispanic Journalists, and was named to Irish American Magazine’s top 100 Irish-Americans list twice.

While the recent death of the pope might alter her talk, Roberts said, there will be a question-and-answer session afterward, so anyone with questions about diversity, current events or being a newswoman can discuss them with O’Brien.

A week later, director, producer and writer Wes Craven will bring a very different atmosphere to the chapel.

‘There’s an interesting aspect of Wes Craven’s ability to create with the art of suspense that’s very specific to horror movies,’ Roberts said. ‘It’s a very psychological ability.’

Craven will describe his work in the art of horror and how he has gotten to this point in his nearly 30-year career.

‘It’ll be a much different audience (than O’Brien),’ Roberts said. ‘However, I wouldn’t be surprised if it overlaps, too, because we’re all people, we all watch the TV and we all watch movies.’

O’Brien and Craven replace the gap left by comedian newsman Jon Stewart’s proposed but rejected appearance.

‘With time and money coming against us, we felt that this was in the students’ best interest,’ Bender said.

Jon Stewart rejected UU’s bid three weeks ago, leaving UU scant time to bid for other potentials acts for the spring.

‘We’ve been looking at (O’Brien and Craven) for quite a long time,’ Roberts said. ‘But our quest for Jon Stewart interrupted our quest for Soledad O’Brien.’

Published on April 4, 2005 at 12:00 pm