By Alexandra Valint
Cavalier Daily Associate Editor
How would you blend together little pieces of wisdom, years of teaching and random personal experiencesinto a comprehensible 20-minute lecture? What if it was the last chance to give that lecture? That is the hypothetical situation that professors involved in this year's 11th annual Last Lecture Series face.
Second-year College student Jessica Belue said the concept is "to invite three professors to give a lecture as if it's the last lecture they would give to students at the University."
Belue is a member of the committee that pours over lists of faculty member names and solicits students' personal recommendations to find the perfect group of three professors to partake in the annual tradition. Belue said the committee makes a pointed effort to choose professors from a variety of departments, in addition to considering race and gender in finalizing their selections.
This year's distinguished speakers are Bob Covert of the Curry School, James Sofka of the Department of Politics and Kathryn Thornton of the Engineering School.
Sofka has been devoting much of his time for the last three weeks to outlining his lecture. While preparing his lecture, Sofka likened the process to writing his own epitaph.
"What you would say if you were dead tomorrow," he said.
Thornton doesn't know what she is talking about yet, but she hopes to go into the lecture with a few planned points.
"I'll do it at the last minute because it's more fresh," Thornton said. "How do you sum up everything you've learned in life? It's kind of hard."
Thorton currently teaches History of Space Flight although she doesn't plan on speaking directly on that topic in her lecture. Instead she plans to include her experiences as an astronaut.
Sofka decided he didn't want to linger too much on personal experiences. Instead, he wants to "talk about something of importance to the community. I want to make it about the place," he said.
"I'm talking about something I'm very passionate about - building a community within the College of Arts and Sciences," Sofka added.
He said he hopes the ideas presented in his lecture will stir up a dialogue among members of the University community. He also wants to finish the lecture with the feeling, "If I were to die tomorrow, I would be a happy man."
Belue said she views the Last Lecture Series as a chance for students to listen to professors from departments and schools other than their own.
"Last year we packed the chapel," Belue said.
Because of the space constraint last year, the event has been moved to Newcomb Hall Ballroom this year to accommodate a larger audience. The lecture will be given Sunday at 7:30 p.m.
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