Students, faculty and members of the community will gather to hear the leader of the Iraq study group speak at the annual Jim Wright Symposium on Tuesday in the Brown-Lupton Student Center Ballroom. Lee Hamilton, who currently serves on the President’s Homeland Security Advisory Council, formerly served in the House of Representatives for 34 years, according to the Web site for the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.
While in office, Hamilton served on several committees relating to the Middle East, one of which was the bi-partisan committee on the Iran conflict. Wright said he appointed Hamilton during his tenure as Speaker of the House.
Hamilton, who Wright said is known for his bi-partisan views, also served as chair of the Joint Committee on the Organization of Congress. As a member of the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, he drafted several House ethics reforms, according to the 9/11 commission Web site.
Wright said he was gratified that Hamilton could find a spot in his schedule to appear on Tuesday.
“I think it’s a great favor to TCU and an honor for us to feature someone of such accomplishments and distinction,” Wright said.
The symposium, Wright said, has featured speakers like presidential hopeful Bill Richardson and five of the past six Western Hemisphere Nobel Peace Prize winners, and is one of many outstanding opportunities TCU offers.
“These opportunities are one of the attractive things about being in the student body here at TCU,” Wright said. “You have access to some unusual opportunities to hear people that have been there and done good things.”
SGA President Jace Thompson said he’s grateful Wright made his home at TCU.
“I think it’s a testament to where we are going as a school that such honorable people would come and share their knowledge with [the student body],” Thompson said.
The symposium is co-sponsored by the Center for Civic Literacy, Leadership Fort Worth, the Women’s Policy Forum and the Student Government Association.
Dinner seating is full, but open lecture seating will be available without RSVP for the event, which starts at 6:30 p.m.
For Tickets
Call the TCU Box Office at 817-257-5770 to reserve tickets.
Tickets are $10 to the public and $5 to TCU students and faculty/staff.
