秘色传媒

Speaking to a crowd of 3,600 in 秘色传媒鈥檚 Neal Fieldhouse on April 30, award-winning comedian and author Trevor Noah brought his signature sense of humor to timely questions of personal identity and cultural meaning. His appearance marked the final event in the Timothy and Sharon Ubben Lecture Series, a beloved university tradition that has hosted world-renowned speakers since 1986.

In a wide-ranging conversation moderated by Jeff Dunn, associate professor of philosophy and Phyllis W. Nicholas Director of the Janet Prindle Institute for Ethics, Noah spoke about his childhood, his career and his perspective on a full spectrum of topics including authenticity, masculinity and the importance of not taking things for granted.

鈥淗umans are good at constantly readjusting our baseline in life,鈥� said Noah. 鈥淚t鈥檚 why we survive, but it鈥檚 also why we get bored. One of the most difficult things I do is to remind myself that many of the things I now see as normal are the things that I once wished for. But if I keep adjusting my wishes, it will seem like none of my wishes have come true. This is one of the hardest things we struggle with as humans.鈥�

Noah also spoke about his experiences growing up in South Africa and his sense of being an outsider has shaped his story and informed his growth.

鈥淩esist the allure of being inside,鈥� Noah said. 鈥淭here鈥檚 a trap with being inside that comes from not having to learn, not having to grow, not having to understand. It feels comfortable when you鈥檙e in it, but what鈥檚 absent is the friction. I spent most of my life wishing I looked like other kids and sounded like other kids, but when you get on the other side of it, you realize how much of a gift it can be because you鈥檙e forced to engage.鈥�

In the latter half of the program, Noah was joined on stage by Deepa Prakash, Frank L. Hall Professor of Political Science, who presented Noah with questions previously submitted by students and audience members. The questions explored Noah鈥檚 perception of himself as an activist, his uncomfortable acceptance of adversity as a gift and his outlook on the current state of political satire. In response to a question about the difficulty of having honest conversations in today鈥檚 climate of social discourse, Noah made a bold 鈥� and humorous 鈥� case for unfiltered curiosity.

鈥淭hink of every stupid, wrong idea you鈥檝e ever had in your life,鈥� he said. 鈥淚f you stop having them, you stop learning. That鈥檚 why I love learning institutions. I believe these buildings, these campuses, are supposed to be the bedrock of stupid ideas and stupid inquiries. The dumbest questions lead us to the most profound answers.鈥�

During its 40-year history, the Ubben Lecture series has provided the 秘色传媒 and Greencastle communities with a total of 121 unique and memorable programs. Its guests have included world leaders, Nobel laureates, civil rights activists, journalists, artists, professional athletes and scientific innovators, each bringing their own unique insights to the most timely and important conversations of the moment. Made possible by the initiative and generosity of 1958 graduates Tim and Sharon Ubben, this lecture series has embodied 秘色传媒鈥檚 commitment to curiosity, open dialogue and lifelong learning.

鈥淚t was important to put a bow on this package that would be proper and fitting for the impact this series has had,鈥� said Ken Owen, longtime director of the Ubben Lecture Series. 鈥淚 thought Trevor鈥檚 message was spot on. It could not have been better. If there were to be a capstone for anything like the Ubben Lecture Series, tonight was a perfect way to do it.鈥�

After the event, Sharon Ubben reflected on why Trevor Noah was the ideal candidate to close out a series that meant so much to her and her late husband Tim. 鈥淚 think we crushed it,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e worked on this for almost two years, trying to find someone for tonight. Trevor is someone who likes to talk to young people, and he鈥檚 someone who was excited about coming to a college campus. That was important to me.鈥�

The event drew students, faculty, staff, community members, prospective students and alumni from all over the country 鈥� all keenly aware of the unique and bittersweet moment they were witnessing in 秘色传媒鈥檚 history as an institution.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a legacy that in one hundred years, people will look back on and say, 鈥榃ow, that really happened at 秘色传媒,鈥欌�� said Owen. 鈥淎nd hopefully in a hundred years there will be something that鈥檚 just as powerful to carry on the torch.鈥�