John Callaway kicks off SXU’s 2008-09 Squeaky Weal Lecture Series

Video of WTTW’s Friday Night with John Callaway host available at http://www.sxu.edu/administrative/media_relations/callaway.asp

Chicago (Nov. 12, 2008) John Callaway, host of WTTW’s Friday Night with John Callaway and former host of WTTW’s Chicago Tonight, kicked off Saint Xavier University’s 2008-09 Squeaky Weal Lecture Series on Tuesday, Nov. 11 at SXU’s Chicago Campus, 3700 W. 103rd St.

Callaway’s lecture, titled “John Callaway’s State of the Union,” addressed the historic 2008 presidential election, President-Elect Barack Obama’s candidacy and its pertinence to race relations in America and the nation’s economic hardships.

Please click here to view a video of Callaway’s lecture on SXU’s newly redesigned Web site.

Callaway also took time to have dinner with SXU students and staff members.

“I’ve been afforded many amazing opportunities here at Saint Xavier University, but the chance to sit down for dinner with Mr. Callaway was one of the more exceptional opportunities that I have had,” said SXU student Sammi Powers. “Mr. Callaway offered many interesting stories and made us all feel very welcome.”

A legendary journalist, Callaway has been a news radio and television leader for 51 years. He worked for Chicago and New York CBS radio before hosting WTTW’s premier public affairs program, Chicago Tonight, for 15 years. He now is host and senior editor of WTTW’s Friday Night with John Callaway as well as host of the Chicago Stories anthology series.

Callaway has collected more than 100 awards during a career that spans more than half a century, including a Peabody Award and 17 Emmy Awards. In addition to his journalistic achievements, Callaway received numerous honorary doctoral degrees from such institutions as Northwestern University and the John Marshall College of Law. He also was the founding director of the University of Chicago’s William Benton Fellowships in Broadcast Journalism Program.

Callaway also authored the bestselling book of essays The Thing of It Is and recently wrote and performed a pair of autobiographical shows titled Life is…Maintenance and John Callaway Tonight.

SXU’s Squeaky Weal lecture series explores the role of religion in civic life and the importance of being involved in civic and political issues. The series is sponsored by the Center for Religion and Public Discourse.

For more information, please contact the Center for Religion and Public Discourse at (773) 298-3981 or mareska@sxu.edu.

-SXU-

FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Contact: Rick Ducat
773-298-3325 or ducat@sxu.edu