City of Chicago declares Sept. 25 “Elie Wiesel Day” in honor of SXU visit

Wiesel also to receive Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa from Saint Xavier

Chicago (Sept. 15, 2008)–The City of Chicago has declared Sept. 25, 2008 Elie Wiesel Day in honor of his speaking engagement that evening at Saint Xavier University. The Chicago City Council approved naming the day for Wiesel at its Sept. 10th meeting.

More than 2,000 tickets have been sold to hear Wiesel, a Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Holocaust survivor, speak at 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 25 in the SXU Shannon Center.
Prior to his lecture, Wiesel will conduct a classroom discussion with select Saint Xavier students.

That evening, he will receive a Doctor of Humanities, honoris causa, from Saint Xavier University in recognition of a lifetime of work dedicated to peace and human dignity.

“We are thrilled by the overwhelming response to Mr. Wiesel’s Sept. 25 visit to Saint Xavier University,” said Robert Tenczar, vice president for University Relations. “This third installment of the SXU Voices and Visions promises to be a truly special evening.”

Elie Wiesel was born in 1928 in Sighet, Transylvania, which is now part of Romania. He was 15 when he and his family were deported by the Nazis to the concentration camp, Auschwitz. His mother and younger sister perished, but his two older sisters survived. Wiesel and his father were transported to Buchenwald, where his father died shortly before the camp was liberated in April 1945.

Later as a journalist, he was persuaded to write about his experiences. The result was his internationally acclaimed memoir, “La Nuit” or “Night,” which has since been translated into more than 30 languages.

General admission tickets are $15 each and are available by visiting Ticketweb at http://www.ticketweb.com/ or by calling toll free (866) 468-3401. A limited number of $200 V.I.P. priority tickets also are available and will include priority seating and admission to an exclusive post-lecture wine and cheese reception with Mr. Wiesel.

Saint Xavier students, faculty and staff are free but must obtain a ticket. Students may contact

Campus Life (L-103) at (773) 341-5060 and faculty and staff may contact the Office of Special Events at (773) 298-3311. Tickets may be picked up with a valid Cougar Card in Campus Life (L-103) or in the SXU Diner weekdays from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

For more information about the event, please call (773) 298-3311 or e-mail specialevents@sxu.edu.

Reporters interested in covering Wiesel’s lecture or taking advantage of a special media opportunity the day of the lecture should contact Director of Media Relations Joe Moore at (773) 298-3937 or (cell) (773) 203-6671.

-SXU-