UNLV president plans to revive Barrick Lecture Series

Based on how the late Marjorie Barrick's wishes to keep the Barrick Lecture Series going strong after her death and how the lectures have been allowed to languish, I'm not sure I'd give the UNLV Foundation millions. Presuming I had millions.

There are reasons the series faltered since her death in April 2007, and UNLV President Len Jessup seems to be on top of the problem and reviving the series. But it's disgraceful how the wishes of this generous donor, who gave the University of Nevada, Las Vegas more than $10 million, have been ignored.

The heyday of the series was in 2002 and 2003, when Barrick was working with President Carol Harter and there were five lectures a year, all big names.

But under the presidency of David Ashley, the series died for two years.

I had given it a nudge in November 2008, believing the philanthropist had not funded the series in her will. Actually, she had. But the university had not followed through.

Following my prompting, President Neal Smatresk arranged for two or three lectures a year starting in 2009.

There was one lecture on temporary President Don Snyder's watch and one on Jessup's watch, which began in January.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Elud Barak packed the house in May.

"That was my first experience" with the series, Jessup said.

That's also when the new president realized how much Las Vegans enjoyed the free series, which began in 1980 and brought in A-list speakers.

One of the problems identified in 2008 was that there was no formal process to select speakers after Ashley replaced Harter.

Jessup has taken care of the how-to-do-it problem. He's create an advisory committee to work on selecting future speakers. The committee chair is Jessup's chief of staff, Fred Tredup. Other members are Interim Dean of the College of Fine Arts Helga Watkins, College of Liberal Arts Dean Chris Hudgins, President's Advisory Council member Sue DiBella, Black Mountain Institute Executive Director Joshua Shenk, Performing Arts Center representative Larry Henley and Faculty Senate member Douglas Unger.

Jessup said that ideally, there will be two or three lectures a year.

The names above should be held accountable if that doesn't happen. After all, officials said something similar in 2008, the year there was not one lecture.

Las Vegans enjoyed the lectures, and when Barrick was alive and involved in selecting the speakers, the emphasis was on leading politicians, former heads of state, nationally known experts and news media types.

I still have pleasurable memories of hearing Jimmy Carter, Gerald Ford, Mikhail Gorbachev, Jane Goodall and Ken Burns. Sometimes there were twofers, such as when Ben Bradlee and Bob Woodward teamed up and Jeb Bush and James Carville double-teamed.

Most lecturers allowed time for questions from the audience, and while some queries were wacky, most were thoughtful.

Most of the speakers, include Barak, worked in time with some relevant classes and attended a pre-lecture dinner with notable Las Vegans. At least that's what I heard, not being a notable Las Vegan myself.

Jessup said this is exactly the kind of exceptional community engagement he wants on campus, and he appointed the committee last summer, an indication this was on his radar even before I called to nudge.

Jessup still wants the A-list speakers, who can charge up to $150,000. He wants to expand the speakers beyond politics and news to include scientists and exceptional authors, citing people like Carl Sagan and Ken Burns, who last spoke her in 2005.

One lecture has been set up for Feb. 9 — journalist and author Fareed Zakaria.

I hope Jessup keeps his word and fully resurrects the lecture series in 2016, abiding by Barrick's wishes.

Otherwise, donors are going to be discouraged from giving.

Barrick's attorney James Jimmerson has a final $500,000 to give to the UNLV Foundation, money that was held back to pay for taxes and other expenses the trustee of her estate might face. Jimmerson is ready to turn over that money, but like me, he is disappointed in how the series has faltered.

He remembered the lectures drew an educated crowd to the university, people interested in world affairs.

"They will hear from me if they don't jump on this," Jimmerson said.

Plus, I know how to give a nudge, if necessary.

— Jane Ann Morrison's column runs Thursdays. Leave messages for her at 702-383-0275 or email jmorrison@reviewjournal.com. Find her on Twitter: @janeannmorrison