UCI Law School Update; Ahmadinejad in New York; Cirque De Soleil 20th Anniversary in Los Angeles; National Geographic All Roads Film Festival; FilmWeek Reviews
UCI Law School Update
The UCI Academic Senate held an emergency meeting last night regarding the Chancellor's hiring, rescinding, and re-hiring of Erwin Chemerinsky as dean of the university's new law school. Several hundred faculty members listened as Michael Drake apologized for not "consulting senior faculty early enough or often enough" in the matter. The faculty was divided in its response and the Academic Senate voted to form a committee to meet with Drake to discuss how his decisions were made and to report back before Dec. 15. Larry talks with Erwin Chemerinsky about the letter he wrote to the faculty in support of Chancellor Drake.
Ahmadinejad in New York
New York police have rejected Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's request to visit and lay a wreath at ground zero this week, citing security reasons. News of Ahmadinejad's request and subsequent rejection has sparked a heated debate, with many politicians and families of 9/11 victims offended by the idea that he would visit. Colombia University is receiving criticism for not cancelling a scheduled speech by the Iranian president this week. Larry asks listeners to weigh in on the issue.
Cirque De Soleil 20th Anniversary in Los Angeles
In the 1980s, a colorful band of characters roamed the streets of a small town near Quebec City, Canada, stilt-walking, juggling, dancing, breathing fire and making music. This group of young performers included Guy Laliberte, who became the founder and CEO of the world-famous Cirque de Soleil, a multimillion dollar international entertainment company. In 2007, Cirque de Soleil will present fifteen different shows around the world to almost ten million people. With its current show CORTEO, Cirque de Soleil celebrates its 20th anniversary in Los Angeles and the US. Larry talks with CORTEO's general manager Heather Reilly about Cirque's history, evolution and its unique "marriage of cultures and artistic and acrobatic disciplines."
National Geographic All Roads Film Festival
Larry discusses the 2007 All Roads Film Project and its line-up for this year's festival with Francene Blythe and Greg McGruder of the Project. The festival will take place at the Egyptian Theatre from September 27th - 30th.
FilmWeek Reviews
Larry and critics Lael Loewenstein, of Variety, and Claudia Puig, of USA Today, discuss the week's new releases including The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Into the Wild, The Jane Austen Book Club, Sydney White, The Last Winter, Sea of Dreams, and Antonia. Critic Peter Rainer of the Christian Science Monitor joins Larry from Halifax, Nova Scotia to talk about the highlights at the 27th Atlantic Film Festival.