KU News Release

Kansas Public Radio to broadcast lectures, discussions held at area universities

LAWRENCE — When poet and National Public Radio commentator Andrei Codrescu spoke to a University of Kansas audience in August, there were almost 1,000 people listening. A new show on Kansas Public Radio will give tens of thousands of people a chance to hear his speech and many others.

On Sunday, Oct. 1, “KPR Presents” debuts at 8 p.m. The weekly, hour-long show will broadcast speeches, lectures, panel discussions and forums recorded at KU and other area universities. Codrescu’s talk about his hometown of New Orleans and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina will lead off the series.

Other shows will feature:
— Madeleine Albright, former U.S. Secretary of State, recorded at the Lied Center.
— Rodney Smith, political consultant and fundraiser, recorded at the Dole Institute of Politics.
— John Hofmeister, president of Shell Oil, recorded at Kansas State University.
— Nuruddin Farah, Somali novelist, recorded at Woodruff Auditorium in the Kansas Union.
— Richard Dawkins, evolutionary theorist, recorded at the Lied Center.
— Thomas Frank, author of What’s The Matter With Kansas, recorded at K-State.
— Kenneth Miller, evolutionary biologist, recorded at the Kansas Union Ballroom.

“ ‘KPR Presents’ will allow a much wider audience to hear these speakers,” said Kaye McIntyre, the series’ producer. “We’re getting a good cross-section of speakers, topics and locations for this series. KPR listeners will hear some frank discussions of timely and topical issues.”

To make room on the schedule for “KPR Presents,” the Celtic music show “Thistle and Shamrock” will end. The comedy show “Right Between The Ears” will move up an hour, to 7 p.m. Sundays, opening the 8-9 p.m. slot for “KPR Presents.”

KPR broadcasts on KANU 91.5 FM in Lawrence, KANH 89.7 FM in Emporia, KANV 91.3 FM in Olsburg-Junction City and K210CR 89.9 FM in Atchison. KPR can also be heard on the Internet. KPR also operates KPR-2, a news-talk channel on HD Radio. Those broadcasts can be heard on an HD receiver or KPR’s Web site.

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The University of Kansas is a major comprehensive research and teaching university. University Relations is the central public relations office for KU's Lawrence campus.