Ice-T Replaces West as Motivational Speaker

Rapper, actor and lecturer Ice-T will replace Cornel West as the fourth lecturer in Southern University’s 2002-2003 Motivational Speaker Series.
In a release by Perry Steinberg, president and CEO of American Program Bureau, Incorporated, the ongoing war in Iraq and concerns with safety issues surrounding air travel in the United States caused West to cancel most of his speaking engagements. However, the acclaimed philosopher and professor of religion at Princeton University agreed to speak in September.
Adding a new flavor to Springfest 2003, Ice-T will speak at the festivities April 26 at 1 p.m.
“We hope that the students would appreciate this change of pace for Springfest,” said Steven Sumbler, student government president. “We want everyone to have a good time as well as the opportunity to gain enrichment in the informal setting.”
Through his music, his book, The Ice Opinion and his lecture tours of America’s prisons, high schools and colleges (including Harvard, Berkeley and Stanford), Ice T has become an influential spokesman for America’s youth, regardless of color.
Ice T is currently in his second season of the television series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, playing the part of Detective Finn.
He has been the keynote speaker at a number of Internet conventions including the 1999 College Music Journal Conference in New York, New York Music & Internet Expo in 2000, Rotterdam Film Festival in 2000 and Canadian Music Week in 2000.