They’re reviving the Barrick Lecture Series at UNLV … thanks to whom?
The revival of the Barrick Lecture Series, which has languished since benefactor Marjorie Barrick died in April 2007, is underway, prodded none-to-gently by my Nov. 10 column asking why the series stopped so abruptly after her death.
After all, there was enough money from Barrick’s initial endowment to pay for at least two speakers a year since her death, UNLV officials said, even when the cost is about $100,000 each.
UNLV has gone so far as to set a date — Jan. 22 — but speakers aren’t confirmed yet. The program is expected to be a group of national political reporters and pundits, according to UNLV spokesman Dave Tonelli.
There is one confirmed speaker with an actual date. Humorist Garrison Keillor will be the speaker Sept. 23. Mark that on your calendar! The Barrick Lectures series has always been free to the public.
The UNLV Foundation received another $5 million endowment from her estate to sustain the series and should receive a total of between $8 million and $9 million when the estate is finally settled. With the first endowment and with proper planning, that’s enough to pay for four lectures a year, the folks at UNLV estimate.
Marjorie Barrick would be furious at the delay, but at least her wishes are now being honored … and her money should be used as intended.
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And here’s a preview of Keillor: