By Anna Michael
The Cincinnati Enquirer

OXFORD - The man who led New York City through Sept. 11, 2001, three former presidential candidates and a feminist pioneer are part of Miami University's speaker lineup this school year.

Miami graduate P.J. O'Rourke, the humorist political writer and commentator, opens the lecture series Sept. 30.

Lana Kay Rosenberg, chair of the Miami University Lecture Series, said the university is not spending any more money than it has in past years.

"We try to provide as much variety as we can," Rosenberg said. "This year we were interested in bringing at least one speaker that had an Ohio connection because of Ohio's Bicentennial."

Gloria Steinem, the women's activist and writer, speaks Nov. 17.

In February, former presidential candidates Ralph Nader and Alan Keyes will appear together and Caroll Spinney, who played Sesame Street's Big Bird, will speak in March.

All the lectures, which are free and open to the public, begin at 8 p.m. at Hall Auditorium.

Miami senior Alexis Bourgeois has been to the Lecture Series before, and this year she is particularly excited to see Gloria Steinem and Ralph Nader.

"I have heard Ralph Nader speak at Xavier and he was really interesting and informative, and we have talked a lot about Gloria Steinem in my classes," Bourgeois said.

In addition to the Miami University Lecture Series, another campus lecture series is bringing a big name to campus.

The Jack R. Anderson Distinguished Lection Series, sponsored by the School of Business, is hosting former New York Mayor Rudolph Giuliani at Millet Hall at 7 p.m. Nov. 17.

Mary Cooper, an employee for the School of Business who helped bring Giuliani to campus, said Jack Anderson, the Miami alum for whom the lecture series is named, covered the approximately $100,000 it will cost for Giuliani's appearance.

"When the students overhear us talking about it, they seem very excited," Cooper said.

"They think of Rudy and they think of a hero."

And it's not just the main campus that is presenting well-known speakers.

Miami University-Hamilton's Harry T. Wilks Lecture Series is hosting political commentator Patrick J. Buchanan, a former presidential candidate, at 4 p.m. Wednesday in Parrish Auditorium.

"The community is excited. We already have about 300 reservations for the auditorium that fits about 450," said Carole Johnson, Miami-Hamilton's spokeswoman.