Overby Center Announces Schedule for Fall Semester

From a pair of sports-minded specials on Friday evenings before home football games to issue-driven documentaries and discussions about the impacts of former Gov. William Winter and Judge Constance Baker Motley, the Overby Center for Southern Journalism and Politics at the University of Mississippi will host a new slate of programs this fall.
For the eighth consecutive year, the Overby Center is bringing an array of guests to the campus from the worlds of politics, the law, sports, journalism and books.
“The variety of programs this fall at the Overby Center is outstanding,” said Charles Overby, chairman of the center. “From Oliver Wendell Holmes to the SEC Network, there is something for everybody.”
All of the programs will be held in the Overby Center Auditorium and are free and open to the public.
The fall’s line-up includes:
Sept. 3 at 6 p.m. — “Justice Is a Black Woman: The Life and Work of Constance Baker Motley,” a documentary about the career of the lawyer who represented James Meredith during his struggle to win admission to the University of Mississippi in 1962 and went on to become the first African-American female federal judge. Producer Gary Ward will be on hand for a discussion after the screening. The program is sponsored by the College of Liberal Arts, School of Law, Overby Center, Office of the Provost and the Sally McDonnell Barksdale Honors College.
Sept. 12 at 5 p.m. – “On To Omaha and Beyond,” featuring Ole Miss baseball coach Mike Bianco, who led his team to the College World Series this year. Bianco will reflect on the 2014 season and talk about prospects for the coming year with Keith Kessinger, analyst for radio broadcasts of Rebel baseball.
Sept. 30 at 5:30 p.m. – “Assassins, Eccentrics, Politicians and Other Persons of Interest,” a new collection of 50 stories by Overby Fellow Curtis Wilkie will be discussed by the author and his colleague, Charles Overby. The book, published by University Press of Mississippi, draws from Wilkie’s 40-year career as a journalist who covered the civil rights movement, national politics, conflicts in the Middle East and the South.
Oct. 7 at 5:30 p.m. – “The Toughest Job: William Winter’s Mississippi,” a documentary which premieres on Mississippi Public Broadcasting in October will have a special screening at the Overby Center. Matthew Graves directed the work for the university’s Southern Documentary Project; David Crews was the producer. After the showing, Winter, who served as governor from 1980-84 and led a successful fight for education reform, will join others to talk about his continuing role in public policy in the state.
Oct. 14 at 4 p.m. – “The Great Dissent,” will feature Thomas Healy, who teaches law at Seton Hall University and will use his book’s subtitle, “How Oliver Wendell Holmes Changed His Mind and Changed the History of Free Speech in America,” to deal with First Amendment issues in a conversation conducted by Overby.
Oct. 17 at 5:30 p.m. – “The SEC Goes 24/7.” On the eve of the Ole Miss-Tennessee game, Justin Connolly, the head of the new SEC Network, will appear at the Overby Center with others involved in the project to talk about their plans to revolutionize coverage of sports in the Southeastern Conference.
For more information about any of our programs, contact Curtis Wilkie, Overby Fellow at 662-915-1707, or email cwilkie@olemiss.edu.