ACCENT Speakers Bureau
Formation | 1967 |
---|---|
Type | Student government Speakers' bureau |
Headquarters | 306 J. Wayne Reitz Union, Gainesville, Florida, USA |
Chairman | Corey Flayman |
Parent organization | Student Government |
Affiliations | University of Florida |
Website |
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ACCENT Speakers Bureau is the student government-run speakers' bureau of the University of Florida. It claims to be the largest student-run speakers' bureau in the United States
The organization is a student government agency.
It was created in 1967 and its speakers' series was created originally as a symposium, with the first featuring author Ralph Nader and then Vice President Richard Nixon as the headline speakers. The next year the symposium featured a "liberal versus conservative" debate featuring Harry Goldin and James J. Kilpatrick. The symposium was accompanied by a politically charged magazine which featured writing from political science students and professors at the University of Florida. Over time, ACCENT broke away from the symposium format and turned into a year-long speaker series.
Speakers
In any given year, the Chairman must stretch the budget to bring in speakers that the Student Body would like to hear speak. While most shows are sponsored solely by ACCENT, many other student organizations turn to ACCENT for different events. Organizations like, but not limited to, Black Student Union, Jewish Student Union, Hispanic Student Union, Asian American Student Union, Pride Student Union, Islam on Campus and the Board of College Councils work with the ACCENT to bring in speakers that are both relevant to their group and hold wide appeal.
Past speakers
- Aaron Karo
- Adam Carolla
- Adam Sandler
- Adam Savage
- Afeni Shakur
- Alan Dershowitz
- Alberto Gonzales
- Amir Sulaiman
- Andrew Card
- Andy Richter
- Andy Samberg
- Ann Coulter
- Anthony Rapp
- Ari Fleischer
- Ben Cohen
- Bill Clinton
- Bill Nye
- Blair Witch
- Bob Barr
- Bob Dole
- Bob Saget
- Bob Woodward
- Bobby Knight
- Brett Ratner
- Carl Hiaasen
- Chris Rock
- Christopher Reeve
- Coretta Scott King
- Dan Quayle
- Dan Senor
- Daniel Tosh
- Danny Coulson
- Danny Glover
- Dave Thomas
- Demetri Martin
- Dennis Kucinich
- Diablo Cody
- Dick Vitale
- Don King
- Don Shula
- Elie Wiesel
- Ellen DeGeneres
- Gary Hart
- Gene Simmons
- George Carlin
- George H.W. Bush
- George Pataki
- George Stephanopoulos
- Gerald Ford
- Greg Louganis
- Helen Prejean
- Howard Zinn
- Jack Kevorkian
- Jack Ong
- Jaleel White
- Jamie Hyneman
- Janet Reno
- Jasmine Guy
- Jerry Greenfield
- Jesse Jackson
- Jimmy Carter
- Jim Wright
- Joe Wilson
- Joel Siegel
- John Kerry
- John Singleton
- Jose Canseco
- Josh Malina
- Kerri Strug
- Kevin Nealon
- Kurt Vonnegut
- Kweisi Mfume
- Kyle Maynard
- Laurie David
- Lewis Black
- Liz Murray
- Lou Ferrigno
- Loveline
- Magic Johnson
- Marcia Clark
- Margaret Cho
- Mark Sterner
- Martin Luther King III
- Matisyahu
- Max Weinberg
- Maya Angelou
- Mia Farrow
- Michael Moore
- Mike Reiss
- Mikhail Gorbachev
- Mo Rocca
- Noam Chomsky
- Oliver North
- Oliver Stone
- Omar Al Issawi
- Pat Buchanan
- Patch Adams
- Paul Rudd
- Penn & Teller
- Queen Latifah
- Ralph Nader
- Randy Haveson
- Ray McGovern
- Real World New Orleans Cast
- Riki Wilchins
- Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
- Ron Jeremy
- Ronald Takaki
- Ross Perot
- Roy Firestone
- Ruth Westheimer
- Rupert Vanderpool
- Ruth Westheimer
- Sandra Bernhard
- Sarah Silverman
- Sarah Weington
- Sheryl Crow
- Sheryl Swoopes
- Sinbad
- Spike Lee
- Spitfire Tour
- Steve Forbes
- Steve Wozniak
- Susan Cole
- The Amazing Kreskin
- Tom Green
- Tom Wolfe
- Valerie Plame Wilson
- Vladimir Posner
- Wesley Clark
- William Davis
- William Shatner
- Yitzak Rabin
- Zach Braff
Organizational information
Student government
ACCENT has the second largest budget out of all the agencies, as well as the largest staff. Chapter 563 of the University of Florida Student Body Statues outlines the general practices of the Speakers Bureau.
Staff structure
Over 50 student volunteers work with the Chairman to put time and energy to bring speakers to the University of Florida. The Chairman is required to appoint three Vice Chairs, but the remainder of the organizational structure is left up to the Chairman. Vice Chairships, Directorships, and Assistant Directorships range from productions to promotions and every job in between. Applications are usually found on the official website at the beginning of each semester.
Past Chairmen
Kevin Gerson | 2015-Present |
Corey Flayman | 2014-2015 |
Daniel Landesberg | 2013–2014 |
Josh Holtzman | 2012–2013 |
Corey Portnoy | 2011 - 2012 |
Zack Goldstein | 2010 - 2011 |
Jason H. Attermann | 2009 - 2010 |
Andrew S. Guglielmo | 2008 - 2009 |
Steven Blank | 2007 - 2008 |
Andrew S. Brown | 2006 - 2007 |
Evan Tyroler | 2005 - 2006 |
David Buchalter | 2004 - 2005 |
Seth Denison | 2003 - 2004 |
Eric Trabin | 2002 - 2003 |
Robert Heekin | 2001 - 2002 |
Michael Mosseri | 2000 - 2001 |
Justin L. Sternberg | 1999 - 2000 |
Jason A. Collier | 1998 - 1999 |
Andrew W. Rosin | 1997 -1998 |
Adam Sheinkopf | 1997 |
David Meade | 1996 |
Michael Namath | 1995 - 1996 |
Michael Cotzen | 1994 - 1995 |
David Seifer | 1993 - 1994 |
Marshall Rothman | 1992 - 1993 |
Scott Thomas | 1991 - 1992 |
Richard Brilliant | 1990 - 1991 |
Evan Plotka | 1989 - 1990 |
Greg Kirby | 1988 - 1989 |
Seth Bruckner | 1987 - 1988 |
Lloyd Gilick | 1986 - 1987 |
G. Mark Shalloway | 1985 - 1986 |
Huber Cooney | 1984 1985 |
Brian Paternak/Bruce Gross | 1983 - 1984 |
Marilyn Stern | 1980 - 1981 |
Kevin Hanks | 1979 - 1980 |
Donny Epstein | 1976 - 1979 |
Steve Weiner | 1975 - 1976 |
John Fuller | 1974 - 1975 |
Mike Snyder | 1973 - 1974 |
David Aarons | 1972 - 1973 |
Ed Boze | 1970 - 1971 |
Joe Hilliard | 1969 - 1970 |
References
External links
- Official site
- University of Florida Student Government
- Student Body Statues outlining ACCENT
- Accent brings in Kevorkian in St. Pete Times article