As with previous Great Names events, the College will provide reserved seatsfor school and civic groups of 20 or more. The College will also provideshuttle bus service from parking lots in the village of Clinton. For moreinformation, contact Hamilton student activities at 315 859-4194.
A native of Sighet, Transylvania (Romania), Wiesel and his family weredeported by the Nazis to Auschwitz when he was 15. His mother and youngersister died there. He and his father were later transported to Buchenwaldwhere his father died beside him. His personal experience of the Holocaustled him to use his talents as an author, teacher and storyteller to defendhuman rights and peace throughout the world.
Wiesel's efforts have earned him the Presidential Medal of Freedom, theUnited States Congressional Gold Medal and the Medal of Liberty Award, and therank of Grand Officer in the French Legion of Honor. In 1986, he was awardedthe Nobel Peace Prize, and also received an honorary doctorate from Hamilton.
The author of more than 35 books, Wiesel has won the Prix Medicis, the PrixLivre Inter and the Grand Prize for Literature from the City of Paris. Hisfirst book, La Nuit (Night) has been translated into 25 languages.Other books include A Beggar in Jerusalem, The Testament, TheFifth Son, and Sages and Dreamers.
President Jimmy Carter appointed Wiesel chairman of the President'sCommission on the Holocaust, and later as founding chairman of the UnitedStates Holocaust Memorial Council. He has been the distinguished Professor ofJudaic Studies at the City University of New York, and the first Henry LuceVisiting Scholar in the Humanities and Social Thought at Yale.
Since 1976, he has been the Andrew W. Mellon Professor in the Humanities atBoston University where he also holds the title of university professor. Helives in New York with his wife Marion and son Elisha.
Wiesel's presentation in the Great Names series follows talks byformer chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Colin Powell and politicalstrategists Mary Matalin and James Carville. While on campus, he willparticipate in a class and meet students and faculty for dinner and areception.
