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Oct. 31, 2017

UA's Noam Chomsky to Discuss Social Justice, Receive Award

TUCSON, Ariz. — The University of Arizona's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and The Loft Cinema have partnered to provide two unique events with world-renowned scholar and political critic Noam Chomsky.

On Nov. 9 at Centennial Hall, Chomsky, now a UA faculty member, will have a conversation with Regents' Professor Toni Massaro of the UA's James E. Rogers College of Law about social justice and the environment. On Nov. 10 at The Loft Cinema, he will receive the Loft Film Festival's Lofty Achievement Award.

"We have been pleased to offer several popular, public events featuring Chomsky in previous years," said John Paul Jones III, dean of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences. "But these two events will be our first time officially welcoming him into the community now that he is a UA faculty member and fellow Tucsonan."

Considered the founder of modern linguistics, Chomsky is one of the most influential public intellectuals in the world. He has written more than 100 books, his most recent being "Requiem for the American Dream: The 10 Principles of Concentration of Wealth & Power." An ardent free-speech advocate, he has published and lectured widely on U.S. foreign policy, Mideast politics, terrorism, democratic society and war. He is a laureate professor in the Department of Linguistics in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and he also holds the title of Agnese Nelms Haury Chair, which is sponsored by the Agnes Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice.

Chomsky has appeared in more than 20 documentary films, making a unique contribution to the capacity of film to educate, inspire and move audiences to action. Notable films include "Manufacturing Consent: Noam Chomsky and the Media" (1992), which was based on Chomsky's 1988 book with Edward Herman; "Is the Man Who Is Tall Happy?" (2013), a French animated documentary film by Michel Gondry about Chomsky; and "Requiem for the American Dream" (2015), which is based on Chomsky's recent book.

"The Haury Conversation: Noam Chomsky Talks With Toni Massaro" will be moderated by Massaro, the Milton O. Riepe Chair in Constitutional Law and the former dean of the James E. Rogers College of Law. She also serves as the chair of the program advisory council of the UA's Agnese Nelms Haury Program in Environment and Social Justice. The program helped fund Chomsky's position on campus and is the named sponsor of the Nov. 9 discussion. The discussion will include questions from the audience.

The conversation will be held from 6:30-8:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 at Centennial Hall. Tickets ($15 for the public, $10 for students) are available online or at the Centennial Hall box office (use promo code CHOMSKY).

"Many of the issues Chomsky writes and speaks about are of great public concern and, whether you agree with him or not, his perspective will make you think," Jones said. "I anticipate a spirited discussion between Massaro and Chomsky on a range of topics that could include the refugee crisis, political conflict, democracy, capitalism, climate change and social inequality."

At 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10 at The Loft Cinema, Chomsky will receive the 2017 Lofty Achievement Award, given annually at the Loft Film Festival. The award will be presented at a 25th anniversary screening of "Manufacturing Consent." This award-winning documentary showcases Chomsky's message of how government and big media businesses cooperate to produce an effective propaganda machine in order to manipulate public opinion.

Individual tickets to "Manufacturing Consent" and passes to the Loft Film Festival are available at loftfilmfest.org or at The Loft Cinema box office.

The Loft Film Festival is a project of the nonprofit Loft Cinema and is presented by Desert Diamond Casinos and Entertainment, with funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. The Loft Cinema is at 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. in Tucson.

"We are thrilled to partner with the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences to bring these two events with Noam Chomsky to the community," said Peggy Johnson, executive director of The Loft Cinema. "Professor Chomsky's contribution to modern thought would be hard to overstate, and we are honored to present him with the Lofty Achievement Award for his impact on film, both as a subject and an inspiration."

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Media Contact:
Lori Harwood
UA College of Social and Behavioral Sciences
520-626-3846
harwoodl@email.arizona.edu

Established in 1885, the University of Arizona, the state's super land-grant university with two medical schools, produces graduates who are real-world ready through its 100% Engagement initiative. Recognized as a global leader and ranked 16th for the employability of its graduates, the UA is also a leader in research, bringing more than $606 million in research investment each year, and ranking 21st among all public universities. The UA is advancing the frontiers of interdisciplinary scholarship and entrepreneurial partnerships, and is a member of the Association of American Universities, the 62 leading public and private research universities. It benefits the state with an estimated economic impact of $8.3 billion annually.