Conference on World Affairs

Conference on World Affairs Won’t be the Same Without Ebert

By Jenny Shank, 3-05-07

Organizers and attendees of CU’s annual Conference on World Affairs received some sad news recently: Roger Ebert, who has appeared at the Conference for 37 years running, is too ill to attend this year.  As the Rocky Mountain News reported today, “Ebert had surgery in June to remove a growth on his salivary gland; two weeks later, an artery burst near the surgery site, lengthening his recovery time.” Ebert’s appearances have always been one of the conference’s biggest draws.  According to Greg Glasgow of the Daily Camera, Ebert’s “Cinema Interruptus,” in which he stops a film repeatedly to answer audience questions and discuss it in detail, will continue “under the direction of Jim Emerson, a Seattle-based critic who runs Ebert’s Web site. “

In addition to discussing film, Ebert often sat on a variety of panels, and usually had a book signing and film discussion at the Boulder Book Store.  I was thoroughly entertained every time I went to see any of Ebert’s Boulder appearances.  I was struck by his intelligence, wit, and generosity, qualities that seemed to shine through even more clearly in his freewheeling talks than on his television show.  I know I’m not the only person in Boulder who wishes Ebert a continued recovery and a quick return to La Dolce Vita.  The conference runs April 9-13 at multiple CU campus venues, but it won’t be the same without Ebert.

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