Al Franken Gives YLS Dean's Lecture to Crowd of Hundreds

September 23, 2005

On Friday, September 23, a crowd of over 750 students and faculty turned out to hear well-known author, radio show personality, and comedian Al Franken deliver a Dean's Lecture at YLS. The talk was sponsored by ACS@YLS.

Mr. Franken's remarks ranged from the hilarious to the deadly serious, but were always incisive and thought-provoking. He pulled no punches on topics ranging from the Roberts nomination to partisan double standards on aid and labor protections, and isued a call for progressives to be more publicly angry about the abuses of government that they see around them. All the while, he kept the audience laughing, and hopeful for reform.

Mr. Franken is a master of many media. After graduating from Harvard University in 1973, he went on to become one of the founding writers on Saturday Night Live. His success there led him to win five Emmy Awards and two Grammy Awards. His two books of political satire were both New York Times Bestsellers. In 2003, Franken served as a fellow with Harvard's Kennedy School of Government at the Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics, and Public Policy. He also headlined two tours for the USO, entertaining troops stationed in Iraq. Since May 2005 he's been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

Mr. Franken now hosts the flagship show on the Air America radio network, The Al Franken Show, which also appears on The Sundance Channel. While continuing to find the humor in American politics, his show regularly features distinguished commentators from both sides of the political aisle, including members of our own faculty and alumni.