FIRST AMENDMENT WEEK: A LOOK BACK
Keynote speakers in 2008-2011, 2013-21, and 2023 were co-sponsored by Associated Students of Loyola Marymount University.
| Year | Keynote(s) | Other Speakers/Events |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | An evening with New York Times-bestselling author Jennette McCurdy. | First Amendment Open Mic Night, co-sponsored by Mane Entertainment; "Religious Freedom and Human Dignity," a student-led discussion, co-hosted by Campus Ministry’s Interfaith Council; First Amendment Week Iggy Bobblehead Night feat. LMU Men’s Basketball. |
| 2022 | “Redefining the American Newspaper” feat. L.A. Times executive editor Kevin Merida. | “Promise and Peril: Fighting climate change one animal at a time” documentary screening; First Amendment Week Iggy Bobblehead Giveaways feat. LMU Baseball and Men’s Basketball. |
| 2021 | “Expression From the Margins” feat. actress and advocate Angelica Ross and rapper and singer Vic Mensa. | “Freedom of Religion: How Free Are We?” student-centered discussion; First Amendment Week Tip-Off feat. LMU Women’s Basketball. |
| 2020 | “Reclaiming Our Stories” feat. activist and journalist Monica Lewinsky. | “Voices of Modern Media: Representation in Journalism” panel discussion; “Slam for Social Justice: A Night of Brews and Ballads”. |
| 2019 | Actor and activist Jesse Williams. | “Trump, Technology and Bad Actors” with Prof. John Nockleby, Loyola Law School; “Pluralism, Prejudice and the Promise of America” with author Eboo Patel; “Generations of Activism” documentary series premiere. |
| 2018 | ESPN sports journalist and Twitter legend Jemele Hill. | “News, Politics and Immigration” with veteran journalist and immigration expert Robert Suro. |
| The death of the First Amendment (1791-2017???) | “Real News, Fake News and the Ethical Dilemmas of Trump-era Journalism” by Prof. Diane Winston. | |
| 2016 | Golden Globe- and Emmy-winning actor and activist America Ferrera | Race and representation in the media student-led panel discussion. |
| 2015 | Academy Award-winning musician, actor and activist Common | Interfaith cooperation expert Eboo Patel. |
| 2014 | Former Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett | Petition Wall; Freedom of Religion Videos; Food for Freedom. |
| 2013 | Academy Award-winning screenwriter and producer Mark Boal | Freedom of Religion panel, including David W. Burcham, then-president of Loyola Marymount University; Food For Freedom. |
| 2012 | The Editors of The Onion | Free Speech Open Mic Night and Food For Freedom. |
| 2011 | Emmy-, Grammy-, Oscar- and Tony-award winning musician and activist John Legend | Time magazine columnist and author Joel Stein; David W. Burcham, then-president of Loyola Marymount University. |
| 2010 | Seth MacFarlane, creator of TV series “Family Guy” | Fr. Geoffrey Farrow, a California Catholic priest who was suspended by his superiors for his public refusal to direct parishioners to vote yes on Proposition 8 |
| 2009 | Karl Rove, former senior advisor and deputy chief of staff to former President George W. Bush | David Burcham, then-dean of Loyola Law School; Paul Porter, an expert on the relation between race and the media |
| 2008 | Bill Maher, comedian, TV show host, political commentator, author | Fr. Robert B. Lawton, S.J., then-president of Loyola Marymount University; John Carlos, former Olympian bronze-medalist who was stripped of his medal for giving the Black Power salute on the winner’s podium |
| 2007 | Arianna Huffington, founder of Huffington Post; Michelle Malkin, blogger and political commentator | Danny Ledonne, filmmaker and creator of controversial video game “Super Columbine Massacre RPG!” |
| 2006 | James Carville, political commentator, pundit; Ann Coulter, political commentator, writer |
Notes:
First Amendment Week was founded in Spring 2003 with several small events. The first keynotes for First Amendment took place in 2006.