This year’s Father Carter Lecture Series lecture brought Maya Angelou to Loyola. The speech marked the 10th anniversary of the series created and funded by the Student Government Association to honor the Rev. James C. Carter, S.J., former university president.

“Each year the committee chooses a speaker who embodies Jesuit ideals and the ideals of Father Carter,” said communications junior David Robinson-Morris, this year’s Father Carter Lecture Series chairperson.

Carter, who served the university from 1974-1993 as Loyola’s longest-tenured president, believed Angelou was an excellent choice.

“She is well suited to Loyola’s social justice tradition because of her history of social activism,” he said. “The structures of our society are not perfect, and she stands for changing that.”

Carter added that Angelou’s appeal to students made her an ideal selection.

“She is in tune with young people,” he said. “Though she’s not from the same generation by any means, she speaks their language, urging young people to stay focused.”

Angelou, who has become renowned worldwide for her ability to bestow wisdom, has made a significant impact at Loyola.

“The whole atmosphere changed when she walked into the room. You knew you were in the presence of greatness,” Morris said. “Her decision to come to Loyola puts us is line with other prestigious schools who have had her.”

Next year the Father Carter Lecture series will alternate with the Loup Garou concert series in order to allow the Student Government Association to increase its allocation from $20,000 to $40,000.

“SGA feels this will increase attendance by allowing us to secure a ‘better’ speaker or a larger band,” Morris said.

Maggie Crawford can be reached at [email protected].