Fairfield University announces partnership with 92nd Street Y | Press Releases

Fairfield University is proud to announce an exciting new partnership with the 92nd Street Y, New York's premier cultural institution and community center, to broadcast selected live programming in conjunction with the University's Open VISIONS Forum-Espresso lecture series. The format will combine live-streaming broadcasts from 92Y to Fairfield University, with live town hall-style conversations here on campus, featuring faculty and community experts on stage.

Open VISIONS Forum-Espresso is an on-the-go sister series to the University's long-established signature lecture series Open VISIONS Forum (OVF). While OVF announces its season in well in advance, OVF-Espresso will announce new events throughout the year, bringing some of the world's top thinkers, authors, trendsetters and opinion-makers to campus and the greater community.

"Truth be told, the original inspiration and modeling of OVF came directly from my presence as an often awed audience member at the 92Y over 20 years ago," said Philip Eliasoph, Ph.D., professor of art history and OVF founder/director. "Its powerhouse platform offering New Yorkers these stimulating conversations with leading public intellectuals, prominent artists and award-winning authors captured my imagination. Now the fact that we can transport their top-notch events to our Fairfield University audience through the magic of digital broadcasting is one of those perfect circles coming to full connectivity."

The OVF–Espresso/92Y collaboration kicks off on Wednesday, October 23, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. with a pre-lecture and 8 p.m. live-stream broadcast of "Full Court Press: Inside the Bush and Obama White Houses," featuring Robert Gibbs and Ari Fleischer, (pictured, left-to-right), the first press secretaries for Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush, respectively. Ben Feller, former chief White House correspondent for The Associated Press , will moderate the discussion, broadcast live from the 92Y to 42 Bellarmine (on the Fairfield University campus, across the street from the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts).

Those gathered at 42 Bellarmine will also enjoy a pre-lecture at 7:30 p.m., "The Future of Spin," with Michael Serazio, Ph.D., assistant professor of communication and deputy director of Open VISIONS Forum (OVF). Following the 8 p.m. broadcast, Dr. Eliasoph will moderate an on-stage conversation with Dr. Serazio and Dr. Gwendoline Alphonso, assistant professor of politics.

On Monday, November 4, 2013 , OVF-Espresso/92Y will present an 8 p.m. broadcast of "My Life in Law," with attorney and author Alan Dershowitz interviewed by author and CNN analyst Jeffrey Toobin to the Quick Center . At 7:30 p.m., Connecticut attorney Alan Neigher will present a pre-lecture introducing the event, "Highlights of Alan Dershowitz's Legal Career." A post-broadcast talk will include Dr. Eliasoph, Neigher and Debra Strauss, J.D., associate professor of business law.

"92Y has been a community center for almost 140 years, but now we're reimagining that community, thanks to digital technology," said Henry Timms, 92Y's interim executive director. "We've always known that there's a much bigger audience for our talks and interviews than could fit in our hall, and now live-streaming allows our guests to connect with so many more people - in Fairfield and beyond. We're particularly delighted to become part of the Quick Center's community."

Tickets to OVF-Espresso events are $12. For tickets, call the Quick Center Box Office at (203) 254-4010, or visit www.fairfield.edu/ovf .

The Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts is located on the campus of Fairfield University at 1073 North Benson Road in Fairfield, Connecticut. 42 Bellarmine is located across the street from the Quick Center. Entrance to the Quick Center and 42 Bellarmine is through the Barlow Road gate at 200 Barlow Road. Free, secure parking is available. Access for people with disabilities is available. Fairfield University is located off exit 22 of Interstate-95. For further information and directions, call (203) 254-4010 or 1-877-278-7396, or visit www.quickcenter.com .