Sunday, August 23, 2015
Written by: Office of Strategic Communication

The University of Iowa Lecture Committee will kick off its fall semester lecture series Wednesday, Aug. 26, with the Yes Men.

the yes men
Mike Bonanno (left) and Andy Bichlbaum, a.k.a. the Yes Men, will appear on the UI campus Wednesday, Aug. 26. Their event will kick off the University Lecture Committee's fall slate. Photo courtesy of the Yes Men.

“Making Meaningful Mischief with The Yes Men” will begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Second Floor Ballroom at the Iowa Memorial Union. Doors open at 7 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

As the Yes Men, Andy Bichlbaum and Mike Bonanno's brand of "laughtivism" has kept them in the headlines for nearly two decades. They have made three feature films—the most recent, The Yes Men Are Revolting, was released in the summer of 2015. Their online Action Switchboard website was also recently launched as a platform for participatory direct action. By injecting humor into drop-dead serious subjects, they provoke laughter and debate from audiences. 

In conjunction with the evening lecture, a free screening of The Yes Men Are Revolting, followed by a question-and-answer session, will take place at 3 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 26. at FilmScene in downtown Iowa City.

Other upcoming lectures for the fall semester include:

  • Nina Totenberg, National Public Radio legal affairs correspondent, will present “The Supreme Court and Its Impact on You” at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 9, in the Main Lounge of the IMU. This lecture is presented by the UI College of Law as part of their Levitt Lecture Series and with support from Iowa Public Radio and the UI Public Policy Center, 
  • Retired CIA analyst Ray McGovern and former FBI agent and whistleblower Coleen Rowley will present “Intelligence not Mistaken but Fixed for War” at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 28, at the Englert Theatre in downtown Iowa City. This lecture is presented in partnership with Veterans for Peace and with support from the Center for Human Rights, Iowa Physicians for Social Responsibility, and PEACE Iowa.
  • Terry Gilliam, screenwriter, film director, animator, actor, comedian, and member of the Monty Python comedy troupe, will appear at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, in the Main Lounge of the IMU. This lecture is presented with support from FilmScene, the Obermann Center for Advance Studies, and the Bijou.

For more than 30 years, the University Lecture Committee has brought some of the world’s greatest thinkers to the UI campus. Speakers have included an impressive roster of national and international figures in science, politics, business, human rights, law, journalism, and the arts. The series is funded through student fees with additional private support, as well as campus and community partnerships.

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend all UI-sponsored events. If you are a person with a disability who requires a reasonable accommodation in order to attend this lecture, call 319-335-3059 in advance.