Cancelled Jamie-Lynn Sigler speech rescheduled for Feb. 15

The Vanderbilt Speakers Committee has announced that actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler, CNN personality Lou Dobbs and former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich are among the speakers the group will invite to campus this semester.

Jamie-Lynn Sigler, best known for her role as Meadow Soprano in the HBO series “The Sopranos,” was originally scheduled to speak at Vanderbilt on Nov. 15 but cancelled several days in advance due to a last-minute shoot on the set of “The Sopranos.”

Sigler has been rescheduled to speak about her struggle with anorexia on Feb. 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the Student Life Center. Tickets are not yet on sale.

Senior Nate Meltzer, co-chair of the Speakers Committee, said that the main reasons they decided to bring Sigler to campus this semester were the overwhelming response from students when she was cancelled in November and the importance of her message.

“We think it is great that she is a positive role model and is a spokesperson for the National Eating Disorders Association,” Meltzer said. “Her message is one of high quality for students on campus and is very applicable at Vanderbilt, being that it is a very body and image-conscious school.”

Dobbs and Gingrich will be the featured speakers for the annual IMPACT Symposium held March 19-21.

Traditionally, IMPACT Symposium has revolved around a specific topic. This year, however, speakers will be free to speak on the topics of their choice.

Meltzer said the decision to invite Dobbs and Gingrich came after the committee did a lot of brainstorming.

“We knew we wanted to bring a political speaker, as well as a speaker to provide commentary about the current political climate and the next presidential election,” Meltzer said.

Dobbs, whom the committee saw as a “professional political commentator and someone who routinely digests what political players are doing,” will speak on March 19.

Meltzer said Gingrich was chosen due to his name recognition, his experience level and the fact that he is a potential contender for the 2008 presidency. He will speak on March 20.

“We thought he would do a good job of sparking discussion on campus,” Meltzer said.

Both speeches will take place at 7 p.m. in the Student Life Center. Tickets are not yet available.

According to Meltzer, although nothing has been confirmed, students can expect the Speakers Committee to bring an additional speaker to campus later in the spring.