Texas State Brings Common to Campus

By Will Wadsworth
News Director

Texas State University Provost Gene Bourgeois announced Saturday that artist-activist Common will be the next speaker in the university’s LBJ Distinguished Lecturer series. Bourgeois made the announcement at Strahan Arena before new students, faculty and distinguished guests such as Congressman Lloyd Doggett and State Representative Erin Zwiener as part of Texas State’s new student convocation event.

Common began his nearly 30-year entertainment career as a rapper and hip-hop singer before producing and acting in dozens of films and programs. The performer has worked in public activism in recent years, and is a founding member of both the Common Ground Foundation and the Imagine Justice nonprofit organization. Texas State’s Common Experience Director Twister Marquiss said Common was an excellent choice for this semester’s Distinguished Lecturer, and that he fit the theme of Truth well. 

“He fit a lot of the things that we look for in an LBJ Distinguished Lecture Speaker: a national reputation, someone who will bring attention to Texas State and raise the level of the university and honor the legacy of President Johnson who wanted to bring the brightest and best minds in the country to come and speak to students,” Marquiss said.

Common will come to Texas State on Oct. 15 to deliver his lecture. The event will be held at Strahan Arena at 7:30 p.m. and will be open to the public, but tickets will need to be reserved in advance. 

Image courtesy of the United Talent Agency.