Author, columnist Mitch Albom to address new UW freshmen

Author and sportswriter Mitch Albom, whose 1997-98 best-seller “Tuesdays With Morrie” chronicled Albom’s life-changing friendship with his college mentor, will share lessons for life Sept. 1 with the UW–Madison’s new freshman class.

See also: Mitch Albom appeared on ABC News’ Nightline last night (July 14). The transcript from the show is available on the Nightline Web site.

Albom’s talk, scheduled for noon Tuesday (Sept. 1) at the Kohl Center, is part of the annual Chancellor’s Convocation for freshmen and is the signature event of Wisconsin Welcome Week. To help kick off UW–Madison’s sesquicentennial year, Albom will be the first of an annual outside speaker to address new students. The event is intended for new students and seating will be reserved for them. The rest of the university community and the public are welcome on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets will be required.

A sports columnist with the Detroit Free Press since 1985, Albom, 39, has been voted the top sports columnist in the nation by his peers for 11 of the last 12 years. He is also an accomplished feature writer, and his weekly non-sports column for the Free Press covers subjects concerning America and its values.

“Tuesdays With Morrie” tells the story of Albom’s inspiring relationship with Morrie Schwartz, his former sociology professor at Brandeis University. Some 16 years out of college, Albom rekindled his friendship with Schwartz, who was dying of Lou Gehrig’s Disease. His weekly visits to Schwartz’s bedside form the basis for the book, which explores the simple power of relationships and a quest for deeper meaning in life.

The book, which became a No. 1 New York Times non-fiction best-seller, was ranked fifth July 3 on the Chronicle of Higher Education’s weekly survey, “What They’re Reading on College Campuses.” Albom also co-wrote the biography of University of Michigan Athletic Director Bo Schembechler and a book about Michigan’s “Fab Five,” one of the most celebrated recruiting classes in college basketball history.

Albom is a multi-media talent whose career spans television, radio, print, song-writing and even night-club singing. He heads a weekly panel on ESPN-TV’s “Prime Monday” and is a regular on ESPN’s “The Sports Reporters” hosted by Dick Schapp. He is an accomplished singer, songwriter and pianist who once played as a warm-up act for comedian Gabe Kaplan of “Welcome Back Kotter” fame.

The talk is sponsored by the Office of the Chancellor and the Dean of Students Office. His appearance is being made possible by a generous gift from the UW Credit Union.