Press Releases

May 3, 2002
Humorist Calvin Trillin Will Address the Class of 2002 at Southampton College

Contact:
Patricia Conway (PR@southampton.liu.edu)
(631) 287 8313
Fax: (631) 283 4081

Humorist Calvin Trillin will deliver the commencement address at Southampton College of Long Island University on Sunday, May 19 at 2:00 p.m.

Trillin began his career as a writer for Time before joining the staff of The New Yorker, where he wrote a series of highly praised articles called U.S. Journal. He went on to write a column for The Nation that became syndicated. In 1996, he returned to Time as a weekly columnist. His many columns have produced five collections of works.

Trillin's writing is deeply rooted in a Midwestern upbringing. Born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri, he has never stopped writing about his hometown. His work is full of fresh, wry observations delivered in an ironic style. He is known to make people look at American culture in whole new ways.

Trillin has been acclaimed in fields of writing that are remarkably diverse. His books include the best-selling family memoir, Messages From My Father and his latest Family Man. His work also includes two comic novels, a collection of short stories, a travel book, an account of desegregation at The University of Georgia, and three antic books on eating - American Fried, Alice- Lets Eat, and Third Helpings, - which have been compiled into a single volume called "The Tummy Trilogy."

Trillin has appeared often as a guest on such television programs as "The Today Show" and "Late Night with David Letterman". His antic commentary on the American scene and his books chronicling his adventures as a "happy eater" have earned him renown as "a classic American humorist".

The 36th annual commencement takes place in an outdoor ceremony on the lawn in front of Chancellors Hall. University President Dr. David Steinberg will confer degrees upon the graduating class of 2002.