Roger Ebert's loving tribute to the Conference on World Affairs

Chicago Sun-Times film critic and noted thumb master Roger Ebert has made the University of Colorado at Boulder's Conference on World Affairs a regular stop on his itinerary, and he explains why in "The Leisure of the Theory Class," a blog published in conjunction with the 61st edition of the...

By Michael Roberts

April 13, 2009

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Chicago Sun-Times film critic and noted thumb master Roger Ebert has made the University of Colorado at Boulder's Conference on World Affairs a regular stop on his itinerary, and he explains why in "The Leisure of the Theory Class," a blog published in conjunction with the 61st edition of the event, which filled much of last week. "I have lived more than nine months of my life in Boulder, Colorado, one week at a time. Here I am again," he writes, adding, "Here more than anywhere else I have heard for the first time about more new things, met more fascinating people who have nothing to do with the movies, learned more about debate, and trained under fire to think on my feet." In subsequent paragraphs, he pays tribute to everyone from CWA founder Howard Higman to Daddy Bruce's annual Thanksgiving feeds. According to him, "Boulder is my home town in an alternate universe. I have walked these streets by day and night, in rain, snow and sunshine. I have made lifelong friends here. I grew up here."

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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