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 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.”

Read more of Ebert’s memories by clicking here.