Populist commentator to speak at USU
He is heard on radio stations around the county everyday and now he is coming to Utah State University.
Under the direction of graduate students Susan Euffler, Lori Porreca and Diana Glenn, Jim Hightower, who labels himself as a “populist,” will speak at 7 p.m. Monday in the Eccles Conference Center auditorium.
“[Hightower] is pretty much a progressive populist, which means that he thinks the left and right, politically, have gone astray and that the common person is being neglected,” said Euffler, a third-year graduate of Landscape Architecture.
Euffler said that Hightower speaks to expose the faults he sees and to stand as a cheerleader for the common citizen.
“He’s really funny too,” she said.
Hightower has expressed his views in diverse ways. One form has been through political radio. On a daily basis, Hightower does radio commentaries which are broadcast by more than 100 commercial stations. The Armed Forces Radio, Radio for Peace International, One World Radio and Sirius Satellite Radio are just a few which play his commentaries.
KRCL 90.9 in Salt Lake City also broadcasts broadcasts his commentaries.
Hightower has also authored many books. His latest book, “Thieves In High Places: They’ve Stolen Our Country And It’s Time To Take It Back,” became a New York Times Bestseller. He also has a newspaper column that is featured in more than 75 independent newspapers, magazines and other publications.
From 1983 to 1991, Hightower served as Texas Agriculture Commissioner, twice elected.
“He’s pretty much been around a while,” Euffler said. “It’s at least been since the seventies that he’s been getting people’s attention.”
On Tuesday, Hightower is also booked to speak again at the Sustainable Landscapes Conference in the Eccles Conference Center.
-bretpmorley@cc.usu.edu