A Name Worth Fighting For: How Being Asian Got Me in Trouble
Simon Tam of The Slants
Tuesday, 09 Apr 2019 at 8:15 pm – Great Hall, Memorial Union
Simon Tam, founder and bassist of The Slants, talks frankly about racism, his experiences as a musician, and how this Asian American dance rock band unintentionally revived a longstanding battle over trademarks and racial slurs. Tam will discuss how the nearly eight-year-long legal battle over the band’s name came about, their ultimate victory for free speech, as well as the unintended consequences the Supreme Court decision had for other civil rights legal organizations. His book, Slanted: How Being Asian Got Me Into Trouble, will be published this spring. First Amendment DaysCosponsored By:
- First Amendment Day Series
- Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication
- Iowa State Daily
- Society of Professional Journalists - ISU Chapter
- Committee on Lectures (funded by Student Government)
Stay for the entire event, including the brief question-and-answer session that follows the formal presentation. Most events run 75 minutes.
Sign-ins are after the event concludes. For lectures in the Memorial Union, go to the information desk in the Main Lounge. In other academic buildings, look for signage outside the auditorium.
Lecture Etiquette
- Stay for the entire lecture and the brief audience Q&A. If a student needs to leave early, he or she should sit near the back and exit discreetly.
- Do not bring food or uncovered drinks into the lecture.
- Check with Lectures staff before taking photographs or recording any portion of the event. There are often restrictions. Cell phones, tablets and laptops may be used to take notes or for class assignments.
- Keep questions or comments brief and concise to allow as many as possible.