Univ. of Buffalo Welcomed Anderson Cooper. Who Wouldn't?

Full circle with Anderson Cooper

REBECCA REEVES AND BRIANNA SIEBER - News Editor and Staff Writer, The Spectrum

The host of the award-winning, self-titled CNN news program "Anderson Cooper 360˚" took a break from the teleprompter this Saturday to offer insight on political and world affairs as part of UB's 20th Annual Distinguished Speaker Series.

Cooper joked that he didn't know what to talk about, so he sent UB alumnus Wolf Blitzer an e-mail message asking for ideas. Pulling out his Blackberry, Cooper read Blitzer's response, including "go Bills," "go Sabres," chicken wings, beef on weck and Bocce's pizza. It ended with "avoid all jokes about snow, they're very sensitive."

Then delving into his background and drive as a reporter who has covered atrocities in Somalia, Darfur, Rwanda and Iraq — "propelled to expose the world's dirtiest truths," in his own words — Cooper made a quick transition from punch lines to headlines.

In addition to his overseas reporting, the CNN anchor also spoke on catastrophes faced here in the US, specifically Hurricane Katrina. Politicians called it an unpredictable disaster, but Cooper disagreed, explaining that the constant praise that politicians gave each other in the aftermath was frustrating and difficult to those affected by the devastation.

"Reporting is more important now than ever," he said, citing alleged corruption surrounding New Orleans as a primary reason.

Cooper said that although victims were told that the Civic Center had food, water and medical attention, when people arrived there was no help for them. He then went on to tell the story of a young man who had brought his mother in a wheelchair to the Civic Center, where the 91-year-old woman had "survived the storm, only to die in its aftermath."

While people are appreciative of his coverage on Hurricane Katrina, Cooper said people still stop him in the street and beg him not to let the world forget about New Orleans.

"In many ways it is like a time capsule," he said. "I hope none of us ever forgets what happened there."

Calling out politicians on their response to Hurricane Katrina, Cooper said that even today they still do not accept blame for their mistakes or give answers to the burning questions to which the public needs answers.

"Politicians give responses, not answers," Cooper said.

He then discussed tactics of presidential candidates during elections, joking that every time Kerry said the word "Vietnam," college students took a shot, and each time Bush used the phrase "flip-flop," they put back two. He also, however, emphasized that voter apathy is a serious issue.

"Voting is the key," he said. "Unless you vote, nobody's going to care."

During a question and answer session, a volunteer of the Peace Corps asked why Cooper didn't cover more stories on the overwhelming problems of HIV and AIDS in Africa.

Cooper responded that while he personally believes it is a crisis that needs to be addressed, the only stories that get reported on are those that people will watch. Unfortunately, Cooper said, people in the US aren't interested in these topics and won't watch shows on them.

Sophomore psychology major Stella Kanchewa came to see Cooper speak due to what she said was his impartial and straightforward reporting.

"I came because I respect his objective news casting," Kanchewa said. "I feel like a lot of the news that's given to us is partisan and one-sided, and we deserve better than that."

When asked who the top three people he would most want to interview would be, Cooper fell back on the wit that made him popular early in his career — his response was "K-Fed." Then — after quickly explaining who "K-Fed" (Kevin Federline, husband of pop star Britney Spears) was — Cooper recalled an interview he had done with an African woman who was gang-raped in front of her children and then forced to leave her home when her husband learned of the incident.

The anchor said it was people like this woman that he would want to interview, to find out how she was doing now.

Karen Flaig, a sophomore speech and hearing science major, was thrilled by Cooper's speech.

"He was absolutely wonderful, funny, intelligent and very humble," Flaig said. "He was far more inspiring than the Dalai Lama, I really want to go out and make a difference."

New Anderson Cooper Interview

CNN's Cooper happy to share his view of the world

Anderson Cooper, who always seems to be searching for a disaster, probably should have been in Buffalo a few weeks ago for the October Surprise.

But better late than never.

Fresh from Tuesday night's election coverage, the CNN anchor of the 10 p.m. weeknight program with the high-tech name, "Anderson Cooper 360," is scheduled to be at the University at Buffalo at 8 p.m. Saturday as part of its Distinguished Speaker's program.

Cooper has distinguished himself covering hurricanes, elections, wars, famines and tsunamis. His work has added to a resume that already was full enough for him to write a best-selling book, "Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters and Survival," before he turned 40.

The 39-year-old son of heiress and famed designer Gloria Vanderbilt, Cooper has already had multiple careers as a child model, reality show host and newsman.

A very busy man, the Yale graduate paused for about 15 minutes to discuss his views of the news business and less serious subjects like his prematurely gray hair, his modeling career and his CNN colleague, Wolf Blitzer.

How many colleges do you speak at, and why did you decide to take this gig?

"I don't speak that often. It's hard for me to come up with a date and be able to stick to it. Often I end up canceling. But I really like speaking at colleges and universities so I thought I'd do it."

Have you talked to Wolf Blitzer at all about Buffalo?

"I haven't yet. But we're going to be together a lot on election week so he'll give me the scoop during commercial breaks or something."

How would you describe the differences between the way you and Blitzer approach things?

"He's a little bit more gray all over. He's got the beard going. I'm not quite that gray yet. I think we're both similar in that neither of us believes in wearing politics on our sleeve and (in) very much trying to just pursue facts and pursue information and talk to people of all sides and all different political beliefs and get people's opinions."

A lot of people would say you are more of a crusader.

"Given the bulk of stuff I do, I'm not advocating any cause. At times, I'm aggressive in trying to pursue facts and pursue stories in terms of shining a light on some places maybe that some people don't necessarily know about or haven't paid attention to. I was just in the Congo and Africa and Afghanistan. I'm a big believer in going to places and ... seeing what's happening and sending back reports about it. I think maybe that's what some people are referring to."

I was thinking of your coverage of Katrina.

"I think I was an advocate certainly for getting answers as to why relief efforts were as lacking as they were. I was certainly an advocate for informing people about what was going on and what I was seeing and what all of us were seeing and what people were experiencing. I don't have a particular strategy or political argument that I'm trying to make about an issue."

What do you think of the "Saturday Night Live" parody of you?

"I think it's very funny. The first time I saw it I was completely surprised by it and (it was a little) surreal. I'm a big believer in mocking myself or ... people poking fun at you."

What was your view of the controversy revolving around CNN's decision to carry a video on your program of insurgents in Iraq targeting U.S. military personnel?

"I certainly understand people's concern. This came about after a lengthy debate among all of us at CNN. I think there is a misconception. I think a lot of people who had opinions about it didn't actually see it and just sort of heard about it fourth hand. We did not show any American soldiers being killed. And no soldiers were identifiable. What this was, was a story about the increasing danger to U.S. troops of sniper attacks by insurgents."

Has anyone actually confused Anderson Cooper 360 with ESPN 360?

"There's like an Xbox 360 and I think ... there are a couple of 360s out there. I like to think we were the first. ... When the show started we were tossing around different ideas and someone suggested that, and I didn't have a better idea and we went with it."

Was "The Mole," the ABC reality show you hosted in 2000, a good or bad thing for your career?

"I had been doing news for like 10 years. I was working at ABC doing an overnight show and also worked at "20-20' and I really wanted a break from news. It was an interesting experience. Reality TV was in its infancy. But once 9/11 happened I wanted to get back into news and I was happy I was able to."

Many people consider you a celebrity anchor. Do you tire of the title?

"There are plenty of people in news who are far more well-known that I am. I have a nightly newscast. Beyond that, I don't know what it means."

Is the gray hair an asset in your business at your age?

"I find it odd that I have gray hair. ... It wouldn't be my choice."

Do you remember anything about being a child model?

"Not all that much. I remember wanting to do it because I was 11 years old and I wanted to earn money. And there are not many jobs an 11-year-old can get. So that was the job I was able to get."

Do you get tired at all of answering questions about your famous mother?

(He laughs.) "No. She's my mom, what can I do?"

http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20061109/1064432.asp