From helping the Japan-United States relationship to steering the Starship Enterprise through space by Capt. Kirk’s side, George Takei has lived a life worth learning about, and on Jan. 28, students will get the chance to hear about it from the man himself.
The 81-year-old sci-fi icon is set to speak to hundreds of students and members of the community at 7:30 p.m. in the Texas Southmost College Performing Arts Center in Brownsville as the UTRGV Student Activities Distinguished Speakers Series guest.
Perhaps best known for his role as Mr. Sulu, the trusted helmsman in the acclaimed series “Star Trek,” Takei has a series of noteworthy accomplishments in his long life, including several contributions as a social justice activist and recently as a social media mega-power.
Currently, Takei serves as a member of the Human Rights Campaign, chair of the council of governors of East West Players and chairman emeritus of the Japanese American National Museum’s board of trustees. His involvement in international affairs also earned the applauded actor the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette from the emperor of Japan.
Admission to Takei’s lecture, which is expected to bring in large crowds from the actor’s fan base, is free.
“He is very popular with his following from ‘Star Trek,’ and he is a big social media powerhouse and so, we’re hoping to have a big turnout,” Student Activities Director Cindy Mata said.
Mata said students will be allowed into the center at 7 p.m. with a valid student ID, while the public will enter at 7:15 p.m.
No major flash photography will be permitted at the event.
“We want students to be present and in the moment, so we do refrain them from being on their phones just out of respect for the speaker and for the event itself, so they’ll be able to just enjoy, to engage, be attentive and be captive by his message,” Mata said.
She believes that Takei’s time spent in Japanese internment camps as a child will interest and influence the crowd greatly due to the recent reports of migrant children placed in detention camps on the border, especially in the Rio Grande Valley.
“He’s going to speak on his experience and give feedback on how communities can give back,” Mata said.
Sthefanía Espinosa, an electrical engineering sophomore on the Brownsville campus, hopes to attend the event.
“I hope I can make it,” Espinosa said. “I think he’s an interesting man that I’d like to know more about.”
Mata also hopes to get permission to livestream the event for students in Edinburg so they also hear Takei’s inspirational story in the Student Union Theatre. Details of the livestream will be announced at a later date if approved by Takei’s management team.
“Knowing about all his accomplishments, I had actually considered taking the time to go to Brownsville, but knowing about this, I might go here instead,” said psychology senior Rebecca Gonzalez when told about the possibility of the lecture being livestreamed on the Edinburg campus.
