Wiesel, Herzog will speak at U.

Nobel Peace Prize winner Elie Wiesel and former Israeli President Chaim Herzog will be speaking on campus in two separate events open to the University community. Wiesel, whose lecture is sponsored by the Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program, will speak at Irvine Auditorium on Monday, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. Herzog, who is being brought to campus by Connaissance, will deliver a talk at Harrison Auditorium on peace in the Middle East on November 4 at 8 p.m. Both figures are renowned world-wide, Wiesel for his work on behalf of human rights and Herzog for his 10-year tenure of diplomacy as president of Israel. Wiesel, a Holocaust survivor, has written more than 30 books including the autobiographical Night. He has used the power of his voice to speak for victims and prisoners all over the world. The Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program bringing Wiesel is a Jewish organization funded by a New York board of trustees. The program is being given a trial run at the University this year. Wiesel's speech is open to all with a PENNCard on a first-come, first-serve basis. The program, according to Steinhardt Jewish Heritage Program member Guy Raviv, is targeted specifically toward the University. Raviv said Wiesel, who is being given an undisclosed honorarium by the program, will speak on current events. "There are a lot of seats in Irvine, and we're expecting a lot of students," Raviv said. Connaissance Chairperson Robyn Allen said tickets for Herzog's speech will be distributed on Locust Walk beginning on November 1, and will be free with a PENNCard. Allen said she expects "a good number of people" at the event, which is taking place in association with Hillel. Asked if she expected a rush for tickets similar to that for former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev's speech last year, Allen said many more students will be able to attend Herzog's speech due to a larger number of seats. "I don't think it'll be like [Gorbachev]," Allen said. "But he is very well known, and we're very excited to have him come, especially with all that's been going on in the Middle East recently." Connaissance will pay Herzog $12,500 for his visit to the University. As Israel's ambassador to the United Nations and then as president of Israel, Herzog made unprecedented overseas visits, restoring diplomatic relations between Israel and many "third world" and Eastern European countries.